I don’t normally do two CrossFit competitions in one weekend, but one came up that I did last year that I wanted to do again, and I had already signed up for a different one, so I did both.
The first one, Rocky Mountain Showdown at CrossFit DNR in Fort Collins was fun. We made it to the semi-finals, but it’s hard when you’re knocked out by a 19-year-old.
The second one, Battle at the Rock at CrossFit Castle Rock, I did last year. This year was just as fun. I came in third here.
Some highlights from this past weekend:
I ran a 7-minute mile flat. I haven’t done that in forever.
I clean and jerked 125 lb, the most I’ve done since my thumb injury.
As most of you know, I have been battling some type of injury most of this year. I still have my thumb injury that is taking forever to heal. Currently, I have a lung inflammation (at least that was what I was told last week). Now, I’m on meds for a lung infection. So I worked out all weekend sick.
Part of it is/was dumb.
But it makes me wonder what I can do if I’m ever 100% well again.
I’ve done at least two dozen local CrossFit competitions, and usually in each one, there are some of the same pitfalls:
Unfair judging. With local competitions, you get judges who are graciously volunteering their time, but most of them have no experience judging CrossFit competitions and thus make mistakes. This ends up affecting the podium, and I have lost several times because of this.
Inconsistent judging. Again, due to lack of experience, athletes are not held to the same standards. Even though everyone knows the standards for a burpee, some competitors will cheat if they can get away with it — and a lot of the time, they do. No one likes to be the bad guy and “no rep” others. Hence, some athletes cheat themselves to the detriment of others who play by the rules, who have integrity, and who want to win fairly. I see this a lot, which is honestly, sad.
Improper equipment. Having to deadlift with a guy’s bar 20 kilos as opposed to 15 kilos) when you’re not used to it is a disadvantage to women whose bars are thinner and weigh less. When you’re outside in the blazing sun at 90 degrees and you’re trying to grip a guy bar and your hands are sweaty, it’s tough.
Unbalance programming. Due to time constraints, most of the CrossFit workouts are short. This plays to those who are sprinters and not to marathoners. Furthermore, the CrossFit programming is at the whim of the host box and is sometimes inconsistent as well. For example, one CrossFit competition I attended had no gymnastics work at all (pull ups, double unders, muscles ups, handstand push ups, etc). This is a separator for athletes and puts those who have these moves at an advantage. Same goes for one I attended that was all heavy bar work. That puts those who are strong at a disadvantage to those who are agile. Ideally, there should be balance in the CrossFit workouts at CrossFit Competitions.
Local CrossFit Competitions
Poor management/getting off schedule. There have been some local CrossFit competitions where the CrossFit competition has run way off schedule and ended up finishing an hour or more behind — which sucks when you got at least an hour drive home ahead of you.
TIPS FOR BETTER CROSSFIT COMPETITIONS
Balanced programming. Workouts don’t need to be complicated, but they should challenge the athletes and test them across the ten CrossFit fitness domains.
Invest the time in finding good CrossFit judges. Ideally, you’ll want your judges to have taken the CrossFit Judges course. If not, to have at least some experience in judging CrossFit competitions. This eliminates disgruntled athletes who may be disinclined to attend your next CrossFit competition because they feel cheated at yours.
Adhere to your schedule. Hiccups happen out of your control the day of the CrossFit competition. However, you can plan ahead to minimize these as much as possible and stay on schedule. Make sure heats are not too close together to wear athletes out. Test your workouts with members of your gym of all fitness levels to figure out how much time you’ll need to complete them. Consider recovery time, set up time, time for awards, and time for lunch as well.
Have the proper equipment. This doesn’t mean you go out and buy all brand new sandbags for your CrossFit competition. It does mean you borrow what you need from another local box or you program to what you have on hand. Trying to jerry-rig something from nothing will only give you poor impressions and a high likelihood no one will return the following year.
From an athlete’s perspective, I’ll return the following year to one with good programming, one that’s run efficiently, and one with at least judges who do CrossFit. I’ll stay clear of the ones where lackadaisical attitude toward the CrossFit competition by the box ruled.
Sitting on a rower for 30 minutes is not exactly easy.
After 20 minutes, you’ve had enough.
After 25 minutes, you’re about to scream.
After 28 minutes, you convert minutes to seconds and just keep going.
Then try 10 minutes on the bike right afterwards.
I strained a muscle in my right arm again, so I’ve been doing no heavy weight. Today, I decided to row for 30 minutes and bike for 10 minutes for active recovery and because I felt like doing nothing else at the end of a long (and frustrating) week.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a 30 minute row. And, afterwards, I remember why.
Still, it strengthened my mental fortitude — something I need in CrossFit right now with the CrossFit Open right around the corner.
I never realized the importance of having moves you dominate in CrossFit until my last competition. Called in your wheelhouse, these CrossFit moves are vital to winning workouts and, if you compete, to competitions.
CrossFit Pull Ups
CrossFit moves in your wheelhouse are moves you dominate every time they show up in a workout — moves you are really, really good at. I made up time in my CrossFit competition when one showed up in one workout, and I won the event where both moves were in my wheelhouse.
In CrossFit, advice is often given on how you need to focus on the moves you’re bad at, so you improve those. This is true. However, you need to make sure you don’t forget NOT to practice the moves in your wheelhouse, so you don’t lose those in sacrifice to others.
The fact of the matter is: you will improve those moves you’re not so good at, but they will never be like the ones you’re naturally good at, the ones you like, the ones you dominate.
CrossFit Moves in My Wheelhouse
Assault bike
Double unders
Rope climbs
Running
Thrusters
Burpees
As you can see, I’m not very good at most CrossFit moves. But these ones are popular and when thrown into a CrossFit WOD can make all the difference whether you win or lose.
CrossFit is constantly-varied, functional movements at high-intensity. Every CrossFit workout you do, you’ll get better. Know what you’re good at and add to them if possible — all the while improving all the other CrossFit movements. This is the key to winning at your box, in your heat, in your mind, and at CrossFit competitions. Good luck!
Last night, I went to bed at 6:30 pm. I was physically exhausted — something I am definitely not used to.
After a 2-day CrossFit Competition, and I worked out yesterday morning with no rest day (I squatted and did a workout with a run, hang power snatches, and burpee box jumps), I was dragging all day at work and when I came home, I was tired. I couldn’t even eat dinner. I just went straight to bed.
CrossFit Competitions will wear you out — emotionally and physically. You want to do your best, you’re disappointed when you don’t do your best, you stress over the details like the drive down and when to eat, and then there’s the actual workouts themselves, which are bears to get through.
The Importance of Sleep after a CrossFit Competition
Preparing for CrossFit Workout
All of this equals exhaustion. When this happens, listen to your body and get some rest. Sleep is so important with CrossFit to let your body heal, recover, and rejuvenate. Here’s my advice after a CrossFit competition or some other grueling workout, such as a Tough Mudder or Spartan Race:
Get extra sleep. This will allow vital tissues and muscles to recover and recuperate after what you’ve just put them through.
Drink more than you think you’ll need. I usually lose about 4 pounds every CrossFit competition. Most of this is water weight. At a CrossFit competition, you usually don’t drink much because you don’t want to have to go to the bathroom, you forget, or you’re just too nervous. Afterwards, you need to replenish. Drink extra water and recovery drinks for optimal muscle recovery.
Take rest days. I’m a hypocrite. I don’t do this. I don’t like to get behind on my training. Yet, you usually suffer if you don’t (or you’re so tired you lose a whole night!). Give your body some well-deserved time off.
Take inventory of what you’ve learned. I learned a lot from this last CrossFit competition. I learned once again I’m stronger than I think I am when I flipped a 300 pound tire multiple times. I learned I need to practice on a bar that I can’t touch the ground on. I learned I can still kick ass when the I have to, especially if the moves are in my wheelhouse. I learned I still have the fire to compete that I thought I had lost from burn-out. I learned I’m just as good as others, if not better.
The whole point of CrossFit competitions is to learn from them, push yourself, and be proud of your achievement. You probably won’t win them all. But within each competition, there will be a personal victory — either a move you did you didn’t think you could do or a workout you annihilated.
Keep in mind why you compete in CrossFit, and you’ll just keep getting better and better.
Two-day CrossFit Competitions are rough: You’re tired from Day 1 and you have another tough day ahead of you.
Day 2 of the Turkey Challenge began with a “Burden Run,” and, yes, it is just what you think it is.
Wearing a 10 pound weight vest, you had to run with a 60 pound sandbag on your back for 150 meters, do 10 back squats with the bag, 6 lateral burpees over the bar, and then do max calories on the rower. 5 rounds. 2:30 minutes each. 30 seconds rest in-between.
I actually did really well on this one, except once I couldn’t get the bag up. But I got 4th place.
I did 7 tire flips with a 300 pound tire (never done that before).
AND I won my final WOD: 10 rounds of 15 double unders and 1 rope climb.
Overall, a great day. It boosted my confidence after the first day and has got me wanting more. After I take a break and get my tooth fixed.
Lessons Learned from 2-Day CrossFit Competitions
Double Unders at CrossFit Competition
You get to do exercises you otherwise don’t: sandbag runs with a weight vest and tire flips.
I’m stronger than I think I am. I did 300 pound tire flips — 7 of them — and I didn’t think I could do one.
Overall, a great competition. Fun to watch. Learned a lot. Got remotivated for CrossFit. Good, albeit long, weekend!
On a snowy day in Colorado, today was Day 1 of the 2018 Turkey Challenge in Superior, CO, at the Sport Stable arena. I competed in the Masters competition and my daughter competed in the Teens Division.
I could have done better but tomorrow is Day 2, and I’m hoping to improve. I definitely need a break as I’m feeling burnt out on CrossFit competitions, and it’s showing.
It was fun to do with my daughter (this is her first CrossFit competition). It’s a popular one in Colorado, so it was packed. Lots of vendors, lots of excitement, and Matt Chan. What more could one ask for?
Matt Chan at Turkey Challenge Crossfit Competition
Pace yourself. Two days is a lot, and you want to save some in the tank for Day 2 of the CrossFit Competition.
Realize there are people better than you. I win some CrossFit competitions, but I lose many as well. It all depends on who shows up, and if the workouts play to your strengths.
Bring lots of food, water, and energy drinks. You’ll be hungrier than you think you’ll be.
Show up early to find out where the workouts will be held. With such a big venue, it’s easy to get lost. Take the stress out of your CrossFit competition, and be early to find your way around.
Teen Crossfit CompetitionSnatches at CrossFit Competition
Yesterday, I competed in a CrossFit masters’ competition at CrossFit Frontier in Cheyenne, WY.
I’ve never done a masters only CrossFit competition, and this one was fun. It was divided into 5 year groups, beginning with age 35 and then from 50 plus. I went with a couple others from my CrossFit Box and had support from my gym, which always makes for a sweet time.
The strength event I did better than I had hoped for. The second event that was predominantly body weight I did well. The last event almost killed me with single-arm dumbbell weights and a bike at the end, but I got through it.
CrossFit Frontier was a great host. Nice owners. Fun people. Nice facilities. I will definitely do this one again next year!
I wrote recently on the advantages of designing your own programming and working out alone. Earlier this week I was thinking how CrossFit is all about me.
HOW CROSSFIT IS ALL ABOUT ME
I work out when I want to.
I don’t feel the pressure to push myself when I don’t feel mentally or physically up for it.
I do workouts I want to do and ones that fit my physical state that day.
I can change workouts at the last minute when I feel a tweak or wake up exhausted.
I can practice moves and go really slow or do heavier weights and go really slow, which builds my strength without feeling pressure to finish or beat anyone.
Going slow I notice things about my moves I need to fix such as hand position, etc.
I do CrossFit for me. I do it for how it makes me feel, how it makes me look, and the accomplishments I achieve over time. CrossFit is all about me. And I love it!
Yesterday, I competed in a CrossFit competition called Battle at the Rock at CrossFit Castle Rock in Castle Rock, Colorado.
This CrossFit competition was all a test of mental fortitude because I had just done Project Uplift the day before. I was sore. I was tired. I was beat.
Let me just stress that I had not planned to do two CrossFit competitions two days in a row. Yesterday, I was a last minute fill in. Battle at the Rock I had planned for a month or so.
Workout number one was just plain fun. It was a 6 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of one clean and jerk and 4 lateral bar over burpees. I chose a lighter weight for 2 reasons:
I wanted to keep moving and minimize my pauses. The heavier I go, the more taxing it becomes, the longer the jerk takes, and the less reps I’ll get. There were 2 scores for this workout: reps and weight moved.
After yesterday, my arms were already killing me. I didn’t want to strain anything. 85 lbs was a safe bet. Heavy enough for points but not too heavy I’d have to strain.
I got one rep short of 15 rounds. It was fun.
CrossFit Dumbbell Push Ups
I did the floater next which was 21 calories on the bike followed by dumbbell squats with 35 lbs in each hand. After the bike, I was wiped. This could have been faster.
After this workout, I felt terrible. I went to my truck and sat and rested.
Workout #2 was okay. It was a 24 calorie buy in followed by 30-20-10 of dumbbell snatches at 35 lbs and box jump overs ended by a 24 calories buyout. Normally, this is my cup of tea (except the row). It was all I had just to keep moving.
I had a 2 hour break in-between before the last workout. I took a nap. I ate. I felt much better.
The last workout was normally my cup of tea as well, but I was so tired it was all I could do to keep moving. It was 15 hang power cleans at 65 lbs, 30 step forward lunges with that bar, 15 toes to bar, 30 wall balls (10 foot target but only 10 lbs) and then 15 pull ups. 2 Rounds with a 12 min time cap.
I stricted all the toes to bar and the pull ups even though it’s slower because my hands were killing me, and I didn’t want to tweak anything from my overworked body. Also, I didn’t want to mess with my grips since I don’t use grips on barbell movements and on wall balls.
Well, I got to the 2nd round of wall balls and wanted to die. I honestly just wanted to skip the wall balls and go to the pull ups.
I made it through this CrossFit competition and finished in 2nd for the masters’ women. It was fun, but I am so glad it’s over. I honestly couldn’t have done any more work.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM TWO DAYS OF CROSSFIT COMPETITIONS
This is 90% mental. It’s showing up. It’s doing the work. It’s grinding through it when all you want to do is sit.
The rest is overcoming the physical exhaustion your body feels. It’s eating enough, drinking enough, planning it all, so you can perform.
I’m unsure if I’ll do two CrossFit competitions in a row again. It’s physically exhausting. Draining. I feel completely wiped out. I have nothing left.
CrossFit Competition Colorado
I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for the CrossFit Games athletes who workout for continuous days as well as other CrossFit competitors who do multiple days. It’s a whole different level I didn’t appreciate until now.
My Journey to the CrossFit Games 