Dear CrossFit Oakdale Athlete-

28
Mar

Dear CrossFit Oakdale Athlete-

I gotta be honest, check when 16.5 was announced, seek I wasn’t impressed.  Yes, it was a repeat, and it was a first in that we repeated movements for the first time in an Open.  That, coupled with being a big fan of push/pull or pull/push workouts made me a little meh, as it’s push/push.  Finally, it’s not technically difficult, literally anyone can do it, and the only thing that separates athletes is desire or will.
And on that note, I realized it a perfect way to end the Open.  Not on an elegant mix of ring muscle ups and Squat Snatches, or pistols, or some display of grace and beauty in movement, but sheer will and grunt work.
Instead of staring at the bar, wondering if you will get your first muscle up, chest to bar pullup, or whatever amazing feat of strength and skill you were able to pull off, you got the opportunity to just go until you were a pile on the floor.
If you are going to make it to Regionals, you are going to have to pay to play by selling out on the thruster/burpee suckfest.  Want the right to say you finished the Open?  You will have to traverse the same ground as the fittest on earth, and the clock cannot save you.  Even if you can barely thruster the bar, you can keep going, 1 at a time, until you complete 21.  And my 90 year grandmother can probably do at least 1 burpee.  There are athletes that completed 16.5 over days.  But imagine the PR the next time it comes up!  “I PR’ed on 16.5 by 24 hours!!!”
It may not be fun, but it’s beautiful.
As I type this with terribly sore triceps, I am so proud of the effort put forth.  You accomplished something that not everyone is willing to do – suffer for your fitness.  Thank you for your effort and I look forward to getting fitter with you.
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Workout of the Day
AMRAP 20
5 Chest to Bar Pullups
10 Wallball Shots 20/14
15 Kettlebell Swings 53/35