Jacob Heppner Broke this Wodapalooza Workout

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“Don’t you dare, for one more second, surround yourself with people who are not aware of the greatness that you are.” — Jo Blackwell-Preston

Jacob Heppner Broke this Wodapalooza Workout

Some background.

On Monday, Wodapalooza wrapped up their three week qualifier. The final workout was:

Every 2 Minutes on the 2 Minute

8 burpee box jump over

8 hang power snatches (115 pounds)

8 thrusters (115 pounds)

Time cap: 60 minutes

With a 60 minute time cap, an athlete could complete at most 30 rounds.

The story.

Kevin Steinhaus posted the best score worldwide. With 404 reps completed, he was only four reps shy of finishing 17 rounds; a seriously impressive effort. Only one other athlete was able to get into the 16th round.

…And then there was Jacob Heppner.

Jacob is known for concocting some truly awful WODs. Truly. Awful. Our editor-in-chief experienced one of these workouts first-hand which included 150 thrusters in 10 minutes. Disgusting.

Jacob also loves a good challenge. So when Wodapalooza set a 60 minute time cap, he was all kinds of giddy on putting that to the test.

And Heppner hit the time cap. That’s 30 whole rounds, and nearly twice the amount of rounds of any other male athlete. The top female hit 23 rounds btw.

So why isn’t his name on the leaderboard?

Jacob was traveling in Spain when the week 1 workouts were released. He decided to go all in on the Dubai CrossFit Championship qualifier so didn’t register for Wodapalooza.

So for those asking, yes, JACOB DID THIS FOR FUN.

DATA BRIEF

CrossFit’s Explosive Affiliate Growth by the Numbers

By Scott Henderson

Since Greg Glassman opened the first affiliate in 2001 in Santa Cruz, CA, CrossFit has exploded globally. Currently there are more than 15,000 locations in 162 countries.

Not only is CrossFit the largest fitness chain in the world, comparatively speaking, it’s also one of the largest and fastest growing corporate chains.

1. Subway — 42,998*
2. McDonald’s — 37,200*
3. Starbucks — 28,720*
4. KFC — 20,404*
5. Burger King — 16,859*
6. Pizza Hut — 16,796*
7. CrossFit — 15,500 (2018 approximate data)
8. Domino’s Pizza – 15,000*

*Numbers are from 2017, the most recent year with reliable data.

The golden years of growth.

In the summer of 2004, Crossfit Brand X opened the fifth affiliate. It took four years to grow to 500. Then on June 24, 2014, Royal Docks CrossFit in London, England became the 10,000th affiliate worldwide.

From 2012 – 2015, CrossFit grew at an unprecedented rate, adding approximately 8,500 total net locations.

Their bell weather year was in 2012, when CrossFit locations grew by at least 75%, adding approximately 3500 locations. Including gyms which closed, that equates to approximately 3000 net new locations.

Where CrossFit grows from here.

The growth of CrossFit affiliates as a whole has slowed down in recent years. Since 2015, affiliate growth has slowed in the United States down to about 2%-5% per year. Of affiliates that opened from 2012 – 2015, only approximately 62% are still open today.

However, it appears that pace is picking up again, especially internationally.

In the past 12 months, 2500 new affiliates registered with CrossFit; 820 were in the United States (32.8%), 1680 were opened internationally. And today, for the first time in CrossFit’s history there are more gyms located outside the United States.

CrossFit’s recent changes and renewed focus on affiliate growth and expansion makes sense given the continued growth of the brand internationally and the need to support new affiliates opening overseas. In our follow-up piece, we’ll examine specific growth internationally.

Coffee Break Conversations

What to say to every single mother at CrossFit the next time they complain that the kids room is too minimal…

At least they have a safe place to play with other kids, because not everyone does. The town of Clayton, NC is planning to break ground on Harmony Park, a park that will accomodate children with special needs. Harmony Playground will be designed for all kids, including those with special needs and disabilities, with features like sidewalks at different elevations so a child in a wheelchair will be able to wheel down to the lower level. Several businesses in the area are supporting the effort and helping raise funds, and the town is about halfway to its goal of $800,000.

Things To…

WATCH: Chris Hinshaw on Building Aerobic Capacity

Joey Daoud of New Territory Fitness sat down with Chris Hinshaw after a recent Aerobic Capacity Course. Together the two discussed how to make running more creative in WODs, how to maximize the time you have to build your engine, and why running got such a bad rap in CrossFit. 

NOT ALWAYS FUN. 

HEAR: Mat Fraser on How to Eat, Think, and Train Like a Champ

Mat Fraser sits down on the Nike Trained Podcast to share what some of his proudest accomplishments are. Mat reveals what it took to go from an Olympic weightlifting hopeful to a world champion athlete, and how his failures are inextricably linked to his success.

THE CHAMP. 

EAT: Chocolate Protein Pancakes 

These are the pancakes that Mattie Rogers loves to eat on mornings when she has a bit more time. But don’t let that scare you. These pancakes are sweet, still fast and easy to make. Plus, anytime you can combine chocolate and protein you’re doing something right. 

GOOD FOR ANY MEAL.

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

Chalk Up Community

• BEN MARCONI MEMORIAL WOD — San Antonio Police Department Detective Benjamin Marconi will be remembered on November 20, the second anniversary of his death, with a memorial WOD designed by his brother, Tom, at CrossFit Unchained. “It was designed according to his badge number, to his years of service, also his end of watch date,” said Tom Marconi.
• FUNDRAISING CANS — CrossFit Oakdale is raising money for breast cancer with a bit of a twist. Each coach put out a donation can with their name on it. For every dollar dropped in through the month of October, that coach will do a burpee in return. 
• ALYSSA RITCHEY SEMINAR — Team USA Olympic Weightlifter Alyssa Ritchey is holding a weightlifting seminar at Force Barbell in Fishers, IN November 10th. This seminar is open to all ability levels. 

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

Happy ten year anniversary to CrossFit Inferno • Streat Hoerner celebrates one month in Dubai • Happy belated birthday to Adrian Conway • Corey Lunney hits a 570 pound deadlift PR • Registration to volunteer at Wodapalooza is now open • Happy
birthday Elly Kabboord and Kristin Miller • Tia-Clair Toomey is getting back to the weightlifting basics with Coach Mike Burgener.

…and this 10/10 good dog takes the odd object carry to a new extreme. 

Happening Tonight — NOBULL officially opens the doors of their first retail location in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. Co-founders Marcus Wilson and Michael Schaeffer, Todd Meleney, Ben Bergeron, Brooke Wells, Matt O’Keefe, the rest of the NOBULL team, local box
owners and trainers, instructors from Equinox, the Morning Chalk Up and 300 of NOBULL’s closest friends will be there tonight to celebrate. 

Noah Ohlsen On the New Games Format — “I’m not exactly sure how I feel about it just yet because it hasn’t been fully revealed. If it truly is every affiliated country in the world getting one spot, there’s going to be 180 male & female competitors at the Games, that’ll be very strange to me. I just can’t imagine that, it kind of takes away a little bit of the allure of being a Games athlete. It’s always like you’re one of 40 athletes and it’s really special to make it to the Games and it’s this huge accomplishment but I feel like now it might not be quite as special.” 

Opening Night Carnival at Dubai Fitness Festival — The opening weekend to Dubai Fitness Festival kicks off this weekend at Festival Bay with yoga, obstacle course, and a climbing wall. There will also be classes like Zumba, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muai Thai, boxing and MMA sessions. “At Dubai Festival City, we are always encouraging communities and visitors to embrace a healthy way of life. As a true lifestyle destination, we always look forward to hosting events such as these that promote a healthy, active and
happy community,” said the Crown Prince of Dubai.

“Firefighter Torches Obesity,” by Emily Beers, CrossFit Journal

It was a routine night shift at the firehall in 2009.

As his colleagues went to bed, Mike Richards stayed up watching Netflix, downing Mountain Dew and pounding pistachios from a giant family-sized bag.

Later that night, Richards’ crew got a call to attend a basement fire.

He put on his gear and went to extinguish the fire with his partner. When he resurfaced from the flames, he felt physically destroyed. But the fire was still burning, and he was soon instructed to return to the basement. He wasn’t sure he could.

“I couldn’t breathe and I was so hot and soaking wet under my gear, and I couldn’t escape this feeling that I was going to die. I was just so out of shape,” he said. “I got back to the fire station and I was like, ‘Guys, I gotta do something. I felt like I was going to die in there.’”

He spent the next day in bed.

“I was so overweight and out of shape it had gotten to the point that whenever we had a fire, the next day I would just need to sleep,” said Richards, now 43.

After that basement fire, Richards became determined to get fit. He dabbled with running and P90X over the course of the next eight months but had little success. Then he found CrossFit.

10/26 – 10/28: JAKTRX Atalas Games (Montreal)

10/27: Tough Temple Invitational (Rockville, MD)

10/27: Rock Your Box Throwdown (St.Cloud, MN)

10/27: Halloween Havoc (Harrisburg, PA)

10/27: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ CrossFit Trumbull (Trumbull, CT)

10/27: Saberspook Throwdown (Minneapolis, MN)

10/27: Monster Mash (Ann Arbor, MI)

10/27: The Foundry 5K (Steamboat Springs, CO)

10/27: Rock Your Box Throwdown (Saint Cloud, MN)

10/27: Beartown Halloween Beatdown (Lebanon, VA)

10/27: 9th Annual Fall Brawl (Gibsonia, PA) 

10/27: Boo Bash (Cleveland, TN)

10/27: Crush Cancer at Dogtown CrossFit (Los Angeles, CA)

10/27: Sin City Championships 2018 (Singapore)

10/27: Barbells For Boobs at CrossFit New Albany (New Albany, OH)

10/27: Barbells For Boobs Fundraiser (Nyack, NY)

10/27: WOD League Black River Edition (São José do Rio Pret, Brazil)

10/27: Amy’s Warrior Project (Brenham, TX)

10/27: 2018 CrossFit Juke Joint Halloween Mayhem (Grand Junction, CO)

10/27 – 10/28: GI’s and Janes ( Jackson, MS)

11/2: Wodapalooza Qualifier – Team (Online)

11/2: WOD League Mixed Doubles Edition (São Paulo, Brazil)

11/2 – 11/3: Women’s WOD Jam Individuals (Denver, CO)

11/2 – 11/3: Fenrir’s Mayhem at CrossFit Iron Legion (Ocala, FL)

11/3: The Battle of Port Royal Sound (Okatie, SC)

11/3: Battle for the Badges (St. Charles, MO)

11/3: PPS CrossFit Fall Throwsdown (Portland, OR)

11/3: CFT’s 2018 Strongman Classic (Carol Stream, IL)

11/3: WODamania (Riviera Beach, FL)

11/3: Barbells For Boobs at CrossFit Florian (Norwood, MA)

11/3: Bar Wars 2018  (Harker Heights, TX)

11/3: Masters Of The Midway (The Hills, IL)

11/3: Dynamic Duo Deathmatch 2018 (Southlake, TX) 

11/3: Inferno in the Forge (Lawrenceville, IL)

11/3: Perimeter Rowdown (Atlanta, GA)

11/3: Central Texas Showdown (Seguin, TX)

11/3: Rookie Rollout 3 at Troy CrossFit (San Diego, CA)

11/3: Masters of the Midwest (Greenwood IN)

11/3: Fit Wars Competition (Cedar Park, TX)

11/3: Super Awesome Fun Time Pairs Challenge (Toronta, Canada)

11/3- 11/4: Reignited Games 2018 (Wilmington, NC) 

11/3 – 11/4: Charlotte Throwdown for Mental Health Awareness (Charlotte, NC)

11/3 – 11/4: GameDay Championship (St. Paul, MN)

11/3 – 11/4: Clearwater Beach Brawl (Clearwater, FL)

11/4: 2nd annual Wage Hope Workout (Chattanooga, TN)

11/04 – 11/05: WODNATION BR (Vinhedo, Brazil)

11/10: The Battle at Branded One (Las Vegas, NV)

11/10: Emerald Coast Honor Games (Destin, FL)

11/10 – 11/11: Extreme Games (Piauí, Brazil)

11/10 – 11/11: South Loop Games (Chicago, IL)

11/10- 11/11: Southie Showdown (Boston, MA)

11/10: Metcon 4 Hope (Reno, NV)

11/10: Best of the Wurst (New Braunfels, TX)

11/10: Warrior Affiliate League Delta Force (Duarte, CA)

11/10: USA Powerlifting Veterans Day Championship (Philadelphia, PA) 

11/10: Blue Cooler Throwdown (Deland, FL)

11/10: Bromageddon 2018 (Chandler, AZ)

11/10: Garage Games Masters Tour 2018 (McKinney, TX)

11/10: First Annual Sergeants Fitness Patriot Games (Caldwell, ID)

11/10: Patriot Games (Rochester Hills, MI)

11/11: Bonsai Brawl (Philadelphia, PA)

11/11: CFF Team Marathon Row 2018 (Metuchen, NJ)

11/15: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ Hybrid Athletics Bridgport (Bridgeport, CT)

11/16 – 11/17: Veterans Day Bash at CrossFit Wild West (Lubbock,TX)

11/17: MetCon Mashups CrossFit Lubbock (Lubbock,TX)

11/17: CrossFit TIG Turf Wars (Brighton, MI)

11/17: 2018 Energy Games (Houston, TX)

11/17: MetCon Mashups (Tulsa, OK) 

11/17: Green Valley Clash of the Fittest (Green Valley, AZ)

11/17: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ Invictus Boston (Boston, MA)

11/17: North County Fall Brawl (Watertown, NY)

11/17: BCF for Homeless Kids Kettlebells4Kids Fundraiser (Derry, NH)

11/17: Team SuperFit Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)

11/17: 2nd Annual Well Seasoned Masters Competition (Burlington, MA) 

11/17: Guardian Games National Championship (Ashland, VA)

11/20: Ben Marconi Memorial WOD (San Antonio, TX)

11/24: Glacier Games The Ice Age 4 (Gateshead, England)