Open 14.5
For TimeThe notorious finale of the 2014 CrossFit Open. A descending ladder of thrusters and bar-facing burpees that has become one of the most repeated Open workouts due to its brutal effectiveness as a fitness test.
The Workout
21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps for time
- 1Thrusters (95/65 lb)
- 2Bar-Facing Burpees
Time Cap: 20 minutes
Equipment Needed
BarbellWeight plates
Target Time
Beginner
16-20 minutes
Intermediate
12-16 minutes
Advanced
8-12 minutes
Strategy & Tips
Open 14.5 is one of the most grueling Open workouts ever. The combination of thrusters and bar-facing burpees in a descending ladder creates a brutal test of fitness.
- Break thrusters early—sets of 7-7-7 on the 21
- Burpees should be steady—don't sprint and burn out
- The round of 21 takes the longest—stay patient
- Smaller rounds (9-6-3) should be unbroken push
- Breathe at the top of each thruster
Pacing
Controlled aggression. Don't go out too fast—this takes 10-15 minutes for most athletes. Negative split if possible.
Scaling Options
Scaled
- Thrusters (65/45 lb)
- Bar-Facing Burpees (step over allowed)
RX+
- Thrusters (115/80 lb)
- Bar-Facing Burpees
Benchmark Times
Elite
sub 8:00
Advanced
8:00-11:00
Intermediate
11:00-15:00
Beginner
15:00-20:00
Workout Variations
14.5 Light
Reduced weight
Half 14.5
Truncated ladder
14.5 + Pull-ups
Extended version
Related Workouts
Frequently Asked Questions