Well damn…I started the 2016 CrossFit Open with some nostalgia, it’s only fitting that I wrap it up with some as well.
This year was definitely a first for many things as far as the Open is concerned.
On last night’s 16.5 announcement show they mentioned a few of the firsts we experienced this year, and I highlighted some of my own:
This was the first year we did overhead lunges.
This was the first year we did bar muscle ups.
This was the first year there were “everyday athletes” throwing down with the big dogs in the announcement shows.
This was the first year a teen and a master’s athlete paired in an announcement show down.
This was the first year an announcement was made in a garage gym, and at a military base.
This was the first year since 2009 that an announcement event took place at the birthplace of CrossFit in Aromas, California.
So there were many highlights this year that made things very different, and very exciting…
Until 16.5 was announced….
With hopes of this being the FIRST year WITHOUT a repeat workout, 16.5 was announced to be a repeat of open workout 14.5 which consists of a descending ladder of light thrusters and bar facing burpees.
So speaking of firsts…this was also the first year we saw a movement REPEATED in the Open, since we already did bar facing burpees in 16.1.
Still speaking of firsts, this is also the first time, in my opinion, that we witnessed a waste of human talent…I wish I could have sat in on that board meeting of CrossFit big wigs when they were deciding the open programming for this year…
“hmmm we have 3 of the fittest and STRONGEST men in the sport going head to head for the grand finale, lets make them do light thrusters, and burpees…and better yet, lets make it be a repeat workout that we already did for a finale workout…boom…nailed it!”
I get the idea of testing and re-testing, and measurable progress…but talk about a let down…
With a cast of athletes like Froning, Fraser, and Smith…I thought were were about to see a workout that would unleash these 3 CrossFit beasts into mayhem…a dogfight of speed, power, strength, and raw determination…but no…at the birthplace of CrossFit, in front of hundreds of fans and thousands of online viewers…we watched something that was, again in my opinion, boring to watch…
But I digress…and it is what it is.
CrossFit Open Workout 14.5 was the FIRST workout in the CrossFit Open that was NOT an AMRAP or ladder style workout, but rather one FOR TIME.
This was a very big deal in 2014. Why? Because the clock cannot save you…
So here we go…CrossFit Open WOD 16.5…
You can read the details here:
Click to access CFGOpen2016_EventPDF_16_5_7nshdyehwSDfh8732hbsWe32.pdf
For some of you, reading the details is completely unnecessary, because you already know about this workout…and you already know how horrible it is.
In my opinion, if you want to make a majority of the general population of CrossFit athletes complain…make them do a lot of burpees….
In my opinion, if you want to make a majority of the general population of CrossFit athlete complain…make them do a lot of thrusters…
In my opinion, if you want to just straight up piss off the majority of the general population of CrossFit athletes…combine both thrusters AND burpees into 1 workout…and make sure there is no time cap…well played…
For those of you that don’t know…this workout is a beast…
Some of the fastest times in the world for this workout are in the 7 and 8 minute time range.
Some of the slowest times we saw in 2014 for this workout were in the 45-60 minute time range.
Go ahead and let that sink in for a bit…
No really…I will wait…
Unfortunately in 2014 there was no scaled division, so athletes were forced to go all or nothing if they wanted to submit a score. LUCKILY there is a scaled division this year. The weights are lighter, but still, everyone is doing thrusters, and everyone is doing bar facing burpees.
If you are worried that you might die trying to complete the RX version of this workout. The scaled version is there for you, and there is no shame in using it. This is another workout that rings true in the sense of, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should…” So please be smart about the route you decide to go.
As for our format on Saturday, we will run in wave heats…I will start groups of athletes when it is convenient, but judges will be using stop watches as athletes begin to be staggered out. That way if there is an athlete in a heat that is taking longer, we can keep the workouts moving, and no one will be working out alone for an extended period of time.
I will have spaces on the whiteboard where people can sign up in their preference of working out.
The action starts at 9, and will most likely run until 12-1230.
I will have enough room to run heats of 8 if needed, but it will all depend on the amount of judging power I have.
This has potential to be a VERY long workout for some, so the more judges I have available, the bigger heats we can run, and the quicker we can keep things moving.
I will be in on Easter Sunday from 9-11 for anyone that can’t make it on Saturday, but PLEASE plan accordingly.
This has potential to be a long workout…so doing it on Saturday is ideal…Sunday is OK too if you can come between 9-11am but there won’t be as much judging power to support a big group.
The same goes for Monday. I will be at the gym all day, and will help everyone I can get through it, but please plan accordingly so we aren’t rushing to get a bunch of people in at the last minute!
Here is the Outlaw Way strategy video from 14.5…He re-posted it last night, and said his advice and tips remain the same for 16.5.
We had over 50 athletes sign up for this year’s open, and about 98% of them were able to do and submit a score of some sort for EVERY workout so far. I am very proud of everyone that signed up, and everyone that followed through to the end.
So saddle up for one last open workout, and lets send this grand finale off with a bang!
W.I.L.D. Horizons CrossFit 
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