“The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before.”- Steve Young
LIFESTYLE
How the Love of Group Suffering Created a Passion Project Called Grit
In 2011 Antonio Alletto was staring out his office window in Van Nuys, California. He saw two women sprinting down the street carrying heavy med balls, suffering in the hot Southern California sun.
Kris Clever and Becca Voight were coming from Valley CrossFit, and Alletto was witnessing CrossFit in its infancy.
With a background in general weightlifting and playing football, Alletto was no stranger to suffering. He loved the gym culture and pushing himself to the limit, and discovering CrossFit was another thing to add to the repertoire. He knew it was for him after the first workout of the 2012 Open–seven minutes of burpees.
Alletto reflects on the experience:
“I remember thinking; I can totally do that. I got 72, and I watched Kris Clever get 143. I was lapped by the short, kind, unassuming woman, and it was amazing. I was so humbled.”
Alletto settled into CrossFit, using it more for training for the many other physical activities he was into. He got into ultra-running, rucking, competitive arm wrestling, strongman competitions, and more, all while using CrossFit as his fitness base. Alletto loved using his body.
“CrossFit gave me the ability to do all those things. I never trained for anything specifically, yet I wasn’t terrible at anything. I felt well-rounded for everything I tried, and I never was worried about being able to figure it out. Mud Runs, long endurance races, all of that.”
Mud runs and obstacle runs started to be Alletto’s favorite, and it was the suffering part that he specifically connected to.
“I always relate to the team aspect of football and CrossFit and that family aspect. I started taking that into mud runs when we ran as a big team, and that taught me a lot about my job. So, I started incorporating this mindset at work too–it has become part of my whole life now. I loved suffering as a team, I love suffering in these mud runs and suffering as a team at work.”
Alletto wanted to turn his love of suffering into something fitness related.
He just didn’t know what. One thing he did know was what he would call it, and in classic water cooler chat, he put the name out there.
“I’m just going to put out a brand–it could be a clothing brand, or it could be a supplement brand or anything. We started sponsoring local events like trail runs, OCR, and CrossFit competitions and putting our name out there. I would show up, and people would ask me what it was, and I wouldn’t have an answer for them, but I knew what it was called.
“ It was called Grit. I would bring a whole bunch of fitness equipment to an event and set it up. And people would just play around. There wasn’t a purpose at that point, but I had a name.”
AIRWAAV: Dallin Pepper's Must-Have for Games Training
Dallin Pepper is no stranger to wearing a mouthpiece for performance. He first started using the AIRWAAV in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since. As he prepares for the 2023 CrossFit Games, he’s certain the AIRWAAV is going to help him in those critical moments during competition.
“AIRWAAV is crucial for my training as well as competing. I know in big moments on the floor when I need to clench down and get to work or lift heavy, AIRWAAV will do its job.” – Dallin Pepper
The AIRWAAV Performance Mouthpiece provides athletes with increased endurance, strength and recovery.
🏋️♀ 🏋️ 🤸♂️ Olympic Weightlifting Total and “Gymnastic Skills Test” at the Games: On Friday and Saturday, CrossFit announced that all divisions at the Games will be tested with an Olympic Lifting Total and “Gymnastics Skills” to go along with the previously announced 5K at the 2023 CrossFit Games.
Chyna Cho Withdraws: Late last week, the CrossFit Games veteran and podium favorite in the 35-39 Women’s Masters Division announced that she would not make the trip to Madison this year due to an ongoing elbow injury.
From her post: “WITH A VERY HEAVY HEART, I CANCELED MY FLIGHTS AND HOTEL FOR THE CROSSFIT GAMES TODAY AND I AM WITHDRAWING FROM THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION. THOUGH I HAVE STILL BEEN ABLE TO TRAIN AT A HIGH LEVEL, I HAVE AN ELBOW INJURY THAT HAS PREVENTED ME FROM TRAINING MANY KEY MOVEMENTS THAT ARE STAPLES OF THE CROSSFIT GAMES.”
The Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association will hold a meeting with Games athletes on Monday, August 7 following the end of competition. If you are a Games athlete and did not receive an invitation, let the PFAA know.
🥇 🏆 NOBULL Champion Kits: On Friday, NOBULL launched its 2022 CrossFit Games Champions Kit, including limited edition footwear and apparel from the 2022 winners, Justin Medieros and Tia-Clair Toomey.
From CrossFit Coach to Sporty Sexologist: Kate Gordon’s Evolution
You may know her as CrossFitter With Sign. Or maybe you know her as the iconic chick that energized the 2021 Torian Pro stands before hitting a big girl snatch, easy. Or maybe you’re a long-time fan of the sport and cheered her teams on during The 2015 and 2019 CrossFit Games.
But Kate Gordon—better known as CrossFit Kate (CFK)—does far more than just lift heavy shit, put it down and teach other aspiring athletes and coaches how to do the same.
Lining this CrossFitter’s CV are a slew of other accomplishments.
CrossFit Games Preview: Masters Men’s Battles to Watch in Madison
Like the women, seventy men across seven age-groups will be on hand in Madison, WI at the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games fighting for the title of Fittest on Earth in their respective divisions.
And also like the women, the field is jam-packed with new contenders, former champions, and past individual athletes who have aged into the masters division.
Here are some of the key battles we anticipate.
Men’s 35-39 Division
Though the community breathed a collective sigh of disappointment when four-time Fittest Man on Earth Rich Froning declined his invite to compete this summer, the division is still bustling with big-name athletes sure to draw a crowd.
Leading the way is nine-time individual Games athlete Scott Panchik, who led all athletes at the Age Group Semifinals, and former team and individual athlete known for his pure strength, Sam Dancer, who will be looking for revenge this season.
Remind me: Dancer was one of the favorites last season before tearing his bicep a few days before the Games, forcing him to withdraw. He underwent surgery, has been on the mend, and has been vocal about his hope this season to “stand on top of the podium and (be) crowned the fittest (35-39-year-old) athlete on the planet.”
Both Panchik and Dancer, however, are sure to be challenged by last year’s champion Bryan Wong, who competed at three Regional competitions as an individual (2016, 2017 and 2018) but never punched his ticket to the Games, but has come into his own as a masters athlete.
Are you gearing up to go watch your favorite athletes compete in Madison? Us too! While you are in Madison, you’ll want to be prepared for all the fun ahead.
We’ve gathered up some of our favorite products to help make your 2023 trip to the Games the best possible experience imaginable!
Pitness at the Mill: Hosted by Barbells for Bullies
Do you love dogs and working out? Well then you need to check out the Pitness at the Mill Competition hosted by Barbells for Bullies and benefitting multiple local rescues.
Choosing the best grip for your training depends on many factors. Athletes like Roman Khrennikov and BKG rely on the Condor grips by Picsil, while others like Jeff Adler, Gabriela Migala or Lazar Djuckic among others, prefer the falcon grips without holes. Which one is your favorite? Use code "MCU" for 30% off your purchase!
Instead of worrying about your hand care AFTER you rip, why don’t you prevent ripping in the first place? That’s what CALICURE is here for. Their tools are here for you to use for gentle sanding of your calluses on a regular basis so you can avoid skipping workouts because you have torn up hands. Use code “MCU” for 10% off your order!
Ana: “I can squat lower and these weights feel so much lighter!”
The non-profit affiliate, Core City CrossFit Kids, in Detroit, MI is seeking donations to send five kids to the Pit Teen Throwdown this September. Donations go toward food, travel, and lodging for the five teens and their coach Helen Taylor.
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