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The first stage of the CrossFit Games season is the CrossFit Games Open. The open consists of 5 gruelling workouts to be completed over 5 weeks (1 a week) and anyone can enter, whether you have been doing CrossFit for 2 weeks or 2 years, it really is open to everyone. This year’s Open has been amazing, such a fantastic atmosphere around the gym and brilliant to see so many new members take part and to so many of our longer standing member’s progress and reach movements they thought were out of their reach. Witnessing our members achieving personal milestones such as PB lifts and Rx movements is such a proud moment for all the coaches and staff at CrossFit Leyland.
Following the Open, the top athletes in each region around the world compete for the right to participate in the CrossFit Games and have a chance of earning the title of “fittest man / woman on the planet”. There is also another award given at the games that doesn’t get as much attention. This is the “Spirit of the Games” award. It is given to a competitor who may or may not have been in with a realistic shout of winning over that weekend but regardless has shown real character and qualities that should be celebrated regardless of their finishing spot. Previous winners have competed with injuries or just approached every event as though it were their last and overcome what seemed like impossible feats in order to finish the events.
Here at CrossFit Leyland we hold a similar award ‘Spirit of the Open’. Last year’s winner was Mike Halewood who signed up to the open last year after only being with us for 2 weeks.
This 2016 ‘Spirit of the Open’ award goes to…… Mark Brown. Mark has been a member with CFL for 6 months now, joining after he completed our couch to CrossFit course. Mark is definitely a face most people will have seen around the gym. He takes time to look after his body by mobilising, stretching and rolling before and after each workout, hence the nickname the coaches have given him ‘Mobility Mark’.
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Since Mark has joined CrossFit he has always given 100% and always set his targets high. In his first CrossFit Open Mark achieved his goal of being able to RX each of the 5 workouts smashing PB’s and completing movements he thought were unreachable after his short time here. In 16.2 he achieved a personal best on his squat clean and in 16.3 he went on to get not only his first bar muscle up but 10 in total completing 3 full rounds. 16.1 and 16.5 were very much mental toughness workouts and Mark definitely put in a battle. He got his head down, didn’t moan or grumble and just ploughed through.
Mark not only achieved his goals but he also helped others achieve theirs through his support and encouragement. Mark was always a friendly face on the gym floor or an encouraging voice shouting his support from the mezzanine. He was also one of the first to arrive and the last to leave for each workout. Mark really threw himself into the Open with his extra commitment and embodied what the Open was all about, not just yourself or the competing but the support of the CrossFit community.
Following the open, Mark continued to work hard, having completed the CFL rowing course he went on to smash his 2000 m row time. We are looking forward to see his progression throughout the rest of the year. From everyone at CrossFit Leyland we want to say a massive well done and thank you to Mobility Mark.
This year we have also added extra ‘Achievement’ awards for one male and one female member. The coaches had the unenviable task of picking two people out of eighty five members who entered the open, all of whom achieved a great deal. After much consideration, Mick Maddox and Sally Foster were selected to receive the awards, based on their outstanding achievements during the five weeks. Both members have improved greatly during their time at CrossFit Leyland, by attending consistently and following the coaches’ advice.
Mick may not be familiar to some members, as he attends the 6:15am class for the most part. This is the first year that many of the 6:15ers have been able to take part in the Open as we made it part of the Friday classes. Mick signed up and got stuck into every workout, completing 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 and 16.4 scaled and 16.5 Rx!!! Mick competed in the 55+ masters category, he made no excuses and maintained a positive attitude throughout the five weeks.
Sally’s goal in this year’s open was to RX 1 of the 5 workouts. She went on however to smash her goal and RX’d 3 of the 5 workouts, 16.3, 16.4 and 16.5!! What a fantastic achievement. During 16.4, Sally managed to complete all of the deadlifts and advanced on to the wall balls. Completing fifty five deadlifts at 70kg was a huge achievement for sally. She didn’t give up, just dug deep and got through it. She showed outstanding mental toughness throughout 16.5 also, which was another gruelling WOD.
Both members have had a great Open and we are pleased to congratulate them both with the ‘Most Achieved’ award.
This year’s open has been amazing and a joy to watch. A massive well done to everyone who completed the workouts and thank you to everyone who helped judge and support. Make a note of what you did this year guys and let’s make some goals for the Open 2017!!!!
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