Are You Open To The Open? By Starke Head Coach: Paul Dyck

Lexa wondering why you haven't signed up for the open yet... 

We are just a couple of days away from the 2017 CrossFit Open and several people have signed up excited in anticipation, some are on the fence, and some are totally against it.

I have a lot of thoughts on this subject and I know this is probably going to be a post that goes in a million different directions but here we go.

First off I do the Open because I can. Whatever gets thrown at me forces me to deal with it and either get better or avoid the challenge and stay the same. I know that every year I'm a bit older (go figure) and I've only gotten better, become a smarter athlete, gained more experience, and have a better understanding of what I'm capable of. I've had a couple accidents in my life that could have ended it or left me in a position to make excuses and not even try.  I know that if I give it everything I have on the day and rise to the challenges that Dave Castro throws at me and the rest of the world I will be happy to have accepted the challenge no matter what the outcome.

If you're on the fence then jump. You're already up there. This could be the year that you put it off again for a year, or it could be the year that you give it a try and see where you're at. Some people don't like looking at the leader board. Some don't like seeing that others might be better at them in something. I've got news for you. No matter who you are and what you do, there will always be someone better, smarter, fitter, and stronger that you in any situation. The reason they are, is because they have tried and failed over and over again to get there and leaned form their mistakes.

If you're against the open because you don't think you're good enough then read the paragraph above one more time. There are different divisions, masters categories, RX'd and Non-Rx'd. If you don't have any injuries or any severe mobility restrictions then you should be getting aboard this train. There is no such thing as "not good enough" and once you start believing that then you'll open yourself up to a hell of a lot more opportunities and experiences in life.
This year at Starke we are trying something new. We are trying a team approach rather than trying to get individuals through the workouts on Friday night. Teams will be trying to collect points based on participation, team spirit, and consistency. In the end we will be awarding prizes to the teams with the most points, the most motivating participant, the best performance, and the overall motivator throughout the five weeks. We aren't just looking for the best athletes. We are looking for those who can get the people who are nervous, unsure, and hesitant to shine.

You're not in this alone and just like any day, any class, and any workout you've got your coaches, friends, and community here to support you.
Here's the link... 2017 CrossFit Open

The Low down... 

-Every Thursday for the next five weeks at 7pm you can check out the live stream at games.crossfit.com to find out what we'll be doing for open workouts.

-Every Friday night we will be performing the open workouts starting at 4pm. Anyone signed up for the open will be expected to perform these workouts with their teams. If you cannot make a "Friday Night Lights" other accommodations can be made for 12:00 on Saturday as long as the athlete finds a judge that can judge them.

-If you're willing to do the judges course your team will be awarded 20 points per athlete that completes the judges course.

-More info will be given to your team leaders which will be finalized Wednesday night. Please make sure to register for the open under "Starke CrossFit" so we can account for you and team leaders can fight in a kiddie pool full of pudding for you... 

If you have any questions on the above or competing in the Open please email info@starkestrength.com 

By Starke Head Coach: Paul Dyck