Dear Roots Crew,
Each year in February and March, CrossFit Roots participates in the CrossFit Open. We want to personally invite you to register for this annual event that fills our shop with a magical vibe each spring.
CrossFit Roots has been participating in the Open since its inception in 2010. Early on, we were attracted to the Open for our athletes because it brought our affiliate together as a team, helped everyday people recognize the hard-earned improvements they had made in their fitness, and allowed people to celebrate others’ hard-earned achievements.
It was never about being first or last. It was about the decision to try. To put yourself out there. As coaches, we understood how uncomfortable that ask would be – from the competitive athlete who felt the pressure to do well by their admiring classmates, to the new-to-CrossFit athlete who didn’t yet even know what a dumbbell snatch was.
And maybe that discomfort is the point. We often think our nerves, our fears, or our circumstances are unique—but everyone around you is carrying their own version of that same inner dialogue (as my Mom would say, “you’re not special”). If you were ever nervous to walk into a CrossFit gym, thought you’d never get a pull-up and now have one, or felt proud after a workout that intimidated you, then you already know what it means to quiet and crush those voices.
Over the years, The Open just became part of what we do at CrossFit Roots. Yes, it’s challenging. But every person here chose CrossFit because they were willing to take ownership of their health and performance. The willingness to do hard things—publicly, imperfectly, and together—is the culture inside these walls. It’s an ask from the coaches at Roots that we acknowledge, and we work daily to help you see and realize all that you are capable of. That’s CrossFit. That’s Roots.
Comfort in many ways has become the root of much evil – from the digital pacifier that is our phones to the ability to eat processed foods while standing in line at Home Depot, to the comfort of staying within what we’re good at, comfort is all around us.
And the Open is calling your name.
With much love and admiration for the work you each put in every day at Roots,
Nicole and Eric
If you’re new to The Open or want a refresher, here is an overview of The Open and what it looks like at Roots.
The Workouts
The Open consists of three workouts over three weeks. CrossFit Roots runs The Open workout in every group class each Friday and a make-up session on Mondays at 1:30. Additionally, athletes can make up the workout if they notify the coach and organize to have a judge who has passed the Judges Course.
For each workout, there are many different options, from Rx and Scaled, to Masters Rx and Masters Scaled. The coaches will work with each athlete to figure out which option is the best challenge for you for each week.
Intramural Teams at Roots
To add an extra layer of fun and spirit to the shop, we also host an in-house intramural team competition. We divide everyone who has signed up for The Open onto 3-4 teams that then do additional (and oftentimes silly, fun, spirited) competitions to earn points for their teams.
Q&A
I’m new to The Open. I need more info.
Are you new to CrossFit and you’re not sure what the Open is, or do you just want a good reminder of why we do the Open each year? Check out this article that Nicole wrote for CrossFit in 2022. It breaks down the Open and explains why we do it.
When is The Open?
The Open runs from February 28th through March 16th. The workouts are released each week on Thursday and we do the workout in group classes on Fridays.
What’s this I hear about judging?
Soon, you’ll start to see many CrossFit Judges Course certificates grace the front desk as we head into The Open. Like proud parents hanging their kids’ artwork on the fridge, the coaching staff couldn’t be happier than when our athletes choose to take the course.
The judges course is required for all affiliate managers who will validate Open workouts. It is recommended, yet not required, for individuals who will judge athletes in the Open, to take the course. At Roots, we have always made it part of our Open process that any individual who wishes (and we thank you for judging!) to judge athletes in The Open workouts at Roots must first take and pass the Online Judges Course.
Can I take the Judges Course?
Yes! We would love for you to take the judges course. It will help us run a great Open and it will make you a better athlete as it will bring another learning option to understanding the movements you do each day.
You can learn more about why to take the judges course HERE.
How do I sign up?