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Effort Is Between You and You

HAPPY FRIDAY and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition was chalked up while doing AMRAP 5 of strict pull-ups. Why? Cause it was programmed at Red Wolf CrossFit in Huntington Beach, CA our home for the past week.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“EFFORT! Nobody can can judge that because effort is between You and You.” — Ray Lewis

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE BOX

Lived under a rock last weekend and didn’t watch the West Regional? Here’s your roundup. Kill Cliff donated $38,773.52 to the Navy SEAL Foundation. Sam Briggs gets accused on Instagram for being on steroids and delivers an epic response. The Indianapolis based Monarch Beverage, which is Indiana’s largest distributor of beer and wine, comes equipped with a CrossFit gym. Here’s a look at how Team Chevy’s pit crew is using CrossFit to train for the “24 Heures du Mans” race. Melissa Doss bought a cow. Kara Webb still has her bike from the 2012 Camp Pendleton triathlon event and she’s busting it out to start training just in case.

THIS IS AN A AND B CONVERSATION, SO C YOUR WAY OUT OF HERE…

At least that’s what someone should have told the Internet’s keyboard brigade who came out in full force to comment on Fox New’s story of Emily Bridger’s unbelievable seven-year transformation. If you have the internal fortitude not to respond scroll down and check these out, otherwise you’re probably going to spend the next six hours fighting the trolls. In all seriousness though, whatever shape or size you come in, be proud of the goals you’ve accomplished and worked hard to achieve; they’re yours, not theirs. Dear Em, we love ya.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR FRIEND WITH TWO TEENAGERS…

RxBar has got your lunches covered. They just released RxBars for kids packed with the same healthful stuff that we love. Will they like them? Don’t know but they’re giving you 20% off a box of 16 right now so you can ask.

REGIONALS REFLECTIONS

Becca Voigt on failing to qualify“Definition of Failure: 1.Lack of success. I am a very competitive person, always have been. I was taught from a young age that in sports (and life), you will not always win and if winning is your only goal, you are destined to fail. I have failed…a lot. Every year for the past nine years, I have, by my own definition, failed. I have failed to stand at the top of the podium at the CrossFit Games. This year, for the first time in my CrossFit career, I failed to qualify for the Games as an individual. As I stood there on the competition floor, listening to the top 5 athletes being announced, and I realized that I wasn’t going to be one of them, my thoughts were quickly put into perspective. What stood out the most is my deep-seated love of CrossFit. Since the very beginning, it wasn’t the competition, or winning that kept me going, it’s the people that surround, support and challenge me. I have had the honor of competing against many incredible human beings, many of which I am fortunate enough to call my friends. The unwavering and overwhelming support from the CrossFit community as a whole has shown me that perhaps failure isn’t the lack of success, but a part of it. And THAT is why I continue to do this crazy sport of fitness.”
Cody Anderson on qualifying after failing the last two years…“I didn’t realize how many people I had pulling for me this year until I showed up on day 1. I can’t count how many times I had someone reach out and encourage me, telling me they were praying for me or simply saying good job…Honestly making the games is cool, but that’s never been my ultimate goal. The strongest emotions I felt were a result of feeling the pleasure of my heavenly Father over me and realizing how blessed and loved I am by this community. I love you all, thank you!”

THINGS TO…

WATCH: Making of a Champion, Part 8

The latest in this multi-part documentary series follows Mathew Fraser through a lighter day of training and he talks about how he’d leave competitive CrossFit.
WATCH.

HEAR: Training for Lifelong Fitness

CrossFit Games Masters Champ Shellie Edington joins Girls Gone WOD Podcast for an episode on lifelong fitness, being an athlete over 50 and training for the Games.
NIFTY FIFTY.

EAT: Friendlier Fried Rice

Meat, rice and vegetables are a staple in any gym goers diet. Unfortunately, it can get a little boring. But not to worry, this recipe from Working Against Gravity will leave you satisfied and with extras.
START COOKING.

BUY: Jeans That Fit Right

You squatted for that booty now get a pair of pants that you can actually fit in and that feel good. Barbell Apparel is offering 10% off your entire order with code “CHALKUP.”
START SHOPPING.

CHALK UP READS

“Why This Woman Is The Fittest One Of All” by Mike Tromello

Becca Voigt has been CrossFitting since, I think, 2008. I started around 2009. I saw her at the first Regional competition that year when there were no qualifiers and you could just sign up to take part. At that time, eight athletes out of the men and the women made it to the CrossFit Games. Becca qualified that year and has every single year since. When it comes to consistency, CrossFit athlete Becca Voigt is just amazing. I got to visit her at her gym, CrossFit Training Yard, and talk to her about her training and try to find out what makes her tick because Becca Voigt is probably the fittest woman on the planet.

Sure, she didn’t qualify this year in the open division – I know that’s a big letdown for her – but she’s still going to be going to her tenth straight CrossFit Games as a Masters athlete in the 35-39 year old division. That’s still a hell of a feat considering that puts her in the top one percent to qualify for the CrossFit games in that division.

It also doesn’t mean Becca is not going to make it to the CrossFit games again in the open division next year or the year after that. Val Vobril just qualified at 38, so Becca’s still got a hell of a chance to qualify again in the open division.

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