Castro Gives 2018 Event One Hint

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is powered by Renaissance Periodization, the leaders in sports nutrition for athletes and everyday men and women alike!

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“What is wrong is that we do not ask what is right.” — G.K. Chesterton

Diet Starts Monday: IWF Announces New Bodyweight Categories

What’s the story?

Every weightlifter on the planet today has a decision to make: Cut, mass, or stay? On Friday the International Weightlifting Federation announced they are formally changing the bodyweight categories for both male and female athletes.

What does that even mean?

Well, it depends on who you ask. The ten new bodyweight categories were approved by the IWF Executive Board, but seven of each of these categories were also approved for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. One of the reasons for this is because the International Olympic Committee reduced the number of weightlifters allowed to compete from 260 down to 196. Since not every weightlifter is Olympics bound, the distinction seems to make sense.

But also? Sex and drugs.

The new weight classes came about as a response to the International Olympic Committee’s plan to create gender equality coupled with the announcement by the Tokyo 2020 Qualification System that one of their principle aims is “protecting clean sport.” They hope the new weight classes will provide greater athletic opportunities, gender inclusivity,  and enhance competition.

But my medals!

Don’t worry. USA Weightlifting plans to commemorate all of the American records that stand in what are now retired weight classes. (Good news for Mattie Rogers, BTW, who currently holds all three American Senior Records in the 69 kg category, which is being eliminated.) But with these new changes, the International Olympic Committee hopes athletes will have, essentially, a clean sport and a clean slate.

Coffee Break Conversations

What to tell your brother who constantly whines about having to drink iced coffee in this heat wave…

Shut it and mix it up! There are lots of ways to mix up plain ole black iced coffee, eleven to be precise. We don’t know about you, but we’re pumped for the overnight Thai version. (We’ve got one sitting in the fridge RIGHT. NOW.)

Things To…

WATCH: Emily Bridgers Fuels to Recover

In Episode One of this multi-part series by Working Against Gravity,  4x CrossFit Games Athlete and WAG member Emily Bridgers reveals how she trains and balances her nutrition, taking us through her daily routine of training and counting macros.

WATCH THIS.

HEAR: Should You Open Your Own Gym

Jason Khalipa and Matt DellaValle dive into all the things you need to think about when you find yourself at your bosses door ready to quit your job, put on your best coaching outfit, and open the doors of your brand new gym.

TUNE IN. 

KNOW: What the Heck are Knee Sleeves

What are those beer koozie looking things you see people wearing in the gym? What do they do? Do I need them? Will they make me a better competitive exerciser? Will I be able to squat heavier?

NOW YOU KNOW.

EAT: Healthy Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

A healthier spin on a classic, these vegan and gluten-free rice crispy treats could maybe pass for a peanut butter cup. And, if you add protein powder to the mix they’re even better, trust us. We ate like, a dozen.

IT’S HEALTHY, RIGHT?

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• GOING TO THE GAMES — Seventeen-year-old Ethan Elwell started going to CrossFit Unified in Tamuning, Guam to build strength for soccer. But after competing in the 2018 Open, he found himself 16th worldwide for his age and first for his region, sending him to Madison. Now his coach and family are busy getting him prepared. 
• MADDY ESPINOZA FUNDRAISER WOD — Come out and help Maddy in her journey to the 2018 CrossFit Games at Back2Back Crossfit tonight, July 9, at 6:00 PM. They will host a fundraiser WOD to help with Maddy’s travel expenses. Can’t make it? Check out the Go Fund Me page. 

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

Box Pro Magazine is now only digital • Trey Steele gets a strict 20″ deficit handstand push-up • 14-year-old Morgan McCullough hits an unofficial clean and jerk American Record of 167kg/368 pounds • Rachel Lust attempts a world record of hula hooping while doing pull-ups and gets 12 • Tennil Reed-Beuerlein completed a Spartan Race Saturday • Patricia Lara front squats at nine months pregnant and due any day • Geth Simmons gets his first muscle up • Alyssa Ritchey back squats 115kg/254 pounds for a set of eight • Games athlete Jason Smith officially sponsored by Nike • Rory McKernan got glasses • Visually impaired athlete Brooke gets 4×3 back squats at 105 pounds with Coach Chase Knight.

…and Julianne Hough just might be the best spotter ever.

All Things 2018 Games Related — Saturday Dave Castro released a Games 2018 Event 1 hint. Cue every Games athlete on social media preparing for street bikes and completing practice triathlons. Emily Abbott completed a triathlon. Mathew Fraser did one too. Lize Nel and team CrossFit PBM Unite did a sprint triathlon
Sunday. John Coltey got a practice ride on his new road bike. Margaux Alvarez got in a 30-mile ride Sunday morning, but first, she bought supplies for Games practice. Also, here’s an itemized list of the prize money up for grabs in each division this year.

Cassidy Goes Home to Grandma — On Friday, Cassidy Lance-McWherter posted on Instagram that she was training all weekend at “Grandma Jane’s Driveway.” Grandma Jane has liver cancer, and Cassidy went home to spend the weekend with her, writing “#family first.” Saturday, Cassidy posted an update that Grandma Jane is scheduled for surgery today. Morning Chalk Up is rooting for Grandma Jane and her family.

Dancers Row Raiser a Success — On Saturday Jenn and Sam Dancer hosted their annual Row Raiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Sam sent a thank you message to the 20+ locations across Illinois that participated, one of which was Crossfit Bloomington-Normal.

“The Men’s Fitness Industry Is Missing Out on the Body-Positivity Movement. And It Sucks,” by Nick English, Greatist

A recurring theme in men’s fitness content, and in my own journey, is that of gaining a sense of control. The message behind “Gain muscle and impress everybody” is that this is a way to control how others see you. You’ll be noticed. You’ll matter.

Exercise is an ongoing form of self-improvement that can be a source of profoundly important life lessons.

“If you have the intention to lift weights in order to get chicks, but you’re not really learning anything about yourself in the process, it’s like putting a Band-Aid on the problem. I think a lot of the writing out there ignores that side of it, but the truth is, you can’t solve an internal problem with an external approach,” Rog Law says.

Rather than a means to an end, fitness is a beautiful way to learn how to enjoy the process, to examine one’s flaws and shortcomings, and to work on them, rather than ignore them or pave over them with rock-solid muscle. Exercise is an ongoing form of self-improvement that can be a source of profoundly important life lessons.

7/13 – 7/15: Beach Throwdown 2018 (Schevening, Netherlands)

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)

7/14: CrossFit for Hope 2018 (Peoria, IL)

7/14: Team SuperFit Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)

7/14 – 7/15: 2018 Freshcoast Games (Muskegon, MI)

7/14: RX’Mas in July (Urbana, OH)

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

7/15 – 7/16: Lubbock Summer Games (Lubbock, TX)

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

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

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

7/21: Battle at the BallPark (Peoria, IL) 

7/21: Summer Partner Throwdown (Hammond, LA)

7/21: The Freedom Games (Greenwood, SC)

7/21 – 7/22: The Rubicon (Centerton, AR)

7/21 – 7/22: Fit Nation Thunderdome (Fort Myers, FL)

7/22: Iceland with VoyEdge RX

7/28: Garage Girls Hard Core Fit (Watkinsville, GA) 

7/28: Garage Girls CrossFit HardCore (Boca Raton, FL) 

7/28: AZ FitCom Competition (Phoenix, AZ)

7/28: Summer Knights Showdown (Springfield, IL)

7/28: Savage Wolves CrossFit Classic (Nazareth, PA)

7/28 – 7/29: CF Summer Circus (Des Moines, IA)

7/29: Summer Sizzle (Wadsworth, OH) 

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

8/4: Lumberjack Lift Off (Buckley, WA) 

8/4: G-Town Throwdown (Georgetown, MA) 

8/4: US National Parks Tour with VoyEdge RX

8/11: Red Raider Backyard Brawl (Coatesville, PA)

8/11: 2018 Rimrock Ruckus (Billings, MT)

8/11: Survival Games 2018 (Wooster, OH)

8/11: The Warhorse Games (Kansas City, KS)