“It is a characteristic of wisdom to not do desperate things.”- Henry David Thoreau
CROSSFIT GAMES
CrossFit Games OGs Headline the Masters 35-39 and 40-44 Leaderboards
The 2021 CrossFit Open came to a close with 21.3 and 21.4, resulting in some prominent names atop the (unofficial) leaderboard. Jeffrey Adler holds the top spot in the Men’s division after finishing fifth in the 2020 CrossFit Games while four-time champion Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr continues her reign of dominance.
The Masters divisions also feature several prominent names, many of whom have found success as individual Games athletes.
Why this matters: There is a flurry of young athletes making a name in the individual division, but veterans with Games experience are still putting on a show. Names such as Dan Bailey and Kyle Kasperbauer sit in the top five on the 35-39 men’s side while Rebecca Voigt Miller and Joey Kimdon headline the 40-44 women’s division. Together they join a stacked list of competitors that are making noise in 2021.
Women Ages 35-39: Of the five athletes sitting atop the Open leaderboard, four have considerable experience at the CrossFit Games. There is a perennial Affiliate Cup competitor, an athlete that has previously represented the masters division, and two that are considered legends in the sport.
That’s what’s up for grabs with HWPO. Mat Fraser’s collaboration with HYBRID Performance Method to bring you the ultimate functional training experience.
Instead of designing your own program, or worrying whether your programming is getting results. You can have the tried and tested program that took Mat to the top of the podium… five times.
Questions about Quarterfinals? Here are the official cutoffs and equipment list.
Justin Cotler, Kari Pearce’s coach, who has created a stellar training camp in Las Vegas that includes Bethany Shadburne and Danielle Brandon among others, announced that he is creating a training facility in the Vegas area with CrossFit Games OGs Tommy Hackenbruck and Zach Forrest. He also that he would be releasing programming called “Underdog Athletics” after the Quarterfinals.
Cotler: “We are going to create essentially a fithub, a destination for athletes…I’ll let the cat out of the bag I’m partnering up with Tommy Hackenbruck and Zach Forrest…and we are going to opening up the ‘it’ facility here in Vegas.”
Brian Fields, Chief Commercial Officer at Groupon: “Small gyms and fitness studios are important neighborhood fixtures that help create vibrant, healthy communities. Groupon believes in the power of local businesses and we’re proud to stand with the fitness industry in support of the Community Gyms Coalition. We urge Congress to take immediate action to help these businesses.”
Reebok is releasing some new Nano X1 colorways including a Court Blue on April 7.
The Battle Cancer Program is now an official 501c3 charity organization. And, the official start date for this summer’s Battle Cancer programs at CrossFit Invictus-Boston, CrossFit Wynwood, WIT House and more on June 7. There is still room to sign up for cancer survivors seeking to rebuild their physical and mental health.
LIFESTYLE
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Let’s Talk About Gut Health
“You are what you eat,” is a saying we have all heard probably thousands of times. As the field of research into gut health becomes larger and larger, that saying becomes more and more true. Or more specifically, “you are what your microbes eat.”
When we say “gut health” we are really talking about the size, density, and health of our microbiota and microbiome.
Casey Acree learned at a young age that if he didn’t look out for himself and find ways to adapt movements and skills, he would get left behind. This attitude not only helped him in the 2021 CrossFit Open, where he currently sits atop the Men’s Upper Extremity division leaderboard, but also compete in the Rx division each week.
The details: The 28 year-old has a congenital defect that caused his arm to stop developing in the womb. As a result, he was born without a left arm below his elbow.
Since he was a child, Acree’s physical disability has never stopped him from pursuing any physical activity he set his mind on. Growing up, he played basketball, football and ran track, and eventually got into bodybuilding-style training and found CrossFit in 2014. Today he owns and coaches at Summit Systems, a gym in Decatur, IL.
“It is all I have ever known, so I have had to figure out how to adapt everything since I was young,” Acree said.
Vuori Works to Become Carbon Neutral, Plastic Neutral in Pursuit of a Better Planet
It is estimated that the fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions every year, and concerns about pollution from the industry — from chemical waste to microplastics — are on the rise as well.
Many brands have been taking a closer look at their production processes and materials, with the hope of developing systems that will ensure a cleaner and more sustainable planet for future generations. Making big steps since 2019, Vuori is hoping to make an even bigger impact in the year to come.
Vuori’s mission: Performance apparel brand Vuori has dedicated the last couple of years to reducing its carbon footprint and partnering with conservation groups to ensure it’s investing in both a product and a planet that serves athletes for years to come.
“We believe that businesses have the power to make real, meaningful progress in securing a low-climate future,” Vuori says on its website. “We worked with Climate Neutral, an independent non-profit, to measure our 2019 climate footprint, purchase climate credits to offset its entirety, and implement plans to reduce our emissions. We successfully completed all three steps, and now are Climate Neutral certified.”
Every Friday, we’re bringing you an exclusive workout challenge programmed by a CrossFit Games athlete or coach that you can take on at home or the gym. You can post your times or scores in the comment section.
Today’s workout of the week is programmed by Dani Speegle.
For Time:
40 Cal Row
40 Deadlifts
(225/155 lbs or 102/70kgs)
100 Double Unders
* Deadlifts decrease by 10 each round (40-30-20-10)
Some advice from Dani: “Make it hurt. ☠️”
To inquire about submitting an upcoming workout of the week, shoot us a note.
NEWSPAPER
Yes. We Printed an Actual Newspaper.
This is your chance to relive the crazy ride that was the 2020 CrossFit games season in this limited edition Morning Chalk Up newspaper. Quantities are limited so act now to get your copy hot off the press and delivered straight to your door.
The Difference Between Mental Toughness and Mental Fitness
Matt Fitzgerald, author of over 20 books on exercise, health, and fitness sat down with Ben Bergeron to talk about pacing by feel, mental toughness vs. mental fitness, and competing as an athlete's identity.
Engineered by ex-Under Armour execs, the new Tech Jean is like nothing you’ve worn before. Bringing together the style of 5-pocket denim with the performance and stretch of athletic pants. Lightweight, flexible, and durable. The Tech Jean fits in at the box, boardroom, and bar. You may never need to wear any other pants.
As the weights go up and the reps get slower, athletes may be getting stronger, but their speed takes a hit in the process. Watch this video from Squat University and learn why box jumps are so effective at training the explosive aspects of leg strength that can get overlooked training at higher weights.
Discover how recovered you really are with WHOOP. The WHOOP strap 3.0 collects over 100 pieces of data every second to give you real-time feedback on strain, sleep, and recovery. Sign up now and your strap and first month’s membership is free. (No code needed)
Chilli Lime Chicken Wings. Perfect for Gameday Anyday
Paleo, Whole 30, Caveman, or Keto, one thing we can all agree on is chicken wings are amazing. These tangy, zesty, spicy wings from Nom Nom Paleo will hit the spot after any workout.
Chalk Up Highlights is our section dedicated to celebrating our community’s wins in the gym. Follow @ChalkUpHighlights and submit your highlight to [email protected] to be featured.
Happy Birthday to Adee Cazayoux, Co-Founder of Working Against Gravity.
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