This year will be my 16th CrossFit Open.

Sixteen years of signing up.
Sixteen years of putting my name on the line.
Sixteen years of testing where I actually stand.

Let me take you back to year one, 2011

I could do one double under at a time. One.
My max clean and jerk was 145 pounds.

Guess what the first workout had?
Double unders.

Guess what the second workout had?
165 pound clean and jerks.

Perfect.

I remember staring at that bar thinking, “Well… here we go.”

And guess what?

I surprised myself. I did both workouts RX. One year I also got my first muscle up, in an Open workout.

Not in practice.
Not in warmups.
In the Open.

That’s what the Open does.

It pulls more out of you than you think you have.

I’ve done the Open in a plastic boot. Twice.
I did it last year two months after elbow surgery in a full arm brace.

I’m not telling you this to brag.

I’m telling you because you are capable of more than you think.

It Doesn’t Have to Be RX

Let’s clear something up.

The Open doesn’t have to be RX.
It doesn’t even have to be scaled.

There’s a Foundations option that is accessible to just about anyone.

The Open is not about proving you’re the fittest in the room.

It’s about finding out where you are.

It’s a test of your current fitness.
A snapshot.
A baseline for the year ahead.

It shines a light on weaknesses.
It confirms your strengths.
It gives you clarity.

And clarity is powerful.

Why People Don’t Sign Up

Fear.

Fear of not being as fit as last year.
Fear of not being in shape yet.
Fear of what others might think.
Fear of finishing last.

If you’re doubting whether you can do it… that’s probably the best reason to do it.

If you feel like you’re behind… that’s the reason to do it.

If you’re worried about judgment… you clearly haven’t experienced Friday Night Lights at Everlasting.

The Open isn’t about perfection.
It’s about participation.

It’s three weeks.
Three workouts.
Three Friday nights of doing hard things together.

Cheering.
Laughing.
High fives.
Community.

You will push harder than you normally do in class.
You will discover something about yourself.
You will leave proud.

Don’t Let Fear Decide

Don’t let fear dictate what you can and cannot do.

If you want help, you’ve got it.
If you want advice, you’ve got it.
If you want a friendly judge, you’ve got it.
If you want to have fun doing hard things, you’ve got it.

And if you’re reading this and your gym doesn’t make a big deal out of the Open…

Come to Everlasting for Friday Night Lights.

We’ll show you why we do it.
And we’ll show you how much fun it can be.

See you on the floor.

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If this fired you up, hit follow. The Open season is just one piece of what we are building, and I want you to be a part of it. Let’s grow together.