Read the latest Morning Chalk Up articles on BarBend
Your Coffee is ready.

The Definition of Confidence

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition was chalked up while hanging out up in NorCal. Have a good box recommendation? Let us know and we might drop in.

Question…How many muscle-ups does it take to eat a donut?

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s not the will to win that matters…everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” — Paul “Bear” Bryant

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE BOX

CrossFit Games tickets go on sale today at 10AM Pacific. Games Team athlete Heather Hippensteel’s dad unofficially took the top spot in the Masters 60+ to qualify for his fifth CrossFit Games. Mia Akerlund hits a 215 poundsnatch PR. Colleen Fotsch hits two front squats at 275 pounds.

Throwback Thursday…19-year-old Dimitry Klokov snatching 94kg to win the Junior World Weightlifting Championships.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR FRIEND WHO’S ALREADY OFF THEIR NEW YEAR’S DIET AND NEEDS A RESTART…

Challenge accepted and Wodapalooza has got you covered with their 8-week Transformation Challenge. The top male and female athletes will win $5,000 cash, a trip to Wodapalooza, and a massive goodie bag — think $500 Reebok shopping spree. Registration is only $20 until May 1 and the challenge kicks off May 15, just in time for a little transformation before summer season kicks off.

THINGS TO…

WATCH: In the Studio with Julie Foucher

Looks like this isn’t quite the end of the road for Julie Foucher and CrossFit as she’ll be competing at the Central Regional with her team CTown CrossFit. Julie drops by CrossFit HQ and updates fans on her medical career and CrossFit future.
TUNE IN.

HEAR: The Definition of Confidence

Ben Bergeron’s definition of confidence is 50 seconds that will change your Thursday.
LISTEN UP.
EAT: Cottage Cheese Banana Oatmeal Protein Pancakes
These pancakes, with nearly 20g of protein per serving, are the ultimate post Saturday AM workout recovery meal. The best part is that these taste like banana bread and you can prepare the batter in a blender.
WIN WIN.

BUY: Katrin Sled Dog T-Shirt

Katrin Davidsdottir’s work ethic has been described as like that of a sled dog. She just wants to work hard and often. So Rogue put together this sled dog t-shirt inspired by the two-time champion.
BUY NOW.

CHALK UP AFFILIATES

Meet Jason Sturm, who can’t remember what it was like to have two legs. Sturm lost his leg 14 years ago during an Army training accident. In 2011, upon the recommendation of a friend, he joined CrossFit and a year later he began coaching, focusing specifically on adaptive athletes. Last year, Sturm and his wife opened Old Glory CrossFit in Ashburn, Virginia
Jenna Wallace, a 41-year-old from Ringwood, NJ was diagnosed with a very rare cancer which is not treatable by chemotherapy, and treatment would involve a complex surgery to remove Jenna’s left lung, left bronchus and a portion of her trachea. Family and friends are holding a fundraiser to help Jenna fight.

CHALK UP READS

“Reflections on Missing the CrossFit Games” by Heather Bergeron

You guys, I just LOVE competing.

I love it so much. It gives me the wildest butterflies in my stomach. It makes me laser focused on eating the way I’m told to, not drinking wine, and getting a good night of sleep. It keeps me committed to training hard every day like I’m supposed to, and working on mobility and maintenance on rest days. It helps me connect with friends that are trying to set and achieve really healthy, positive goals. It forces me to come to terms with the things I’m bad at, and not fear the humility of working on them.

And, one of my very favorite things about being a competitive athlete is this: it serves as a model for my children as to what it means to be committed, work hard, and focus on what really matters to you.

I did not qualify for the 2017 CrossFit Games as a Masters athlete.  I finished 28th overall, and only the top 20 make it there. And, that is incredibly difficult for me to accept.

But, I have never in my entire competitive life been more proud of the effort I put into this whole season.  All of the physical training, all of the work on mindset, and all of my composure during the actual competitions are things that are even sweeter to me than making that list of top 20.

Because even when I saw my name finally drop down below that 20th athlete line, I still knew that I had what can never be taken away from someone: pride in knowing that you did everything within your control to succeed.

Your Coffee is ready.