For Time (no cap): 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 Thrusters (95/65 lb) and Bar-Facing Burpees.
Primary movement: Thrusters/Burpees
Open 14.5 broke the Open's own rules: the first workout with no time cap - you finish 84 thrusters and 84 bar-facing burpees, however long it takes. That design choice created some of the Open's most iconic footage: athletes taking 20, 30, 40 minutes, refusing to quit. Repeated as 16.5, the descending ladder is psychological warfare - the sets shrink but never soon enough, and 'no cap' means the only exit is through the round of 3.
| Level (Time) | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| beginner | 25:00+ | 27:00+ |
| intermediate | 17:00 | 19:00 |
| advanced | 12:30 | 14:00 |
| elite | sub 9:30 | sub 11:00 |
The 21s and 18s are where scores are ruined: break thrusters 12-9 and 10-8 voluntarily while it feels unnecessary. Burpees at an unbroken metronome - step over the bar, never jump when tired, and treat them as active recovery you're forced to do. From the 12s, negotiate nothing: thrusters unbroken and burpees on rhythm to the end. Everyone finishes this workout; pacing just decides how much of your soul it keeps.
Scaled: 65/45 lb thrusters and regular burpees, same ladder.
Log every result, see your progress over time, and know exactly where you stand.