DON’T DO THE OPEN PART 2

• October 2, 2019
• CrossFit, Fitness

DON’T DO THE OPEN PART 2

So here we are, Part 2.  Like most part 2’s this one is most likely going to be worse than the original. (Not your performance but the blog post.) We will call this CrossFit Open 2:  Die Open, Die.

Usually sequels are just regurgitation of the original with slight differences;  New Villains, new supporting characters, etc.  This blog will be explaining that there are two CrossFit Opens this year and that for the foreseeable future this will be the new permanent date.  The Open this year will run from October 10th till November 11th.  Seriously, that escalated quickly.

BuiltWith Fitness/CrossFit BWI will running the open every Saturday using the 10:30 class time for judging, just like we did in April.  Make sure that if you would like to be judged that you come then.   We will be doing the open workout at the 8:30 class as well, but, and I stress, there will be no judging available at that timeframe unless you have made alternative arrangements prior.  The format will be to sign up on the whiteboard for a judging slot and then go.  Arriving early is encouraged so that you get the time that you want, the bar that you want, and the length of warm up that you need.

The reasons to do the open are still the same, and you will find below the post from earlier in the year.  So, lets get signed up and ready to test our fitness for the second time this year.

Repost from Part 1

Now, before you get your proverbial panties/tighty whiteys in a bunch, let me explain such a statement.  I would like everyone to test their fitness and participate in the open, but in their own terms.

There is a lot of stigma that is associated with the Open; I am not in good enough shape, I am not competitive/Games Athlete, I don’t want to be judged, I’m not paying 20 dollars just to workout, etc.

We hear you!

Everything listed above is a valid enough reason but the CrossFit Open is just 5 normal weekend workouts that you will participate in on a normal Saturday morning, nothing changes.  So lets dig into above.

I am not good enough shape.  

Good enough shape for what?  To work out on a Saturday morning like normal?  The Open has many divisions: Rx, Scaled, Rx Masters, Scaled Masters, Teens, Teens Scaled.

Here is an example of the first weeks workout from last year and the many iterations of it.

• AMRAP in 20 minutes

• 8 Toes-to-Bars

• 10 Dumbbell Hang Clean-and-Jerks (50/35 lb)

• 14/12 calorie Row

Scaling: The Open offers a prescribed and scaled version of each workout for any age group. If you are unable to complete the prescribed version, try the scaled version for your age.

Variations:

Rx’d: (Ages 16-54)

Men use 50-lb. dumbbell

Women use 35-lb. dumbbell

Scaled: (Ages 16-54)

Men perform hanging knee-raises, use 35-lb. dumbbell

Women perform hanging knee-raises, use 20-lb. dumbbell

Teenagers 14-15:

Boys use 35-lb. dumbbell

Girls use 20-lb. dumbbell

Scaled Teenagers 14-15:

Boys perform hanging knee-raises, use 20-lb. dumbbell

Girls perform hanging knee-raises, use 10-lb. dumbbell

Masters 55+:

Men use 35-lb. dumbbell

Women use 20-lb. dumbbell

Scaled Masters 55+:

Men perform sit-ups, use 20-lb. dumbbell

Women perform sit-ups, use 10-lb. dumbbell

You have all done some variation of the above before.  This is no surprise.

I don’t want to be judged.

Then don’t!  At 8:30am every Saturday we will performing the Open workout for that week like a normal class with no judge.  Toss that score into Wodify and give your coach a high five and you’re done.  You rock!  You can’t make the 8:30 class?  Still not a problem.  From 9:30 till 11:30am we will be running heats of the workout.  Pop your name on the whiteboard for a heat time and workout.  Just tell us that you will not be needing a judge.  Easy peezy lemon squeezy.

I am not competitive/Games Athlete

Neither are 99.9% of everyone.  Trust me, I have coached enough Games athletes to know that they are just as and/or even more nervous than you.  They have trained outrageously hard and are more fit than most and still are as neurotic as they come. The point being is that you do not need to be competitive to participate.  Do it for yourself.  Be the intrinsic athlete that we want you to be.  It’s a good thing!

I don’t want to pay 20 dollars just to see how bad of shape I’m in.

I love this one.  It always has the most visualization in my mind.  I imagine that someone is forcing you against your will and shaking you for cash to participate.  Again not to seem like I’m beating a dead horse but don’t pay.  It’s no big deal to us cause we don’t see any of it.

So Why do it?

Signing up to participate lets you see where your fitness level is on the world stage.  You can even drill deeper and see State and local as well.  You can rank yourself on your own personal leaderboard with just a few of your friends or against the whole gym.   Also, this is your chance to be judged on your standards as it relates to competition.   Are you hitting depth of your squats?  Is your pull up getting above the bar?

If this isn’t your first rodeo then it lets you look at how your fitness has changed over the year(s).  It also is a great analytical tool to see what holes you have in your fitness.  Do you need to be stronger, better Aerobic capacity, gym-nasty?

The takeaway of this is to do this for YOU and to have FUN.  Sign up OR Don’t sign up.  Get judged OR don’t get judged.  What you DO need to do is to set time aside for 5 weeks and SHOW UP.