Matt Beals: Different Approach, Same Result
Written by Michele Vieux
The result is the same, Invictus Masters Athlete, Matt Beals, made it to another Masters Qualifier. At 51 years old, he has competed in 7 CrossFit Opens and 3 CrossFit Games. What’s different this year was his approach to the Open, and to competing in general.
When I interviewed him for this piece, Matt was getting ready to head out on a kayaking paddle adventure with a group of friends, for fun. He lives in Hawaii, and enjoys spending time outside and especially on the water. You may remember a feature we did on him last June, talking about how he and his buddy, John Maclean, a paraplegic, took on the Kaiwi Challenge in an outrigger canoe. This 33-mile journey through the Kaiwi Channel is known to be treacherous and unpredictable, making it one of the most challenging events for paddlers.
Matt is always up for a challenge – which is maybe why he decided to do the Open again this year – but what he wasn’t up for was repeating his experience from last year where he put a lot of pressure on himself, re-did all of the workouts, beat himself up both literally and figuratively, saw his fitness go down the tubes setting him up to enter the Games with mucho injuries, and basically losing all the fun he used to have with the sport.
He’ll be the first to tell you that he honestly didn’t want to go to Games this year and just wanted his summer, which gave him a new perspective and approach when the Open rolled around.
He really wasn’t even going to compete, but…after seeing how 18.1 was in his wheelhouse and having his family and training partners convince him to give it another go, he decided to, but on his terms and with a new approach.
What was this new approach?
#1 – Enjoy it and have fun! This meant keeping things in perspective. When I asked him about what “perspective” means to him, he had this to say:
“I feel like I’m proven – before there was always a little chip on my shoulder but now I’m like, hey, I’m proven. I’ve done all these competitions and done well. If the Masters Qualifiers come down and I don’t make it this year, I’m fine with it.
I also didn’t realize how many people we (as athletes) inspire. It’s not been a pressure but a wonderful thing. I thought, wow, maybe I need to keep this going. To not let them down and give them that inspiration.”
#2 – Only do the Open workouts once.
“I’m smart enough now with my training and my body to where I don’t see value in me doing the workouts a second time. I know I always perform the best I can the first time. I give it all and am happy with it.”
#3 – Don’t look at leaderboards or chase others.
“I know what I can do and do my best and am happy with it. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing and isn’t a reflection of me or my abilities.”
#4 – Train smarter.
“I am in this sport for longevity. We are all trying to be fit and battle chronic disease but sometimes that and this sport don’t go hand-in-hand. I don’t always follow that rule but, for example, I never max effort deadlift. I only kip handstand push-ups in competition but do strict otherwise, etc.”
Matt’s advice for longevity?
“Take care of your spine – you only have one of them! Surround yourself with good people and people who are better than you. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t train with people who were better than me. Don’t take anything too seriously in life except your family & your faith.”
#5 – Keep things in balance.
“I’ve always been one of “everything in moderation” whether it’s diet or fitness or whatever. That’s probably why I’m ok at CrossFit, I’ve never been really good at anything but I can do a little of everything. To me, it’s just a lifestyle and one that I had to remind myself of after past seasons. There’s other things to do.”
Do you know what the shocker is? None of this hurt his results and it possibly helped. He still made the Masters Qualifiers, and, in fact, he’s in a better place mentally and physically than he’s ever been. And others are benefiting too. He spends more time with his family and doing things he loves outside the gym and he’s convinced some sub-Masters athletes who he trains with that they would benefit from following the Invictus Masters Program because of the added mobility and positional work. And they love it!
Keep an eye on Matt in the Masters Qualifier at the end of April, to see if he makes it back to Games. But if he doesn’t, he’ll still have his summer, and he’s ok with that.
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Yes that is how to do it. I chased that podium for a few years the price was one injury after the next. I did the open the same way 1 and done.
Awesome Matt! I totally agree!!
Thanks Matt! Love your perspective on this.
Great tips. Thanks Matt and love the attitude you have going forward. Enjoy the ride!