I’m not competitive by nature. My goal for CrossFit is to look good in my clothes and be able to squat over a public toilet when I’m old, not to win the warm up. I have no desire to compete in any CrossFit competition and when wodding never compare myself against anyone else’s time, rounds or weight. I compete against myself and want to push myself beyond what I think I can do, after all that is a big part of CrossFit. It makes you realize how much more capacity you have and how much stronger you really are. My goal is not to make it to the CrossFit games, I just want to look good naked.

With all this said, there is something about the CrossFit Open that speaks to me and motivates me in a way that I am not able to do on my own. I am a BIG proponent of signing up for the Open and “competing”; however you want to define that word. Maybe it’s the way Trident makes the Open WODs fun or the community at Trident that pushes me. There is something about the bonding in the Trident community when you are cheering for your fellow CrossFitter knowing that there is the possibility that they will beat someone else’s time in another gym, region, or country. Cheering (or screaming) at them to move a little faster and to suck up the pain for just a little longer.

The Open is a way to compete but without the pressure of the competition. I am not trying to win a prize, unless you consider the pride of knowing you did your best a prize (which I do).

The Trident community will not let us slack; they will remind us what comes with being a CrossFitter and a Trident athlete…

…We know we have it in us to do one more rep when we don’t think we can

…We know our strength is beyond words when we collect ourselves and remember good movement

…We know we are strong enough to do anything we set our minds to

…We know that failure is not what defines us, but what we do after failure that sets us apart

…And most importantly, we know NOT to put our hands on our hips! (Thanks for the reminder Cutty!)

Sign up for the Open and identify your weaknesses, improve upon them and just elevate your CrossFit game to the next level! I’m doing it will you?

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

Sandy