The CrossFit Open is here! For some, this is just another walk in the park. For some, this is a fun community event where they get to throw down shoulder to shoulder with other members of their community and compare themselves to the best of the best. For others, this is the start of what they have been training for over the past year(s).

There are many variables to doing well in the CrossFit Open. However, my goal is to touch on four topics that can yield a huge impact for you.

Here they are:

Fatigue management.

This can yield the biggest impact for you! Over the next week you need to truly watch your fatigue, your stress, and what you are demanding on your body and mind. For many of us there is a lot more stress due to the need to do better. We cannot brush this off, you need to manage your training to make sure you don’t get overtrained from too much mental and physical stress.

Do not over train this last week.

In this stage, you are not going to get stronger or more fit. The key is to give your body touches with movements and intensity in a way that will create familiarity and promote success. You want to allow your body to recover and your should be leaving the training session wanting to do more.

Expect the highs and buffer for the lows.

Over the course of the Open, there will be highs and lows. There will be workouts that you are excited for, and there will be workouts that are not in your favor. Be mentally ready for this and do not allow yourself to slide down the negativity path when things do not go as planned. Create a plan to move forward and then re-asses.

It’s just you vs. you

One of the biggest pitfalls that people go through is when they compare themselves to others. “How could _____ do better than me, I am better than them.” Do not go down this road! There is a lot at play in performing well, and when you start to compare yourself to others, point fingers, and cast doubt on others you are only setting yourself up for disappointment and angst. Focus on yourself, prepare for how you can perform your best. If you do not do well, don’t point a finger at anyone else but yourself. Take ownership, and move forward.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN. Understand that this is an expression of fitness. This is you saying you will not be the norm. You will not succumb to laziness and a lack of fitness. You will challenge yourself and put it out there for all to see. You are part of the 1%, the brave who will train for something, hold themselves accountable, and keep score, because you know, this is the only way to be the best version of yourself.

-Coach Jay