A year’s worth of training came down to three days of competition at the Pacific Regionals. Inside Sport was there to track the fortunes of our very own, Kara Webb.

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You get an idea of the status of Kara Webb in the Crossfit universe when you sit in the stands at the Pacific Regionals: the packed-out crowd finds an extra decibel level to greet them when they are introduced for each of the seven events over these three gruelling days. They’ve each won the event several times before, which earns big respect in this sphere. But now they have to do it all again, as the  top 30 CrossFitters from around Australia, Asia and the Pacific go head-to-head to determine  the top five, who then get to qualify for the CrossFit Games (Worlds) in California.

All around the world, eight Regional competitions are being held over this same week, all doing the same exercise regimes.

How’s this for a long weekend’s work? Friday, Event One: 75 snatches against the clock, the men at 75 pounds, the women at 55. (First place gets 100 points, second 95, etc). Event Two, a few hours later: 21 thrusters (a dynamic barbell lift from squat to full overhead extension, the men at 115lbs, the women at 75), 12 rope climbs, 15 thrusters, nine rope climbs, nine thrusters, six rope climbs. Saturday, Event Three: one-mile run, 50 overhead squats (men 135lb, women 95), 100 (!!!) GHD sit-ups (the crunch from hell, bending backwards from waist-high seat to touch the floor over your head, then getting back up to touch your toes), 150 double-unders (rope skipping), 50 sumo deadlift high pulls (from ground to under chin), 100 box jump-overs, all against the clock. Later in the day, Event Four: a 250-foot handstand walk (almost the length of a football paddock); followed closely by Event Five: one rep of your maximum snatch (you get just two attempts). On to Sunday, and Event Six: 25-calorie rowing, 16 chest-to-bar pull-ups, nine strict deficit handstand push-ups – repeat five (FIVE!) times. Followed an hour or so later by Event 7: 15 muscle-ups on the rings, followed by five consecutive cleans, men starting at 205lbs and going up incrementally to 265lbs, women going from 135lbs through to 175.

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Kara has a cheery demeanour. She’ll eat up any of the Olympic lifts, because that’s pretty much her favourite thing. But this isn’t a weightlifting competition. In Event Two she sets a record, smashing out those awful thrusters and then making the rope climb look almost easy with her flawless technique. But this isn’t a rope-climbing competition. Next day during the handstand walk, the rest of the field streaks past her – some walking the entire length of the auditorium and back with only a few touchdowns. Kara struggles, sometimes just getting a few paces or so before toppling. Likewise the next day in Event Six: can row, can manage those awkward chest-bar pull-ups, but follow that with nine handstand push-ups? And do it five times? Time and again she circles between attempts, shaking those muscled arms that are now failing her ... It’s painful to watch. The clock beats her.

But guess what? She keeps smiling, and despite dropping places in events towards the end of an arduous day three, she still has enough points to qualify in first place. Kara is going on to take on the world.