Unless you are protesting your Insta or Facebook feeds, you may have noticed a little buzz about the CrossFit community happening as of late. Something tagged with “#intheopen” has undoubtedly appeared throughout your scrolls. This little tag indicates something very exciting is coming, and it’s just around the corner. The 2017 Reebok CrossFit Open!!! Every year, The Open comes around and every year, amazing stories emerge from them. From sweet 75 year olds who want to compete because they’re able-bodied and proud, to teenagers whooping all our butts, to your neighbor Kevin who's been working on that C2B pull up for a year and finally stuck it. GO KEVIN. And the best part? Renew has their own library of stories, and we love getting to spend this cool time with you guys - makin’ mems and muscle ups. Renew is full of Open veterans, but we also have a lot of people who might not know what The Open is and how much fun we have. So let’s do a little dialogue and make it crystal clear: Q: So what is The Open? A: Officially, the CrossFit Open is the first step in qualifying for The Games. Starting February 23rd, the first workout, 17.1, will be announced. Then, people across the world will perform the workout. Each rep will be counted by a certified judge and approved by a head judge. The athlete will then be able to submit their scores and see where they rank compared to everyone else registered. Lather, rinse, and repeat for every Thursday until March 23rd. Unofficially, it’s a really neat time for individual box communities to come together and sweat it out for the sake of fun and exercise. Also, we get HYPED. Q: Who can register for The Open? A: Any human on the earth. Okay, there are different age divisions, so babies cannot compete. But, if you’re reading this blog, you are eligible to register. And don’t you dare let intimidation or fear stop you from participating! It’s just some friendly, encouraging competition. To register, click here. Q: When and where do I get to do the workouts? A: Every Friday at Renew! We’ll be hosting our annual Friday Night Lights, giving everyone a chance to give the workout their best shot and cheer your fellow heatmates on. Starting at 5:00 pm, we will have multiple heats (30 minutes each) with roughly 5 people in each heat. To secure your spot, click here. Q: I have a friend who isn’t a member at Renew, but still wants to compete. Can they join? A: Yes! This is a great time to bring in friends **that have been through Foundations or Elements and have done CrossFit before and have a general understanding of our world** and introduce them to the Renew fam! Q: I like judging people. How do I do that? A: You first need to get certified, and you can do that by clicking here. It is an easy peasy $10 certification, and you’ll get to yell “no rep” at someone and feel really powerful. Let McKenzie know if you are planning on getting certified and then sign up for the best times on the signup sheet linked above. Q: What if I don’t want to actually compete or judge, but I still want to come hang out and cheer? A: You better believe we have a spot for you! One of the best parts about The Open is the camaraderie that this season incites within the gym. These workouts are not going to be easy, and we need the gym to be PUMPED for these competitors. People work harder when everyone is yelling loud and encouraging things. It’s science. Hopefully that covers all the main concerns, but if you have more questions, feel free to contact McKenzie! Also, let’s keep in mind that CrossFit is not life and whether you come out ranking #1 and become the new Rich Froning, or if you’re Jude Dude and dead last in the world, we still love you and you’re still great. Your worth is not determined by a branded ranking system. All we ask is that do your best, and encourage those around you. NOW LET’S GET PUMPED! With love and lunges, The Renew Crew 
