CrossFit Games Open WOD 13.1 : Yup, Burpees still suck.

CrossFit Games Open WOD 13.1

17 min time cap

40 burpees, 30 snatches (75/45 lbs)

30 burpees, 30 snatches (135/75 lbs)

20 burpees, 30 snatches (165/100 lbs)

10 burpees, AMRAP snatches (210/120 lbs)

What a WOD! As many of you undoubtedly noticed, 13.1 was a bit of a case of déjà vu. I felt like a subject in Dave Castro’s personal science experiment: “What would happen if we stuck the first two WODs from 2012 together? ” I imagine him thinking. “Well, I’m in charge, so let’s find out!” For some reason, I had in my mind that 90 burpees with snatch breaks would somehow be more tolerable than 7 minutes of consecutive burpees. I was so very, very badly mistaken (as evidenced by the photo).

But I was heartened by how enthusiastically members at my box, of all levels, were throwing themselves willingly into the torture chamber, and how energetically everyone was encouraging one another. Over 90 members of Altitude signed up for and completed 13.1 and, given my somewhat forceful insistence that they do so, I was extra pleased that there was no shortage of accomplishments.

Several members snatched 75, 135, and even 165lbs for the first time. One member, fresh out of the intro class, could hardly snatch the 35lb bar before the WOD started. Ten minutes in, she discovered her hips and managed 22 at 45lbs!    As for my own performance, I did not manage my lofty goal of one snatch at 100lbs; I had almost 2 minutes to try, but was so completely incapacitated by that point that I somehow thought “butt straight in the air” was good form. I did manage my more plausible goal of finishing the second round of snatches in under 14 minutes, and did so far more easily than last year. I’m choosing to focus on this tangible measure of progress, and not the fact that several times I wasted precious seconds jumping twice because I missed the burpee target, or that I got the same score as the girl with the busted foot  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpoPbvHKVDg !

This is something I learned last year: to absorb the positivity in the room, and to exude it as well for others to use. It’s much more fun than being disappointed. The vibe at Altitude on Open WOD day has always been electric, as I’m sure it is at boxes around the world. If you haven’t experienced this, I highly recommend dropping in to your nearest affiliate next weekend to witness this for yourself.  I was so inspired by all of my friends who put themselves in that uncomfortable place, experienced tremendous accomplishment, and within the hour were welcoming whatever challenge Dave Castro has in store for us next.

Bring on 13.2!