The 2026 CrossFit Open Community Throwdown at 12 Labours
Josh Arcona • January 26, 2026
The 2026 CrossFit Open Community Throwdown at 12 Labours
The 2026 CrossFit Open Community Throwdown at 12 Labours is a three-week, gym-wide experience built around one simple idea: showing up and doing hard things together. Running alongside the CrossFit Open, this event is about participation, effort, strengthening the community that trains side by side every day. Every member is welcome to take part, including RX, Scaled, Foundations, teens, and brand-new athletes. If you show up and try, you belong.
Athletes will be placed into four teams, each led by a volunteer coach captain, with a mix across skill levels, class times, ages, and experience. This will encourage members who may not normally train together to connect, cheer for one another, and share in the challenge. Teams earn points not only for performance, but for attendance, encouragement, judging, and bringing energy into the gym.
While workouts are scored across RX, Scaled, and Foundations divisions, participation and community points carry major weight. Teams are rewarded for having athletes complete workouts, judge for others, bring friends to watch, show team spirit, hype teammates, and create memorable moments. From best team theme and hype crew to grittiest performance and best moment of the week, the scoring system is designed so that effort and presence matter just as much as results.
Teams will be revealed during a kickoff week with names, colors, and a visible gym leaderboard that stays up for all three weeks. Workouts are announced on Thursdays, followed by team hype leading into Saturday’s main event. Weekly recaps, standings updates, and celebrations will be posted throughout the week.
Judging will be available with clear standards, encouragement, and lots of cheering. Leaderboards will be displayed in the gym and shared online so progress is celebrated together.
At its heart, the Open Team Throwdown is about commitment, courage, and connection. It is about choosing to show up when workouts feel intimidating, leaning on teammates for support, and celebrating effort over perfection. This is a chance to push personal limits, build relationships, and experience what makes this gym a community, not just a place to work out.
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In 2010, shortly after moving to Annapolis, I read an article in a local paper about a new workout concept called “CrossFit”. I joined the local facility and haven’t looked back since! My initial goal was to improve strength and cardio fitness to support my real interests - running and playing golf. While that is still the case, along the way I discovered that I really like lifting weights. One great satisfaction for me is being able to track progress - both in the amount of weight I can lift correctly but also being able to complete more complex movements like TGUs and squat complexes, which were completely unfamiliar to me pre-CrossFit. Caveat - I have not yet been able to do some CrossFit standards such as a handstand pushup or a decent burpee, that’s on me not the coaching staff. There is still time! Part of the CrossFit appeal is the structure of the workouts but another equally important part is the community of CrossFit. Both the fabulous people I work out with at the 6:30AM classes - as well as the attentive and patient coaches (who all can come up with a million scaled versions of a movement before letting you quit!) keep me wanting to come to class. Anyone who thinks they know what CrossFit is like and have not attended a class are missing a tremendous opportunity to become part of an accessible fitness program in a nurturing environment. Come out and see what you are missing - you have nothing to lose and much to gain.
We are excited to celebrate Brie Binder as our Athlete of the Month! Brie’s CrossFit journey began back in 2007 in California. After moving to the East Coast, she trained at CrossFit DC, just a short distance from 12 Labours. When her family eventually settled in the area, joining 12 Labours was an easy decision after hearing great things through the MACC community. You will most often find Brie in the 9:30am or 3:30pm classes. She loves Olympic lifting, especially snatching, and is a fan of bar muscle ups. Right now, she is working toward ring muscle ups and continuing her return to training after welcoming her son in June, an inspiring example of consistency and resilience. When asked what she loves most about 12 Labours, Brie shared: “The coaches, the programming and the community. I've been at a lot of different CF gyms and this is by far the best one. The level of coaching and in-house programming is rare, and the community is positive and supportive.” Outside the gym, Brie is a constitutional law attorney. She enjoys spending time with her family and getting outdoors whenever she can. Brie, your dedication, positivity, and commitment to both your fitness and your family inspire our entire community. Congratulations on being our November Athlete of the Month
At 12 Labours, strength is for everyone. It is not reserved for advanced athletes or those with years under the bar. Strength is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and built at any stage. While our facility supports many styles of training, the powerlifting program exists to give members a clear, structured path to getting stronger. You do not need prior experience. You do not need to know the lifts. You only need a willingness to learn and show up consistently. A new training cycle begins this Tuesday, January 6th, making it an ideal time to start. Powerlifting is a strength sport built around three barbell movements. Each lift is taught from the ground up, with an emphasis on safe positions, clear standards, and steady progress. The Big Three lifts are: The Squat, which develops lower body strength and full-body stability. The Bench Press, the primary upper body pressing movement. The Deadlift, a foundational test of total-body strength. Every lifter begins somewhere. Our coaching approach meets you at your current level and progresses at a pace that makes sense for you. Loads are personalized, technique is prioritized, and progress is measured over time. Whether this is your first time touching a barbell or you are returning after time away, you belong on the platform. Although the work under the bar is individual, the environment is collective. Training alongside others builds accountability, confidence, and consistency. Members support one another through spots, feedback, and shared effort. No one trains alone here. Powerlifting rewards consistency and patience. Structured training and clear goals create momentum, whether that goal is learning proper technique, building confidence, or adding weight to the bar. The process is the same for everyone: show up, train with intention, and improve steadily. Yes, this is for you. Experience is not required. Competition is never mandatory, but it is available to anyone who wants a tangible goal. This cycle will build toward Maryland States, a local meet open to all, taking place March 21 to 22, 2026. Competing is about participation, preparation, and shared experience, not winning. Our next training cycle begins Tuesday, January 6th, giving you plenty of time to learn the lifts, build strength, and feel prepared. Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 PM 12 Labours Annapolis See you in the gym.
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