Process Over Outcome: MLA Community Stories from the CrossFit Open

With a few weeks to go until the CrossFit Open, we’re gearing up for this pivotal moment in the fitness calendar with a look at what it really means to take part.

Whether you’re new to CrossFit or a seasoned athlete, a fundamental belief lies at the core of the sport: focus on the journey rather than the end result. It's about understanding that progress is a process, and true growth comes from consistency. The Open challenges participants both physically and mentally, and builds a mindset that values effort, resilience, and growth in the pursuit of excellence.

In this piece we talk to two individuals from the MLA community about their experiences with CrossFit and why they’re taking part in the Open this year.

Now that she’s got one Open under her belt, Amanda’s thoughts turn to the upcoming 2024 Open and how she’ll approach it. ‘Last year I went into it with a very open mind, and this year I’m going to do exactly the same. There’ll be some workouts I like and that I’m good at, and some that I’m not so good at, which is all part of the fun of it I guess.’

She’s a huge proponent of enjoying the process rather than focusing on the outcome. This year she’s switched up her training after identifying her gaps in the previous year. ‘Last year before the Open, I really worked on skills and gymnastics as I already had the strength. I knew they were huge gaps for me so I spent the three months before the Open really allocating time to them each week in addition to my regular CrossFit programme. This year, I’ve been working on all the elements in the CrossFit classes, but also working on my cardio a lot more. I make sure to add in a zone 2 session every week and build in more cardio to really work on my endurance.’

Her advice for anyone who hasn’t taken part in the Open and is considering it? ‘Just do it. What have you got to lose? Even if you’re not part of a CrossFit gym, it’s a great way to meet like minded people and be in an environment that’ll feed your passion for working out and looking after yourself. It’s also a really good benchmark, not to compare yourself to others, but to see your progress over time.’

There are countless reasons to enter the Open, but the way it develops your physical and mental strength all whilst being part of an incredible community, is what it’s truly all about. You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you try, so - what are you waiting for? Register to take part in this year’s Open and join the MLA community for three weeks of workouts, fun, growth and great people. We’ll create our own MLA leaderboard, which offers all of our community the chance to win prizes from our partners.