How One CrossFit Community Helped One of Their Own

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is powered by SteadyMD. Want a doctor who is perfectly aligned with your life, passions, and goals? Partner with a doctor who “gets you.” SteadyMD is your personal doctor, completely online.

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“Be relentless. Be confident. And you don’t hear this one very often, but BE UNCONQUERABLE. Never let anyone dull who you are, walk all over you or make you feel like you aren’t enough. Because you are MORE than enough.” – – Cayla Haney 

CrossFit River Raisin Comes Together for a Member in Need

The background.

In June of 2017, BJ Thomas learned that his mother had lung cancer. Terminal from discovery, BJ began to take as much time off as possible to spend time with her and to travel from his home in Michigan to her home in Canada. 

Then, in November, BJ and his family learned that his step-father had been diagnosed with tongue cancer. 

Now BJ had two parents to care for.

All at once!

After the holidays, tired, overweight and overwhelmed, BJ walked into CrossFit River Raisin looking for something to get his mind off of the stark reality that both of his parents were slowly dying of cancer.

After battling depression and anxiety for ten years, BJ was worried that he would succumb to a downward spiral again. Instead, he found a community that didn’t allow him to do that. They saw him through.

BJ remembers, “Walking into that gym was the best decision I made in my life.” He found a community and a safe place to go and work out, to get his mind right in between the time he was at work and the time he was traveling to and from Canada to care for his mom and also the time spent with his step-dad, whose tongue cancer had by that time spread to his lungs. 

On August 11, BJ’s mother passed away. And just ten days later, BJ’s step-dad passed away. 

When you need them the most. 

While preparing for both the funerals, BJ dropped into CrossFit River Raisin for a WOD, hoping to get his mind off all the preparation. Walking out of the gym to return to funeral planning for both parents, someone handed him a card. 

The entire community of CrossFit River Raisin had pitched in, donating $900 to BJ and his family to help in this time of stress and grief.  

BJ can’t thank them enough. “I don’t know what I would do if I had never started to CrossFit. I hate to think about what it would look like for me right now.”

Can You Do 10,000 double-unders in 30 days?

What?

You heard us. Can you do 10,000 double-unders in 30 days?

Not sure? Well now is your chance to find out. The 5th annual RPM Training 10K challenge kicked off September 1. 

What is it?

The objective of the 10K Challenge is to perform 10,000 double-unders in 30 days — and yes, single-unders are OK too.

Last year, RPM logged nearly 5 million jumps last year. 

That’s a lot of dubs. How do I get in on that?

Go to RPM’s website and register an account where you can log and track your progress towards 10,000. They only ask that you donate a small sum to the Iron Compass Initiative, a foundation created by RPM to provide assistance to programs that offer free functional training to underprivileged youth.

100% of the proceeds from the Challenge, as well as 100% of net sales of the official Iron Compass Initiative gear will be used to buy much needed equipment and pay coaches and support staff.

“These coaches and organizers are so amazing and creative, often donating their time and having the kids do things like kettlebell swings with their backpacks, but for the programs to survive and grow they’re going to need help,” says RPM co-founder, Josh Rogers.

So get jumping. 

Coffee Break Conversations

What to get your kid who’s sad about heading back to school…

Use your imagination. It’s that time of year again and kids are getting settled back into the classroom. But just cause summer break is over doesn’t mean the outdoor activities have to be. Introducing Playground WOD, a children’s book about a group of kids who create a game out of their surroundings. Written by a CrossFitter who gets it, Playground WOD points out what happens when kids let their imagination soar while getting exercise in the process.

What to tell your boss the next time she asks you to run out and grab her lunch again…

Actually, how about no? Haven’t you ever heard of meal prep? And you don’t have to follow a strict nutrition plan to benefit from meal prep. Here are 23 meal prep recipes for people who aren’t Paleo, Vegan, Keto, or anything else but just like eating good food in the middle of the day. 

Things To…

WATCH: I Was Afraid to Start

When Guy Spiller walked ino CrossFit Pushin Weight he weighed 255 pounds and was scared of getting diabetes like some of his friends had. Now, at 68-years-old, he is down 55 pounds, stronger, and healthier than he’s ever been.

YOU VS. YOU. 

HEAR: The Six Week Vegan Challenge

The West Coast Advantage Podcast duo is going Vegan for 6 weeks. The ultimate test of the elimination diet, it isn’t exactly meant to be a permanent elimination of animal products, but they hope to learn what the actual effect meat is having on their bodies when they put it to the test in training. 

WE’RE FOLLOWING THIS. 

EAT: Loaded Cauliflower Bake

This tastes like classic macaroni and cheese but instead of noodles, there’s cauliflower and lots of bacon. Load it up with all the toppings you’ve got on hand like shredded chicken, scallions, or salsa.

ONE PAN WONDER.

BUY: Pumpkin Spice Season Has Arrived

The craze for all things pumpkin is here and so is the limited-time Pumpkin Pie Perfect Bar. Real organic dried pumpkin is mixed with freshly ground peanut butter, organic honey and seasonal spices to give you the perfect taste of fall and make you say, “Oh my gourd!”

ALL THINGS PUMPKIN. 

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

Chalk Up Community

• A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER — When members of Wayfarer CrossFit heard that a member’s nephew, David, had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor they pulled together and rowed a fundraiser marathon, raising more than $2600 for the scholarship fund, which was matched. Over the course of the event, eight teams rowed over 216 miles.
• CROSSFIT FOR ALL — CrossFit OC3 offers CrossFit classes to young adults with Down syndrome. Gym owners Jessie and Colin Cartee say their mission is “to change the way the world views Down syndrome. People are always very impressed by what they can do.”

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

Cassandra Ambrosius got a ten pound snatch PR yesterday • Congratulations to Jessica Huntzinger on her first ring muscle-up • Bailee Pharris got a 143 pound snatch PR • Aysha Haley back squats 355 pounds for five.

…and if you’re gonna fail a lift, fail it well.

New State Champ — During the USA Powerlifting regional competition, 64-year-old Carl Stevens lifted 120 kg/264 pounds in the squat, 72.5 kg/159 pounds in the bench press and 175 kg/385 pounds in the deadlift for a total of 367.5 kilograms/808.5 pounds. He set four new Delaware state records in his age and weight class.

“Dubai CrossFit Championship is First Sanctioned CrossFit Event,” by Justin LoFranco, Morning Chalk Up 

Just one week after we broke the news about format changes coming to the CrossFit Games season, which included new official sanctioned events, CrossFit announced the Dubai CrossFit Championship as the first ever sanctioned event.

“The Dubai CrossFit Championship marks the beginning of a new chapter for CrossFit,” said Greg Glassman, CrossFit’s Founder and Chairman. “The miracle of CrossFit happens in each one of our affiliates that help people get healthy and stay that way. Partnering with organizations like the folks in Dubai means we can really focus on that core mission. Through CrossFit sanctioned events like the Dubai CrossFit Championship, we’ll be able to keep pace with the growth of this international sport.”

The Dubai CrossFit Championship, formerly known as the Dubai Fitness Championship, is a four-day official CrossFit competition in Dubai which will take place the second week of December.

In an interview last week, Glassman outlined a new CrossFit Games season that would include 16 sanctioned events once fully established, with roughly one competition taking place every two weeks. These sanctioned events will take the place of Regionals.

Additionally, CrossFit made its first official announcement confirming key details regarding the 2019 CrossFit Games qualification process.

9/6 – 9/9: Kill Cliff Granite Games (St. Cloud, MN) 

9/7: Koski Training Camp (Lloret de Mar, Spain) 

​9/8: Midwest Fall Classic (Tulsa, OK)

​9/8: The Sugar Skull Showdown (Agawam, MA)

9/8: I Can CrossFit Competition (Georgetown, TX)

9/8: Global Aftermath 2018 (Online)

9/8: The Catalyst Games (Bastrop, TX) 

9/8: BoxLife Games @ CrossFit Bear Cat (Bunnell, FL)

9/8: BoxLife Games @ CrossFit Wynwood (Miami, FL)

9/8: Booties in Action (Wilsonville, OR)9/8: Hookd2Hops 2018 (Newtown, CT)

9/8: Rumble in the Jungle 2018 (LaVista, NE)

9/8: 2018 Battle of the Bluegrass (Louisville, KY) 

9/8: Decima Throwdown (Littleton, CO)

9/8: First Timers Fitness Festival 2 (Burlington, MA) 

9/8: Girls Gone RX (Bridgeville, PA) 

9/8: BoxLife Games at CrossFit James Island (Charleston, SC) 

9/8: Femme Royale (Denver, CO) 

9/8: Double Trouble Throw Down (Twinsburg, OH)

9/8: Power Output Challenge (San Antonio, TX)

9/9: Reps for Recovery (Annapolis, MD)

9/8: WV CrossFit Championship (Fairmont, WV)

9/8 – 9/9: Beach Cities Battle 2018 (Gardena, CA)

9/8 – 9/9: The Vermonster Team Challenge (Berlin, VT)

9/15: Warrior Affiliate League Three Amigos (Pomona,CA)

9/15: No Mans Land 4 (Painesville, OH)

9/15: Average Joes (Troy, MI) 

9/15: Stateline Throwdown 2018 (McHenry, IL)

9/15: Project Uplift (Fort Collins, CO)

9/15: Barbells for Bullies (Lexington, SC)

9/15: Barbell Brawl IV (Kennett Square, PA)

9/15: Double Date Got Twisted (Bowling Green, KY)

9/15: Doomsday CrossFit Team Competition (Beachwood, OH)

9/16: 2018 Battle at the Rock (Castle Rock, CO)

​9/16: 5th Annual North East Masters Classic (Plainville, MA)

9/16: The Brazen Cup 2018 (Fairfield, NJ) 

9/22: Shatter the Stigma III (Boyertown, PA)

9/22: New Kids on the 321 Block 2018 (Topsham, ME)

9/22: Femme Royale at Eagle Wing CrossFit (Orange, CA)9/22: 2nd Annual CrossFit TUFF Charity Row-A-Thon (Nashua, NH) 

9/22: Girls Gone RX Denver (Denver, CO) 

9/22: Legends of the WOD (Grapevine, TX)

9/23 – 9/23: Field of Teams (Cedar Falls, IA)

9/22 – 9/23:The D-Town Throwdown (Decatur, Illinois)

9/22 – 9/23: The Cascade Classic (Seattle, WA)

9/23: Games of the Ages Masters Team Competition (Hanson, MA)

9/23: Cadre Crucible Team Competition (Hudson, OH)

9/23: Detroit Red Wings WOD (Detroit, MI) 

9/23: IronWorkz Gauntlet (Medina, OH)

9/24: CrossFit New England 3rd Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament (Hudson, MA)

9/28 – 9/29: Pensacola Beach Brawl (Pensacola Beach, FL)9/28 – 9/29: The Primal Games (Savannah, GA)

9/29: Kilo Crush Fest (Hampton, VA) 

9/29: Barcode Team Competition (Leander, TX)

9/29: Long Island Masters Team Competition (Hauppauge, NY)

9/29: Fallout Powered by Battleground Events (Long Beach, CA)

9/29: Battle for Boise (Meridian, ID))

9/29: 5th Annual WOD for a Cause (Murrietta, CA) 

9/29: K-9 Pursuit (Bristol, CT)

9/29: Swolemates (Cincinnati, OH)

​9/29: CrossFit Be Someone Charity WODathon (Houston, TX) 

9/29: Garage Girls (Pousbo, WA) 

9/29: Adoption Fundraiser WOD (Millcreek, UT)

10/12: 10/14: Faith RX’d (Denver, CO)