It's a Test, It's Supposed to be Hard

We are now into the third week of the 2019 CrossFit Open and 19.3 was just announced. Take one quick look at social media and you’ll find a lot of people conveying a level of frustration about this workout. Most people were able to handle Week 1 as prescribed. Week 2 was more complicated as the required skill level to complete the workout Rx was turned up a bit. 

Why get bent out of shape when Week 3 is even more challenging? That’s the point. This is a test of fitness. It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone could do it. 

So what exactly is the test? Of the hundreds of thousands of people registered for The Open, it is a test for a couple hundred of them to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Let me say that another way: only a small percentage of people in The Open have a shot at making The Games. The vast majority are in it for something different:

For everyone else, it is a test of their own personal fitness and a celebration of the fact that they are part of a community of people who have made living a fitter, healthier life an important value. 

What does that mean for you? That means that you have a choice. You can look at 19.3, and subsequently 19.4 and 19.5 negatively and through the lens of what you cannot do, or you can look at these workouts knowing you will put forth your best effort and see what you can do. 

Go surprise yourself. The other members in your gym want to see you do it. They’ll be rooting for you. Be positive, tune out the complaints on social media, give it all that you can, and make sure that when the next 10 minutes are over that you are happy with the effort you gave. Besides that, don’t forget to have fun, and that’s all that you can do.

BTSCF Athletes hitting 19.3 early in the morning on March 8, 2019