This weekend marks the second/third stage for the age group quarterfinals. I say the second/third stage because I look at stage two as the teams and stage three as the age group, of which both are competing this weekend. With the release of the floorplans, I am very excited to see these workouts. Here are my thoughts on the floorplans and potential difference makers, as well as a few tips to mentally prepare for the Quarterfinal weekend.

Compared to the early days of CrossFit, the average athlete in the sport is now expected to perform a wider array of gymnastic movements at ridiculously high volumes. It’s amazing to watch and it’s even cooler to sit back and think about how far these athletes have come in such a short period of time. But with expectations and demands still increasing, I have found myself wondering if we have forgotten the value that a strong foundation has on improving performance and preserving the athlete.

If you're a Masters athlete and your goal is succeeding at the SPORT of CrossFit, then listen up. It’s time to stop focusing on just “being good” at CrossFit. Yes, to be successful, obviously, you have to be good at the skills you’re going to see in the tests, but it’s time to start focusing on becoming athletic in a broader sense. Read more.

Over the years, I have seen the CrossFit Masters world grow and grow, and with that I have seen more and more companies coming out looking to capitalize on this market. The biggest problem I have seen from this lies around snake oil sales to these athletes.

Over the past 15 years of being in the Sport of CrossFit, I have developed eight different teams that have all made the CrossFit Games. To me, the most exciting part is that not one of those teams was the same team as the year before. Each year, having a new team presented new challenges, new personalities, new strengths, new weaknesses, and new focus on bonding. Over the years and the teams, I can honestly say there is one attribute that separates the teams that do well and are resilient, versus those that fold. So, the million dollar question is what is that one thing?

Over the years I have trained over thirty CrossFit Games Masters athletes, and of those thirty athletes, I have produced over nine podium finishers with four gold medal winners. All of the podium finishers have one thing in common, as it relates to mindset: they all have the ability to spot the forest through the trees.

Every year I learn so much from the Games. I usually leave with my head spinning and a notebook full of thoughts that range from training, programming, athletes, athlete management, plans for future athlete fields, where the game will take human potential, and coaching the game itself. On top of those notions, I mostly leave feeling fulfilled and excited. I am fulfilled with my time in this sport, fulfilled with my effort as a coach and the effort of my athletes, and fulfilled with what CrossFit has given me. I am also extremely excited for what is to come, not just from the sport, but from humans and what we can do! So, with all that down, let’s get into my top three thoughts/experiences from this year's 2021 NoBull CrossFit Games.

This week is the start of the 2021 CrossFit Games, and I couldn’t be more excited. This past year, through the pandemic, definitely left a void in the Sport of Fitness. CrossFit did their best to keep the Games going, but it just wasn’t the same experiencing it in the bubble. I also love the new format of the CrossFit Games and I feel a resurgence amongst the community towards this yearly event. It is almost a breath of fresh air as the teams have been brought back to the affiliate, and the Sectionals are flying under the CrossFit banner once again.