Meet Mandy!
Name: Mandy W.
Age: 30
Athletic Background: gymnastics/cheerleading and tennis
How long have you been doing CrossFit? About 8 months
How many times do you workout per week? 3 or 4 times
Is this your first Open? Have you done any other CF comps before? Yes and no
Why did you sign up? This is my first Open. I am not totally sure why I signed up. I know that I am not going to Regionals and I will probably struggle through a lot of the workouts. I have made a lot of progress over the past 8 months and really would like a benchmark to see how much more I can progress over the next year. Plus, I just really wanted to see what it was all about.
What are you expecting out of the Open or you just did b/c you were told to? Same as above (benchmark and to participate) and because I was told to!
Besides training in the gym, have you done anything else to prepare? We have been trying to eat a little better this year. I do not have a ton of extra time for training, but I have moved the pullup bar upstairs from its dusty home in the basement.
Nervous, Anxious, Excited, Dreaming about it, etc? Nervous and anxious; I would like to be able to do my personal best in the competition. After looking at some of the workouts from last year I got really nervous. But I am just reminding myself that I have enjoyed learning CrossFit and becoming stronger so this is just the next step.
Are you obnoxiously stocking the Games website like I am? I actually think I could benefit from Games 101. I did not really know I should be stocking the website. . . but I am going to start now!
What do you want to see show up in the Open? What’s your best move? Honestly, burpees. I am short so they are easier on me and I can generally set a pretty good pace for myself.
What’s your worst nightmare of a workout? What’s your weakness? Right now – pull ups! I just will not get very far in these workouts.
AMRAP, RFT, FGB, Chipper…what’s your flavor? AMRAP – I can mentally think about how many reps I would like to do and then work through the workout.
But seriously, you aren’t going to Regionals, what’s the point? We come in and workout on regular basis so all the work outs kind of run together. The open will be a good point to remember how you did. And I will push myself a little harder in “competition”.
Favorite past champ or you wouldn’t know a celeb CrossFitter if you saw one? I would not know a celeb CrossFitter if I saw one.
If you could do a workout with anyone alive or dead, who would it be? Thighs of Steel with Tamilee . . . Kandice and Renata know what I am talking about!
What’s the gossip? Have you heard others talking about the Open? What would you say to someone considering it? Or to someone who is totally balking? I have not really heard much gossip. There are just a lot of people excited about it and there is a big party at the end so it has to be fun! I generally attend the 12:15 class and we have a great group that really encourages everyone – regardless of their fitness level. So it will be a lot of fun to have that kind of relationship with others in the gym too.
What would be your least favorite excuse for not signing up?
“What is the point in signing up if you are not going to make it far in the competition?”
We’re two days away from the unleashing this beast. For those of you hesitating, scared, intimidated, we get it. We’ve been there too. The whole gym is about to be faced with obstacles in the Open: weights we can’t lift, movements we simply can’t do…yet. Like any day you walk into the gym, the goal is to get better. This is just another workout. Another skill you need to master. A movement you need to improve. It is a chance to attack something very specific head on. It is a chance to dig deeper than you have before, to set new personal records, to find resiliency you didn’t know you had. It is simply a new challenge and we would rather destroy the challenge together: with you on our team. Sign up for the Open.
Read: Nothing to Fear
Warmup
Run to Sessions St. 2x
4 sets (10 minutes)
5 pull-ups
10 push-ups
15 squats
Lift
5 x 5
Back Squat
Sets across at 75%
Conditioning
8 Minutes AMRAP
5 Pull-ups
10 Burpees
15 Wall Ball Shots
Kandice has an Inzer lifting belt for sale. Perfect condition. Size small. Full description here. $60
