The 2012 CrossFit Games Open has ended: five weeks of workouts performed around the world and posted online for everyone to see. I was initially apprehensive about competing in the Open. I’ve been successfully training others in CrossFit for over 2 years, but I didn’t take my own workouts seriously until June of last year. I didn’t have any real expectations going into it. I just wanted to get an idea of where I ranked in my region and what weaknesses I needed to address.
The first workout was as many burpees as possible in 7 minutes. On paper, 7 minutes of burpees doesn’t sound that brutal. In action, it was 7 minutes of pure hell. Maybe I’m a bit on the masochistic side, but I decided 90 burpees wasn’t enough. So, that Sunday I decided to repeat the workout. My legs were crazy tired from the 10k race I competed in the day before, but I gave it every thing I had and produced 4 more burpees. After that 1st workout I ranked in the top 24% overall. I was stoked.
Week number 2 focused on strength and skill: 10 minutes on the clock to complete 30 snatches at 45 lbs, 30 snatches at 75 lbs, 30 snatches at 100 lbs, and as many snatches as possible at 120 lbs. I love the snatch (cue double-entendre jokes); however considering 
my max snatch was only 85 lbs, I didn’t have high expectations for this workout. I ended up completing 60 reps in 7 min and spent my last 3 minutes trying to get 100 lbs overhead. It didn’t happen. I was slightly disappointed on the one hand, but completely excited that I did 30 reps at 75 lbs on the other hand. I was still in the top 24% in my region, and that’s when I started getting that competitive fire in my belly. I found myself checking out the leaderboard every opportunity possible. I was bordering on obsessive. Not good.
Then came a few big slices of humble pie in the form of workouts 12.3, 12.4, and 12.5. 
Workout 12.3 was complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 18 minutes of: 15 Box jumps, 20″ box/ 75 pound Push press, 12 reps/9 Toes-to-bar. I’m usually pretty good at box jumps and I love doing toes to bar. That 75 pound push press on the other hand made it feel like Satan, himself, programmed the workout. I gave it everything I had and managed 198 reps. It was a great lesson in the importance of nutrition and sleep. The entire week before I hadn’t been sleeping well, and when I don’t sleep well my tendency is to indulge in the bad stuff. After it was over, I cried. I was sorely disappointed in myself. Then I took a step outside myself and asked, “Why are you taking this so seriously? What do you have to prove?” It was a great “a-ha” moment. I love humble pie.
Workout #4 was complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 12 minutes of: 150 Wall balls (14lbs to 9′ target)/90 Double-unders/30 Muscle-ups. I didn’t know what to 
expect for this workout as double-unders still posed a challenge for me. I completed 176 reps and felt really great about it. What didn’t feel great was getting “no-repped” by my husband on my wall ball shots. It wasn’t his fault. He was doing his job as a judge. I was missing my mark. Unfortunately, we tend to take our frustrations out on those we love most. It was a great lesson in patience, understanding, and forgiveness. I love my husband.
The final workout was Complete as many reps as possible in 7 minutes following the rep scheme below: 65 pound Thruster, 3 reps/3 Chest to bar Pull-ups/65 pound Thruster, 6 
reps/6 Chest to bar Pull-ups65 pound Thruster, 9 reps/9 Chest to bar Pull-ups and on by 3’s until time runs out. At 1960 CrossFit, I had everyone in the box doing the Open workouts on Thursdays. So, that morning, I attempted to show my 6am class how to do a chest to bar pull up….and failed….miserably! I was gutted. Later that afternoon, it was my turn to do the WOD. I realized that I could get my chest to the bar with an underhand grip, which was weird considering my underhand grip has always felt a lot weaker than my overhand grip. Well, by the time the 7 minutes were over, I managed 59 reps. I was stoked! I didn’t think I’d be able to get 4 that morning!
Overall, then entire Open experience was incredibly eye-opening. I finished 478 in the South Central Region. I learned that I have some serious work to do if I ever want to get competitive with the sport of CrossFit. I confirmed for myself the importance of proper nutrition and good sleep. I gained an even greater appreciation for my husband. The best part, though, was seeing my athletes push themselves further and harder than ever in the Open workouts. The pure joy I felt while watching them achieve new heights confirmed that I’m doing exactly what God intended for me to do for work… coach others. I love my job. I love my athletes. I love that my days are spent encouraging and inspiring others to reach their fitness goals. Everyday I wake up grateful for God’s blessings.
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ unknown
Liani Oistad Fitness 