Why hello again!
It’s that time of the year again! Time for the CrossFit Open! A time where thousands (this year more than 100k) of people plop down 20 bucks, in addition to their already $100+ gym fee, for nothing more than a way to compare themselves to the rest of the world of CrossFitters.
Created by Drywall (http://pissingvictory.com/)
I have very few complaints about the open, but the lack of anything more than a webage is my biggest. A coupon to one of the many sponsors CrossFit gets would be the LEAST they could do. I think charging $30 but getting a t-shirt would be better than charging $20 and getting nothing.
But..
I digress.
Let’s focus on the awesome things about the open. Below are the things that I find most awesome about the open.
- Competition – Am I going to win…well no…zero chance. But that feeling of going against a bunch of other people just floors me. One of my favorite moments from last years open was the snatch workout. I got so ANGRY while trying to do the 135 lb snatch (my 1rm was 140 at the time, and I had only ever snatched 135 ONCE) that I punched the floor. My anger forced me to lift that stupid bar 5 times. I don’t get that angry during normal WOD’s.
- Lack of Scaling – It pushes everyone to try something they normally would not. If the snatch workout had come up in a regular wod, I would not have even tried the 135..would have done 115 or MAYBE 125. In 12.3 I would not have done 115 as the push press. But because it is required to do, I did it and was shocked at my results.
- Camaraderie – With competition comes closeness. Rarely do you HATE your competitors in any sport. Sure you get the occasional lack of compatible personalities but for the most part, after battle comes a time where you celebrate the fact that you each pushed yourself hard. You realize you both went after the same thing and their had to be one winner. If both people gave it their all, without cheating or gloating, then why get angry? Note: if there is gloating or cheating, please get angry.
- Universality – I may have made up that word but what I mean is that everyone is doing the same thing. I can walk into almost any crossfit box and ask about how someone did in that wod, much like fran or any of the girls it brings people from around the world together in conversation.
Once it’s all over, enjoy a Victory beer. Yummmm
I’m sure there are a ton of other reasons to love the open. And also quite a few to hate it (as a few really hilarious blogs point out).
What makes you love or hate it?
Recent Comments