You can’t get married that weekend

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by Paleoethics, the Official Sports Nutrition Sponsor of The CrossFit Games. Still not sure about Paleoethics? Try them out for a week with their new 7 day packs! Plus, use code “CHALKUPOCT” to save 20% on sample packs or full size supplements this weekend only.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If you are not fifteen minutes early, you are late.” — Phil Poythress 

YOU CAN’T GET MARRIED THAT WEEKEND.

WHY NOT?
Meet Sarah Gillespie. She lives in Madison, WI and just wants a simple wedding with some family and friends in town. Not much to ask really. As many of you know the summer is beautiful in Madison and a perfect time to have a wedding.

In the long list of things every bride has to plan to make her special day perfect, the CrossFit Games doesn’t usually make the list. Except for now.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Sarah, along with many other event and wedding planners, have been repeatedly turned away from dozens of hotels when trying to reserve a block of rooms — over a year in advance. We’re talking 2018 folks. Literally, hotels are blocking out rooms in bulk around possible Games dates.

SORRY. WE’RE NOT SORRY.
What can we say; we love Madison and Madison loves us!

OK, we feel kinda bad for the inconvenience it’s caused this future bride-to-be, but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t happy to get a room for the events next year.

See you for the ’18 Games, Madison.

HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT DENISE TODAY?

WHO?
In September of 2016, Denise “Gma” Burditus walked into CrossFit 25404 in Martinsburg, WV and immediately made a tribe of friends.

We all know a Denise at our box. If burpees were prescribed, it goes like this…“I’m sorry for what I said during Burpees” or if there is running prescribed, it’s…“I will RUN but I will complain the whole time.”

I KNOW DENISE!
You do and you love her, lots.

“Gma” Denise comes to the 8AM QuickFit WOD, towing a couple grandkids — her husband of 32 years Tony, is always a little early to the 9AM to cheer her on.

WE’LL MISS YOU DENISE.
Denise was shot and killed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on October 1, 2017. The CrossFit 25404 family is honoring her memory on Saturday with a special WOD.

Her husband Tony takes to Facebook daily to post: “Have I told you about Denise today?”

Tony, we’ve got your back. You take today off — we’ll tell them about Denise.

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES

ROUNDUP — What’s your 8 rep max touch and go squat clean? Tyler Tosuniancan do 275 pounds. Literally not sure what this grandma is doing carrying around this CrossFit Uncle Pukie skateboard. Jenn and Sam Dancer are on their way to Ireland to host a row raiser at The Filthy 150 competition. The 2017 CrossFit Games Liftoff registration is now live. The action kicks off November 30.

Work break…for the most heart-meltingiest 60 seconds you’ll have all day.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR FRIEND WHO PUT IN FOR A PROMOTION…

Request denied. That’s what U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino told the NSCA after they asked her to reconsider her ruling that the NSCA made false statements with the intention to disparage CrossFit. She’s the district judge providing over the years-long false advertising suit between CrossFit, Inc. and the NSCA. This case is just about wrapped up and if you haven’t been following, we wrote a little primer back in June which might tell you what you need to know.

THINGS TO…

HEAR: Merry Christmas Abbott
Straight off her national TV debut on CBS’s Big Brother, Christmas Abbott joins the Big Red Express podcast to talk about her experience on the reality TV show, what’s next for her and healing up her foot.
LISTEN IN.

DO: Mindful Body Challenge
No diet restrictions, no workout requirements, no food logging or weight tracking. The Girls Gone WOD Podcast’s Mindful Body Challenge will fundamentally change how you think about being healthy and turn your focus on being confident, present, whole, happy people.
HAPPY. WHOLE. HEALTHY.

EAT: 35 Sweet Potato Recipes 
We didn’t know there were 35 different recipes for sweet potatoes, but apparently Ambitious Kitchen did. So if you’re tired of cooking them the same three ways, then look no further.
DID SOMEONE SAY POTATO?

BUY: Chalk It Up Tee
We’re obviously pretty big fans of chalk over here, which makes us even bigger fans of any chalk-inspired apparel like this “Chalk It Up” tee from VSXUS, which so happens to be located just down the street from our HQ.
CHALK IT UP.

CHALK UP AFFILIATES

QUICK HITS —

• Iron Major CrossFit in Fort Leavenworth, KS sponsored 20 athletes to receive CrossFit L1 certifications. A total of 35 athletes applied and wrote essays sharing how their selection would benefit the Fort Leavenworth community, and 20 were selected for the scholarship. Iron Major CrossFit is a non-profit military affiliate, meaning there is no cost and the staff is made up of volunteers.
• CrossFit Sierra Nevada in Reno, NV held a memorial WOD yesterday for Jack Hopkins, who was shot and killed in the line of duty one year ago yesterday.
• Remember that game we played as kids — “Hungry, Hungry Hippos”? We think CrossFit Provision just changed the game for fun CrossFit Kids WODs.