CrossFit Files a Freedom of Information Lawsuit

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by EPIC Provisions, providing protein-packed snacks made from whole foods for all of your muscle-building and adventure goals.

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“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

CrossFit Files a FOIA Request

The story.

Yesterday, CrossFit HQ filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), demanding the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disclose the sources and amounts of donations they receive.

FOIA?

Also known as the Freedom of Information Act, it’s a law created in 1967 by President LBJ, which protects the public’s right to know what goes on in their government.

Essentially anyone can make a FOIA request for information from federal government agencies. You don’t even need to be a citizen.

OK got it. So where does CrossFit come in?

As part of CrossFit’s ongoing investigation into the soda industry’s “attempts to manipulate the health sciences and unduly influence the scientific record on sugar,” they uncovered evidence that the NIH and CDC weren’t being forthcoming about who was donating to support their published research.

So back in early July, CrossFit filed a FOIA request for more information. Specifically looking for evidence of collusion between soda companies and these foundations. The NIH didn’t even bother responding and the CDC responded but CrossFit wants more details.

Aren’t they legally supposed to hand over the information?

They sure are. And CrossFit doesn’t plan to let it go either so they’ve joined the nonprofit U.S. Right to Know in a lawsuit to compel the release of information.

Bottom line is, you have a right to know who is giving money to the NIH and CDC, and perhaps a really good quetion you should be asking is: what are they hiding by refusing to comply with the request?

Setting the Record Straight: Who’s Getting Invited to Wodpalooza

Srwome background.

As a tradition, Wodapalooza invites all of the previous year’s individual CrossFit Games athletes to compete as individual elite or on a 3-person elite team. They’ve extended that courtesy invite every year they’ve hosted a competition.

In preparation to kick off the 2019 Wodapalooza season, including organizing a massive three week online qualifier, they once again prepared and sent out invitations to all 2018 CrossFit Games athletes.

The story.

While invitations were being sent out, Wodapalooza was simultaneously wrapping up negotiations to become an official sanctioned event and with it changing invitees to only the top 20 from the 2018 CrossFit Games, which we reported and Wodpalooza wrote on their blog which has since been update.

But by Monday, when their sanctioned status became official, the invitations has already gone out to all athletes, not just the top 20, and they were already accepting them and posting to Instagram.

So what’s happening now?

We noticed and brought it to their attention. Instead of revoking those invitations, Wodapalooza acknowledged the error and took the sensible approach, accepting any athlete who was invited.

So to set the record straight, here how you can get a spot to compete in Wodpalooza’s elite individual division:

1. Earn a spot by placing in the top 20 in the online qualifier.
2. Receive an invitation as a 2018 individual CrossFit Games athlete.
3. Receive an invitation as a former winner of Wodapalooza.

Coffee Break Conversations

What to tell your friend who swears she has no time to work out because her schedule is so insane…

Yeah, sure Susan. You’re “too busy.” We get it. But so is Joe Monnich who owns and operates three restaurants on top of raising a few kids. Oh, and fitnessing on the reg. He listed his day-to-day activities for a week straight for Philly Mag including his fitness routine, which he never skips because “it’s the only way I am able to balance the everyday grind of life. It takes a lot of energy to run a restaurant and most importantly be a father. It also helps to manage my beer and pizza addiction!”

Things To…

WATCH: All In with Brent Fikowski, The Final Episode 

Watch as Brent Fikowski competes in the remainder of the 2018 CrossFit Games in the final episode of “All In: A Brent Fikowski Documentary.” He shares what he was thinking during the row marathon, how he struggled with Rescue Randy, and how nervous Chaos made him.

THE PROFESSOR IS IN. 

HEAR: Serve, Sacrifice and Lead

Aaron Guyett is a father, Marine, and coach who has dedicated his life to the motto, “Give your life in love for others.” Guyett sat down on the Feed Me Fuel Me podcast to discuss Leader of Leaders, his program that teaches how to help people realize we are all strong beyond measure.

A LEADER AMONGST LEADERS. 

EAT: Crispy Spinach Pizza

If you’re questioning whether you really need crispy greens in your life, think of this pizza, with it’s small but mighty layer of cheese underneath, a complex salty blend of stretchy mozzarella, pecorino, and gruyere that anchors the crispy spinach to the crust.

THE POPEYE.

BUY: Brute Strength Barbells For Boobs Leggings

Brute Strength has partnered with Barbells for Boobs for some sweet leggings. All proceeds will be going to Barbell for Boobs and breast cancer awareness. 

PERFECT FOR WINTER.

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

Chalk Up Community

• PRO-TIP: DRIVING UNDER THE BAR — If you find yourself pressing the bar out at the top of your jerk, it may be that you’re not generating enough acceleration in your drive. The acceleration of the drive is what keeps the bar up, and then you push your body down with fast hands. CrossFit slows it down for you with cues from Coach Mike Burgener. 
• A LATE BLOOMER — Fifty-four-year-old Rick Bucinell didn’t discover weightlifting until his forties. Since then he’s wrapped up record after record, including being named a Grand Master five times; earned by being the best pound-for-pound lifter in the entire competition regardless of age group or weight class. “Once you step up there, you can’t have any doubt about what you’re doing because it’s heavy and it wants to beat you. You’ve gotta be mentally prepared to take it on,” Bucinell stated.
• RHINO CROSSFIT TEAMS WITH POWER SYSTEMS — Julie Johnston, owner of Rhino CrossFit and founder of Camp Rhino, just partnered with Power Systems. “Power Systems brings people together with a common purpose: to make the world a healthier, better place. My members get to
  enjoy not only the newest Power Systems equipment, but also the new exercises and routines I learn from my fellow Power Systems Master Coaches,” said Johnston.

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

Reebok is putting the finishing touches on a new training shoe • Progenex has teamed up with street artist Friendly Dave for a limited time shirt • Congratulations to Shannon on her 65 pound strict press • Erik Jacobs brings CrossFit to teachers with Healthy Teacher, Happy Students • The Reebok Nano 2.0 in its original colorway is available again • Junk Brands halloween headbands are out • Chris Hinshaw is
bringing Aerobic Capacity to Hammer Fitness • Mat Fraser dropped into CrossFit East Nashville and hung out with the CrossFit Kids class.

Russell Greene Asks for Rhabdo Clarification –– In Military Medicine’s recent article, “A Cluster of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis Cases in a ROTC Program Engaged in an Extreme Exercise Program,” the authors laid claim to specific cases of rhabdo being caused, supposedly, by Murph. Russ Greene read a little closer and takes the methodology to task: 

“The authors ignore two other significant factors: the additional training the subjects performed in the days preceding the workout [Murph] and the unit’s decision to hyperhydrate prior to exercise…not bother to ascertain what this other training consisted of, nor do they mention it at all. Hence, their attempt to place blame for the rhabdomyolysis cluster squarely on this single workout is highly misleading.

“To what extent did the other training sessions contribute to or cause these cases of rhabdomyolysis? Did they consist of novel training stimuli, abnormally high training volume, large repetitions of eccentric exercise or other known risk factors for rhabdomyolysis? Would the cluster have occurred had the subjects performed ‘Murph’ absent any other training? The study does not answer these important questions, consider these factors, or even inform readers that there is any uncertainty at all regarding (the causes of these symptoms).”

Wodapalooza Individual Qualifier Week 1 Announcement —Wodapalooza announced WODs #2 and #3 for Week 1. Scores are due Monday 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET.

— WOD #1

12 Minute Time Cap

150 Double Unders

60 WB (20, 14lbs @ 10ft)

30 Chest to Bar

150 Double Unders

— WOD# 2

AMRAP 3

Max Rep Clean and Jerk (165/115 pounds)

— WOD #3

3 Mins to Establish

1RM Clean and Jerk

“Confessions of a Recovering CrossFit Games Athlete,” by Carleen Mathews, Athlete Daily

I love this sport. I love CrossFit. I walked into a box and it helped me stay sober. I made it my outlet. But it became my only outlet.

I’m in a transition phase in my life now where competitive CrossFit is not as important to me, starting a family and focusing on my health is.  At least, that’s what I tell myself.

This change is hard. It’s uncomfortable.

All I’ve known for the past five years is to train hard. Destroy your body every day to be the best you can be in competition. For so long, I’ve been praised and looked up to for podiums, medals, and achievements. Without that, who am I?

I’m still Carleen. I’m a leader, a survivor, someone who can get through anything. This is what people look up to me for. I am not my medals or podium finishes. I am so much more.

It can be hard to convince myself of that.

10/5: The Hopper (Asheville, NC)

10/5 – 10/7: International Functional Fitness Federation World Championships (London)

10/6: Beer City Beatdown (Asheville, NC)

10/6: Gallant Gauntlet 2 (Bedford, TX)

10/6: WOD for Water Troy (Troy, AL)

10/6: Cactus Games (Phoenix, AZ)

10/6: Pound-4-Pound Competition (Denver, CO)

10/6: Invictus Boston Barbells for Boobs (Boston, MA)

10/6: Girls Gone RX @ Old Line Crossfit (Millersville, MD)

10/6: The Battle To Benefit Badge (Utica NY)

10/6: Iron Eagle Challenge (Cookeville, TN)

10/6: The Grit Games (Jacksonville, FL)

10/6: Fit For Freedom (St. Peters, MO)

10/6: Fitness Freedom Project Jay WOD (San Marcos, CA)

10/6: OUTWOD (Philadelphia, PA)

10/6: Garden State Open 2018 (Berkeley Heights, NJ)

10/6: T-Town Throwdown (Toledo, OH)

10/6: 7th Annual Dog – WOD (Minneapolis, MN)

10/6: Hulks and Ninjas (Bangor, ME)

10/6: 7th Annual Dog WOD ( Minneapolis, MN)

10/6: Masters & Minors Invitational (Kill Devil Hills, NC)

10/6: Capitol City Classic (Madison, WI)

10/6: Team Scream Crossfit817 (Fort Worth,TX)

10/6: Iron October 6 (Woodland, CA)

10/6: The Calypso Cup at Crossfit Calypso (Farmington, MN)

10/6 – 10/7: The Iron Clash (Fayetteville, NC)

10/6 – 10/7: 307 Throwdown (Casper, WY)

10/12 – 10/14: Faith RX’d (Denver, CO)

10/13: Barbells For Boobs 2018 (Sutton, MA)

10/13: WOD for a Cause (Bloomsburg, PA)

​10/13: C4 CrossFit Co-Ed Classic (Brunswick, NJ)

10/13: 2018 War in the Woods (Norton, MA)

10/13: The Festivus Games (Online)

10/13: Grand Games 2018 (Westfield, IN)

10/13: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ Red Island CrossFit (Smithfield, RI)

10/13: Barbells for Boobs (Steamboat Springs, CO)

10/13: Older, Wiser, Faster, Stronger (Plymouth, MI)

10/13: The Greenville Games (Greenville, SC)

10/13: Reps For Recovery (Hickory, NC) 

10/13: Kal-Haven Trail Ruck (Kalamazoo, MI)

10/13: Fall Brawl (Saint Michael, MN)

10/13: Sweat for Georgia Mae (Wendell, NC)

10/13: Barbells For Boobs (Southaven, MS)

10/13: Wodtoberfest Co-ed Team Competition (Owosso, MI)

10/13: OUTWOD (Atlanta, GA)

10/13-14: Central Florida Throwdown 6 (Lakeland, Fl)

10/13 – 10/14: Box Wars 3 (Fort Valley, GA) 

10/14: CrossFit for Kayden (Fallsington, PA)

10/20: BCS Classic 2018 (Bryan, TX)

10/20: Head 2 Head in Hamilton (Hamilton, NJ)

10/20: Fittest on the Valley VI (Lahaina, HI)

10/20: Crossfit Bona Fide Third Wheel Throwdown (Portsmouth, NH)

10/20: CrossFit Katana Samurai Showdown VI: Trio of Terror (Mansfield, OH) 

10/20: SE Texas Masters of CrossFit Fall Classic (Cypress, TX) 

10/20: Barbells For Boobs (Stamford, CT)

10/20: Filthy 150 Irish Competition (Dublin)

10/20: CFT’s METAvivor Fundraiser (Carol Stream, IL)

10/20: WOD for the Fallen (Columbia, SC)

10/20 – 10/21: The Independence Games (Florence, SC)

​10/20 – 10/21: The Lincoln Invitational (Spokane, WA)

10/21: Chalk It Up 2018 (Akron, OH) 

10/21: Me Jane, You Jane (Santa Rosa, CA) 

10/26 – 10/28: JAKTRX Atlas Games (Montreal)

10/27: Tough Temple Invitational (Rockville, MD)

10/27: Rock Your Box Throwdown (St.Cloud, MN)

10/27: Halloween Havoc (Harrisburg, PA)

10/27: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ CrossFit Trumbull (Trumbull, CT)

10/27: Saberspook Throwdown (Minneapolis, MN)

10/27: Monster Mash (Ann Arbor, MI)

10/27: The Foundry 5K (Steamboat Springs, CO)

10/27: Rock Your Box Throwdown (Saint Cloud, MN)

10/27: Beartown Halloween Beatdown (Lebanon, VA)

10/27: 9th Annual Fall Brawl (Gibsonia, PA) 

10/27: Boo Bash (Cleveland, TN)

11/2: Wodapalooza Qualifier – Team (Online)

11/2 – 11/3: Women’s WOD Jam Individuals (Denver, CO)

11/3: The Battle of Port Royal Sound (Okatie, SC)

11/3: Battle for the Badges (St. Louis, MO)

11/3: PPS CrossFit Fall Throwsdown (Portland, OR)

11/3: CFT’s 2018 Strongman Classic (Carol Stream, IL)

11/3: WODamania (Riviera Beach, FL)

11/3: Barbells For Boobs at CrossFit Florian (Norwood, MA)

11/3: Bar Wars 2018  (Harker Heights, TX)

11/3: Masters Of The Midway (The Hills, IL)

11/3: Dynamic Duo Deathmatch 2018 (Southlake, TX) 

11/3: Inferno in the Forge (Lawrenceville, IL)

11/3: Perimeter Rowdown (Atlanta, GA)

11/3: Central Texas Showdown (Seguin, TX)

11/3: Rookie Rollout 3 at Troy CrossFit (San Diego, CA)

11/2 – 11/4: Reignited Games 2018 (Wilmington, NC) 

11/3 – 11/4: Charlotte Throwdown for Mental Health Awareness (Charlotte, NC)

11/04 – 11/05: WODNATION BR (Vinhedo, Brazil)