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The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Feat. Coach Andrea)

  February 6, 2018

Excitement is in the air, and there’s a lot of chatter…it’s that time of year again! It’s time for the CrossFit Open! The worldwide competition among CrossFitters of all fitness and skill levels begins in a few short weeks. One workout each week for five weeks. It’s you against the world…how awesome is that! The Open is not meant to be intimidating by any means. So, let’s take a look at some ways to help you have a successful Open experience.

Focus on getting the work done instead of focusing on the clock. Since the open started in 2011, the majority of workouts are AMRAP’s or some version of it, with time varying from four minutes all the way up to twenty minutes. To be exact, 27 of the past 35 open workouts are an AMRAP of some sort! Watching the clock can either put you in panic mode for a 5 min AMRAP or be quite daunting when you look up and see you’re only four mins in on a 20 min AMRAP. I’m not saying to avoid strategizing (*see strategizing tips in previous article by Coach Tommy). Seasoned crossfitters are all about strategy, and there’s something to be said about that. They are very well aware of how long it takes to do those movements and can be very efficient. However, if this is your first rodeo, strategize a little, be realistic about what you can get done, and go for it!

That’s right…GO FOR IT! Put the “I can’t do this” attitude on the back burner. Whatever level you are on in your fitness journey, you need to believe in yourself because you WILL surprise yourself. The open does bring out the beauty of CrossFit! Encouragement, excitement, comradery, friendly competition, strength you didn’t know you had, determination, grit…it all comes to light during these five weeks. Seeing someone get their first double-under, first ttb, first pull-up, first ring/bar muscle-up is beyond rewarding, or even better BEING that someone! Plus, everyone is there to cheer you on…it’s a great time to be at the box!!

As wonderful as it is to hit those movements or lifts for the first time, there will also be those times where your weakness shines for everyone to see. We have all had those moments where all we can do is stand there and eat our humble pie as we look at the barbell that has become too heavy or the rig that our toes just cannot reach. That’s just part of it. However, you can use that as motivation to get better, faster, stronger for next year!

Lastly, safety first! It’s ok to push yourself but not to the point where you’ve put your health and form at risk to get those reps in. It’s not worth you turning into Quasimodo to finish out those deadlifts. Be smart and know when to take a knee.

For those of you on the fence about the open, don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone. It will be worth it. All the time, effort, and hard work you have put in leads up to this point. Participate in the 2018 CrossFit Open and represent our gym! We are all there for each other whether we are the hammer or the nail. You will work hard, be proud of yourself, and have so much fun!! Then you will see why this is the most wonderful time of the year!

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