Nathan Shipley stands at a moment that once felt impossible.

Three months after attending the Level 1 Certificate Course, Shipley is living the CrossFit methodology. Every day brings new physical challenges, but even bigger mental ones. Doubt creeps in as he prepares for his first workout in the 2026 CrossFit Open, presented by Air National Guard. Like so many athletes stepping onto the Open floor for the first time, the questions start swirling: “Will I be able to do the movements?” “Am I fit enough?” Standing beside him is multi-year CrossFit Games competitor and coach Kyle Kasperbauer, who reminds Shipley of something powerful: how far he’s already come. Just showing up is a victory. “My standard before this was sitting on the couch,” Shipley says. Open Workout 26.1 included a movement Shipley has never done before: the wall-ball shot. But instead of backing down, he leans in. Rep by rep, he fights through the doubt, fatigue, and fear of failure, finishing the workout with 107 wall-ball shots. But the most meaningful victories aren’t written on the scoreboard. Outside the gym, life has changed. Shipley can run, play, and chase his kids around the yard — moments that once felt out of reach. “The most beneficial thing I’ve done for my health is embrace this method,” he says. #CrossFit #CrossFitOpen #Health #Fitness