This past weekend Synergy Strength held one of largest local CrossFit competitions in Canada with almost 300 competitors. For the past two years I have tried to attend as many of these competitions as possible including ones in Saskatoon, Regina and Lloydminster. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no beast of epic proportions but I do enjoy hangin' out with my fit friends and sharing a weekend of PR bliss with them. This year I decided to give back to the community and volunteer my time as a judge at the event. In watching all my beastly buds kick butt this weekend it caused me to reflect on some of the do's and don'ts one should consider before taking on their first (or next) CrossFit competition.Do let the organizing staff know if you are unable to attend the competition prior to the event. Unless it is a last minute emergency you can send them a quick email letting them know. Heat times and leader boards are set up based on registration so be considerate and give them the heads up.
Don't experiment with your caffeine tolerance level the day of the competition. At minimum you may risk feeling like your face is going to fall off or your heart may explode.. or at worst sh*tting your pants in front of an entire crowd of people.
Do pack a cooler with food to keep you energized for the weekend. You probably won't eat a whole bunch while you're there but it's nice to know that if you're hungry you won't have to racoon through other people's lunch kits when they're not looking.
Don't be a Betty Bragger or a Debbie Downer. Be humble, happy, appreciative and excited for others. There's no point in pissing people off with your bad attitude. And besides, it's really hard to work out to your best ability knowing that people would like to throat punch you.
Do double check that you have all of your work out gear. Not only does it rattle your cage when you don't have your sexiest oly lifting belt to smash the hang clean ladder with, it's also a little hard when you have to borrow a pair of someone's sweaty, oversized Nanos to run your fastest 150 meter sprint in.Don't rely on others to tell you what time your heat is. Check the schedule, watch the clock, get warmed up and be prepared for your next event. There's nothing worse than racing out to find your one rep max snatch while trying to get your shoes tied up without having touched a barbell all day. Or missing your event altogether. Be on time, you're an adult - I have faith in you that you can handle at least that much.
Do have fun. It's not the CrossFit Games, it's a local competition run by volunteers and it is meant to be fun for everyone. Don't take yourself so seriously that you ruin the experience for yourself or for others. It's not going to make you any more fit by making someone feel like crap because you were an a$$hole to them.
I hope everyone enjoyed their time spent at the 2013 Bridge City Beatdown this year. I know that by taking the time to volunteer this year that I am already ready to go and have the time of my life next year!
Yours in CrossFit,
Ashlyn
