My Open Experience

So the 2013 Crossfit Open has come to a close. This is my 2nd year to participate in the Open and my results are nothing short of outstanding. I think they send a ribbon for 21218th  place, but I am not sure. I will be checking the mail regularly.

But in all honesty, I enjoy doing the open. For me it is something that I have begun training for each year. Each year I have had a goal. My first year it was to perform all of the workouts....simple enough...right?
This past year I took the open a little more seriously. I have been "frequenting" the gym for a while since we moved into our new digs here at Crossfit Liberty Hill. Being at a box that is literally 1 mile from my house, affords me the luxury of working out regularly. This, coupled with the fact that I have developed a want for competition has led to an increase in "training", if you will, for events such as this. Now did I think, for a second, that my scores would actually qualify me for anything other than a "nice job!" at my box by a fellow athlete?? Not at all. But what I did find out this year, is that it is fun to train for something. To give yourself a goal to work towards. In my mind I told myself that if I ate like I should, and trained regularly, our young box could develop a presence among those South Central Leaderboards soon enough. What if my goal became other members goals. What could we do then??
And whats the worst thing that could happen? We could solidify our spot at the bottom of the region, and be an extremely fit group of individuals? Not a bad consolation prize in my opinion.
What else did the Open teach me, you ask? It taught me a lot about heart. I saw members, who had next to no experience with Crossfit, dive head first into this competition. I saw them get their first chest 2 bar, a snatch pr, a first time Karen experience. It was awesome. You could actually see that moment happen when someone's animal instinct kicks in, and their fight or flight mentality is tested.
"Why should I sign up and pay for something, just to show how bad I suck? I asked myself that question 2 years ago, and will never ask myself it again. In my mind, for that period of time, I am competing for Regionals, I am competing for the Crossfit Games, and no matter what my score is, I will always be in the running, and when it is all said and done I look back at my experience and the knowledge and strength that I have gained over that period, and it is well worth doing over and over again.
So here's to the 2014 Crossfit Games Training Season.  Work starts today.
PS. Thanks for the text today , Rebecca!