Elite Athletes Call for Video Review Improvements

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by RP Strength.



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“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to do, no one else.” — Les Brown 

2020 SEASON.

Four New Sanctionals Added to 2020 Season

The 2020 CrossFit Games season is shaping up to be a massive expansion in terms of length and number of events, with 24 Sanctionals spanning from November 2019 through June 2020. There are 15 this season. 

• CrossFit’s CEO Jeff Cain: “The CrossFit Sanctionals provide greater opportunities for athletes, sponsors, and fans to participate in, and to attend, competitive CrossFit events around the globe all the while preserving the individual and regional character of local events.”

Added to the list, are:

• Norwegian CrossFit Championship in Gol, Norway.
• CrossFit German Throwdown in Mainz, Germany.
• ELFIT CrossFit Championship in Hurghada, Egypt.
• Asbury Park Summer Games in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
• This brings the total to 24 events so far next year as long as all current Sanctionals renew their contracts.

The 2020 Season so far: This is what we have confirmed for upcoming dates and months for competitions for the 2019-2020 season. The full Sanctionals calendar will be released next month which means the season will be fairly well cemented in at that point. Start booking those flights.

Continue reading…

OPEN REVIEW.

Elite Athletes Call for Improvements to HQ’s Video Review

A story that appears to only be gaining speed instead of slowing down has more CrossFit Games veterans and notable stakeholders weighing in.

Quick recap: Tuesday, CrossFit HQ released the penalties and final confirmation of the top 20 athletes worldwide. One of the penalties and athletes who qualified for the CrossFit Games — Devin Ford — only completed 40 of the 50 required handstand push-ups in 19.3. You can brush up more by reading this story.

• CrossFit HQ has been levying some heavy penalties this year during the Open, a move which has been met with near universal applause in the elite athlete community. Ford was technically assessed a major penalty of 1 minute, 10 seconds added to his time — essentially 7 seconds for every missed rep — but several in the elite community don’t think that goes far enough.

What they’re saying: “As far as I’m concerned, his score, his workout ended on the 40th handstand push-up…his score in 19.3 should be 130…his workout did not meet the standards of what is acceptable to earn yourself a qualifying spot to the CrossFit Games,” Tommy Marquez said on Talking Elite Fitness.

• Alex Parker: “I’m glad [the CrossFit Games] is finding and penalizing score discrepancies and athletes’ failure to adhere to movement standards…but I can’t help but wonder how many more they are missing. With Regionals gone, and the Open being a direct way to qualify to the Games, the review process is one of the only tools [CrossFit Games] has to ensure everyone is playing by the rules…Why aren’t the repercussions for breaking the rules higher? Why is the [CrossFit Games] allowing this? Why aren’t THEY protecting the integrity? This is so frustrating to me…as someone who competes in this sport. Why should I adhere to the standards when my chances of qualifying are diminished if I do?…This system is flawed. Very simply, his score should be invalidated…As per the CrossFit Games Rulebook section 1.19. We
  should be trying to start a conversation on how to improve the video review and score validation process. Affiliate owners should not be able to validate their own scores. Judges should JUDGE and not just stand there. We should figure out a way to review videos on a rolling weekly basis, rather than only at the end of the Open. If the Open is going to send people to the Games this HAS to improve.”

Continue reading…

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Things To…

WATCH: Forging Greatness with Hunter McIntyre

Watch Hunter McIntyre on his journey to get to the 2019 CrossFit Games. Follow Hunter’s journey with this Forging Greatness series as he does whatever it takes, competing and training with some of the fittest on Earth to fight for a spot on the competition floor in Madison this August. 

GET HUNTER TO THE GAMES.

HEAR: Fitness with Friends and Brent Fikowski

Talking Elite Fitness welcomes guest Brent Fikowski for a Fitness With Friends episode. In it, Brent discusses his performance in the Open, competing at the Asia CrossFit Championship and some of his favorite music, movies and hobbies.

THE PROFESSOR.

BUY: Margaux Alvarez’s the Vine Yard Wines

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WORK HARD, DRINK WINE.

EAT: Tahini Marinara Crushed Meatball

This recipe for savory tahini marinara crushed meatball sandwiches is simple and versatile. You can make it all in one skillet and then slather it between crispy slices of sprouted bread or serve it in pasta, spaghetti squash or tossed with veggies.

TAHINI FOR THE WIN.

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

Chalk Up Community

• MARINE MEMORIAL WOD — CrossFit Persevere in Chesterfield, MI is hosting a memorial WOD to honor 22 fallen Marines from Marine Corps Battalion 1/24. The event will be on Saturday, May 25 and all proceeds will benefit the 1/24 Memorial in Chesterfield. There will be a team WOD, food, and fellowship.
• BATTLING FOR BRYNN — On December 10, 2018, just after her seventh birthday, Brynn was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma and her treatment began three days later. Brian Hill, who has never done an endurance race before, is completing an Ironman in five weeks as a fundraiser for Brynn. 

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

Danny Lopez-Calleja deadlifts 441 pounds for five • Rachel Garibay cleans 225 pounds from the blocks for three • Maddie Shine snatches 160 pounds • Rob Coffey jerks 300 pounds • Brooke Pernice gets a 100 pound front squat PR •
Joe Scali power snatches 241 pounds • Adrianne Haider gets a 180 pound snatch • Taylor Deering push jerks 230 pounds • Dani Speegle gets a 225 pound thruster PR • David Bondurant deadlifts 500 pounds for a PR. 

…and Dave Castro is getting a puppy!

Haley Adams is Games Bound as an Individual — Haley Adams, who just earned a qualifying spot to the CrossFit Games when she placed 32nd in the Open, confirmed that she is excited to compete in Madison as an individual.

— “We are games bound. I can’t wait to make my debut as a CrossFit Games individual this August! Thank you for all the messages and support!”

Scott Ricci’s Inspiring Pull-Ups — Scott Ricci, was at the New York Auto Show when he saw the U.S. Marine recruiters with a pull-up contest. He hopped up there and surprised everyone when he got nine strict pull-ups. 

— “I was a bit shy going up and trying this, but decided to anyway and at the end, one of the marines said to me ‘thank you for inspiring me’ yes a U. S. marine said that to me… and that is what I took most from this whole experience.

— “Something so little can inspire so many people and hearing the cheers during it definitely made me realize what I’m on this earth to do and it is to help push others who don’t believe they could do something, to go for it and never give up. Do not ever be afraid to show your strengths in front of people because you don’t know who you will inspire in the process!”

— Watch the video and you’ll know why this is amazing.

Team USA cleans up in Guatemala — Yesterday at the 2019 Pan American Championships, Team USA brought home eight medals total: five golds and three bronze. 

— Jordan Wissinger made four of his six lifts, taking third place in the 67kg class with his 130kg/287 pound snatch. Caitie Hogan made four her six lifts and Jourdan Delacruz made five of her six lifts to take third in the snatch, first in the clean and jerk and first in total for the 55kg class. Jessica Lucero made three of her six lifts, taking third place with her 113 kg/249 pound clean and jerk in the 59kg weight class.

— CJ Cummings, 73kg weight class, had a perfect performance, making all six lifts. His 153 kg/ 337 pound snatch earned him first while his opening clean and jerk lift of 182 kg/401 pound clean and jerk got him gold in the lift. His second clean and jerk at 187kg/412 pounds and third at 191 kg/421 pounds earned him a new Junior and Senior American records, Junior Pan Am record and world records in both the clean and jerk and also the total.

— Lifting today:

— 9:00 AM PT Mattie Sasser

— 11:30 AM PT Christian Rodriguez Ocasio

— 2:00 PM PT Mattie Rogers and Kate Nye

— 4:30 PM PT Jordan Cantrell and John Downey

“Now There’s Proof: Docs Who Get Company Cash Tend to Prescribe More Brand-Name Meds,” by by Charles Ornstein, Mike Tigas and Ryann Grochowski Jones, ProPublica

Doctors have long disputed that the payments they receive from pharmaceutical companies have any relationship to how they prescribe drugs.

There’s been little evidence to settle the matter — until now.

A ProPublica analysis has found for the first time that doctors who receive payments from the medical industry do indeed tend to prescribe drugs differently than their colleagues who don’t. And the more money they receive, on average, the more brand-name medications they prescribe.

We matched records on payments from pharmaceutical and medical device makers in 2014 with corresponding data on doctors’ medication choices in Medicare’s prescription drug program.

Doctors who got money from drug and device makers—even just a meal– prescribed a higher percentage of brand-name drugs overall than doctors who didn’t, our analysis showed. Indeed, doctors who received industry payments were two to three times as likely to prescribe brand-name drugs at exceptionally high rates as others in their specialty.

Doctors who received more than $5,000 from companies in 2014 typically had the highest brand-name prescribing percentages. Among internists who received no payments, for example, the average brand-name prescribing rate was about 20 percent, compared to about 30 percent for those who received more than $5,000.

ProPublica’s analysis doesn’t prove industry payments sway doctors to prescribe particular drugs, or even a particular company’s drugs. Rather, it shows that payments are associated with an approach to prescribing that, writ large, benefits drug companies’ bottom line.

4/15 – 4/27: Top Of The Box Online Qualifier (Clarksville, TN)

4/19 – 5/1: CrossFit French Throwdown Individual Online Qualifier (Online)

4/20: The Wodfather VII 2019 (Keller, TX)

4/20: Rookie Rumble at Bucktown CrossFit (Chicago, IL)

4/20: Barnyard Throwdown (Ohatchee, AL)

4/26: Rookie Rivalry at CrossFit Nashua (Nashua, NH)

4/26 – 4/27: Gameday Competition (Mankato, MN) 

4/26 – 4/28: CrossFit Italian Showdown (Milan, Italy)

4/26 – 4/28: The Sun Coast Fitness Festival (Kwa-Zulu Natal, SA)

4/27: 4th Annual Spring Fever Partner Masters Comp (Souderton PA)

4/27: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit KOA (Cranford, NJ)

4/27: The Gnardog Challenge (Reedley, CA)

4/27: Festivus Games (Worldwide)

4/27: Raising the Bar for Charlotte (Medina, OH)

4/27 – 4/29: Asia CrossFit Championship (Shanghai, China)

4/27: Autism Rocks and Rows (San Clemente, CA)

4/27: Garage Games Xs and Ys (Hiram, GA)

4/27: The Explode Individual Classic (West Chester, PA)

4/27: Fast Times at West Tech High (Las Vegas, NV)

4/27: Tyler’s Voice CrossFit Competition (Jefferson City, TN)

4/27: SWFL Sharks Semi-Pro Grid Combine (Cape Coral, FL)

4/27: Explode’s Independent Classic (West Chester, FL)

4/27: Festivus Games at Crossfit Sav-up (Petaluma, CA)

4/27: 4th annual Apple Town Throwdown (Cornelia,GA)

4/27: Kettlebells for Cojones (Montgomery, TX)

4/27: Spring Fever Partner Master Competition (Souderton, PA)

4/27: Best of the Midwest Team Series Part 1 (Westfield, IN)

4/27: Officer Christopher Goddell Memorial WOD (Walkdwick, NJ)

4/27: Pose Method Run RX Course (Lake Havasu City, AZ)

4/27: Battle of the Boxes (Newport,KY)

4/27: 2019 Pensacola Beach Brawl (Pensacola, FL) 

4/27: Festivus Games at Camel City Crossfit (Winston-Salem, NC)

4/27: Festivus Games at CrossFit LaCrosse (LaCrosse, WI)

4/27: 2019 Growler Games (Lexington, NC)

4/27: The Spring Fling (Knoxville, TN)

4/27: Stepping Into Summer (Fairfield, OH)

4/27: REDLINE.Venice A PAINKLLR Competition (Venice, CA)

4/27:  One Mind 1 Force (West Deptford, NJ)

4/27: FOXWod 2019 (Worldwide)

4/27: Burpees For Bellies (Williamston, MI)

4/28: David Vs. Golitah (Mansfield, MA)

5/2 – 5/6: Age Group Online Qualifier (Online)

5/3: Lift For Lee (Williamston, MI)

5/3 – 5/4: Tough As Nails (Lubbock, TX)

5/3 – 5/5 The Fittest Experience (Austin, TX)

5/3 – 5/5: Appalachian Games (Asheville, NC)

5/3 – 5/5: Reykjavik CrossFit Championship (Reykjavik, Iceland)

5/4: 2nd Annual Heavy Day Morgan (Oak Ridge, TN)

5/4: Battle at the Lab 2019 Cinco De Mayo (Clarksville, TN)

5/4: Border Open Part V (El Paso, TX)

5/4: Desert Warrior (Scottsdale, AZ)

5/4: The Jurassic Classic (Kennewick, WA)

5/4: Lifto De Mayo 2019 (Eagan, MN)

5/4: Rookie Rumble Pittsburgh at Arsenal Strength (Pittsburgh, PA)

5/4: Girls Gone RX Delaware (Middletown, DE)

5/4: Girls Gone RX DC (Alexandria, VA)

5/4: Black and Brewed 2019 (Huntsville, AL)

5/4: Row for Wishes (Telluride, CO)

5/4: The Locomotive Games IV (Youngstown, OH)

5/4: Breaking Boundaries Competition (Greer, SC)

5/4: Cura Sapulpa Fundraiser (Sapulpa, OK)

5/5: Cupid’s Spring Fling (Medina, OH)

5/10: Beast Mode Games 2019 (Greenville, SC)

5/11: 2019 Moco Throwdown (Bethesda, MD)

5/11: Butchertown Cleaver Classic (Louisville, KY)

5/11: Girls on Girls X (Bridgeport, PA)

5/11: Battle of the Gulf Coast (Port Neches, TX)

5/11: Femme Royale So Cal (Orange, CA)

5/11: Squat for Guate (Hickory, NC)

5/11: Southside Showdown (Jenks OK)

5/17 – 5/19: ACA Throwdown 2019 (Johannesburg, SA)

5/17 – 5/19: Down Under CrossFit Championship (Wollongong NSW)

5/17 – 5/19: Brazil CrossFit Challennge (São Paulo, Brazil)

5/18 – 5/19: Big Impact Games (Kaukauna, WI)

5/18: 2019 Barbells in the Burbs Team Comp (Carol Stream, IL)

5/18: 2019 Tough Temple CrossFit Super Total (Bethseda, MD)

5/18: Mad Hatter Games (Danbury, CT)

5/18: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit Chester Springs (Chester Springs, PA)

5/18: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit PTV (Redmond, WA)

5/18 – 5/19: Shred Fest (Orlando, FL)

5/18: Cindy-a-Thon (San Leandro, CA)

5/18: Fallout in the Falls (Wichita Falls, TX)

5/18: East Coast Battle ( Hanover, MD) 

5/18: Meshugge CrossFit Summer Melee 2019 (Overland Park, KS)

5/18: Backstreet Brawl 3 (West Bend, WI)

5/18: Flower City Throwdown Women’s Division (Rochester, NY)

5/18: Warriors Hope (Greenwood, IN)

5/18: WODding to Hear (Elizabethton, TN)

5/18: Fifth Annual Guns N Hoses Competition (Anaheim, CA)

5/18 – 5/19: Rogue Invitational (Columbus, OH)

5/19: Heroes and Heroines Team Throwdown (Pawtucket, RI)

5/21: Brady’s Border2Border Ruck March (Beach, ND)

5/24: 24 Heroes in 24 Hours (Ardmore, PA)

5/30 – 6/2: Granite Games (St. Cloud, MN)