5 reasons to try the CrossFit Games Opens

Melaina Neisner | 02/03/2016 | 5

Hey Friends, Mel here!

As Kirstie mentioned in yesterdays blog post the CrossFit Games Opens are right around the corner! I would like to share with you the 5 reasons you should take part in this years Opens according to Christine! Here is her story:

It was roughly 10 months after I had started my first CrossFit class. I had no idea what the Open was, but I was hearing chatter about it here and there and I vaguely knew it was something competitive. It was only during one of the normal classes that one of the coaches encouraged me to “totally do the Open” and that anyone can sign up. I had figured out by then some of my strong suits (squats, cleans, deadlifts), some of my “OK but room for improvements” (double-unders, wall balls, snatches), and things I simply couldn’t do unscaled (pull-ups, toes to bar, handstand pushups, and a million unknown other things). I pretty much blindly signed up because I wanted to see what this whole mysterious event was all about. I was a little terrified (if not oblivious to what I exactly signed up for), but it was kind of cool to be part of this larger thing that other people were participating in. I soon realized why the Open energy was so infectious.

Rather than going into everything, I’ll give a short list of reasons why I’ve done the Open for 3 years in a row, and why I signed up for my 4th:

1. You get to cheer on people you know as well as meet new faces, all in the name of trying something challenging (and fun). It’s the difference between jogging a couple miles around the neighborhood alone and doing a race with tons of enthusiastic spectators. #adrenaline
2. If you have any shred of a competitive streak, even (and especially) just for yourself, it’s a great way to do a WOD and feel like what you accomplished actually does go down in the books.
3. Never thought you could do a double-under? Or a pull-up? Or snatching a certain amount of weight? Nothing compares to the real possibility of getting a no-rep, or getting 1 rep, of something extremely at your max within the span of 12-or-so whole minutes. You just fight. And continue to fight. Rarely do you get that opportunity to simply try your hardest and bend your limits. (If you’re on the fence between Rx and scaled, I strongly recommend the Rx—you’d be surprised how hard you can push yourself.) I’ve witnessed so many “firsts” for others during the Open—100# overhead! double under! chest to bar!—and it’s crazy inspiring.
4. You have the privilege of having a fellow CFSVer as a judge for your workout, who also simultaneously becomes your best friend, coach, and cheerleader for those grueling minutes. Plus, you also have the chance to judge as well. Standards matter. There’s a clear definition of what’s a legal rep and what’s too janky to count. Focus on form is paramount.
5. The strategic approach to a workout is always fun to noodle over. It’s fascinating to talk to others, watch videos, and read up on form after the WOD announcement. It’s a teachable moment!

Although it’s not without its flaws, the Open is special to me because it’s about pushing limits and learning with friends in the warm-fuzziness that is the CFSV culture. – Christine Liu

To register for the Opens click here and make sure to sign up under the CrossFit Somerville affiliate and team!