Every year the CrossFit Open brings a different kind of energy into gyms around the world.

Workouts are released weekly. Athletes everywhere take on the same challenge. And for a few weeks, the atmosphere inside the gym shifts.

People push a little harder.
Stay a little longer.
And cheer a little louder.

At Red Eye, we love that part of the Open.

And over the years, the way we run it has evolved.

What the Open Is Meant to Do

The Open highlights many of the foundational movements that are part of CrossFit.

Movements like:

• Squatting below parallel
• Overhead lifting with lockout
• Pull-ups where chins go over the bar
• Wall balls to a target
• Toes to the bar

These standards exist for a reason. They allow athletes all over the world to perform the same workout under the same expectations.

For members who enjoy competing, the Open becomes a chance to test themselves and see where they stand.

This Year We Ran Things A Little Differently

Over the years we’ve learned that people walk into Red Eye with different goals.

Some love the competitive side of CrossFit and want their scores officially submitted.

Others simply enjoy the challenge of the workout and the atmosphere of the event.

So we created space for both.

If You’re Submitting a Score

When members choose to officially submit a score, we hold the standards exactly as written.

Reps are counted.
Standards are enforced.
And scores are judged properly.

That matters because the leaderboard only means something if everyone is held to the same expectations.

If You’re Not Submitting a Score

You still show up and take on the workout, but instead choose a variation of the workout that best aligns with your goals and your limitations and/or abilities.

Both approaches are valid.

What matters most is showing up and giving your best effort that day.

The Part We Love Most

While the Open includes scores and standards, the best part of it has nothing to do with the leaderboard.

It’s the atmosphere.

Members cheering each other on.
People staying after class to watch the next heat.
Athletes attempting things they might normally avoid.

It becomes a shared experience for the entire gym.

Looking Back — And Looking Ahead

For some members, the Open is a chance to see how far they’ve come since last year.

For others, it reveals new goals they want to chase moving forward.

Either way, it’s a reminder that progress in fitness happens over time.

Workout by workout.
Year by year.

And whether you’re submitting a score or simply showing up and pushing yourself, you’re part of the same community challenge.

And that’s what makes the Open special.