What I learned from the 2013 CrossFit Open.
As a fledgling affiliate owner the CrossFit Open has taken on a whole new meaning for me and the way I view the open inside the walls of Jefferson City CrossFit. Here is what I learned:
1. I am ranked 16,861 in the world and probably never going to make it to the regional competition much less the games and I am ok with that. Why? What? I am sure some of you euber competitive types out there are vomiting your supplements at having to read about my lack of mental fortitude and drive. I am not ashamed to say I learned along with my 2-3 months CrossFitters that for us, the open is just another set of numbers to test and re-test (No Kelly Starrett has not reached bromance levels for me yet but the guy knows his stuff). Yes, we will be doing the burpee/snatch WOD again folks and we will see we have gotten better.
2. I am not good at C2B pull-ups. Why? I don’t do them any regularity and I should. Again, we found something new to incorporate into our WODS and something new to work on. That is what we do. In an endeavor to improve in our constantly varied workouts we always have something new to work on. A few of our members have told me with a little disappointment that they thought the would “be there by now.” Meaning they thought they would have enough skills down to really be able to CrossFit. I always tell athletes in our affiliate that CrossFitters are journey people. Sure the training can be used to produce uncommon results but at the end of the day it is the training and community that appeals to the masses and keeps us coming back for another WOD.
3. Box step ups are more functional for the vast majority of CrossFitters than box jumps. After doing 13.2 with this variation I found that 227 reps is a far better result that 177. Sorry, we will not be changing our standard JCCF Nation, box jumps will continue. What I learned from this is sometimes there is a more efficient way of working and in CrossFit we need to take advantage of it when we are able to. Remember the whole “functional movement” part of CrossFit? Turns out there is something to that stuff.
4. I have the enormous privilege of owning Jefferson City CrossFit with my amazing wife and two of the most incredible people I have ever known in my 36 years of life, Jake and Maria Holee. I have the further privilege of employing a trusted advisor, the humble soul, Rachel “Wonder” Marion. The greatest privilege comes from the people that walk in the doors of our affiliate between 5am and 6pm, 6 days a week and participate in a community that builds each other up. I have the amazing privilege of watching people from all walks of life show up and change there lives on a daily basis and they have made a decision to allow me to be part of that experience. Thank you Jefferson City CrossFit for helping rearrange my thinking
“Be patient. Your fitness level is something that is going to generally take a long time to get to where you think you want it. And when you are there, you will want it higher.
Don’t define yourself by your numbers and your times. Define yourself by who you are and what you are about. CrossFit is something that you do, it is not who you are. That can help keep things in good perspective.
Finally, find your weaknesses, make friends with them, then beat them to death.”
– Chris Spealler