Team 2: Christine Mandlag & Jason Dehler
Team 3: Gwen Holtan & Jason Vallot
Team 4: Hector Jimenez & Julie Parks
“Change happens in an instant.”
— Tony Robbins
ACCOUNTABILITY, ABILITY OR ACCEPTANCE?
Every year as the CrossFit Open approaches, I hear the same quiet hesitations: “I don’t want the pressure,” “I’m not good enough yet,” or “I don’t really fit in with other athletes doing the Open.” Here’s the truth—those feelings are exactly why the Open exists. The Open isn’t a test of where you rank; it’s a snapshot of where you are. Accountability isn’t a burden here, it’s a gift. For three weeks, you show up, you do the work, and you write your name next to a score. That’s not judgment—that’s data. And data is how progress gets made, both in the gym and in life.
Ability is the most common misconception. The Open was never designed for the fittest people in the room—it was designed for everyone in the room. Every workout is scalable, every score matters, and every effort counts. The Open doesn’t ask you to be impressive; it asks you to be honest. As for acceptance—this is where Diablo shines. No one earns belonging by being perfect. You earn it by showing up, trying, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people doing the same thing.
The Open starts February 26th. If you’re on the fence, that’s your sign. Register. Show up. You’ll be glad you did.
https://games.crossfit.com/open/registration
#itsup2us
OPEN REGISTRATION UPDATE
We set an aggressive goal for Diablo for our 20th year of affiliation and 16th year in the Open: 300 registered!
DIABLO OPEN FACTS:
- Best Year (’24): 217
- 2026 Registrations (as of Feb 8): 217!
- GOAL: 300 by March 2nd
For the last few years, the owners of CrossFit Ft. Vancouver (Adam Nieffer) and CrossFit Roots (Nicole Christensen) and Diablo have held an informal registration competition. Last year, Roots took the win with 219 registered, Fort Vancouver was 2nd with 207, and Diablo ending in last with 194. We can lock in the win with 300.. and that’s the plan.
And, we haven’t even started our Intramural Open activities yet!
WHAT IS AN “INTRAMURAL OPEN?”
An Intramural Open is an in-house version of the CrossFit Open, hosted by affiliates around the world to bring the competition home. Members are placed on teams, complete the weekly Open workouts together, and earn points through participation, judging, workout performance, fun community events and, of course, team spirit. At Diablo, we host a Friday Night Lights (4-7PM) event every week for 3 weeks, each week with a different fun theme! It turns the global CrossFit Open into a fun, local, gym-wide event — part fitness test, part Friday Night Lights fun, part “your teammates need you to show up.”
Here’s some fast facts about this year’s Intramural Open:
Dates:
- Thu, Feb 19: Team Draft: Team Captains will choose their teams, paying close attention to first time Open members, top scaled, masters & open athletes, top judges, potential PR athletes, and members who bring the theme fun!
- Thu, Feb 26, 12PM -1PM: 26.1 Open Workout Announcement at Moffett Field in Mtn. View (Reservation req’d)
- Thu, Feb 26, 5:30 – 8PM: Diablo 20th Anniversary & CrossFit Games Documentary Premiere (RSVP on the App)
- Fri, Feb 27: 1st Friday Night Lights: 4PM-7PM
- Sun, Mar 1, 11AM: Sunday Funday #1
- Fri, Mar 6: 2nd Friday Night Lights
- Sun, Mar 7: 11AM: Sunday Funday #2
- Sun, Mar 7: Team Bowling Event: Sunday afternoon (tentative)
- Fri, Mar 13: Last Friday Night Lights & End of the Open Celebration
- Sun, Mar 14, 11AM: Sunday Funday #3
Intramural Open Scoring
- Top 10 M/W (Open): 10-1
- Top 10 Scaled/Foundations M/W: 10-1
- Top 10 Judges: 10-1
- Spirit of the Open (weekly): 10pts
- PRs: determined by Coach Jamie each week, ie, first Pull Up, Muscle Up, Barbell lift.. : 5pts
- (New!)1st Open Workout Ever!: 5Pts
- Participation at Friday Night Lights or Sunday Funday: 1Pt
- Entering score on CrossFit Games Site: 1Pt
- Offsite Event(s) (Bowling Night): 10pts
- Team Social Media Post: 10pts
RSVP ASAP!! Thu Feb 26th, 6PM: A Very Special Event at Diablo CrossFit
This event WILL fill up! – 240 people max attendance!
- This is a “red carpet & lights” style premiere of the worldwide release of “FITTEST ON EARTH 2025”!! There will be CrossFit Games athletes and HQ Leadership on stage for a fun Q&A session led by a moderator and hanging out after to meet and greet.
- 26.1 Open Announcement Athletes Will Be In Attendance! Jayson Hopper (2025 Fittest on Earth), Dallin Pepper (3x Teen Games Champ), Colten Mertens (Games athlete and 2025 Open winner!), Justin Medieros (2x Games Champ!)
- DIablo CrossFit’s 20th Anniversary of CrossFit Affiliation Party!
We’ll be sharing stories, pictures and history with our CrossFit family – and then, watching the premiere of the Fittest On Earth 2025 Documentary.
- DIABLO MEMBERS: RSVP NOW (free!) for the FITTEST ON EARTH DOCUMENTARY on the Diablo App!
> Diablo Member guest invitations will be available on Monday, Feb 9th
> CrossFit Affiliate reservations will be available on Wed, Feb 10th
PROGRAMMING **!! THIS WEEK !!**
- Mon: RUN-BIKE-ROW. 2Rnds for Max Cals: 400m Run, Rest 1m, 2m Air Bike for cals, Rest 1m, 400m Run, Rest 1m, 2m Row for cals, Rest 1m.
- Tue: Back Squat. Metcon: DB Alt Snatch – 4x 40s on / 20s rest
- Wed: Push Press. Metcon: Amrap 7m – 6 Thrusters, 12 Lateral Burpee over bar (95/135#)
- Thu: Pull Ups. Metcon: BJO-Pullup-DL. EMOMx3: 10 BJOs, 8 Pull ups, 6 DL. Then, 5RFT: 10 BJO, 8 Pull-ups, 6 DL. Score: 5RFT. (155/225#)
- Fri: 5RFT – 50,40,30,20,10 Alt DB Snatch / 5,4,3,2,1 WW / 200m Run. 35/50#
- Sat: CFG Open 13.4: 3,6,9,12,15: C&J and T2B (95/135#)
- Sun: SB Carry-Chin Ups-DL-BJO. E5MOMx4: Buy in: 200m SB Carry, then AMRAP 8 Chin Ups, 10DL, 12 BJOs (#155/225)
CRAIG’S LIST: Eagles & Cheaters
- YT: Best Superbowl Commercial… Budweiser. Nailed it .. keep in mind, I’m 63 and the music hits hard.
- Podcast: If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying – Freakonomics Radio. Pt 1, with Floyd Landis, Tour de France winner (revoked), former US Postal Service Team member, Lance Armstrong teammate athlete and authors. Fascinating discussion on why people cheat! Looking forward to Part 2.
Make it an awesome week!
Craig
