“I’m nervous.”
‘I’m not sure I can do it.”
“I won’t be able to contribute anything to my team.”
These are common things we hear from members prior to doing their first Locomotion Open.
“That was SO fun.”
“I’ve never seen energy in the gym like that before.”
“I’m so glad I signed up.”
These are the things we hear usually after a week, and always by the conclusion of The Open.
We’re a month away from the Locomotion Intramural Open and we want YOU to sign up.
But wait- what is The Open?
To sum it up quickly, it’s a world-wide competition that casts the largest net possible to find the fittest on earth. Gyms like ours all over the world will host 3 events, one workout per week, to help test your fitness and assess your progress. At Loco this is a test you can’t fail unless you choose not to participate! We run The Open as an in-house intramural competition, and it is by far the thing our members look forward to most every year. Our primary goals are to HAVE FUN and BUILD COMMUNITY. There will be team captains, a super fun draft process, and divisions for every ability level. Teams will earn points for participation, team spirit, and event wins.
This event is for EVERY member of Loco and will be appropriate whether you are a bootcamper, spinner, yogi, CrossFitter, or nutrition/personal training client. We encourage EVERYONE to participate!
But wait- you’re not in the running for fittest on earth…
Well, neither am I. Here is why I still want you to sign up:
Back in 2014 I adopted an idea from a friend of mine who was later to become a mentor, Chris Cooper. It’s called The Intramural Open- and it’s friggin’ awesome.
This will be my 14th year competing. The things I remember from The Open over the years are the seemingly little things.
I remember someone signing up even though they were terrified. I remember the look in a child’s eyes as they watch their parent push past their comfort zones. Maybe it’s when someone is faced with a challenge they’re not sure they can handle and they come out victorious. Or maybe they don’t…but they come out stronger on the other side and that’s still a win in my book.
What I DON’T remember is my performances from when I was a competitive athlete, and I certainly couldn’t tell you how the top performers in the world did on their workouts.
At Loco we’ve had epic battles. Dave was jumping rope drenched in sweat, his body was exhausted and his mind wanted to quit. He was shaking his head “no… no….” and a crew of people surrounded him, giving him their energy, willing him to finish.
In 2011 I remember a workout of a single movement- heavy Clean & Jerks. One of my buddies, Alex, had never put the prescribed weight over his head before. He’d only been around fitness for 2 years, and he joined the gym simply to lose a little weight. What played out was a mix of made lifts and failed lifts, and an incredible display of heart. By the end of the workout he’d put the weight overhead eight times in five minutes. Dave, and the rest of the gym, didn’t care about how competitive his score was, just that he had laid it all out on the floor. All we cared about was the fact Dave did something he’d never done before….then he did it seven more times! That is the power of the open.
In 2014 we had an athlete named Jess who, by the end of the open, was a shoe-in for our Spirit of The Open award. Every single week she was faced with something she’d never done before; and every single week she rose to the challenge. The final week was a different story. For the first time we saw a workout that was “for time”, meaning the clock didn’t stop until you finished the work. Normally the workouts have a set time frame and you get as much work done in that time as possible. On the low-end this was a 9-14ish minute workout. For many, it would push into the 20-30 minute range and require some serious fortitude.
For Jess, this workout took 54 minutes.
She cursed. She threw her water bottle across the gym. She probably wanted to quit 100x.
She never did.
By the end, she’d won over the hearts of an entire gym of people- all rooting for her. She was the easiest choice for the spirit award that I’ve ever had- and even now my eyes well up a little bit just typing this.
Isn’t that what sport is all about? It has the ability to create moments that don’t just happen on their own.
We’re 4 or so weeks away and I’ve got chills.
Join your Loco brothers and sisters for one of the most exciting times of the year.
Be nervous. Be unsure. Do it anyway.
WHERE & WHEN IT GOES DOWN
We’ll be running a half-day fitness event at the gym every Saturday from February 26th – March 12th. Each Saturday will be themed and feel very much like a party with costumes, food, and friendly competition! Bonus? It is family-friendly! So bring your partner, kids, parents, grandparents, etc.!
You in? We sure hope so! Registration details will be released soon. Stay tuned for more!
