2016 Open & Closed: THANK YOU!

(Photo: Amanda H.)

Thank you to all who joined us on Friday night for our “Open & Closed” celebration!

We’ll continue sharing photos and Open stories in the coming days, and we know that the energy and inspiration from those five epic weeks won’t soon fade away.  

For now, however, we just want to take a moment to say thank you.

Thank you to the coaches and volunteers who stepped up tirelessly to judge workouts — in many cases, pulling double duty as competitors, too: Coach Paul, Coach Sara, Coach Steve, Coach Steph, Coach Lance, Coach Tom, Coach Ben, Coach Jessi, Coach Leah, Coach Chris J., Tess C., Dave E., Chris W., Kara M., Tyler P., and Noor G.  

(Photo: Amanda H.)

Thanks, especially, to the coaches who came in early and stayed late to oversee makeup workouts and give all our athletes the best chance possible to complete their Open.

Thank you, of course, to our in-house media team, for capturing so many indelible moments, angles, and perspectives.  We’re indebted to photography pros Amanda H., Charles W., and Dima R. for helping to tell the story of these last five weekends so vividly.

(Photo: Charles W.)

More than any other year, the 2016 Open presented no shortage of logistical challenges.  Behind the CFDC Open experience — spanning 100-plus athletes, two gyms, and two days of competition each weekend for five weeks running — was our one and only event director.  

You saw (and, ahem, heard) him manning the competition floor every weekend, bringing that inexhaustible energy to every heat of every workout.  But behind the scenes, beyond the spotlight, was much, much more.  There were the weeks of planning leading up to the Open, outlining scheduling breakdowns, space and equipment options, and heat signup and assignment systems.  The 1 and 2am marathon sessions on Thursday nights to program workout-specific prep work and mobility.  The late-night Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sessions, dedicated to measuring floor space, laying down tape, resurfacing pull-up bars, reassembling rigs, reengineering wallball targets, and ferrying equipment from one gym to another… before getting up to do it all over again, as one week ended and another began.

(Photo: Amanda H.)

For giving everything to pull off the near impossible on our behalf — thank you, Coach Chris.

To each and every member of the CrossFit DC 2016 Open team: thank you for making it all well worth it, from start to finish.  Whether you earned your first muscle-up, PR’d a lift, completed your first Open, shattered barriers you never you thought you’d touch, or simply gave as good as you got, you amazed us, and that’s the truth.  

Thank you, team, for having fun, fighting to the finish, and putting on one heck of a show.  

And to all who gave their support — in person, in spirit, and virtually — thank you for standing in as the team behind our team.  Whether you were blowing up our Twitter feeds or pretty much blowing the roof off with your yelling, clapping, cheering, and whistling, thank you for the motivation — and inspiration — for weeks and months to come.

Thank you for lighting up the place as only the CrossFit DC community can. 

Proven.

(Photo: Amanda H.)

Thank you.  We’re so proud of all of you.  And until next time — consider this Open closed.