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Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. We are the land of the free because of the brave. Thank you to the service members who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice to this great nation and to their families who carry on their memory and legacy through how they live their lives. For those of you doing Murph today, you can read more about his life in the story below.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

REGIONALS IN 2 MINUTES

GOING TO THE CROSSFIT GAMES

Central

  1. Sara Sigmundsdottir  |  Paul Castillo  |  CrossFit Mayhem
  2. Kristi Eramo  |  Streat Horner  |  CrossFit 417
  3. Stacie Tovar  |  Scott Panchik  |  OC3 Black
  4. Brooke Wells  |  Alex Anderson  |  Timberwolf CrossFit
  5. Jessica Griffith  |  Zak Carchedi  |  Maximus
California
  1. Chyna Cho  |  Josh Bridges  |  NorCal CrossFit
  2. Kirsten Pedri  |  Garret Fisher  |  CrossFit Invictus
  3. Alessandra Pichelli  |  Jason Carroll  |  Endgame Athletics
  4. Val Voboril  |  Jeff Patzer  |  Bear Republic CrossFit
  5. Lauren Fisher  |  Wesley Rethwill  |  CrossFit ASAP
Games veterans not returning…Sheila Barden, Sam Dancer, Graham Holmberg, Dan Bailey (Injured), Nick Uranker (injured), Christian Lucero (injured).

THE CALIFORNIA UPSET.

At the start of Day 3, Christian Lucero was in first place. About half way through the set of 21 muscle-ups, Lucero dropped from the rings and grabbed his left pec and tried to shake out his arm. As the heat emptied out, Lucero was the only one left on the floor still unable to complete one muscle-up. Because he failed  he withdrew from competition and Josh Bridges moved up to first place.

MOMENTS TO REWATCH

  1. Julian Alcarez declines his invitation to the CrossFit Games paving the way for Wesley Rethwill to snag that fifth spot to Madison.
  2. Dave Castro on what makes Becca Voigt’s 9-year streak at the Games so special.
  3. An emotional Lauren Fisher after securing the final fifth spot to Madison.
  4. Saxon Panchik beat his brother Scott Panchik and the entire field in Event 5.

REFLECTIONS

Becca Voigt on Not Qualifying“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the unconditional love and support! CrossFit Training Yard is the best! This is not the end.”

Dan Bailey on Injuring His Pec“I’m disappointed…I feel like I’m kinda letting fans down…You train all year long for this weekend hoping to make it to the next. After last year not making it, it’s frustrating.”

CHALK UP READS

“Fallen But Never Forgotten” by Russell Berger, CrossFit

On June 28, 2005, four Navy SEALs on a reconnaissance mission in the Kunar province of Afghanistan were ambushed by an overwhelming Taliban force. Team leader Lt. Michael Murphy, unable to call for help from his location, walked into the center of enemy fire, where his satellite phone might work. He punched in the numbers to HQ and calmly requested reinforcements.

Even after being knocked to his knees from a gunshot wound to his back, Murphy calmly sat back up, steadied himself and continued the call, knowing that it was the only way he might save his men. Once the call for reinforcements had been completed, he returned to the fight with an MH-47 Chinook helicopter on the way.

Outrunning its escort of attack helicopters, the Chinook rushed into the battle for a daring daylight rescue. Attempting to set down in tremendously rugged terrain filled with hostile militia, the Chinook was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The eight SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers aboard were killed, leaving Murphy and his men to continue the fight. When the battle ended, Murphy and all but one of his men had been mortally wounded.

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