(Yes, everyone. Especially you.)
Every year around this time, a familiar question pops up in gyms everywhere:
“Should I do the CrossFit Open?”
And every year, the same doubts follow:
- I’m not fit enough yet.
- I can’t do all the movements.
- I don’t want to finish last.
- That’s for the competitive people, not me.
Let’s clear something up right away:
The CrossFit Open is not about being the fittest.
It’s about showing up, testing yourself, and being part of something bigger than a single workout.
Here’s why everyone at CrossFit Viroqua should take part, no matter your age, experience level, or goals.
1. The Open Is a Check-In, Not a Judgment
Think of the Open like a yearly health and fitness check-up.
You’re not being graded.
You’re gathering data.
The workouts show you:
- What you’re doing well
- What you’ve improved on this last year
- What skills or strengths you might want to focus on next
And here’s the best part: every workout has scaled and modified options.
The test meets you where you are today, not where Instagram thinks you should be.
Whether you’ve been training for 10 years or 10 weeks, the Open gives you a clear snapshot of your current fitness. That’s valuable.
2. You Don’t Have to Be “Good” at CrossFit to Belong
The Open was designed so anyone can participate.
That includes:
- First-timers
- Legends athletes
- Busy parents
- People rebuilding after time off
- People who still look at double unders like they’re sorcery
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is participation.
Some people chase the leaderboard.
Most people chase something far more meaningful:
👉 confidence
👉 consistency
👉 courage
👉 pride in doing something uncomfortable
That’s the real win.
3. The Community Hits Different During the Open
There’s something special that happens during the Open.
The gym feels louder.
High-fives last longer.
People cheer for reps they didn’t even know were possible a month ago.
You’ll see:
- Athletes staying late to judge each other
- Members cheering louder for the last finisher than the first
- People surprising themselves in ways they didn’t expect
- Hitting a movement or weight they never had before
For three weeks, the Open reminds us why we train together in the first place.
It turns individual fitness into a shared experience.
4. Progress Feels Different When You Put It on the Line
You might surprise yourself.
Not because the workout was easy, but because:
- You didn’t quit when it got hard
- You moved past nerves and showed up anyway
- You did something today that “old you” wouldn’t have attempted
Those moments stick.
Months from now, you won’t remember the exact score.
But you will remember:
- signing up even when you were unsure
- finishing a workout you didn’t think you could
- being proud you gave an honest effort
That’s growth, inside and outside the gym.
5. You’ll Be Better for Having Done It
No matter how it goes, you walk away better:
- More aware of your fitness
- More connected to your community
- More confident in your ability to handle hard things
And that confidence carries over into everyday life:
- work
- family
- health
- mindset
The Open isn’t about three workouts.
It’s about reminding yourself:
I can do hard things and I don’t have to do them alone.
So… Should You Do the CrossFit Open?
If you train at CrossFit Viroqua, the answer is simple:
Yes.
Not because you’re trying to win.
Not because you’re “ready.”
But because this is part of the journey and it’s one of the most powerful, motivating, and fun parts of the year.
Sign up. Show up. Do your best.
We’ll be right there with you, cheering, counting reps, and celebrating every effort along the way. 💪
Also, grab yourself some new shirts to rep for the Open!
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