Dave Castro…you’ve been warned

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by RP Strength, the leader in strength sports nutrition.

It’s not too late to dial in your nutrition for the 2018 CrossFit Open, with the newly released RP Diet Templates 3.0. These are the same templates that have helped hundreds of thousands of clients worldwide lose fat, gain muscle, and improve their performance. Use code “2018OPEN” to save $15 on your template now before it expires this week.

“Your speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward.” — Unknown

I’mma be, I’mma be, I’mma I’mma I’mma be

Who dat?

On Monday, another company emerging out of the fitness space made headlines — Nooma announced they received their B Corporation and vegan certifications. They were also awarded Best New Organic Food and Beverage at the 2018 KeHE Summer Selling Show.

They’re the first B Corporation in the Sports Drink Category.

What on Earth is a B Corporation?

No, it’s not a second-rate company. It’s not like first comes the A-listers, then the B-listers, then the C-listers, then the “going outta B” listers. We’re pretty sure there’s a list for that somewhere but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

A B Corporation is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit BLab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

OK, gotcha. Anything else?

In September 2017, they secured a nationwide deal with Whole Foods. As of right now they have one sponsored CrossFit athlete and his name is Scott Panchik. We also saw Brooke Wells sampling some a few weeks back. Smart money says, keep an eye on Nooma. 

COFFEE BREAK CONVERSATIONS

What to tell your friend who just tried to explain CrossFit to their doctor…

Better luck next time. Getting the same kind of prescription from your primary care physician every time? That’s what Yarone Goren, founder of SteadyMD and avid runner got when he asked “what’s up Doc”? about some foot pain from logging a few road miles. “I could actually see his eyes glaze over. It was obvious he had no idea what I was talking about, and it was like he didn’t have time for this nonsense.” So Yarone said “eff this” and started a company pairing physicians with patients of common interests, like running, powerlifting and (drumroll please) CrossFit. Here’s a little more about his
story, and here’s where you can check ’em out. 

THINGS TO…

WATCH: Kenzie and Chyna, Misfits

Kenzie Riley and Chyna Cho travel up to Portland, Maine for a few days of training with the Misfit HQ crew before the CrossFit Open kicks off. 

CH CH CH CHYNA.

HEAR: Lifestyle and Brain Health

What’s the connection between gut health and brain health? Dr. David Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He joins Julie Foucher’s Pursuing Health podcast to discuss the link between lifestyle choices, gut health and the brain, and what we can do to protect and improve our brain health.

TUNE IN.

EAT: The 11 Best Healthy Packaged Snacks at Costco

Cause when you’re in the mood to indulge your eye candy cravings it’s better to know which ones to pick and which to avoid. 

COSTCO RUN.

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

CHALK UP COMMUNITY

• 2018 OPEN WARNING — The CrossFit Games posted a video yesterday where Dave Castro warned athletes to expect the unknown, “I think people believe they figured out the format and possibilities of what we do in the Open…I think people should be prepared for the unknown and the unexpected.”
• LIFE LESSONS THROUGH CROSSFIT — Pete Driscoll is the PE Teacher at Hardland Elementary School in Vermont. A few years back, Pete said “let’s do this” and converted an old kindergarten classroom into a makeshift box and the kids have been WODing and rolling ever since. He’s even convinced a few teachers to pick up CrossFit too.
• BARBELLS FOR BOOBS — This must read interview with Zionna Hanson, founder of Barbells for Boobs, on how the diagnosis of her 26-year-old friend who was denied screening because of her young age turned into a nationwide fundraiser for breast cancer.
• KILL CLIFF RELAUNCHES — Less than four months after launching Endure, KILL CLIFFs new sports beverage, they released an updated version. According to an email sent out by one of thier regional sales reps, “We heard you and we want to thank everyone who took the time to give their feedback! ENDURE 2.0 is hitting the streets with a new look and improved taste.”

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

Fourty-four-year-old Shane Cross hit a 51 inch box jump PR • Good luck to Stephen Murphy of Commonwealth CrossFit who’s running his first ever Boston Marathon in April • Atlantic Regional athlete Dillion Bailey from CrossFit Devastation, bet a 12-year-old a sushi dinner that he couldn’t do a burpee mile in under an hour; show me the money and 650 burpees.

…and this video wins the Internet’s award for IDKWTF is going on here. 

Excerpts from Emily Jackson’s sophomore exercise science class paper…“After a devastating knee injury which ended my lacrosse career, I decided to pursue CrossFit. At the time, all I knew about CrossFit was what I saw on TV: these crazy ripped people lifting ridiculous amounts of weights. The first time I walked into a CrossFit gym, my life was changed. I had found a new passion. The community that CrossFit provides is unparalleled. Yes, there are always going to be those crazy fit people who can squat 300 pounds. But there are also stay-at-home moms, working dads, young people who are trying to get fit, and so many other demographics of people. It
is no surprise that CrossFit also influences a healthier lifestyle. Being around fit people makes you want to be fit!“

“Would You Give Your CrossFit Coach Your Kidney?” by Jessica Danger, Morning Chalk Up

Why can’t I do this,” Codiee Lofquist thought to himself.

A coach who regularly squatted north of 400 pounds struggled to even stand up from the bottom of an air squat.

CrossFit Muskegon members knew something was amiss; they just didn’t know exactly what.

Over the past several years, Codiee’s kidneys had been progressively deteriorating, slowly inching towards complete failure. But Codiee tried hard not to let on that he was struggling.

When he stopped showing up to coach though, everyone realized how sick he really was.

“I’ve known I’ve had kidney problems since 2008 but never let it affect what I could do,” Codiee said. “It caught up with me about a year ago. I had about 13% [kidney] function and had some pretty mentally tough days.”

2/16 – 2/18: Iron Sharpens Iron (Miami, FL)2/17: Lovers and Lifters (Springfield, KY)

2/17: Steel Rail Shootout 2018 (McComb, MS)

2/17: Wynwood Throwdown (Miami, FL)

2/17: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (Venice, CA)

2/17 – 2/18: The Shred Fest (Orlando, FL)

2/22: CrossFit Open 18.1 (Worldwide)

2/23 – 3/26: Garage Games Junior Open (Worldwide)3/1: CrossFit Open 18.2 (Worldwide)

3/8: CrossFit Open 18.3 (Worldwide)

3/10: Women Who WOD (Barbados)

3/15: CrossFit Open 18.4 (Worldwide)

3/22: CrossFit Open 18.5 (Worldwide)

3/23: The Redeemed and the Dominant: Fittest on Earth is released (iTunes)

3/24: 4th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Competition (Norwood, MA)

4/7: Battle of the Badges (Anaheim, CA)

4/7: The Revolution (San Antonio, TX)

4/14: Battle for the Mountain (Dawsonville, GA)

4/14: Appalachian Games (Asheville, NC)

4/14 – 4/15: Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Challenge (Columbia, MD)

4/14 – 4/15: WOD Wars Fitfest (Dunedin, FL)

4/21: Festivus Games (Nationwide)

4/28: Battleground SoCal (Wimington, CA)

4/28: Girls Gone Rx (Cincinnati, OH)

4/28: Salem Slaughterfest (Salem, OR)

4/28 – 4/29: Walter’s Cup Throwdown (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

5/4 – 5/6: European Masters Throwdown (Budapest, Hungary)

5/5 – 5/6: Tribal Clash (Quarteira, Portugal)

5/5: Cinco de Mayo Classic (San Antonio, TX)

5/5: The Locomotive Games III (Youngstown, OH)

5/11 – 5/12: Beast Mode Games (Greenville, SC)

5/19: Raising the Bar for Recovery (Medina, OH)

5/19: East Coast Battle (Hanover, MD)

5/26: Beauty is a Beast 2 (Indian Rocks Beach, FL)