Bored w scissors and colored electrical tape

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I am a 2013 Crossfit Open Competitor

Despite knowing I am likely going to miss at least one of the open workouts due to a medical procedure scheduled for mid-March, I signed up for the CrossFit Open. How could I not? Especially after calling the world out HERE?

So I logged on, paid my 20 dollars, selected my affiliate, selected my team and then updated some personal records and bio info (a 45# or 22.5% increase in my back squat was my favorite update). Afterwards, I clicked back to the affiliate / team page and what I saw left me underwhelmed. I was the 23rd member of the affiliate and the 12th person to select CrossFit 858 as my team. Yes, the opens are still a few days away, plenty of time for members to sign up, but after reading about the participation among boxes in the region and across the world (http://games.crossfit.com/article/competing-title-worlds-largest-team) and recounting the participation among our athletes last year, I was compelled to blog about it again.

Here's a line graph of my 858 participant expectations*:

Here's a pie graph showing participation year to year*:

(*Expectations based on 2012 actual participation and assumed growth. I have no idea the actual growth in membership)

Here's a picture of puppies:

I can't tell you that the open experience will be life changing. For me, however, there are moments that I won't soon forget.

• In workout 12.2 (a 10 minute snatch ladder amrap), the second weight of 135 was 5# over my 1RM at the time. I only got 32 two total reps, but that 32nd rep made me feel like a champion.

• Workout 12.3 was a more 'conventional' CrossFit workout; a 18 minute amrap of 15 box jumps 12 push press (though the standards allow any shoulder to overhead movement) and 9 toes to bar. I finished with a decent score, but what I remember was Catie's efforts on this WOD. Catie had only been with 858 for about a month. With a whole lot on her personal plate, she dove head first into CrossFit...and got stuck on the toes to bar. If I recall correctly she spent 15 minutes trying to do one. If she hadn't been smiling the entire time, I would say it was one of the hardest things to watch. A few weeks back we redid this wod as part of 858's programming and she got 5 full rounds and 9 push presses. This means she did 45 toes to bar. It's been awesome watching her grow over the past year (figuratively, of course; she's still tiny). Now she holds an L1 Certificate and crushes wods daily.

So basically, sign up and  1) realize how awesome you are, 2) how awesome you've become and 3) puppies. 

Fran

This is the third time I've done Fran Rx. In Oct 2011 I finished at 6:52 at CrossFit 858. In November 2012, I finished at 5:22 at Crossfit USD during my L1 Cert. Two days ago I finished at 5:20 at 858. More than a year has gone by before Coach Ian has programmed Fran, and while a PR is still a PR, there are some very questionable reps and I'll likely take Fran on again during open gym in the near future.

Why you should participate in the crossfit open

First let me preface with why I am would otherwise be participating in the CrossFit Open:

-to prove I am stronger than you,
-to prove I am faster than you,
-to prove I am overall better at life than you.

Here's why you should do it:

-to prove me wrong.

But for real though, if anyone gives you a reason outside of the above, they're 1) bullshitting you, 2) wasting 20 dollars OR 3) part of the <1% that actual is a regional/games level athlete. For everyone else, the opens are an opportunity to 'prove your fitness' relative to your box nemesis. What is a box nemesis? Webster defines a nemesis as a formidable and usually victorious opponent. I define it as that dude at the gym you high-five after they hit PR and chase during met cons, while thinking 'pfft lucky', 'did he do all his reps, OR 'ROM'. You could be the best of friends in real life, but when the clock reads '3. 2. 1...'

Everyone has one, but if you don't, survey yesterday's white board and find one.

The bottom line is not only should everyone participate in the CrossFit open, everyone should compete in it.

xoxo ryry