# @pvellner on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DaqwC4WCX7e
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67669323-pvellner-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0346ad3f93.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-11T21:38:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Vellnerd (@PVellner) — https://gondola.cc/PVellner

## Caption

#SaturdayStorytime - Birthday Bummers
It’s my birthday on Tuesday, I’ll Be turning 36. happy birthday to me. Getting older can be tough, but it beats the alternative right?
Wrong. This week I’m going to tell you a bit about the joys of having a July 14th birthday as CrossFit games athlete. Enjoy:
- For most of the last 10 years my birthday falls about 2-3 weeks before the CrossFit games. This means that it’s also during the peak of peak training. So I usually celebrate by waking up to an apologetic text from mich_letendre then training 3 sessions while being at my physical and emotional limit. The day usually ends with someone I love sliding a sweet treat into my cave with a note that says “real sorry”. Then I mentally prepare for the next days lashing. This year the games is earlier which means I get to celebrate with a taper week. I have enormous plans…
- A July 14 birthday also means I have the privilege of sharing a birthday with the Wells sisters, and in this community that’s a tough one 😅. Most of the day I watch most of the people I know wish them a happy birthday, and then a few might turn around after and say “oh yeah, you too champ”. It’s a tough draw, but I remind them yearly that I was here first. It’s kind of like when you try to time a heavy lift in competition the same as a real heavy hitter and just pretend all those loud cheers are for you. Birthday vibes are high on the 14th. I pretend I’m contributing. 
- When you’re a CrossFit games athlete your age is basically the age you will be at the games that year. So I get to enjoy being my actual age from about August-January before people start publishing that I’m older. I’ve accepted it at this point and I’ve just been telling people I’m 36 since February 🤷🏼‍♂️. No use in squirming. 
Anyways that’s it for the birthday trauma dump. Two years into masters eligibility and headed back to the games as an individual for my last showing. I’ll be the oldest athlete there this year, a few athletes are closer to my kids age than mine 😬. I’m not sure if I’m the oldest ever in the individual division, someone will have to check for me. Anyways don’t be stingey with the happy birthdays this year 🎉

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## Tags

saturdaystorytime

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