The Joy in Failure

This week at Beyond Walls, we took on CrossFit Open Workout 25.2—a workout designed to do two things: humble us and educate us. As the workout progressed, so did the difficulty, with most of us eventually hitting our threshold—whether that was strength, skill, or aerobic capacity.

With so many Beyond Walls athletes new to CrossFit, the experience of not completing a workout might feel like “failure". It’s easy to look around, see your next lane breezing through reps, and think, Well, I am officially terrible at this. But here’s the thing—pushing yourself to and sometimes beyond the limit is where real progress happens.

So, let’s reframe this. Instead of fearing it, we celebrate it. “Failure" in the gym? That’s where the magic happens.

Wait, Failure is a Good Thing?

Absolutely. Somewhere along the way, we were tricked into thinking failure equals weakness. But in Beyond Walls, failure is a rite of passage—it means you pushed yourself hard enough to find your limit. And when you find that limit, you’ve just unlocked the map to where you need to go next.

Think about it: when you attempt that pull up but didn't make it, tripped on your jump rope or missed that thruster you haven’t "failed". You’ve gathered data. You’ve learned. You’ve figured out where you stand today, so you can work towards it tomorrow.

Dancing on the Edge of the Threshold

Workouts like 25.2 are designed to take us right to the edge to make us try something hard, feel the burn, question our life choices, and emerge stronger. Here’s what happens in those moments:

• You discover what you’re capable of – Maybe you hit that heavy thruster, nailed that pull up or snuck in a double under. Or maybe you just didn’t end up in a heap on the floor. All wins count!

• You pinpoint your weaknesses – Found the part of the workout that destroyed you? Brilliant! That’s your roadmap for improvement.

• You level up your mindset – Staying cool under fatigue and pressure. Doing hard things...is a skill that carries over into everything, inside and outside the gym.

Enjoying the Process (Yes, Even When It Feels Horrible)

The best athletes aren’t the ones who never fail. They’re the ones who fail forward—who take on the challenge, accept the struggle, and show up the next day ready to give it another go.

So next time you’re in the middle of a workout, staring at a barbell that feels immovable, remember: this is where the real gains happen. Every rep, every attempt, every moment of struggle—it’s all part of the journey. And honestly, what’s more fun than proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than you thought?

Get Used to It...Because You’re Never Done

You will never reach a point where you’ve ‘completed’ CrossFit. Your fitness is a lifelong pursuit and so is CrossFit. There is no finishing line for ‘Mastering Everything’ (sorry). The moment you crack one skill, there will be another one to humble you. Think you’ve nailed double-unders? Cool, now try them with a weighted rope. Finally got that pull-up? Great, now it’s time for muscle-ups. Thrusters felt easy...here are some nice big red plates for you to add!  

It doesn't stop—and that’s what makes it frustratingly brilliant.  

You are part of Beyond Walls, we don’t fear failure—we chase it. Because that’s where the real breakthrough happens. Keep chasing the fails...they make the successes oh-so-sweet!

Now, who’s ready for 25.3?