Crossfit Brighton 150228

Crossfit Brighton 150223

Crossfit Brighton 150218

Crossfit Brighton 150216

Crossfit Brighton 150213

Are you signing up for the Crossfit Open?

Yes

What was your experience from last year's Open?

Last year I did not sign up but I was able to participate in 4 of the open wods. 14.5, the burpee/thruster wod scared the crap out of me to begin with. I set a goal to complete it in 20 mins... That didn't happen, I completed it in 22:46 and it was seriously one of the hardest wods I had ever done. I did it on a Fridaynight and there were only about 7 of us that were there for the wod that night, I was the last one to finish and once I got thru the the 12's I remember 'thinking no more breaks just keep moving'. Because I was last to finish everyone gathered around and cheered me on each rep, my judge Jim Connors keeping me accountable for each rep and telling me to keep moving and Jessica Chaplin reminded me to breath... that's all I remember, and that burpees get hard and monotonous when you do 84 of them. All the others were shouting out various forms of motivation to help me finish it up, that may be closest I have come to dying... Or well at least passing out. It was great!  

What did you gain or learn from participating?

I pushed myself hard on 14.5 and wanted to do well and finish strong even though I did not sign up. I learned that in my current physiological state of conditioning that I had so much more potential and as happy as I was to complete it with an average time, I wanted more, I wanted to do better, move faster, take less breaks and finish faster because the clock couldn't save me, it was do or die. 14.5 ignited a spark inside me to get on point. That's when I started to get more serious about my training and food to fuel my workouts.

Would you recommend others to sign up for this year's Open?

Yes, everyone should do it at least once. It's fun to do the open wods and casually see how you stack up in the box but I think this year because I signed up for the first time it will be exciting to see how I compare to other athletes regionally and nationally. I really like competing so it will be interesting to me to see how the dynamic changes and counts for something on the leaderboard.

If yes, what type of athlete (new, experienced, young, old) should participate?

This year with the addition of the scaled division there really is no excuse to not sign up regardless of where you are at age or skill level. I realize everyone has different goals however the atmosphere of doing an open wod is different then doing a normal wod. We all embrace the suck together and regardless of where you are at, we are all going through it and understand. So just spend the $20 and sign up.

Crossfit Brighton 150211

Are you signing up for the Crossfit Open?

Absolutely, been looking to see what changes I have made over the last year in my fitness level and how I stack up to others in the region.  

What was your experience from last year's Open?

The open always seems to bring out the best in a person and truly helps identify deficiencies in my training and mental capacity.  Overall I was happy with the improvement in my fitness level and I truly felt the programing at CFB helped prepare me for competing.  Most of the open work outs I completed two times in an attempt to get a better score the second time.  That was true each time except for one of the WODs.  One my favorite experiences was watching the competition amongst athletes in the gym.  It was uncommon for me to wander over during the various classes and see how athletes tackled the workouts.  I learned a lot from competing and was also inspired by the effort that so many put in.  

What did you gain or learn from participating?

The biggest aspect for me includes where I have come from physically and mentally.  It seems that we can find another gear and a higher level of work capacity when you are being judged and put against others outside of the gym.    The workouts can have some beautiful programing that will leave you humbled and laying on the floor trying to figure out what just ran you over.  That mental capacity to push and find the next gear truly comes out in the open and in competition.  The ability to push beyond, when my head says to rest is really important to me in the open.  Last year I felt that the open gave me the confidence that our programing and training was working and it served as an example for me that all the hard work was paying off from a year prior.    

I have great respect for those who participate in the open and are willing to post their scores on a much larger level the CFB.  Its funny how one rep can mean the difference of 100 places in our region and that reminder would come up during many workouts after the open and during training of how important it is to push all the way to the end of a workout.  The open has become a competition  amongst many of my peers across the United States, and  I plan on making sure I beat them down, purely for bragging rights over 2015

Would you recommend others to sign up for this year's Open?

Yes, unless you have torn your calf muscle or something similar.  Now that the games includes a scaled division, there is no reason an athlete with CFB should not participate.  Our athletes are most likely going to complete the open workouts, when you commit by signing up, its going to show that you are committed and I think it will make you push farther during the workout and truly test your fitness level.  

If yes, what type of athlete (new, experienced, young, old) should participate?

All of our athletes should participate, the scaled division has completely changed the open.  It will allow greater flexibility and more to participate.  If you are in this for the long run, you  want to compete so you can see next year how far you have come!

Crossfit Brighton 150209

Are you signing up for the Open?
Since I started CrossFit over 3 years ago it has been a tradition of mine to participate in the CrossFit Open Games and I have already signed up.  My first CrossFit Open I did not know what to expect and if I could even do any of the Games workouts because I had only been doing CrossFit for 5 months.   I was thrilled that the first games workout that year was as many burpees as possible in 7 minutes because I knew I could do them.  My resolve strengthened to be even more ready for the next year’s Games by continuous improvement in my workouts.  

The 2nd year I participated in the Games I was able to push jerk 75 lbs. over my head.  That was a lot of weight for me, albeit not impossible, and a huge accomplishment to do it.  I resolved to keep challenging myself with the weights and not to “go easy” in workouts when I can do more.

The 3rd year was even more challenging since the last Open workout was 84 thrusters mixed in with 84 burpees over the bar where the clock “couldn’t save you”.  I resolved that as long as it took I was not going to stop and prepared myself mentally for the challenge.  The weight for women was 65 lbs. which was a lot for me, but again, doable.  It took me a half hour and that workout is one of my greatest achievements in CrossFit.  I had the full support of the CrossFit Brighton Community that were there cheering me on.  

Participating in the CrossFit Games is an opportunity for me to celebrate my hard work, dedication and consistency in doing CrossFit.  There may be workouts in the Games that I am unable to do physically but that is OK.  I focus on what I can do, what I can push myself to do and learn what I still need to work on.  

The Games this year have expanded to include a teenage division and an opportunity to do a scaled version of the Open workout.  I believe everyone should sign up for the Open no matter what your age or your ability.  For a small fee you will have a sense of accomplishment that is priceless.  You will push yourself and learn things about yourself that you may not have otherwise in a regular workout.   

While everyone has their own reasons for participating in the Open, I have found the true competition in the Games is the one I look at in the mirror.  You will be challenged physically and mentally and that is something I look forward to.

Crossfit Brighton 150208

Are you signing up for the Crossfit Open? 

Yes, I am registered.

What was your experience from last year's Open?

 

It's fun.  The speculation of the workouts, waiting for the announcements, watching the pro's go head to head - then to watch your peers compete amongst themselves (and with themselves.)  It creates an exciting "buzz" at the box. I surprised myself on a few occasions too...with my times/ability, "Coach Jess, making me do the Thruster/Burpee workout from last year -UGH but I finished and didn't die- with a decent time too.

What did you gain or learn from participating?  

I think you gain a further sense of camaraderie with your fellow gym mates, you WILL learn how much you can push yourself - especially with people watching (and judging.)  You learn where you stack up within your gym and others.  You will also learn your faults (and see other's too - don't be embarrassed) Ex. wallballs better be high enough, chest better hit the ground on burpees, squat below parallel, fully lock out, chest touch the bar, hips fully extended at the top, it's a push not a jerk...

Would you recommend others to sign up for this year's Open?

Yes, I think everyone needs to do it (at least once!)  and this year is more exciting than in the past with the new scaled division- it gives us folks who can't throwdown with the big guys/gals a way to still make a showing of it!  The open isn't about the best doing the best....it's about everyone cheering everyone on and giving it your all next to a sweaty teammate who is also suffering and wanting to die. :)

If yes, what type of athlete (new, experienced, young, old) should participate?

All athletes should register-  It will be hard, it will be fun, you will laugh, you may want to cry, you will lay on the ground and gasp for air...then get back up and scream at the person next to you to 3,2,1...MOVE your a$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crossfit Brighton 150204

Crossfit Brighton 150203