Outlaw Open Results

Had the opportunity to head out to the Outlaw Open and compete in a two-day competition with some awesome CrossFitters. It was a long weekend but learned a ton. Some of the things that I learned from the weekend:

1. What CrossFitters "think" their 1RM is in the Snatch and C&J and what it "actually" is when tested with USAW standards are two very different numbers. It is much easier to have 15 or 20m to establish a 1RM than to have 3 attempts and follow the meet standards of an Oly Competition. This was a great learning experience for me and I have even more respect for Olympic Lifters than I did before. It was a very stressful few hours trying to figure out best opening weight as well as when to warm-up and how many lifts to do while waiting for additional attempts. There is definitely alot to be said with training using limited reps. If you know you only get 1 attempt at a weight, you will be alot more focused than if you know you can pull it 3 or 4 times. 

2. Taking the pressure off helps make things a little more enjoyable. I went into the weekend without the expectation of winning. Of course I knew I had a chance, just like everyone else, but I didn't put a ton of pressure on me to go out and be in first place at the end of the comp. I just executed my game plan for each wod the best I could and let the cards fall where they did. There is an absolute balance with this and I think it is much easier said than done but there has to be a way to relax at Regionals and have a similar mindset without letting it make you complacent. 

3. Every event is decided by a few reps throughout the workouts. I can look back at 3 specific faults that literally cost me 1st place. I was called for a pressout on 152k Clean and Jerk which cost me points in two categories. I failed my last muscle-up of the FS/Muscle-Up WOD which probably cost me at least 20 seconds and 30 points. I stumbled on my way back through the agility gauntlet and that cost me about a second which was 4 places and about 15 points...all these add up at the end of the day and just reinforces how important it is to make every rep count. 

4. I love the underdog role. Walking into the event, I am not sure that anyone thought that I had a chance at making a run at the podium. I loved that I heard other people talking about who they thought would win the row event and who they thought would be at the top of the board for the mile runs and max effort events. It is probably just a mental thing for me but I enjoy it when people doubt my ability. In the past, this led me to doubt myself and I caught myself falling into that trap a few times throughout the weekend. You start thinking, "man, I better slow down, I shouldn't be faster than this guy". 

5. My HSPU have gotten better. They are never going to be an asset for me but unless we see 90 of them at the Regionals, I don't think I will dread these as much as I have in the past.