The End (Of the Open That Is)

5 weeks after it began, it is over. So much hype for such a short amount of time. I felt the same last year. And now that it's over, it's time for a recap. 

Before I recap, let's touch on 16.5. I can say that it was one of the harder workouts I have ever done. It was brutal for me. Let's take a look at what it was. I did RX so I am not listing scaled. 

Workout 16.5
Thrusters
Burpees

21-18-15-12-9-6-3:

M 95 lb.      F 65 lb.

From the start, I worried about the Thrusters. 65lbs is not a lot. However, when you are doing 84 reps total, it's intimidating. I wanted to get this done in under 30 minutes. As the first heat went, I could see that the possibility of doing better than that was there. Several of my friends got under 20 minutes. But sadly, I believe I got in my own head too much about it. The workout took me just shy of 27 minutes. I felt like I was going to throw up at least 4 times. I failed a thruster at least 2-3 times. I wanted to quit at least 6 times. But I didn't. I finished it. I guess that's an accomplishment!?

To conclude this year's Open I thought it would be a good step to look at how I did last year as opposed to how I did this year. A few movements that plagued me last year continue to do so this year. 

Then: Last year during 15.1 I couldn't RX the workout because I couldn't do toes to bar. I did manage to PR my clean and jerk back then at 90lbs. 

Now: I can do toes to bar (although not well yet) but I couldn't do them in the workout during 16.2 because you needed to get 25 reps in 4 minutes. I tried twice and I got 21 each time. My 1RM Clean & Jerk is currently 115lbs. (boom!)

Then: During 15.2 I tried for 6 minutes to get a pull-up. No success. 

Now: They didn't even have pull-ups as a scaled option (damn them!) and went even easier with things like hanging knee raises which pissed me off. I had to do a scaled workout because I couldn't get a chest to bar (but damn am I close!)

Then: The infamous 15.3 is where I could barely do ANY good rep wall balls. 

Now: I surprised myself and completed 55 deadlifts at 155lbs and 55 wall balls when I didn't think I would get through the deadlifts. 

Then: 15.4 was nothing to note, literally I barely wrote about it. BUT I did climb a rope. 

Now: I can actually do handstand pushups (with a mat but still...) whereas last year I could not at all. 

Then: I did not record a blog about 15.5 but it was rowing and thrusters. 27-21-15-9. I did it in 17 something, scaled was a 45lbs bar only. That's 72 reps. 

Now: 16.5 was similarish. Thursters and burpees. 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 at 65lbs and bar facing burpees. I did not do well. (see above) knowing how long it took me to do that last year, I feel like I should consider doing it again. If I do, it will have it's own blog so don't worry. 

Then: I scaled all 5 workouts. 

Now: I tried ALL the workouts RX and completed 3/5 RX. Next year looking for 5/5!