6 Things We Learned From the 2015 CrossFit Games Open
With the 2015 CrossFit Games Open done and dusted, it’s time for us all to reflect upon the achievements, challenges and weaknesses. Although our personal experiences will be very different to the next person’s, here are six things we can all take away from this year’s event:
1. Your weaknesses will find you.
It doesn’t matter what level you’re at: if you take part in the CrossFit Games Open, your weaknesses will hunt you down. From the total novices to the elite athletes, nobody’s safe.
Following this year's structural change, with Europe and Africa combining to form the new Meridian region, this became more apparent than ever before, with many of the UK's top athletes missing out on a spot.
Photo credit: CrossFit Fever
2. Thrusters still represent everything that’s bad in the world.
It doesn’t matter what movement Dave Castro programs them with, thrusters are the honey badgers of the fitness world.
Back in 2013, we thought it couldn’t get much worse than a couplet of chest-to-bar pullups and thrusters. Dave proved us wrong (as he does) with burpees, and 14.5 soon became the nemesis of Open participants across the globe. Seriously, did anyone enjoy that workout?
Just when we thought things really couldn’t get any worse, he introduced the quad-crushing rowing and thrusters combination that was 15.5. Do we need to say any more?
3. Sam Briggs is BACK!
Despite the fact she won’t be competing in the European region this year, the whole of the UK was behind Sam Briggs as she made her CrossFit Games comeback, following a disappointing end to the 2014 season.
Following an SI joint injury in the second part of 15.1, Sam had a shaky start to this year’s Open. Never one to give up, she recovered to post an incredible score of 632-reps for 15.3 Sam decided to re-do the workout after her score was reduced by the CrossFit Games judges, and silenced her critics by posting an even better score of 633-reps.
4. It’s possible to take part in the CrossFit Games Open and not do a single burpee.
Ever since 2012's seven minutes of burpee hell, we've all hoped and prayed for a burpee-free year. This hasn't happened in the entire history of the CrossFit Games Open, until now.
What does it mean, though? Has Dave Castro taken pity on us, or is he plotting a fresh dose of burpee misery for 2016?
5. It’s good to have a strategy, but things don’t always go to plan.
As soon as an Open workout's announced, each box becomes a hub of strategy talk. What's your game plan? How are you going to break up the reps? Are you going to take a pre-workout? These are all valid questions, but each year we learn the hard way: it doesn't always go to plan.
You can have the best strategy in the world, but as soon as your legs begin to fatigue, or you start to lose your mental strength, it all changes. It can quickly become a struggle just to stay in the game, let alone stick to your well thought-out plan.
6. The power of the community can get you through anything.
For all its trials and tribulations, the CrossFit Open has always demonstrated the true power of the community we're all a part of. In 2015, this was amplified by the launch of the scaled competition, making the Open even more accessible than previous years.
Everyone got involved, with some amazing achievements from athletes at all levels: from clean and jerk PBs, to first pull-ups and muscle-ups, it's been incredible to watch.
We can't wait for next year!
