Cleanliness Protocols Prove Costly for Gym Owners — Powered by AIRWAAV

December 9   |   POWERED BY

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. CrossFit gyms are adapting to new COVID restrictions and based on our data, cleanliness is significant, if costly.

We love seeing your story tips, quotes and PRs roll in. Keep sending them to tips@morningchalkup.com.

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” - Steve Prefontaine

Cleanliness Protocols Prove Costly for Gym Owners, But Necessary, Nationwide Poll Shows

Part of the charm of the early CrossFit gyms was that they lacked the bells and whistles and shiny equipment of the Globo gym. Often housed in rugged home garages, few expected them to be clean. In fact, the humble, even grungy garage-feel, was at least part of what drew members to the CrossFit culture. And while this has changed over the years — many gym owners have become more fastidious when it comes to cleanliness — it’s also clear that the global pandemic has changed expectations about how clean a gym should be.

One big thing: According to a new Morning Chalk Up/Triib/TrueCoach nationwide poll of CrossFit athletes and gym owners, there’s a sizable gap between how clean gym owners think their gyms are and individual members’ perspectives.

• 86.7 percent of affiliate owners surveyed said they’re doing a “very good” job with cleanliness, health and safety. Only 62.9 percent of members agree.

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MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

From Fonda To Functional Fitness: The Evolution of Virtual Coaching and a Global Pandemic

In 1982, workout guru Jane Fonda released a series of workout tapes, which would soon turn into one of the most popular workout routines for fitness enthusiasts of the 1980s and beyond. Since then, the concept of coaching via video has evolved greatly. 30 years later, Peloton rolled out what would soon become the next big thing in home workouts, giving athletes the chance to communicate and take live classes with their favorite instructors.

One big thing: While other modes of fitness from spin to boot camp have migrated online in the past few years to give athletes the chance to workout from the comfort of their own homes, the CrossFit industry has remained largely in person, with classes almost exclusively occurring in brick-and-mortar affiliates. That was until the pandemic of 2020.

Stage 1 Set, International Functional Fitness Championship Starts Friday

A select group of CrossFit and functional fitness athletes from all over the world will be competing this weekend in the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3) Continental Cup. The online competition takes place December 11-13 as a replacement for the iF3 World Championships, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

One big thing: The Continental Cup has created another opportunity for the top CrossFit Games athletes to compete during the global pandemic. Kristin Holte (Norway), Khan Porter (Australia), Melina Rodriguez (Argentina), Jacqueline Dahlstrøm (Norway), Jessica Coughlan (Australia), Omar Martinez (Venezuela), Nicolay Billaudel (Norway), João Ferreira (Portugal) and 15-year old Emma Lawson (Canada) are just some of the athletes with Games appearances that will be representing their country this weekend.

The details: Top athletes were selected by each of the iF3’s National Federation members to represent their country in the competition.

Enter the “12 Days of Crossmas” Giveaway

To spice up your holiday season, Fitness Santa is bringing you 12 days of Crossmas, that’s 12 straight days of fun fitness giveaways from some of your favorite brands absolutely free.

From December 1 – 12, we’ll be doing Instagram live giveaways each day at 5:00 PM PT, totaling 78 prizes from:

Reebok, Rogue, RPM, Born Primitive, Ascent, Caffeine & Kilos, O2, 2POOD, Bear Komplex, Goodr, Beam.

Fill out the form to enter to win, and remember, the more points, the more chances to win.

Enter to win.

...WIN

$5,000 in One Workout

WORK is a virtual competition hosted by apparel company The Ten Thousand and the premise is simple: one workout, an all-out effort, see how you stack up against thousands of other athletes. The December workout in this series is a fun couplet of weightlifting and gymnastics, so get registered and send it.

SPONSORED

...HEAR

How One Ireland Gym is Thriving Despite COVID

Phoenix Strength & Conditioning used the Healthy Steps Nutrition mentoring platform to build a wildly successful nutrition program despite the pandemic. Listen to their story on Episode 52 of the Grow Your Nutrition Business Podcast and learn two strategies that will help you build a nutrition program and increase virtual engagement with your members!

...LEARN

How Breathing Works and How to Make it Work for You

There are so many times when an athlete is deep into a WOD and her or his coach yells "don't forget to breathe!" But, what does that actually mean and how can you use some physiological knowledge to help you perform better in workouts? Learn more in this easy-to-digest article from CrossFit.

...SAVE ON

The Nano 9

Today's the last day to get the Reebok Nano 9 for just $50. To get the deal use the code "NANOFLASH" at checkout. (US Subscribers Only)

...IMPROVE

Mobility in the Hinge for Deadlifts and KB Swings

Developing a proper range of motion is critical for safe, strong lifts and exercises. These oblique openers from CrossFit Invictus, aided by a kettlebell, can help increase mobility in internal torque movements, like hinging. When working through this progression, focus on mind-body connection and feeling which muscles are activated when and how.

There were no complete responses to Monday’s trivia question – who are the six athletes that have competed in 100 or more individual division CrossFit Games events. A couple of respondents were able to name four to five of the six athletes. The six were Ben Smith, Annie Thorisdottir, Rebecca Voigt Miller, Katrin Davidsdottir, Scott Panchik, and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet.

• Today’s question: How many rowing-only CrossFit Games events have there been in the Individual division?

Submit your answer.

Chalk Up Highlights is our section dedicated to celebrating our community’s wins in the gym. Follow @ChalkUpHighlights and submit your highlight to tips@morningchalkup.com to be featured.

• Ritvars Suharevs clean and jerks 442 pounds.
• Happy Birthday, Matt Banwart.
• Luke Nall sumo deadlifts 875 pounds.
• Taylor Lumpp squat snatches 205 pounds for a PR.
• Jacob Laster push presses 295 pounds for a triple.
• Sam Dancing back squats 545 pounds.
• Mallory Mae back squats 270 pounds for a 3 rep max PR.
• Congratulations Cole and Genasee Sager on their pregnancy announcement.

Our round-up today features three holiday fundraisers from across the CrossFit community:

• Gift of Fitness: The Gift of Fitness is a global fundraising event seeking to provide better access to fitness for underserved people. Launched by FAITH RXD, the fundraiser benefits several nonprofit organizations, including Atlanta Leadership Club, Beat the Streets, Kettlebells 4 Kids, Northwest Youth Fitness Foundation and Steve’s Club, and will run until December 27. Learn more about the workout and how to sign up.
• FTX’s 12 Days of Christmas: In Wheaton, IL, FTX CrossFit is hosting a toy drive between December 1-12. They kicked it off with a “12 Days of Christmas” WOD and they will end it with a “12 Days of Christmas” WOD. On Saturday, December 5, they also participated in the FAITH RXD Gift of Fitness fundraiser. The toy drive benefits the Evangelical Child and Family Agency in Wheaton.
• Black Sheep Christmas Eve 5k/Toy Drive: CrossFit Boynton Beach in Boynton Beach, FL is hosting a Christmas Eve 5k and toy drive on Christmas Eve morning. The event begins at 8 AM on December 24 and participants are asked to bring a toy donation. Learn more and get registered.