So, you were all pumped up for 19.5. You repped out those thrusters like a total beast, finished with an amazing score, and then… you saw someone else’s. Perhaps it was someone you thought you could beat. Or maybe after all the hype subsided, you felt you could have pushed just a wee bit harder. Should you redo the last Open workout?

Your ego probably says yes while the logical side of your brain says to save yourself the agony of a do-over. What to do?

When to Redo the Workout

While redoing 19.5 could be bad news, there are certainly some instances where it could be manageable.

Did you find yourself sick the day you did it? More sore than normal? Maybe you just weren’t feeling like yourself and kept getting no-repped for silly reasons. Did you forget your favorite hand gear and keep failing pull-ups because your grip was about to fall apart?

How about the movements specifically? Did you learn something new and simply need a chance to get comfortable with it? Improving a new skill (like learning to string together butterfly chest-to-bar pull-ups) that could have a significant impact on your numbers is a good indication you can add reps to your score.

These are all legitimate reasons to consider trying 19.5 again.

Now, when should you just say no?

When to Forego a Redo

Typically, we train for weeks, months, and maybe years to prepare for the Open WODs, and the score you hit is the score you’ll finish with, within a few reps. Do-overs aren’t possible at the Super Bowl, playoffs, or the Olympics. These athletes perform at their max capacity each and every time. Ultimately, your strength, aerobic capacity, VO2 max, and technique won’t improve over the four-day competition timeframe. So, if you know you did your best, leave it at that.

Another time do-overs might be a bad idea is when the workout leaves you sore or beat up, compromising your technique and making it harder to compete safely. For instance, if 19.5 left you feeling like you were hit by a truck, trying to redo it within a couple days would only make things worse. Plus, be honest with yourself: can you really perform better than last time feeling the way you feel? If yes, go for it. But if not, it might be best to leave it alone.

Consider the number of reps in 19.5. This workout is no joke. Even Rich Froning said this is a workout you probably won’t want to redo.

If you think you can push yourself further on adrenaline, think again. But if you know you can change your score significantly without any negative effects, give it a shot.

If nothing else, remember this: The Open comes but once a year. Do your best and be proud of what you’ve accomplished.