We’ve run the CrossFit Open No Excuses CrossFit every year since its inception, and I hear that question a lot. Mostly it’s because people don’t give themselves enough credit, or they don’t truly understand what the Open is all about. Here’s what I tell our members:

You don’t have to be at a particular fitness level to participate in the Open. All you need is a willingness to try, and the excitement and camaraderie of the Open will take care of the rest.

Ever heard the phrase, “The best way to start is to start”? Rather than waiting to be “fit enough,” jump in and start, as the experience will catapult your efforts for the next year. Each year we see dozens of people, motivated by their experience in the Open, increase their weekly attendance at their gym, commit to a running program, or work to get their first pull up.

As a result, they get fitter, and by the time the next year’s Open rolls around, they can do even more. But it all starts with that first Open experience. It’s impossible to benefit from that catalyst if you’re standing on the sidelines.

And, if you’re concerned that you’re not as fit as you were the previous year, don’t be! The Open is a great gut check to help drive you to change that — or in some cases, shows us that you are in fact just as fit, if not fitter, than you were the year before.

But the first step is signing up for The Open.