15.4 & 15.5; Costume contest and a brutal, yet humbling final Open workout

15.5:

Sir, Would you like some Humble Pie with that?    Wow, what a workout!!

It was pointed out to me by a friend, that when you think about the Thrusters and the Rowing; they are mechanically the same movement.  The only difference is one; your using a weight to push over head.    No wonder, that WOD was such a killer.

I had a strategy going into the workout; but after the first round.. it was totally lost on me.   I think the best advice was to break down the Thursters (27 = 10, 9, 8;   21 = 8, 7, 6;  15 = 6, 5, 4;  9 = 4, 3, 2).
Attempting to stay within those number was the challenge.  I used the rowing as my recovery and had the damper setting on the Concept2 rower between 6 and 7.

As pointed out in discussion on Facebook; the tall people (me included) has the advantage to the rowing.  Longer arms, and legs helps with this and the calorie row wouldn't be a problem.    The one area that being tall is not advantageous would be the Thruster.   More distance to move the weight.   The opposite is true for the shorter people.    So, I give Dave Castro credit for dreaming up such a workout.  

Crossfit Open 15.5 - Rx

Open 15.5 Variations (Scaled, Masters, etc)

Thrusters (third or fourth round of 15.5); photo credit: Daniel Geunther

Results from CF Open 15.5; a brutal workout

15.4:

Of all the Open workout, I think this is the one that I had the most fun.  Not only was there a costume contest set for the box, but also the scaled workout was one I felt so confident in.
  
I knew going in that the Rx would be ruled out for me as I haven't gotten the Handstand Push-up down (I just starting to perfect my handstand against the wall); and the weight of the Cleans were too high to do safely.   I only managed to hit 165 lbs the week prior.   So Scaled was the choice.

My results for this workout was 87 reps.  There is a video of me performing this workout in full costume recorded by my wife.     I think one of the advantage of taping something is that you can review later what you did correctly and where you can improve on.  I've seen some issues with my workout and will modify them in the future.  

*I'll update this blog a bit later to a link for the video and the picture of my official paper receipt for 15.4



It was deemed a costume contest along with the testing of 15.4   There were a few people who did dressed up.

My costume for 15.4 (Costume Contest held at our box) - Ghangus 'QUON'

Another crossfit member who dressed up, Donna V.

Random Pics

My Judge giving me last minute details

Yes; you will never see my face!!  Just my golden locks... ;)