The Open is done.
The leaderboard is locked.
Your lungs are slightly less offended, your quads and shoulders have settled down, and maybe, maybe you’re ready to look at a dumbbell again without flinching.
So now what?
For a lot of folks, this is the awkward in-between.
The hype dies down.
The community buzz fades.
And it’s easy to feel a little lost without a shiny event to train for.
But here’s the truth:
This—right now—is where the real growth happens.
The Open Gives You a Gift (Even If It Didn’t Feel Like One)
I know, I know.
You might not feel like you were gifted anything if the bar muscle-ups didn’t show up… or if you hit a wall in a thruster ladder that felt more like a punishment than a celebration of fitness.
But the Open does something no other training block can:
It exposes.
It reveals where you’re strong, where you need support, and where things tend to fall apart under pressure.
That’s not failure.
That’s feedback.
And feedback is the fuel of change—if you’re willing to use it.
“What you do with the data is what separates the athlete from the tourist.”
Strength is a Skill (Not a Status)
This is something I remind our athletes—and myself—constantly.
Whether we’re talking about strength, conditioning, gymnastics, or consistency… these are all skills. Not traits you either “have” or “don’t.”
They can be built.
They can be rebuilt.
And honestly? Most of us are in a rebuilding season, in some way or another.
So if the Open revealed that your strength base needs more attention, or your capacity under fatigue isn’t quite where you want it—awesome.
You just got direction. Now you can train with purpose, instead of guessing what matters.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Now that the noise has settled, this is your moment to reset.
To zoom out.
To ask: What kind of athlete do I want to become?
And just as importantly: What kind of human do I want to be in the process?
Here are a few ways to move forward with purpose:
- Reflect without judgment.
Pull up your Open scores, your videos if you have them, and get curious.
Where did things break down? What movements felt great? What would you coach yourself to focus on if you were on the outside looking in?
Remember: Awareness ≠ shame.
Awareness = data. That’s it.
- Rebuild your rhythms.
If you took a break post-Open (totally fine, by the way), now is a great time to re-anchor yourself in basic structure.
- Are you sleeping well?
- Are you eating for energy, not just convenience?
- Are you hydrating, walking, and giving your body a little love between training days?
Before you go chasing new goals, get your foundation strong again.
This is the boring stuff that actually makes the exciting stuff happen.
- Set a 12-week intention—not a resolution.
Resolutions are vague and dramatic.
Intentions are grounded and actionable.
Look at the next 12 weeks and ask: What’s one thing I’d love to improve or feel proud of by then?
Make it small.
Make it doable.
Make it about process, not perfection.
Maybe it’s improving your pull-up strength.
Maybe it’s cleaning up your deadlift technique.
Maybe it’s just showing up 3x/week, no drama, no hype.
The real win? That you kept showing up.
If You Feel Like You “Did Worse” This Year…
Let’s just pause here for a second.
If the leaderboard didn’t go the way you hoped—whether that’s a score, a percentile, or you didn’t even register officially—here’s a reminder:
Your value is not in your ranking.
Your fitness journey is not a straight line.
And some of the most powerful seasons of progress start after the goal didn’t pan out.
You’re not behind.
You’re exactly where you need to be.
TL;DR – What You Do Now Matters More Than What You Did Then
The Open is a snapshot. A single moment in your training year.
What you do with that snapshot—how you respond, refine, and re-engage—is what turns you from an athlete who participates into one who progresses.
So take a breath.
Recommit to your habits.
And let this be the start of something more powerful than hype: a season of intentional growth.
We’re here for it. And we’re here for you.
👣 Ready to make your next step your best one?
If you want help using your Open results to shape your next training cycle, just reach out. Whether you’re in our group classes or in semi-private coaching, we’ve got your back.
💬 Let’s build the skills together.
Want help turning your Open feedback into a personalized training plan? Book a Goal Review with a coach and we’ll build your next 12 weeks together.
Want a downloadable reflection worksheet to help you unpack your Open performance? Drop us a reply with “Open Review” and we’ll send it your way.
