Do you redo the open workouts?

Remember to ease back on some of your gymnastics and barbell work before any open workout so you are less likely to ruin your hands, you can recover faster, and you have the energy to hit the open with all you’ve got.  The few days leading up to that workout should include exercise and typical movement to what you could see in the open workout but dialed way back.  What does that mean really?  Move, but move well and with intention.  

For our athletes at 351 we have the most varied and "intense" if you will, workout on that Monday and we taper from there until Friday (when we perform the open workout perscribed Thursday evenings).  Strength components are included through the week except for Wednesday when we will do a true active recovery day.  Thursday is more of a primer workout which will have some pushing and pulling and lots of mobility.  Since the open we have included strength on Thursdays but will go back to our usual schedule post-open season.   
So here's the question:
One of the biggest decisions you have during the season is repeating the workout. Repeating the workout has its pros and cons… There are MANY differing opinions on whether to repeat or not. You should approach the workouts with one goal:
                                     To give it your all and to do it once. 
If you already have a mindset to do the workout over again then you’ll most likely not perform to your full potential.  Something to think about!  Repeating an open workout in such a short period of time could lead to a poor recovery.  Think about it, do you think that re-exhausting all of those same muscles is wise? Not to mention the wear and tear on your hands, grip and mental state.  Maybe you could improve your time with another try? It’s possible… but is it worth it?  Is it worth getting anxious about the entire workout again?  We think not.    

Here is something to consider:
Any competitive athlete should go through a trial-run before performing the workout.  So instead of going all out on the first try, go through a few rounds, time yourself and get a feel for what you should do on pacing and strategy.  Go at half-pace to really dial in on form and efficiency. 
Make the most out of this open season and take your time during your usual workout routine during the week. Take it up a level and go hard for the next open workout!  We’ve only got two more! 
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​- Happy Lifting! 
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