The Pressure Is Off
2011 CrossFit Open
“The positive attitude, discipline, and mental fortitude required in CrossFit have a direct correlation and impact on your life outside of the gym.” – Glassman
Deep Squats (Thoughts)
The photos today are all from the first CrossFit Open in 2011. We didn’t know what it was really going to be or how hard it would be (BRUTAL). But, we went into the unknown and 14 years later I am proud to look back and know that I have been a part of something great since the beginning.
My “Deep Squat” today was to try and motivate you (all the readers of this) to sign up for The Open this year if you haven’t already. I even searched Google for “the importance of doing hard things” quotes. The AI list is below.
Then, as I started uploading and typing I had a different thought. Generally, I try to be real positive with y’all. I encourage you. I pump you up. And it’s exhausting. So in the spirit of constant variance we’re going to mix it up today.
I will stop buggin you to sign up for The Open. It’s your life and I need to respect your decision. I’m sorry if I’m been annoying. My opinion is that you will miss out on a fun experience with other wonderful people in the gym. The Lord knows I have missed out on plenty in my life. I’m moving forward with those that want to do it.
Let’s be very clear, though. I am NOT insulting you or looking down on you for not signing up or participating. There are plenty of valid reasons. Ski season, kid sports, travel, don’t want to, etc. I still love you. I promise.
I’m still going to talk about it. I still want you to sign up. I still want you to ask questions about it. But, I’ll back off the pressure and just let you enjoy class without the relentless sales pitch to sign up. Ultimately, I’m glad you’re here because that may be your “hard thing” you are already doing.
“All things are difficult before they are easy.”
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”
“Without a struggle, there can be no progress.”
“You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.”
“Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs.”
“Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.”
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
GET SIGNED UP. If you want to.
See you in class.
Tim
What’s Going On?
New Year, New Teen Class
Who: Boys and Girls aged 12-17
Dates: January 7 – February 27th
When: Tuesdays/Thursdays at 4pm
*Email [email protected] to sign up*
CrossFit Open
March 1st – March 15th, 2025
9am at CFPA
Nutrition Coaching
Coach Rebecca is now offering nutrition coaching which will include:
Initial assessment, InBody testing and weekly check-ins. Contact her for details.
Overheard in Class:
“Cry in the car, not in class.”
Timfluencing
Pavel Tsatsouline is a world-renowned strength and conditioning coach, former military special forces training instructor, author, and founder of StrongFirst—an online school focused on “low-tech, high-concept” training to build strength for men and women of all fitness levels.
They discuss the most effective and efficient ways to build strength, endurance, and flexibility. Bodyweight-only, free-weight, and machine-based protocols are covered. They also discuss local versus systemic nervous system and muscle recovery, how to complete training sessions with increased energy, why training to “failure” is not advised, optimal rest-between-sets protocols to improve performance, and how to vary effort levels across each week and month to ensure regular progress.
Tim’s Takeaway: This is a LONG video. I listened on Spotify. I was first introduced to Pavel and kettlebells in 2004. I separated my shoulder really bad in 2005 and used kb’s exclusively for the next 3 years as I rehabbed and we moved around the country. I then used his techniques and methods in my formation of CrossFit Palo Alto. Listen to this and you’ll hear where I got so many cues and concepts that I repeat every day. Pavel is as impressive today as he was 20 years ago and that makes him worth listening to, at least in my mind.
Thank you for your support.
I look forward to what we will do together.
