The CrossFit Open Is Coming for You
I think the title you see for this article is what young people would call “click bait”. But, as I sat down to write this article this month, the second time I will write why you should sign up for the CrossFit Open, I come at this topic in a much more humble state.
Context is important at this point. In early July, I slipped two disks in my lower back. Reason isn’t important except to say that “listening to your body” is often said but rarely listened to when you believe you’re invincible. I was invincible and now I’m on my back. A little less broken but dealing with the reality that dealing with my back will be a lifelong hobby. Since then, I’ve slipped back on my weight loss journey and my clothes fit a little tighter. I look around the gym and the guys I was just a step behind are now far off in the distance. Why am I telling the world this? I’m still doing the Open because I’m hoping it might kill all the negative stuff in my head and replace it with all the awesomeness that CrossFit has to offer.
So let’s restart this article and showcase one of the reasons I love CrossFit and walking through the doors of CrossFit Colosseum. When I come upon his instagram stories and see him smashing through obstacles, no one should be able to pick up muscle ups that FAST!!, I remember that Crossfit has given so many amazing things to so many people. When you are down, when you are questioning whether you should sign up, and when you wonder what is worth your time in coming each weekend to come face to face with an Open Workout, let me tell you what one; Ewan Kirkpatrick
His words . . . .
MY STORY
I started doing CrossFit in March of 2020, just doing the online classes to stay active through the lockdown. I kept doing it, and when I hit ski season I realized that my skiing had gotten way better. Then, in September 2021 I started doing the classes with my dad, and loved it! My skiing was really good the next season. I started working on the gymnastics side of CrossFit; handstands, butterfly pull ups, muscle ups, and started to do CrossFit to get better at CrossFit! In 2022 I learned about the Open, and did the workouts as best as I could (some parts scaled, others not) and it went pretty well! I started training harder to try and RX the Open next year, and on a couple workouts I did, and I saw that if I had been 14 (I was 13 at the time), I would have done pretty well! After that I really started pushing myself in training and going to the gym even more, up until September of last year, when I started following the Elite training program and working with Carolyne to train for this games season!
WHY I WANT TO COMPETE
I’ve always been pretty competitive; I love pushing myself! When I first found out about the Open, I knew it was for me. The 2 years I tried the workouts even though I was too young, I had a great time. This year, my goal is semifinals, and next year I want to win the games! It’s been almost a year since my first “real” Open experience, and in the time I’ve been building up my strength and gymnastics skills to get ready! I can’t wait to compete this year, it’s gonna be super fun and a good test of my skills and strength!
- Ewan Kirkpatrick.
Remember when you had that fire? Remember when you were so singularly focused on a thing that you said things like “I would have done pretty well” or “got into the gymnastics part of CrossFit”. This is what CrossFit gives him and I would do a lot to tap into just a little.
Beginning of spiel to get you sign up: The CrossFit Open is your once a year opportunity to test your progress for the year and put yourself up against other crossfitters from around the world. It is the ultimate CrossFit experience because it champions community, testing your limits, and pushing beyond them. END
Reasoning for you to sign up for the CrossFit Open from a forty four year old man with a sore back: Sign up for the Open to get rid of all the excuses that have kept you from getting the life you deserve. The Open is REALLY hard and you might not achieve what you want. But you took the single step away from excuses and towards what you want. Does CrossFit give you what you want? I have no idea. If you are looking for a supportive community, new friends who will push you, a healthier outlook on life, and a true path to a longer more functional life, then yeah it is giving you exactly what you want.
Changing things in your life always start with the same thing. You take one step. That step is followed by another and another. The Open will provide a massive kick in the ass and push you that much further away from the excuses you want to leave behind.
I’m going to do it to stay healthy for my family, to cheer on my CrossFit family, burn some excuses down, and watch Ewan Kirkpatrick embody everything that I love about CrossFit.
Have a great month.
Authors:
Daniel Gerecht
Special contributor, and CrossFit teen athlete, Ewan Kirkpatrick