CrossFit Open 25.1

I'll be very honest. I am displeased with CrossFit HQ. Very seriously displeased. There was a tragic death of an athlete at last year's CrossFit Games, and that still impacts the community. Then, this year they reversed their decision on how to assign transgender athletes in the open. Thank you to Paula and Kelly for letting me know about this because I had no idea. I was disgusted and angered by this decision, which I told HQ in the email I sent them.

"I was disappointed and disgusted to learn of CrossFit's decision to reverse itself on transgender athletes' gender designation. I have been a CrossFitter for 15 years, and the boxes where I have been a member, and those I have visited around the world, have been welcoming and kind. This decision is the opposite of that openness. At this time when the US government is telling transgender folks that they do not matter, I am sickened that CrossFit would not be fighting this trend. A huge benefit of CrossFit is the impact it can have on mental health. You have chosen to make the organization an unwelcoming, unsafe environment for my transgender loved ones. This makes it worse for all of us. Please course correct and be the open supportive organization the affiliates have always been. Thank you."

I'm telling you all of this to make clear that I have very mixed feelings about CrossFit the organization, but my gratitude for our local box and the benefits it has brought to our family and our health are boundless. Buds, Yessa, and I did not pay to enter the open because we do not want to give CrossFit HQ our money, but we still want to be part of the joy that is "Friday Night Lights," the annual Friday night competitions leading up to the CrossFit games.

A huge part of being an adult is holding competing beliefs and emotions, and this is one of those moments.

Now, having cleared the air with that overview, I will say it was a delight to have Yessa at Friday Night Lights with us! Because of my wrist restrictions, I did a modified version of the workout before the night began, then I was ready to judge and cheer for my people; all my CrossFit people.

Yessa and Buds completed their workout in the first heat, and since I was judging Yessa, I didn't get to take pictures of my own, but here are a few shots from the Instagram account our coach runs:

Congratulations to Yessa on her first Friday Night Lights and her first CrossFit Open! And congratulations to Buddie for taking care of his knee and being smart about how he approached the workout. And congratulations to me that I showed up and did my modified workout. Only one more week from today until I go back to the surgeon!

Two more weeks of Friday Night Lights for this year. More updates to follow.