Reflections on the CrossFit Open

Throwing up shakas before 21.3, which included toes to bar, chest to bar, and muscle-ups.

After a year in a pandemic and CrossFit itself being nearly canceled by controversy, the 2021 CrossFit Open went on.

The Open can be a great opportunity to test yourself as an athlete and also a way to connect with your fitness community. In my mind, everyone who shows up is already a winner. Think of what we had to live through in the past year. Gyms closed and/or drastically changed the way they operate. Some people did not want to work out in groups and had limited equipment at home to keep up with their training. Others found virtual alternatives. Parents faced new childcare challenges. We collectively grappled with social injustice and trauma. Those who sign up for the Open had to have made some effort to keep up their fitness in these crazy times.

But the Open workouts included moves like toes to bar and muscle-ups. People working from home were barely getting 500 steps a day. How many people were working on their muscle-ups?!

CrossFit and fitness generally should be fun and empowering, not stressful or demoralizing. I worry about athletes pinning too much of their worth on their Open performance or obsessing about qualifying for quarterfinals. Even worse, they're pushed to injuries requiring months of rehab.

CrossFit is a sport. Like all sports, the athletes at its pinnacle dedicate their lives to achieving greatness. 10% of Open athletes make it to the quarterfinals. I know athletes who are thrilled to make quarterfinals only to have their spirits crushed by the talent of the elite athletes. Have ya'll watched the Games??

Now that the Open is over, I hope athletes can use the next 12 months to focus on what is best for them individually. For well over 90% of us, fitness is just one puzzle piece to leading our best and most fulfilling lives.

What's your next challenge? I dare you to think about an answer beyond how much weight you want to lose or lift. And then I'll help you see how we can get there through training together.

See you out there,

Andrew