2012 Crossfit Open

The Crossfit Open is a 5-week worldwide competition.  Workouts are announced each week on Wednesday nights at 7pm and must be completed by Sunday evening at 7pm.  Scores are posted online and you an see how you compare to others in your region and globally.

My thoughts on the Open in 1 word......SUCCESS.

*I successfully completed all 5 workouts.
*The Bayou City Team successfully secured a spot at Regionals!
*Bayou City successfully hosted 5 weeks of Open wods for our clients and Crossfitters in the community!
*I SUCCESSFULLY earned a spot as alternate on the Bayou City Crossfit Team!

I have nothing but positive comments on the Open...and am SO thankful that I decided to do it.

This picture was taken 10 seconds before 12.1(The calm before the storm).....this is where I convinced myself that I COULD DO THIS and my attitude and thoughts for the next 5 weeks would play a HUGE role in my success.

12.1
7 minute Burpee AMRAP.
Who would have thought that 7 minutes of Burpees could be such a challenge?  I'm SO thankful that John, Ashley, Andrew and Adrian were right there cheering me on......although from this picture it looks like Adrian was thinking 'hmmm, she ain't looking so good right now.'  :)
92 reps
SUCCESS!
AWESOME for me....I've never had an easy go of burpees.

12.2
Snatch Ladder - 10 minutes.  30 at 45#, 30 at 75#, 30 at 100#, 30 at 120#
I actually wasn't worried about this WOD at all.  Here was my thought process.  Up until that WOD was announced, my 1 rep max Snatch was 95#....and I had just accomplished that in December.  I knew that I could do 30 reps at 45# and I knew that I could do 30 reps at 75#...I figured if I was able to get even one rep up at 100# - I was going to be PUMPED.  And, if I didn't happen to get one rep up at 100#, I was no worse off than before the WOD was announced.  No stress, right?  I got 7 reps up at 100#.   A HUGE thanks to John, Ashley, Adrian, Layton and Katie for cheering me on.......I heard every word and used that energy for fuel and strength!
67 Reps
SUCCESS!
New PR for Power Snatch - 100#

 12.3
18 minute AMRAP.  15 box jumps, 12 push press(85#), 9 T2B
I won't lie - I had more than my fair share of anxiety on this WOD.  My thoughts were this: "I gotta keep moving for 18 minutes?  T2B again in an Open WOD?  18 minutes, really?'  I knew I had to have a plan - I needed to work my strengths - box jumps and push press, and just work my way through my weakness  - T2B.  My plan was turned UPSIDE DOWN when Katie told me.....in a very direct fashion that I would definitely be doing all of the 12 reps of Push Press unbroken EVERY ROUND.  She reminded me that I was strong enough and needed to push through the suck factor on this WOD and UNBROKEN was the strategy.  You know what - I did!  Every round - I did all 12 reps UNBROKEN.  I am SO thankful that Katie gave me that guidance and reminded me that I am strong and sometimes we are capable of more than we think we are.

A shout out of thanks to John, Layton, Jane and Donna for the cheers and support.  And a HIGH FIVE to Brandee and Adrian for doing 12.3 with me early that morning.

8 rounds
SUCCESS
Every round of Push Press UNBROKEN

12.4

12 minute AMRAP - 150 Wall Balls (KAREN), 90 Double Unders, 30 Muscle Ups

Again, I felt GREAT about this WOD.  I'd only done KAREN one time, but I knew I completed those 150 Wall Balls in around 8:00.  I knew I could do 90 Double Unders even in an exhausted state.  I've never done a Muscle Up - so any time to swing on the rings would be like extra credit.  My strategy was to finish the Wall Balls in less than 10 minutes so I had 2 minutes to complete my Double Unders.  I prayed for that 'Miracle Muscle Up' that might come from adrenaline and cheers from the crowd....I'd have been nuts not to!  

Imagine how EXCITED I was to come off the Wall Balls at 6:59.......plenty of time for my Double Unders and some time to swing on the rings.  I swung around....but even with the awesome coaching from Jane, I just wasn't able to piece together a Muscle Up.

A note of thanks to Mattison for her encouragement and calm nature while judging me.  In that intense environment, her calm counting was JUST what I needed....that, and John off to the side encouraging me as I walked my laps of recovery.  

BIG thanks to Katie for setting the strategy up of walking 3 mats away from the wall then directly back to the wall to go again...I implemented that same strategy and felt GREAT during all 150 Wall Balls.

240 Reps

SUCCESS

Karen PR:  6:59

12.5
7 minute Fran Ladder - 3 Thrusters, 3 Chest to Bar Pullups, 6 Thrusters, 6 Chest to Bar Pullups.....
AGAIN?  I have to admit, I wasn't exactly excited about this WOD for any other reason than it was the LAST ONE.  I knew I could do 65# Thrusters, and I knew (after last year) that I could do C2B Pullups.  Last year, I did my first C2B Pullup in the Open WOD.  In fact, I did my first 30 C2Bs in that Open WOD.  I got a total of 69 reps last year -  and I had NEVER done a C2B before that WOD was announced....so I was really proud.  With John's encouragement, I looked up my score from last year.  My goal - to beat last year's score.  

Strategy - UNBROKEN Thrusters.......Make every rep on C2B count.  My plan was to do them one rep at a time.....  I knew I could do them that way - and I didn't want to waste any energy on No Reps.
Again, many thanks to Layton, Rebecca, Shelby and Laura Johnson for the support and encouragement.
84 Reps
SUCCESS
UNBROKEN Thrusters
Strung multiple C2B in a row - new PR!

Don't let me kid you - I had 2 sleepless nights almost every week during the Open....Wednesdays and Thursdays. Several nights a week, I woke up counting reps.....

The Open consumed my thoughts.

I had anxiety each week -  even when the workouts didn't bother me and even though I had a strategy in mind for each workout.  Anxiety was there....always.

But...when my anxiety put a negative thought in my head - I reached out to one or more of my support crew to help get me back on track. 

Reflecting on the Open, I am not only reminded of my abilities and that 'attitude is everything' - but I am also so very thankful for the amazing circle that I have surrounded myself in:

*these people wanted me to succeed and believed I could as much as I wanted it for myself!*

Katie - there simply are no words.  Your coaching, encouragement and belief in my abilities are the foundation for my SUCCESS.  You inspire in everything you say and do.

Layton - it matters.  It always matters.  Your dedication to not only showing up to support every WOD I did also your hands on help with the administration of the Open WODS every week means more than you'll ever know.

Jane - Thank for the reminders and pep talks.  You constantly reminded me that I was strong and prepared...and fully capable of every WOD as it was announced.  

Ashley - Thanks for being a supportive friend and training partner.  I value our WODS and the way we feed off of each other's energy.  You motivate me to be better - in training and in life.

Adrian - You are my inspiration.  Your positive energy is radiant - and I am forever grateful for your presence.  Timing is everything - and our training has helped to change my perspective on so many things.

Tami - You made it a point to ask me each week 'Hey, how'd your workout go?' and that meant SO much to me.  You encouraged me believed that I would do my best from week to week.

Mom - You supported me and reminded me to HAVE FUN with each workout during the Open.  It's easy to forget why I do Crossfit to begin with....because I LOVE it and it's FUN!

Leah - Your texts of encouragement mean the world to me.  You are forever reminding me that I CAN and WILL and I am forever appreciative of your belief in me.

Rebecca - Thank you.  Our weekly emails helped me develop my strategies for each WOD.  Your ability to say exactly what I needed to hear was awesome.  I value it all - and know how much it meant for you to make yourself available during this time.  

Vic - A special THANK YOU for judging me early each week.  Your willingness to make it convenient for me to do these WODS helped to ease my anxiety.

John - You are my everything! Your ability to understand me and all of my thoughts during the Open is my greatest gift.  You knew just what to say and do to help me keep this experience in perspective.  

And THANK YOU to all the Bayou City and PinUp athletes that participated in the 2012 Open.  You all inspired me individually in your ability to step up and attack these workouts each week.  Some of you hit PRs, some of you participated in your first organized group workout and some of you just did it to have fun and get in some extra WOD time....whatever your reason was, know that it mattered.  You all helped make my experience a better one.

Time to continue the preparation and training for Regionals.

See you in San Antonio - April 27-29!