#215 - The Open Starts Before The Open

The CrossFit Open doesn't start when the clock counts down from 3, 2, 1… GO!In this episode, we're breaking down what you can do NOW to set yourself up for a great Open experience.We're talking sleep, nutrition, training, consistency and mindset — the things within your control that can make a real difference to how you perform, recover and enjoy the experience.Whether it's your first Open or your tenth, preparation matters.

Third Time Earned | With JoshWhat happens when you put everything into something, only to fall short?And then fall short again?This week, we're joined by our friend Josh, who recently earned his CrossFit Level 3 credential after three attempts at the exam.We talk about what it feels like to fail at something that matters to you, the decision to keep showing up, and the grit and determination required to try again when walking away would be easier.It's a conversation about resilience, humility, personal growth, and being willing to do the work when the outcome isn't guaranteed.Because sometimes holding the standard means accepting that you haven't met it yet.The standard doesn't change. You rise to meet it.

CrossFit has been called dangerous, extreme and a recipe for injury. But is CrossFit actually unsafe - or does safety have more to do with how it's coached?In this episode, we unpack safety in the CrossFit affiliate: movement quality, appropriate loading, scaling, equipment, class management, and the balance between safety and intensity.Because a safe CrossFit class doesn't mean removing challenge or risk.It means coaching it well.

Are We Getting Intensity Wrong?Intensity is one of the foundational principles of the CrossFit methodology - but do we actually understand what it means?In this episode, we unpack intensity in CrossFit land: what it is, what it isn't, and why simply going harder, or doing more, isn't always the answer.We talk about relative intensity, scaling to preserve stimulus, the relationship between mechanics, consistency and intensity, and the coach's role in helping athletes find, and appropriately push, their threshold.When should we push an athlete harder? When should we pull them back? Are we actually preserving intensity when we scale? And have we started confusing suffering with intensity?As always, we're not here because we have all the answers. We're here to ask better questions, challenge our thinking and keep coming back to the CrossFit methodology.Mechanics → Consistency → Intensity.Hold the standard.

Hold The Standard is an education platform dedicated to raising the standard of coaching through honest conversations, practical coaching and evidence-informed education.Created for coaches, aspiring coaches and curious athletes, our mission is to challenge conventional thinking, question current trends, revisit the fundamentals of the CrossFit methodology, and explore what it truly means to coach and train at a high standard.We believe great coaching isn't built by chasing trends - it's built by mastering timeless principles.In an industry constantly chasing more, we're passionate about bringing the conversation back to what matters most: exceptional coaching, sound principles, and the timeless fundamentals that have shaped great coaches, thriving affiliates and resilient athletes for decades.Led by Candice Lamb, women's health physiotherapist and CrossFit Level 3 Trainer, and Amanda Wilson, CrossFit affiliate owner and CrossFit Level 3 Trainer, Hold The Standard combines clinical expertise with decades of real-world coaching experience to help coaches better understand, support and develop humans through the CrossFit methodology.Every episode is grounded in experience, driven by curiosity and designed to help you think more critically about the craft of coaching.Have a question, topic or idea you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you.📩 Instagram: @holdthestandardHold the standard.

** Every Episode is unedited, unfiltered, and unapologetic. If you came for fancy intros, scripts, jingles or polished ads, keep scrolling!If you have any topics, or questions or want to say hi, hit us up on Instagram; @_girlswhocrossfit or email; ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠As always, let us know what you think of this episode 😊

** Every Episode is unedited, unfiltered, and unapologetic. If you came for fancy intros, scripts, jingles or polished ads, keep scrolling!If you have any topics, or questions or want to say hi, hit us up on Instagram; @_girlswhocrossfit or email; ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠As always, let us know what you think of this episode 😊

Every Episode is unedited, unfiltered, and unapologetic. If you came for fancy intros, scripts, jingles or polished ads, keep scrolling!If you have any topics, or questions or want to say hi, hit us up on Instagram; @_girlswhocrossfit or email; ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠As always, let us know what you think of this episode 😊

** Every Episode is unedited, unfiltered, and unapologetic. If you came for fancy intros, scripts, jingles or polished ads, keep scrolling!If you have any topics, or questions or want to say hi, hit us up on Instagram; @_girlswhocrossfit or email; ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠As always, let us know what you think of this episode 😊

** Every Episode is unedited, unfiltered, and unapologetic. If you came for fancy intros, scripts, jingles or polished ads, keep scrolling!If you have any topics, or questions or want to say hi, hit us up on Instagram; @_girlswhocrossfit or email; ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠As always, let us know what you think of this episode 😊