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Dave Castro drops the first look at the 2018 CrossFit Games

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by Red H Nutrition, a veteran, female owned and operated sports nutrition company in Omaha, NE. The only supplements back by a “30 Day PR Guarantee”!

Mental illness affects many people, including physically fit athletes. In an effort to recognize the power of mindset in sport – particularly in functional fitness – Red H Nutrition developed The “30 Day PR Challenge” to help forge the minds of athletes and build mental strength that matches physical strength!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s hard to fly without ruffling a few feathers.” — Arjun Malhotra

For the CrossFit Nomad, the Road is to 500.

 

Background.

Cameron Bucek first dropped in to CrossFit Vibe in Costa Mesa in 2013. Bucek travels the country as an instructor training firefighters, military, and SWAT after 15 years as a firefighter himself. And wherever he went, he made sure to stop by the local box to get a workout in.

With his “there’s no excuse not to take care of your body while traveling” attitude drop-ins sorta became his thing and now he’s know as the CrossFit Nomad. He’d hang out after hours, play flag football, and get local food recommendations to tiny hole in the wall restaurants. Win, win.

The road to 500. 

But in 2014, Bucek was at the OC Throwdown and approached the FITAID booth to ask if he could help spread the word about FITAID, since he was already traveling to so many CrossFit boxes.

At that point he already had almost 200 drop-ins, so FITAID made him an ambassador and the CrossFit Nomad project became an actual thing. Bucek started to document “The Road to 500” as he dropped-in to boxes from New Hampshire to California every week.

“It’s super rewarding to see people progress in tiny gyms all over the country. You’ll drop in once or twice and just happen to be there when they finally get a handstand walk or a pistol.”

The CrossFit Nomad will drop into his 500th gym today, and he’s chosen to return to CrossFit Vibe for it.

That’s amazing!

Totally. But milestone drop-in or not, he sees no end in sight.

“I’ll keep going until I can’t go anymore. I want to be an inspiration to the young ones. This is what longevity looks like! And I’m still inspired by the Master’s I see out there. Like Jack, who is 76-years-old in Florida and he is straight jacked.”

CrossFit Vibe in Costa Mesa is hosting The CrossFit Nomad WOD. Bucek goes up at 5:20 with Jason Carroll to complete a WOD of 500 movements for time, then he’ll move on to his next drop-in.

Coffee Break Conversation

 

What to tell your diabetic dad when you give him a three-month membership to CrossFit for Father’s Day…

New research has shown that for people with Type 2 Diabetes, even just six weeks of CrossFit can lead to improved control of blood sugar levels. This new research suggests that CrossFit, because it works at such high levels of intensity but in short bursts of time, improves the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of insulin required. Not harmful, totally helpful. 

Things To…

 

WATCH: Down Under with Kara Webb

In the third episode of Down Under, Kara Saunders (Webb) covers inspirations and efforts, and how important it is to know exactly what you’re doing, and why, and then dedicate yourself to doing that thing well. 

TUNE IN.

 

EAT: Instant Pot Tacos Al Pastor

Remember when instant pots were all the rage? Dust yours off and make these tasty street style tacos with fresh cilantro, onion relish, and fresh pineapple.

WHEN’S DINNER?

 

KNOW: How to Ripen Avocados

If our ploy to sway you to carrots yesterday failed, here is a surefire way to tell if an avocado is ripe and what to do at home if they’re not. 

I’VE ALWAYS WONDERED.

 

PRE-ORDER: NOBULL Knit Runners

NOBULL has officially launched their first running shoe and they’re available for pre-order in blue, black and sand. Shipping out in July.

THEY’LL SELL OUT.

 

Today’s edition of the Morning Chalk Up is fueled by

Chalk Up Community

 
  • 2018 CROSSFIT HEALTH CONFERENCE — If you’re planning on heading to Madison for the CrossFit Games, consider joining CrossFit founder Greg Glassman and a world class crew of independent thinkers and doers as they explore the devolution of science and the ills of modern medicine.
  • FUNNY AND FIT — Actor and comedian Shannon O’Neill on how CrossFit helped her be the heroine of her life, not the victim, and how CrossFit helps her sketch-comedy and steadies her for the known and unknowable in improv.
  • 24 HOUR CROSSFIT — Ashland Chamber of Commerce joined Craig Nolletti, owner of CrossFit 419, to break ground on a brand new building in Ashland, OH. Noletti plans to open the new facility, which will be open 24 hours a day, in the fall. No more “I don’t have time to workout” for anyone in Ohio!
  • GAMES ATHLETES PICK EVENTS — What if the 2018 Games athletes got to select the workouts for Madison? BoxRox asked a few athletes like Sara Sigmundsdottir, Marcus Filly, and Tia-Clair Toomey what they would chose if they could. But our favorite is Chris Hinshaw who wants you to die at the Games. 

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES (a highlight reel around social media of CrossFit pros and average joes)

Dave Castro shares the first shots of the layout for the 2018 CrossFit Games • Peter Soby of CrossFit Hydro in Omaha, NE compares CrossFit to dating. And the man sings • Claire, at 85 years young, does stellar box squats at CrossFit Waterbury in Waterbury, VTChampion boxer Rachael Mackenzie deadlifts with her daughter •  The airborne sappers of 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment held a CrossFit marathon, with 24 workouts in 24 hours to raise money for the Pilgrim Bandits charity, which supports amputee veterans • Jason Carroll hits a 405 pound front squat PR.

…and maybe actually the best uncle ever? We think so. 

Food for Thought: CrossFit and Fake Tolerance — “My point is not to criticize CrossFit for firing someone with different views. Nor is my point to defend the manner in which Berger and CrossFit Infiltrate handled the situation. These are separate issues…My point is simply to note the fake tolerance at the heart of CrossFit’s decision.

“In a tweeted response, CrossFit wrote: ‘The statements made today by Russell Berger do not reflect the views of CrossFit Inc. For this reason, his employment with CrossFit has been terminated.’ CrossFit also tweeted: ‘CrossFit is a diverse community in every way, and that’s what makes us strong. No matter who you are, how you’re built, what you believe, or who or how you love—we are proud of you.’

“Do you see the confusion? In one tweet, CrossFit says they’re proud of everyone regardless of ‘what they believe.’ But then they terminate the employment of Berger because his statements ‘do not reflect the views of CrossFit.’ So, are they proud of people for having diverse views, or are they only proud of people who embrace their views? Do they really value diversity or not? The answer is obvious.”

I Lost my Why — Chuck Bennington, CrossFit Gymnastics Staff and owner of Seaward CrossFit in Florida, remembers his highest but simultaneously lowest training point. “During the timeframe of this shot, I was motivated AF. I was the strongest, fastest, most muscular, and leanest I’ve ever been. I was snatching 250+, squatting 400+, and deadlifting 500+. I could knock out 50+ unbroken kipping pull-ups and high teen ring muscleup
reps on any given day…A bad training session or workout would wreck my entire day. A ‘good’ training session or PR was only acceptable for a couple minutes, because it was never enough. I lost my why.”

Be Like Bruce — Bruce Gordon, a dedicated Ironman athlete, long-time police officer, and former Saskatoon Blades hockey captain, passed away from pancreatic cancer in September. Gordon was commemorated with the BeLikeBruce Fitness Festival, a combined triathlon and workout competition spanning the weekend.The events included a fitness competition Saturday at the Reebok CrossFit 306 gym in north Saskatoon that’s run by one of Bruce’s friends and a triathlon Sunday morning with a swim at the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre before the cycling and running took the competition to the finish line at
Meewasin Park. Gordon’s son, James, said it was an honor for the event to be named for his dad.

Reads

CHALK UP READS

“In the Shopping Cart of a Food Stamp Household: Lots of Soda” by  By Anahad O’Connor, The New York Times

For years, dozens of cities, states and medical groups have urged changes to SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to help improve nutrition among the 43 million poorest Americans who receive food stamps. Specifically, they have called for restrictions so that food stamps cannot be used to buy junk food or sugary soft drinks.

But the food and beverage industries have spent millions opposing such measures, and the U.S.D.A. has denied every request, saying that selectively banning certain foods would be unfair to food stamp users and create too much red tape.

“Sweetened beverages are a common purchase in all households across America,” Kevin Concannon, the U.S.D.A. under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, said in an interview. “This report raises a question for all households: Are we consuming too many sweetened beverages, period?”

Across all households, the report found, “more money was spent on soft drinks than any other item” — a finding that reflects the fact that, while consumption of sugary drinks is lower today than it was a decade ago, the United States still consumes more sugary drinks than almost any other developed country, studies show.

Reads

CHALK UP CALENDAR

6/13: Granite Games Qualifier (Online)

6/16: Mayhem in Medford (Medford, NJ)

6/16: Battle on the Creek (
Johns Creek, GA)

6/16: Full Battle Rattle (Robinson, IL)

6/16: East Coast War (Wilmington, NC)

6/19: Gauntlett VIII – River Rumble (Portsmouth, OH)

6/22 – 6/23: Urban Street Games (Rock Island, IL)

6/22 – 6/24: The Bacon Beatdown (Daytona Beach, FL)

6/23: Garage Girls CrossFit Grit (St. Simons Island, GA)

6/23: 2018 Summer Swolestice (Gresham, OR)

6/23: HAMCO Heat (McLeansboro, IL)

6/23: The Greenville Games (Greenville, SC)

6/23: The Burn Out (New Bern, NC)

6/23: Battle of the Border (Phenix City, AL)

6/23: Battle of a Beauty with a Beast (South Hadley, MA)

6/23: Clash for Cash (Wilkes-Barre, PA)

6/23: SuperFit Games (Lorton, VA)

6/23: Clash on the Concrete (Miamisburg, OH) 

6/23 – 6/24: Asbury Park Summer Games (Asbury Park, NJ)

6/23 – 6/24: The Dakota Games (Fargo, ND)

6/29 – 6/30: The Grinder Games III (Tall City, TX)

6/30: Summer Stampede (Bethlehem, PA)

6/30: Battle of the Ballpark (Seattle, WA)

6/30: Battle Between Boxes: Will Lift for Food (Des Moines, IA)

7/1: Strong As A Bear VI (San Rafael, CA)

7/4: 4th of July Throwdown Team Competition (Cullman, AL)

7/7: Barbellas (Anaheim, CA)

7/6 – 7/8: The Garage Games Junior Champion’s Invitational 2018 (Roswell, GA)

7/7: CrossFit Elgin Beach Brawl 2018 (Port Stanley, ON)

7/7: Capitol Takeover 2018 (Springfield, IL)

7/7 – 7/8: Railyard Riot (Lincoln, NE)

7/14: Mischief Revolution: Battle of the Brewery (Chicago, IL)

7/14: Mountain Town Summer Throwdown (Breckenridge, CO) 

7/14: Espirit De Corps 2018 (Vancouver, WA)

7/14: Belmar Beat Down (Belmar, NJ)

7/14: Atomic Throwdown (Kennewick, WA)

7/14: Fitness for Faith (Livingston, TN) 

7/14: Sweat Angel Showdown (Indianapolis, IN) 

7/14: Barmageddon (Oklahoma City, OK)

7/14: Red, White, and Blue Showcase (Kearney, NE)

7/15: The Buckeye Games (Akron, OH)

7/21: Second Annual Summer Showdown (Nicholasville, KY)

7/21: Swole Wars II (Burleson, TX)

7/21: Sacred Pines Invitational (Ladson, SC)

7/29: Bare Knuckles Weightlifting Meet (Broomfield, CO)

7/30: Legends of Lebo (Pittsburgh, PA)

+ Send us an event
Is there something we missed? Email us at [email protected].
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