Why This Is Your Most Important CrossFit Open Ever

This is it. The big one. And you probably already had it written off. Over the past few weeks you’ve probably heard a few phrases thrown around that resemble something like:

“CrossFit has made too many changes over the years.”

“I wish it was the way it used to be when I had a shot at regionals.”

“Two Open’s in one year, that’s terrible for programming?”

And I have to stop and ask you…”Where’s your spirit man!?”

I just took a look at the CrossFit Open page from 2011 and you know what I saw? Absolute badasses. Lifting in their makeshift garage gyms with whiteboard walls from the Home Depot wearing Reebok Zigtech (remember those?)

I don’t know if we’ve been spoiled too long with the glorified baby food in pouches and lululemon sweats, but somewhere along the way we’ve lost touch with our CrossFit roots. We’ve gotten soft and comfortable. 

That’s why this is your most important CrossFit Open ever. 

You have been in the game for a long time now. You remember the good ole days of box jumps in the park and pullups on the jungle gym. Shredding your hands every year during Murph, because those blisters were a badge of honor. And fighting for every last rep during the open when you had never done a muscle up, but dammit today was going to be the day!

Then the sport grew. The athletes grew. The standards were raised. The sport became mainstream. All of a sudden there was gear, and brands, and sponsors that separated the pro’s from the rest of us. 

And in the midst of it all you let the passion slip. You stopped putting in the extra work. You show up and try hard, but most of the time you don’t feel like going to that dark place where your muscles ache and burn and your eyes sting with sweat. That place that made you fall in love with CrossFit from the start. You say it’s changed, but it hasn’t. 

CrossFit has been there all along.

New members join the gym every day. You see them experience it. You can’t help but smirk when coach mentions burpees and thrusters in the workout and you know the new guy is in for a rude awakening. You can’t wait to cheer them on as they push out the last rep. With a face contorted between relief and anguish as they collapse on the floor.

That’s why this is your most important CrossFit Open ever. 

Because there’s a piece deep inside of you that still burns to be pushed. That you must go through the fire and flame and see if you can come out the other side. That you need to find new purpose in that 7 minute AMRAP, because you know that the biggest enemy you will ever have to face is between your ears. And every time you overcome that little voice telling you to quit something inside of you changes and you feel a pride that can’t be faked. 

That’s why this is your most important CrossFit Open ever. 

Because of the friends you’ve made in the gym that have changed your life. From the inspiration you’ve gotten from every member who has lost the weight, or quit the job, or said “Never again” to that habit. 

For the community. For your family. And for you. 

Make it happen.

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Derek Williams

CrossFit Coach

The questions ‘what does CrossFit mean to me’ and ‘Why do I want to be a coach’ come down to a simple quote that I immediately thought of. “It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Dr. Edward J. Stieglitz
He wrote that in a book on longevity, and I believe that CrossFit has added life to my years and is responsible to adding life to the years of countless people and will continue to do so for many years. I have more life in my years because I’m more physically fit, because I have developed a habit of working out 4 times a week, because I track macros and count calories and because I don’t have to figure out what I’m going to do in my workouts. I feel better, I’m able to be more active with my family and friends, and I’m generally happier than I would be otherwise. And that’s all because of CrossFit. I thought about exploring coaching a while ago because I thought it would be a good way to develop my knowledge of the sport as well as help me develop coaching skills that jobs that I want in the future are looking for. Becoming a coach has given me experience with managing different personalities, meeting people where they are, motivating people in the most effective way and advance my understanding
of this sport and fitness in general. But more importantly, I add different energy, experience, capability, and level of respect to the coaching team.

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CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Chris Jackson

Fitness Coach

Our wealth is our health…I truly believe there is no better investment any of us can make than in our mental and physical health.   Living an active, healthy lifestyle enables us to get more out of life and live it to the fullest.    As a lifelong runner, I came to Widespread looking to find balance in my fitness by building strength and power.  What I found was a community of people who motivate, encourage and support one another inside and outside the gym.  Coaching at Widespread gives me the opportunity to help our athletes on their journeys toward health and fitness.  Learning new movements, improving technique and hitting PRs motivates athletes of any age, and it’s critical for those of us who want to continue growing.   Life is better together, but life is rich and full when you are healthy and fit.

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CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course

Amy Poshusta

Fitness Coach

As I have reached my mid-40s, my desire to find balance in a healthy lifestyle has peaked; balance in how much I train or workout, how much emphasis I place on healthy food choices and how much time I spend socially connecting with my family and friends.  To me, CrossFit is this balance.  It is the overlapping region on my own personal Venn diagram of training, nutrition and lifestyle, and it is providing me the best quality of life and health.  It is about challenging one’s capabilities with new and demanding workouts, nurturing bodies to grow and supporting mental health with a super fun community of like-minded and encouraging people.  CrossFit is challenges and rewards. It is individually competitive and collaborative.  It has pushed me to better how I move and to mentally persevere.  And as a result, I am the strongest, and perhaps the happiest & healthiest, I have ever been in my whole life.

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CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course

Erica Erickson

Fitness Coach

When I sit down to think about what CrossFit means to me this is what comes to mind…..self-confidence, strength, peaceful mind, supportive tribe, willingness to get out of one’s comfort zone, and not being afraid to show weaknesses.   Growing up playing sports, becoming a mom took a toll on me physically and mentally.  After our first set of twins, I tried to stay active, but after our second set, I found I didn’t have time.  I woke up one day sick of being tired, out of shape, and I knew I wanted to be a better roll model for our children.   After getting the courage to ask a friend about her CrossFit classes, I signed up for a No Sweat Intro.  After meeting with Matt, I just knew it was something I had to try or I would always wonder “What if.”  I quickly fell in love with everything about it.  The variety of the classes, the community that pushes you to step outside your comfort zone, and the incredible coaches who help you believe in yourself when you feel like stopping because you haven’t work out in years.  CrossFit has dramatically changed my life and I LOVE helping others realize the same benefits in their lives.  Knowing that I get to assist others become stronger, both mentally and physically, is the foundation of why I love being a coach.

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CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course

Ani Monroe

Fitness Coach

Coming Soon!

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Brand X Method Kids Course
 National Exercise Trainers Association

Kari Kirkendall

Nutrition Coach / Event & Media Director / Youth Fitness Director

CrossFit literally changed my life. Now I know this sounds cliche or a little extreme, but it honestly did. CrossFit not only gave me a self confidence I had no idea I could posses, a self love I didn’t think was possible and an outlet to any challenge life threw my way, but also gave me my husband, my way of living and a discovery into a passion that consumes my life in the best way possible.

What I do every day is incredible. Every day I see something amazing and inspiring happen to people that I truly care so much about. And what I am talking about has nothing to do with being able to deadlift a huge amount of weight (although that IS awesome and I am always pumped when that happens) it’s about athletes coming in with stories about being able to do something they haven’t been comfortable doing in over 2 decades (whether it’s fitness related or just wearing a piece of clothing), or seeing two children under the age of 10 tell their mom and/or dad they want to be strong like them some day, or watching people become comfortable in their own skin in a way that 3 months ago they never thought they would ever be able to do. It gives me a passion and a drive to never stop doing what we are doing.

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course
 CrossFit Kids Course
 Brand X Method Kids Course
 Precision Nutrition

Matthew Kirkendall

Head Coach / Owner

To me CrossFit means opportunity……..

Suffering a stress fracture to my femur, while training for my first 100 miler ultra, I sought out a different outlet to prove my fitness and stay active.  CrossFit gave me this opportunity.  Besides mostly disproving my actual fitness level, it provided me with a incomparable challenge and more accurate way to set physical and mental limits for myself.

Going through heart breaking personal struggles at home and making the life changing decision to move out west alone, away from friends and family, I arrived craving personal connection and sense of belonging.  CrossFit gave me this opportunity.   All it took was suffering side by side through a WOD before it felt like I had been a part of the community for years.

Years of reading, studying, testing everything I could on fitness and what is meant “to be fit” could only be so gratifying, I wanted to share my knowledge, experience and passion with others.  CrossFit gave me this opportunity.  It’s the feeling and joy I get when, I am able to coach a new athlete through a task that seemed impossible minutes before or see their face light up when a movement feels effortless after weeks of struggle, that makes me realize this is what I was meant to do.

Whether it be working for a national corporation or coaching at the local box, I have often questioned their ways of doing business, claiming I could do it better if only it was my business.   CrossFit gave me this opportunity.   Operating a successful fitness facility is a dream come true and proof that I can accomplish anything with the determination, patience, sacrifice and the opportunity.

PRIOR ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE:

  • Leadville Trail 100 Run
  • Ironman Lake Placid
  • Bel Monte 50 Mile Endurance Run
  • Leadville Marathon
  • Several other triathlons and running races of various distances

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Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification
 CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Course
 CrossFit Level 2 Trainer Course
 CrossFit Aerobic Capacity Course
 CrossFit Movement & Mobility Course
 CrossFit Weightlifting Trainer Course
 USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coaching Course

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