Conquering the Games Again – My 6th Win and the Road That Got Me Here
It's Jason here, fresh off the mat from Columbus, OH, where I just claimed my 6th CrossFit Games Masters title. At 49, standing on that podium at the Columbus Convention Center, I felt a mix of exhaustion and that raw satisfaction you get from grinding through something brutal. This win in the 45-49 division wasn't about luck or some superhero gene – it was the payoff from years of showing up, no excuses. If you're a Masters athlete chasing your own breakthroughs, let's dive into what made this possible, from my championship history to the unsexy habits that fuel it all. No fluff, just real talk.
Reflecting on the Ride: My Championship History
My CrossFit journey kicked off in 2013 at age 38, when I was more couch potato than competitor – a dad, photographer, and poker player who'd let life pile on the pounds. Fast-forward, and here's the rundown of my Games wins, complete with locations and the grit it took:
2019 (Madison, WI): My first taste of victory in the 40-44 division at the Alliant Energy Center. Coming off a 3rd place in 2018 (also Madison), this one hit different – proving I could hang with the elites after starting late.
2021 (Madison, WI): Shifted to 45-49 and snagged 1st. Post-2020 COVID chaos (where the Games went mostly online, finals at the Ranch in Aromas, CA, but no full Masters comp), this was a comeback story.
2022 (Madison, WI): Defended my title, building momentum in the same venue.
2023 (Madison, WI): Third straight in 45-49, wrapping up Madison's run as host.
2024 (Birmingham, AL): Surprise win in Birmingham, AL, battling a nagging calf injury but refusing to fold.
2025 (Columbus, OH): My 6th overall, sweeping the 45-49 group for the fifth straight year (if you count skipping 2020's weirdness). The Columbus Convention Center vibe was electric, but the real battle was in the daily prep.
And let's not forget the Legends Championships, where I've stacked five wins from 2020-2024:
2020 (Arizona): Kicked off with a win in the desert heat.
2021 (San Diego, CA): Back-to-back, ocean views but all business.
2022 (Cookeville, TN): Gritty venue, gritty win.
2023 & 2024 (ASU, Tempe, AZ): Double down at Arizona State University, overcoming an early DQ scare one year.
This year, I'm stepping back from competing in Legends to program it with Joe Linton – Bolder Athlete is the Title Sponsor for the December 12-14 event at ASU. But more on that later.
These aren't just medals; they're proof that starting late doesn't mean finishing weak. I swept 45-49 because I treated every day like it matters.
The Mindset That Fuels the Fire
At my core, it's about relentless pursuit – not out of ego, but from a deep drive to never look back with regret. Call it a healthy fear of falling short; it's what pushes me when the alarm blares at 7 AM. Psychology taught me resilience isn't innate – it's built. As a former therapist, I know mindset is 80% of the game. Science backs it: studies from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology show that grit (perseverance + passion) predicts success better than talent. For me, that's showing up consistently, even on crap days.
Bolder Athlete programming was my secret weapon this year. Tailored for Masters over 35, it smartly balances intensity with recovery, preventing burnout. I couldn't have hit this 6th win without it.
5 Beginner-Friendly Hacks to Level Up Your Game
Want to borrow from my playbook? These aren't flashy; they're the "boring stuff" that wins, backed by science. Perfect for Masters dipping toes in or scaling up.
Prioritize Smart Training Consistency: Train 4-5 days a week, mixing strength and metcons without overdoing it. Research from the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows consistent moderate exercise builds VO2 max better than sporadic high-intensity blasts.
Anecdote: I have skipped deload weeks in the past and paid with tweaks – lesson learned, now I program rest like it's a workout.
Nail Recovery with Daily Mobility: 10-15 minutes of mobility. A meta-analysis in Sports Medicine links mobility work to reduced injury risk by 20-30%.
Humor me: Think of it as oiling your rusty hinges – at 49, I'm basically a vintage truck that still hauls.
Optimize Sleep for Peak Performance: Aim for 7-9 hours; track it. Harvard studies tie poor sleep to 15-20% drops in strength and cognition.
Pro tip: Blackout curtains and no screens an hour before bed – simple, but it turned my groggy mornings into game-changers.
Embrace Boring, Accurate Nutrition: Track macros daily – protein at 1.6g/kg bodyweight, carbs for fuel, fats for hormones. No diets; just real food like fruit, eggs, and pasture raised meat. it may be mundane, but it’s magic.
Cultivate Relentless Hard Work Ethic: Push through plateaus with progressive overload… and follow a program that takes decisions out of your training - just follow it (if you trust it).
Integrate these, and you'll feel the shift. Science isn't hype; it's your edge.
Sponsor Spotlight: Thirdzy Rest and Recovery Collagen
Shoutout to our sponsor, Thirdzy, for keeping me recovered. Their Rest and Recovery Collagen packs 10g of protein per serving, supporting joint health and muscle repair – crucial after Games-level beatdowns. Science from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition shows collagen peptides reduce joint pain by 20% in athletes. Use code Jasonzzz for a discount. Tie it to your Legends prep; better recovery means better performance.
Coaching Takeaway: Build Your Community
At Bolder Athlete, coaching 500+ Masters worldwide isn't just business – it's mission. We're by Masters, for Masters, fostering a community where age is an asset, not an excuse. Join us to tap into that support; it's what kept me accountable through injuries and doubts.
And to celebrate my win
Grab 3 weeks trial at Bolder Athlete – no code, just head to
Stay gritty,
Jason Grubb🎥 Recent Videos:
Masters in Motion Podcast
Bolder Athlete Podcast
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