Want to know what it’s like training for Regionals, or even a first hand experience of competing at regionals? Read on to find out Darwin, NT athlete, Samantha Drescher’s experience from Regionals this year. 

Darwin resident, 22 year old Samantha Drescher, or ‘Sammie’ trains at CrossFit Darwin and CrossFit 11 Mile and has been CrossFitting for just two years. In that time, she’s made it to Regionals twice.

Sammie got into CrossFit after her friend; Aroha encouraged her to try CrossFit as she was sick of the going to the usual gym classes and being out of time to the music, since then she hasn’t looked back.

“I love that there is always something you can improve on. Everyone is equal in a sense, with different strengths and weaknesses,” she said.

Now, let’s get back to chatting about Samantha’s regional’s efforts. She placed 22^nd at Regionals this year, improving on her 2013 place of 24^th. Making it to regional’s twice in two years with the around the same amount of CrossFit experience, that’s nothing to be sneezed at and Sam definitely knows this.

“That first year I had no idea of what was involved at Regionals. I had no concept of how much a big deal it was to be qualified, I was just so new.

“This year I felt more rounded in my approach and felt like I belonged there,” she said.

Sam’s road to Regionals this year was a lot more of a concerted effort also.

Samantha has a background in Surf life Saving and athletics, as well as basketball (playing for both SEABL and QBL) and was Under 21 player of the year at her time playing in the SEABL. She knows about training, hard work and the right amount of preparation.

“Back in October last year I started training with another Darwin athlete, Chris Medcraft (who this year placed 32^nd at Regionals). I also cut out sugar and alcohol and trained between 2 – 4 hours a day doing a lot of volume based type workouts,” she said.

As for preparing for the Regional WODs, before Sam knew the specifics WODs, she focused her training on conditioning based workouts, lifting heavy loads for long periods of time and bringing her gymnastics up to scratch.

“I always thought I would get through The Open workouts, but you still never know and have to train your hardest.

“Once I found out what the Regional WODs were going to be I made sure I practiced all the WODs fully at least once, and then broke them down and practiced skills and training them at intervals,” she said.

Samantha’s favourite WOD at regionals was Nasty Girls V2, “Last year at regionals I wouldn’t have even finished the first round and this year I got it all finished in the time cap” she said.

Samantha found this year’s Regional’s tested a broad range of fitness rather than one type of fitness or strength. I asked Samantha how Regional’s differs from a normal WOD at your local box and she says how you eat, train and sleep is different, “Everything matters in the lead up and it’s all about being prepared. At regionals everyone is pushing themselves individually, rather than during a normal WOD, everyone works out together as a team,” she said.

Four things Sam take’s to a workout: Reebok Nano’s, Goat tape, Alphafit singlet and Jaw shorts.

Samantha’s Stats:

Fran – 3 minutes

Snatch – 81kg

Clean & Jerk – 105kg

Back Squat – 145kg

Grace -1.30 minutes

Thanks so much for sharing your Regional’s experience! 

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Alison Wood, 27 is a novice CrossFitter who goes to Crossfit Darwin, marketing professional and crafter currently residing in Darwin, NT.  Follow her own blog North of Here for lifestyle and fitness posts or join her on Facebook.