The quad DOMs are still real as a struggle into my seat to write this recap. The 2026 CrossFit Open is underway! We are joining with CrossFit Gyms around the world as we take on the challenge of three unknown workouts, across three weeks, to test our fitness. It's the biggest annual event in the CrossFit calendar, and I love it! Even after 16 years of signing up, it still unsettles me and that's very much the point. The Open holds us to a standard, it holds a mirror up to our fitness, it's an honest reflection of where our fitness level is right now and can be a helpful reminder to keep working on areas we need to improve as well as providing goals and adding focus to our training.

Workout 26.1 brought us a hefty dose of wall balls alongside some box jump overs, and introduced a new twist on a movement that we've seen before, the box step-over, this time with a med-ball. My first thoughts on the workout was that it was something fresh and exciting, I liked the pyramid format and it was a welcome break from the dumbbell and burpee combinations that have featured the past number of years. I also really liked the weaving in of the medball step-over, it wasn't a huge separator in the grand scheme of things but a nice bit of novelty. While the fittest of the fit might have finished the workout under the timecap, for the rest of us this was a twelve minute AMRAP. 26.1 came down to the wall balls, the ascending sets made pacing and strategy a big factor. How large of a set could you hold on to, how long would you need to rest between sets, etc.

As always it was fantastic to see the CFG crew taking on the challenge together, everyone bringing their best efforts to the workout and fighting for every rep when the fatigue kicked in. I love the energy and atmosphere in the gym during Open workouts. The community spirit of the gym is really brought to the fore. The pre-workout strategy talk, the anticipation, the nerves, the 3,2,1,Go!, the cheers of support, the relief of completing the workout, the celebratory fist bumps, the post workout debrief. It's all part of what makes The Open such a special event. It also pushes us outside of our comfort zone. It pulls the rug from under us in a world where comfort is the norm and highlights the importance of doing hard things. We've gotten many personal bests inspired by The Open. First pull-ups, muscle-ups etc, people lifting weights they didn't think possible. 26.1 challenged some of our members to jump on a 20 or 24 inch box or use a heavier medicine ball for the first time.

Alongside the physical tests, The Open always challenges our mental game. When things get tough can we stay composed? When doubt creeps in and we want to stop, can we stay positive and keep moving forward? How do we handle things when they don't go to plan? It asks many many questions of us and really puts our self-talk to the test.

Congrats to all those who took on 26.1 and a big thank you to everyone who came down to support and help with judging. Also a big thank you to Conor Stafford and Kris Devlin for capturing the action. If you’re curious we’d encourage you come along over the next two Fridays. Get involved in the workouts or just come along and cheer on your fellow members. For the final Friday evening (Mar 13th) we’ll be celebrating the end of the Open. We’ll take on 26.3, present some prizes for participants, and enjoy some food and drink. This week we look forward to 26.2 and another unknown test. My prediction: barbell (snatch or deadlift?), gymnastics(toes to bar?), double unders. What's your prediction?

THE OPEN IS HERE! (26.1 Recap)

Ivan & Iestyn Testimonial