By Laura Vallee
Going in the Open again last year reminded me that I had actually improved. I’ll definitely be entering again in 2016…
The CrossFit Open is part of the selection process leading to regional competitions and ultimately the annual CrossFit Games. More than this, it is a chance to try some workouts in competition style from the comfort of your own box. Everyone in the world who registers has a few days to do each of five weekly workouts and post their scores and see how they compare to others of their age, gender, location or affiliate.
Even for those of us who have no particular desire or aptitude to compete, the workouts are fun! They are challenging, but have scaling options. Inevitably you will get excited amongst a large group of fellow CFB competitors, judges and spectators. It’s highly likely that you will end up doing some things you’ve never managed to do before, thanks to an extra dose of adrenaline.
I first went in the CrossFit Open in 2014. I’d been doing CrossFit for two months, and figured I’d give it a go. There were no scaling options that year, but I still got a good workout each week, even if the reps didn’t count towards my score. I remember one workout where I couldn’t get a single official rep; the first movement was a 35kg thruster. I also remember getting my first toes-to-bar when I’d been nowhere near getting one up until then… a big pendulumy thing (no penalties for poor form, lucky for me on that one!).
Since last year there have been scaled options for all the workouts, so now everyone can score something for each workout. Going in the Open again last year reminded me that I had actually improved. I’ll definitely be entering again in 2016… seeing what I can do this year, and hopefully pulling out a few surprise moves (even if it’s just while cheering).
So even if you’re pretty new to the whole CrossFit thing, I highly recommend you give it a go. What have you got to lose?
So even if you’re pretty new to the whole CrossFit thing, I highly recommend you give it a go. What have you got to lose?
REASONS TO DO IT (FOR THE PEOPLE STILL TEETERING)
- It’s fun!!!
- It’s only US $20 (AUD $28 today according to Google)
- Extra workouts! Especially if you’re on a limited membership, that’s five extra workouts for about $5 each! Bargain!
- You’ll meet CFB people you haven’t met yet
- It’ll give you something to train for
- You’ll almost certainly surprise yourself by what you can pull out in a more competitive setting
- Watch other people do cool stuff (e.g. Chelsi powering through handstand push-ups like a woman possessed!).
HOW? WHEN? LEMME AT IT!
Feb 25 – March 28 2016
1 workout a week, at CFB on Saturdays at 08:30
More info and to register: http://games.crossfit.com/