Deth

I did not register for the Crossfit open this year. You could say that I learned my lesson after last year. I was disappointed and surprised last winter when I saw the unexpected requirement for the video. I know they used to require a video for those who qualified, but that’s understandable. Personally, being just a lowly exerciser and too old to qualify, I did the WODs just as a personal test.

I also signed up last year because they had a division for those of us who are visually impaired. I thought that was something that really made me happy. Unfortunately for me, I was left out when the workout required a ski erg. Not that I wouldn’t like one, but we simply don’t have the space for one.

Add on the crazy requirements of layout for the video that just didn’t work with the space we have. This year, I didn’t waste my money.

Still, I want to do the open WODs. I’ve always found them to be good tests, and that’s why I intend to do them.

I did do the first Crossfit open workout of 2024 this morning and felt great about it. Today, I didn’t go for RX because the fifty-pound dumbbells just didn’t make sense with the way my shoulder had been bugging me earlier in the week. I did do the lateral burpees to the best of my ability in our tight space, though. They slowed me down a lot as I was being careful not to trip, but it worked out for my goals today anyway. I wanted to slow things down a bit and see how my shoulder felt during and after the WOD. I haven’t touched anything heavier than a twenty-pound dumbbell this week, and today I went with the thirty-five pound one for the scaled weight.

The snatches felt excellent during and after. My wrist was fine, and more importantly for me today, that right shoulder that was angry with me earlier in the week was just fine with them. I knew when I made it through the first twenty-one reps on each side that it was going to be okay. I did break up that set to slow me down a bit and make sure I wasn’t overdoing things. Those burpees were an exercise in frustration, but I got them done.

The rounds of fifteen snatches were where I got a little more aggressive with my sets. I went unbroken on them. Even went unbroken with my right side. I did my best to have both heads touch the floor, like the standard called for. I didn’t record it, so I don’t know how well I did at that, and I really don’t care that much either.

It was a great workout that got my heart rate way up there. I got my time capped, but I knew that would happen. I even think it aligns with my goal for this day.

At some point, I will almost certainly do this workout again in the future, when my arm can surely handle the fifty-pound RXed eight dumbbells. It was a good workout, and I will do it outside so I can do the burpees without worrying about tripping and crashing into something. Without the tight space that I have to work out inside, it will just be a matter of how much pain I can tolerate. I will be much more aggressive with the snatches, too. Those are things that I can normally cycle quickly. Even the ones on the same side.

Music for today was Alice In Chains