You Bombed CrossFit Open Workout 26.1. Good. Here's Why.

The first workout of the CrossFit Open has come and gone, and, to put it mildly, you totally sh*t the bed. What do you do now? Is it time to collect your jump rope, headband, knee sleeves, gymnastics grips, and chalk and call it quits? 

Hell no. 

It’s time to take a page out of Jocko Willink’s discipline mindset and reframe your experience like this: “Open Workout 26.1 was a total disaster for me. Good.”

Good. Two more workouts to attack. Two chances to prove what you’re capable of. All those hours in the gym working on hard movements, failing and failing again in deliberate practice until you finally hit that next progression, all that nutrition planning to fuel your efforts — it’s all going to pay off. There’s no failure in trying and coming up short. You are the man in the arena. There’s only failure in quitting. 

Good. You learned so much about yourself in that first workout. Tough experiences make the best teachers. You discovered gaps in your fitness to address after the Open. You learned how it feels when the wheels fall off and how you respond under stress. Two more opportunities to practice positive self-talk, adjust your plan when things go sideways, and push past your preconceived limits. These are the skills that build the best version of yourself.  

Good. Your poor result has lit a fire. Now you’re bringing a different level of fight to prove you can compete and perform when it counts. What a great opportunity to practice being a prime-time performer.

Good. You get to see how you respond when things are hard and the pressure is on. True competitors often follow down days with their best performances. Let’s see what you can accomplish when everyone has counted you out, and your pride is on the line.

Good. In any worthwhile endeavor, a short memory is critical for maintaining confidence and reframing poor performances as learning opportunities. Did Michael Jordan let a missed shot affect the next one? Never. Now you can prove you’re mentally tough enough not to let your last performance impact the next. 

Good. You’ve always taken pride in never quitting, no matter what. This is your opportunity to walk the walk. You know you win if you show up, regardless of what happens.

The next Open workout cannot come soon enough.

About the Author

Stephane Rochet is a Senior Content Writer for CrossFit. He has worked as a Flowmaster on the CrossFit Seminar Staff and has over 15 years of experience as a collegiate/tactical strength and conditioning coach. He is a Certified CrossFit Trainer (CF-L3) and enjoys training athletes in his garage gym.