After a Year Off, Candice Wagner Claims 5th at South Regionals

By Kaitlin Bitz Candelaria | June 10, 2016
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Candice Wagner took a year off in 2015 from competing and thought about never coming back.

The CrossFit Iron Horse box-owner lost her love for competing and instead took time to focus on her business. In 2016, Candice came back with a better headspace with the goal of having a good time.

Candice Wagner
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Of course, for a two-time Games athlete, working hard while having a good time means that a trip back to Regionals was inevitable. Once Wagner arrived in Dallas, she did well throughout the weekend and found herself in the top 5 going into Day 3.

Before Event 7, Wagner fell to sixth place. She knew it was all or nothing to qualify for another trip to the CrossFit Games. She finished the thruster/legless rope climb combo in under four minutes as the announcers boomed “Has she done enough to make it back to Carson?”

The answer? Yes, although some may not know it. At the conclusion of the South Regional, a scoring mix up meant that Wagner was told she hadn’t qualified and was sent packing. It was only later that Wagner found out she finished in fifth place and will be making her third trip to Carson this summer.

We caught up with her to talk about the emotional rollercoaster that was Regionals and what she’s doing now to prepare for California in July.


FHQ: So first of all, congrats for qualifying for your third CrossFit Games! Tell me a little about your process going into Regionals. You took a year off from competing and had already said you were competing in 2016 just for fun. How did it feel to re-qualify?
Candice Wagner: Qualifying for the Games this year has been a complete shock. I honestly went into this season with no expectations other than to have fun and focus on other aspects of my life other than trying to qualify. I trained hard when I had time, but I didn’t let my life revolve around training like I have done in the past. I’m glad it worked out this way.

 

FHQ: How did you feel going into event 7 knowing you were in sixth place? What were your emotions like during that WOD?
Candice Wagner: Going into the final event at regionals, I was nervous, but I knew it was possible to get into the top five. That morning, I honestly felt deep down inside somewhere that it was going to happen. That all I had to do was to continue doing what I had been all weekend long… have fun and give it all I had. It was weird. I had this calm gut feeling it would work out. I’m glad it did.

 

FHQ: Are you at liberty to discuss what exactly happened with the Michaela North confusion? That must have been an emotional rollercoaster to think you missed qualifying and then to find out you had.
Candice Wagner: Michaela is a great athlete and she worked her ass off all weekend long too. There was just an error by the staff at the competition and it was very unfortunate for the both of us. For her, I would imagine having the spot taken from her after thinking it was hers was not easy just like it was not easy for me to hear that I was not going after believing and even being told that I had “unofficially qualified” in a interview immediately following the final event. It was heartbreaking at first because I truly believed I was being cheated out of something I had earned. It was definitely not how I had envisioned qualifying for the Games, but I did and that’s all that matters. I’m just very relieved that the error was corrected.

 

FHQ: Tell us a little bit more about the year you took off from competing. What was your motivation behind that? Do you feel like it changed the way you compete?
Candice Wagner: I took a year off competing last year (2015) because I fell out of love with it. There was no motivation to train, no desire to qualify for the Games, and I had a lot of negative feelings about myself as an athlete. At that time, to me, my lackluster performance in the gym was perceived in my mind as “getting old” or “losing it,” but I really wasn’t at my best, nor was I going as hard as I know I can. I realize now I was too hard on myself. Taking the year off was one of the best things I ever did. I started to miss competing and once I started back up with it, all the old feelings I used to have about competing came back to me. It worked out really well.

#flashbackfriday to when I set the event 5 record at the South Regional #deadliftsaremyfavorite #neverbeenonatrueform

A video posted by Candice Wagner (@candicewagner21) on


FHQ: You haven’t been to Carson since 2012. What are you most excited about for this year’s Games?
Candice Wagner: I went to the CrossFit Games in 2010 and in 2012 and during both of those years, I was too starstruck and focused on everyone else to fully grasp the fact that I was competing as one of the best in the world there too. Since those years I’ve always shrugged off the fact that I’m a Games athlete because I didn’t give myself enough credit for getting myself there. I’ve finally accepted that I have earned my spot there each time. It’s been a personal battle, but I’m finally figuring it out. I believe now that I’m a good athlete, that I deserve to be there, and I’m so excited to compete with this new level of confidence this year.

 

FHQ: On the other hand, is there anything you’re nervous about seeing?
Candice Wagner: Haha, yes! I am not a fan of swimming, handstand walking, or chest-to-bar pull ups, but I know all of those things will show up at the Games this year. I haven’t spent as much time on any of these things as I would like to while running a business, but I’m going to do my best and let the cards fall where they may.

FHQ: What is your training and nutrition going to look like for the next two months as you get prepared?
Candice Wagner: I’ve been following Competitors Training since September of last year and so far, it’s been a program I have fallen in love with so I plan to stick with it. As far as nutrition, I used to be very strict prior to regionals and the Games, but this year I plan to eat clean, to have a few cheats here and there, and just eat as much as I can to make sure I’m eating enough. I seem to perform at my best when I am enjoying the little things in life while taking a more relaxed approach.

 

FHQ: We saw that your home gym had a huge presence at Regionals — you had a lot of smiling faces cheering you on. Is it difficult balancing all you do with being a box owner and a coach?
Candice Wagner: My CrossFit Iron Horse family is incredible. They are part of the reason I do what I do. I want to inspire them and to set the example for them while running our community. It can be extremely difficult trying to run the business, coach, program, stay involved in their lives and to be honest, some days I’m exhausted I am very tempted to skip training, but that’s true for anyone who also works. My Iron Horse family understands how passionate I am about CrossFit and supports me and my training. I’m so thankful for all of them.



 

FHQ: You’re an ex-marine, how do you think your training for the U.S. military crosses over into the CrossFit world?
Candice Wagner: Once a Marine always a Marine. 😉 I think my experience in the military has definitely crossed over into the CrossFit world in numerous ways and not just through physical aspects. Even things like leading groups, setting the example, teaching, attention to detail… all of those things tie in some way.

 

FHQ: What do you hope to accomplish in Carson in July? What are your hopes for this year’s Games?
Candice Wagner: My goals this year at the Games are the same as my goals were for regionals. I want to have fun, I want to give every event my best effort, and I want to walk away from the weekend with no doubt I did those two things to the best of my ability. I’m going to soak it all in. So many in our community wish they could compete in the Games. I won’t take any of it for granted. I feel blessed to be able to compete as one of the fittest in the world on the grand stage. I’m super stoked and I can’t wait to get out there in July!

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