With the open just around the corner, you should have a good sense of how you will do before the first event is released. The work that you have put in since the last Crossfit Games with either be enough or it won’t.
So, for some of you the 2013 open will be the start of your preparation for the 2014 Crossfit Games. What better time than this to talk about some of the best competition programming out there.
First, the best Crossfit Games Programming would be done by your own personal coach refining your snatch technique, scheduling some goat work and generally programming for what you specifically need. However, you may not have the access or the means (i.e. cash money).
Second, take an honest look at yourself…how close are you to making waves at the Open, the Regionals and ultimately the Crossfit Games. Can you handle the necessary volume? Do you have the focus? Do you truly have the potential to ‘make it”?
If your answer is yes, here are just a few great places to start:
Crossfit Invictus Competition Training Programmed by CJ Martin who has worked with several top athletes including Josh Bridges and Camille Leblanc Bazinet.
Outlaw Programmed by Rudy Nielsen. About a billion athletes following Outlaw qualified for regionals last year and Rudy programs a boatload of Olympic Lifts.
Crossfit New England’s Competitor WOD Ben Bergeron is well known in the Crossfit community for having one of the most successful affiliates, sending a strong team to the games every year and coaching a whole pile of top dogs.
MisFit Training Not as well known as the guys above, but worth a look. The programming looks to be well thought out. The cool thing about these guys is that they have built in scaling options for the volume of work (i.e. each day has mandatory components as well as optional pieces for those with the time)
MaxFit USA Has several distinct streams for Crossfit competition, powerlifting, and olympic lifting.
OPT Big Dawgs Blog Arguably, James “OPT” FitzGerald is the OG of games competition and the original Crossfit Games champ.
On the surface, it would tough to go wrong following any of the programming listed above. However, look critically at the programming and evaluate them for how well thier focus lines up with your things that you have to work on. For example, Outlaw would be a good option for a solid crossfitter that needs to work on thier O-Lifting.
Critically evaluate where you are in your Crossfit Development and whether adopting Crossfit Competitor programming is the best way to get there. In my humble opinion, the athletes who will benefit most already have built a solid base of strength, capacity, and technique.
Whatever you choose, don’t make the mistake of bouncing from program to program when you don’t PR by 50 pounds in your first week. Choose a path and give it time. That being said, it is still important to measure and track your progress in a detailed Crossfit Training Journal. Blindly following a path without success is just as counter-productive.
