What a Competition Day Looks Like From the Floor

Move-Lift-Work is today. If this is your first time, here is what the next six hours feel like.

The first thing you notice is how ordinary the room is. Same floor, same rig, same coaches and members. The difference is a judge standing in front of you counting reps and ensuring you know what to do next and that your movements hit the standards.

The main difference is being watched. Reps you would have broken at eight get pushed to eleven because someone is there, and the temptation to go out too hot is huge! Competitions get lost in the first three minutes of a workout, not the last three.

The engine piece goes first. Pacing early decides how well you perform.

The lift sits in the middle. Having a plan on weight jumps is vital. The most common mistake is opening too heavy because of what is on somebody else's bar. The second is leaving a lift in the tank. My tip, start with something that is heavy but that you can make, the second lift is the one that you feel pretty confident you could make but is ambitious. Then the third lift is dependant on what happened in set 2. If you made it you can go for a hail mary! If not then make sure you hit something that you’ll be happy with but that you would make 6/10 times

The final workout is the one that you need to be ready to push on. Start smooth and then aim to push the final round.

In between events is really important as there is a lot of sitting around. Eat something small immediately post workout even though you won’t want to and then keep taking on carbs as these are fuelling the later events, keep a layer on, and warm up again 20-30mins before each piece.

`From my personal experience competing, fuelling and winding down between events is the most important factor. Don’t be afraid of taking a 20 minute walk outside to clear your head. These can be really helpful.`

If you are watching: stand where they can hear you and stay for the last competitor The people at the back of the field are the ones the noise helps most, and they are usually the ones who nearly did not enter.

Most important to all. Remember, we are all just here for fun! It’s our chance to test ourselves under the competition lights and we don’t get these opportunities to truly test ourselves often so make the most of it!

Doors are open to anyone who wants to watch, member or not. If you’re not a member grab Jeremy or Beth on the day, or book a free fifteen minutes at crossfitchiltern.com.