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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today marks the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks which claimed the lives of 2,977 people. At 8:40 AM Eastern, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City will hold a memorial ceremony and it will be streamed live with video available afterwards.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.” — President George W. Bush, address to the nation on September 11, 2001
DON’T DOPE, YOU DOPE
WHAT HAPPENED?
On Friday, CrossFit HQ announced that five Meridian Regionals athletes tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs), and would be banned from any CrossFit sanctioned competition for the next four years, ineligible to compete until the 2022 season. One of those athletes, Andrea Barbotti, didn’t even try and make an excuse saying, “despite the disqualification I’d do it again.”
Every athlete who qualifies for the Games as an individual or team is immediately tested on the spot at Regionals. But unlike the two teams and one athlete who were suspended just two weeks before the 2017 CrossFit Games, none of these five athletes qualified.
SO HOW’D CROSSFIT FIND OUT?
Leading up to the Meridian Regionals, CrossFit HQ had been tipped off about some suspicious activity going on throughout Europe — “people are doping” sort of thing. So they setup additional tests at Meridian Regionals to make sure everything was on the up and up. Obviously things weren’t and they got caught.
Since these five athletes weren’t qualifiers, it would have been easy to sweep this one under the rug. And if this announcement doesn’t show that CrossFit HQ will aggressively pursue any hint of foul play then let this warning from CrossFit Games General Manager Justin Bergh sink in: “the results from this will immediately affect our testing plan for subsequent events.”
SO WHY’D IT TAKE SO LONG?
Several of the athletes who did test positive appealed the findings which began a lengthy process to come to a final conclusion. In August, there was this little thing called the CrossFit Games so things got put on hold for a bit. After the dust settled, HQ picked things back up and just concluded on Friday.
CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE BOX
ROUNDUP — National Weightlifting champion Alyssa Ritchey joins the Kill Cliff team. CrossFit Krypton Coach Adam Klink joined Mission6 Nutrition. Happy 2-7 Jessica Estrada. Jared Enderton fails a 317 pound snatch 15 times before he finally nails it. Dan Bailey and Tim Adkins were down in Houston helping families clean out their destroyed houses. Bjork Odinsdottir does four unbroken strict bar muscle-ups. Stefi Cohen might be a world champion powerlifter, but she can still clean 264 pounds at a bodyweight of 121 pounds. This is how NOT to unload your barbell while it’s racked up. Dave Castro is putting together an all star team to compete in the first Ragnar Relay with a CrossFit Division and he’s selecting a random Affiliate to get in on the action. Katrin Davidsdottir gets super gymnasty.
Number of the Day — 1,903%: That’s the current 3-year growth rate of LIFEAID.
While You’re Bored at Work Today — Watch the most intense 45-second round of SpikeBall at CrossFit HQ.
Tia-Clair Toomey on her costly no-rep during the Fibonacci Final…“I had initially believed that I had lost out by milliseconds. I was of the impression that I had to beat Kara to win the games and it was that pressure which really overcame me. I lost my composure and made a poor judgment call to over stride my lunge on the last metre – this allowed Kara to get me at the line. As we both crossed, I was immensely disappointed and frustrated at myself as I thought I had lost the games by a tiny margin yet again.”
GRANTE GAMES
Highlight Reel — FloElite’s day 1 and day 2 recaps. Kristi Eramo climbs rope disgustingly fast. Everyone agreed that this was a very nasty workout. FloElite broke the news over the weekend that Team athlete Antonia Shanle would have to leave competition Saturday to prepare to deploy to Houston with the Wisconsin National Guard.
Males — 1) Saxon Panchik, 2) Spencer Panchik, 3) Malachi Bennett
Ladies — 1) Brittany Chestnut, 2) Chantelle Loehner, 3) Carolyne Prevost.
Patrick Vellner, Albert-Dominic Larouche and Paul Tremblay and Mekenzie Riley, Jessica Griffith and Meredith Root took first in teams.
AMERICAN OPEN SERIES III
Highlight Reel — Rogue Fitness weightlifting barbells and competition bumper plates made their official weightlifting debut this weekend in Grand Rapids, MI. Back in June, the USA Weightlifting Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve Rogue Fitness equipment for use in competition at all USA Weightlifting national events. Morghan King went only 2 for 6 but still managed to lift enough to sweep gold. CJ Cummings swept gold but didn’t break any records. Maddy Myers and Kate Vibert were literally breaking Jr. American Records back-to-back-to-back in the 63KG session; Vibert ended up with the Gold, snatching 1 kg over Myers with 96kg/211 pounds. Megan Seegert (48kg) set a new Jr. American Record in the snatch (78kg) and total (170kg) and swept gold.
THINGS TO…
WATCH: 2017 CrossFit Games Recap with Invictus
After a few weeks to digest, Invictus athletes Kristin Holte, Garret Fisher, Holden Rethwill and Casey Campbell sit down to share their thoughts on the 2017 CrossFit Games.
TUNE IN.
HEAR: Ultimate Hawaiian Trail Run with Rory Zambard
Girls Gone WOD Podcast grabbed Rory Zambard and a bowl of tortilla chips for an episode on the annual fundraiser for CrossFit Poipu, what got her involved and why she keeps coming back.
BRING THE SALSA.
WOD: Dumbbell DT with Friends
The Smith brothers shared this partner dumbbell workout that’ll get you prepping for the Open next year. Yeah, don’t think Dave is going to be done with the dumbbells anytime soon so grab two friends and give this sick twist on DT a go.
3, 2, 1…GO
EAT: Power Flax Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Muffins
Fluffy and delicious chocolate chip banana oatmeal muffins made with wholesome ingredients like Coach’s Oats, Greek yogurt and flaxseed meal. They’re perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on-the-go.
MUFFIN MONDAY.
CHALK UP AFFILIATES
STORY SERIES: How has CrossFit helped you achieve a goal?
“As I powered through my first full-on attempt at the Filthy 50 this morning, I kept thinking about how far I have come in seven years. Do I still scale? Yes. Am I the last to finish? Often. Do I quit? Never. I feel stronger today than I have ever felt. With the amazing support of the coaches and community at CrossFit Torque, I continue to get stronger every day. Each day I believe in myself just a little bit more than I did the day before. And with every WOD, I celebrate my strengths and acknowledge my weaknesses with a renewed vow to face them head on in the years to come. And so today as I turn the big 5.0, while some choose to run from it, I choose to embrace it. Thank you CrossFit for bringing out the athlete inside of me. Here’s to the next 50 years!” — Amie Turrill Owens, CrossFit Torque in Foxboro, MA
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More than 40 athletes spent Saturday in Albuquerque, NM competing in the First Annual Patriot Games at CrossFit Assimilation to provide free service dogs to veterans with PTSD and brain injuries. Elijah Rogers, who owns CrossFit Assimilation, served in the Marines for 11 years.