Why I Open

I am not Sam Briggs, Lindsey Valenzuela or Rory Zambard. Only in my dreams am I anywhere close to their levels of athleticism and strength. I have no desire to put in the effort it takes to become the Fittest Woman on Earth.

But that is why I open.


During the weeks of regionals and The CrossFit Games, while cheering on my coaches or my idols, I can often only dream of a day when I complete one of those workouts as prescribed. But during the open, I can be right alongside* these folks who have a legitimate shot at the games or the title (*the bottom 10 percent is still closer than watching from the couch). I am just as proud of my 14.1 score of 47 as I am of my coaches and box friends who broke 300.

I have been a CrossFitter for two years. In 2012, I was in my gym's fundamentals program during the build up to the open. Out of shape, eating crap and wanting to be part of the community, I signed up for the open a day after 12.1 was announced. Yes, I willingly signed up for seven minutes of burpees. Those slow and painful 47 burpees (I must've blocked out the final 11; I could've sworn I'd gotten 36 until I went back and checked the board) are something I will never forget. While I was pushing myself, these people I'd just met in the past two weeks were cheering me on with each passing burpee.

By 2013, I was still without the basic gymnastics skills but there was no way I was missing the open. Friday night parties at the box, our big community coming together and I even knew enough to watch the CFSF braintrust videos. I spent time on strategy with friends -- none of us with any designs on regionals, all of us with competitive natures. We counted reps, made each other laugh and made great memories.

Which is exactly what the open is about.

This year, I was registered within 10 minutes of the link going live. Nursing an ankle injury and between boxes, I didn't claim a team immediately because I had no idea where I would end up. But I knew it would take a lot more than that for me to miss the open.

Settling in at a new box early this year has meant learning new faces and names, and learning the social structure of this new family. The open has made that easier, with all of us getting together on Fridays like a weekly family reunion where new faces are welcomed into the fold. I've met folks I may not see again until next year's open. But in those few hours, we all have each other's back.

And after the dust has settled and the scores are all submitted, I can leaderboard and watch the Update Show to see how my favorites stack up -- and maybe crush on Pat Sherwood a little bit more.