The CrossFit Open: More Than Just a Competition
There’s something primal about competition. It’s what pushes humans to explore the depths of their own suffering for the sheer joy of it. It’s what makes people stare at a barbell like it just insulted their mother and then pick it up anyway. But competition isn’t always about being the best—it’s about showing up, throwing down, and walking away knowing you left a piece of yourself on the floor.
Welcome to the CrossFit Open—where you don’t just sign up, you get drafted. Where every rep, every cheer, every sweaty high-five counts. Where the gym becomes more than just a place to train—it becomes a battleground of camaraderie, rivalry, and sweat-drenched victory.
And guess what? You’re already in.
How It Works: The Basics
Here’s the deal:
Three teams. Three captains. One gym.
You’ll be automatically drafted onto a team (no hiding in the back corner of the gym hoping no one notices you).
Dates to burn into your calendar:
March 1st
March 8th
March 15th
Every team will have a custom T-shirt, because nothing says "team unity" like matching sweat-stained shirts.
After each event? A post-WOD team activity to celebrate, recover, and maybe regain feeling in your legs.
This isn’t the CrossFit Games. No one is handing out sponsorships or signing endorsement deals for your burpee speed. But make no mistake—this will be a war of effort, of grit, of who can bring the loudest, most obnoxious energy every Saturday morning.
“But I’m Not Competitive” – Lies We Tell Ourselves
You might be sitting there thinking, “I’m not competitive. I just work out for fun.”
Let me stop you right there.
You’re competitive. Maybe not in the “I must destroy everyone” way, but in the “I will not let Alex,JC or Noel beat me at wall balls today” way. Or the “If I can just finish this WOD without falling on my face, I win” way.
Here’s the truth:
This isn’t about beating everyone—it’s about pushing yourself harder than you would on a random Saturday at 9 AM.
You’ll work harder without realizing it—because suddenly, your teammates are counting on you.
The Open isn’t about finding the fittest—it’s about showing up, giving it your all, and walking away with a damn good story to tell.
You’ll laugh, you’ll curse your existence, you’ll probably surprise yourself—and that’s the point.
“I Don’t Think I’m Ready” – Another Excuse That Won’t Fly
Another classic excuse:
"I don’t think I’m ready for this."
Guess what? No one is ever truly ready for anything. Not for their first workout, not for their first pull-up, and definitely not for whatever unholy combination of movements we throw at you during the Open.
But here’s what you need to know:
Every workout is scalable—whether you’re a fire-breather or just getting comfortable with the idea of a barbell.
You don’t need to be "good enough"—you just need to show up.
No one cares if you finish first or last—they care that you gave everything you had (and maybe that you don’t quit mid-workout to “go to the bathroom” and never come back).
Read that last part again. No one cares about your score. They care that you try.
What You’ll Walk Away With (Besides Sore Legs and a Slight Ego Boost)
1. The Best Workouts of Your Life
When the music’s blasting, the gym is buzzing, and your team is screaming at you to pick up the bar one more time—you’ll dig deeper than you ever thought possible. That extra rep? That’s the magic of competition.
2. A New Level of Confidence
After three weeks of pushing yourself harder than ever, you won’t just be a better athlete—you’ll be a more confident one. You’ll realize you’re capable of more than you ever gave yourself credit for.
3. A Stronger Community
This is where CrossFit 1864 stops being just a gym and becomes a family. You’ll struggle together, succeed together, and probably share post-WOD meals together while aggressively pretending you’re not too sore to walk.
Show Up, Go Hard, Have Fun
The Open isn’t just a competition—it’s an experience. It’s a reason to train, a chance to grow, and an opportunity to be part of something bigger than just your own fitness journey.
So here’s what you need to do:
Embrace the madness. Don’t overthink it—just show up.
Wear your team colors proudly. Sweat stains are a badge of honor.
Cheer like your life depends on it. Because maybe, just maybe, your voice will be the one that gets your teammate through those last five reps.
Your team is waiting. The workouts are coming. And if you let yourself lean into it, the 2025 CrossFit 1864 Intramural Open might just be the best damn thing you do all year.
Are you in? (Trick question—you already are.)
