Katrin Davidsdottir to Return to the CrossFit Games

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by Working Against Gravity.



Need some help understanding macronutrients and why nutrition is so critical for maximizing results? The nutrition coaches at WAG have you covered with our updated 2019 Nutrition Guide. Our FREE guide is jam-packed with valuable info on how to track macros for maximum performance, our top macro-tracking tips, macro-friendly shopping lists and meal timing. We have helped over 15,000 members hit their goals and we can help you with a custom nutrition program.

“It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety.” — Henry David Thoreau

Davidsdottir, the CrossFit Cowboy ride High in Cape Town

The golden ticket.

For the second weekend in a row, a fresh group of athletes have joined the 2019 Games field. After four days of competition for individuals and three for teams, Katrin Davidsdottir, Sean Sweeney, and team Vondelgym walked away as champions of the CrossFit Fittest in Cape town, earning themselves invites to the CrossFit Games.

Let’s start with the men.

In a hotly contested men’s division, the “CrossFit Cowboy” Sean Sweeney managed to buck off Cole Sager and a handful of other Games athletes to win a competition filled with parity and lead changes.

Sweeney, who’s previously qualified twice for the CrossFit Games, rebounded nicely from a less than stellar 22nd place finish at the Wodapalooza CrossFit Festival just two weeks prior. Despite having what he described as “by far the worst performance of my competitive fitness career,” in Miami, the former professional Saddle Bronc rider got back on his horse and rode it to the top of the Cape Town podium.

Next up is women.

It may have been a closer race than she anticipated, but heavy favorite Katrin Davidsdottir still accomplished her mission by out-dueling Mia Akerlund and Alessandra Pichelli to earn her invite back for her 7th trip to the Games.

After finishing the first day of competition in 5th place overall, Davidsdottir showed the competitive drive that led her to two consecutive CrossFit Games titles by battling her way back to the top to finish each of the following three days in the overall lead.

Davidsdottir has now secured her chance to build off a strong performance at the Games in 2018 that landed her on the podium in 3rd.

Continue Reading. 

Coffee Break Conversations

When you run into another gym member in the Hallmark card aisle…

Gym Bae doesn’t want a card. Or chocolate. Or roses. She wants steak and gainz, that’s what she wants. So, instead of all those other gimmicky things this Valentine’s Day, take advantage of ButcherBox’s Surf and Turf date night special. Today until the 8th, you can get two free pounds of salmon and two free filet mignons.

How to respond when someone asks you why you do CrossFit if you’re not an elite athlete…

Why? Because there is competition everywhere, elite athlete or not. 

Things To…

WATCH: Noah Ohlsen’s Comeback Story

Noah Ohlsen fought hard to come back from 28th to finish 3rd at Wodapalooza. See how he felt after blowing up in the first event, how he kept his spirits high, and how he shifted gears to climb back up the leaderboard at a competition he’s won three times.

HE SHOWED CHARACTER.

HEAR: James Hobart on the EPIC Meatcast

Eric Le of the EPIC Meatcast welcomes James Hobart on the show to chat about Hobart no longer being the CrossFit mainsite demo man, winning the CrossFit Games with multiple teams including Rich Froning’s Team Mayhem, the big changes we’ve recently seen in the CrossFit Games season, and, oddly enough, all things garbage disposals.

HE’S A CONNOISSEUR.

EAT: Blistered Green Beans

Inspired by salty and crunchy fried string beans, these green beans are shriveled and browned before receiving a flavor bomb of garlic, red pepper flakes, and chopped capers at the very end. This side dish is so delicious, it’ll steal the whole show.

GARLICKY GREEN BEANS.

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

Chalk Up Community

• PRO-TIP: START POSITION — Chad Vaughn shares his “Start Position Checklist,” a quick cue guide before starting any Olympic lift. Making sure you hit these starting points can help athletes with all areas of the lift, including foot position and locking in your back and shoulers.
• WOD FOR YUKIE — Last Saturday, members of Kauai CrossFit honored member Yukie De Silva, who died January 26 of uterine cancer, with a WOD she designed herself shortly before her passing. 

• NEW LOCATION — CrossFit Wilmington in Wilmington, NC has moved locations. “We will have seminars, clinics and will have free community days where anyone can come try CrossFit for free,” owner Lauren Linett said.

• COACH NEEDED — CrossFit Simsbury in Simsbury, CT is hiring an experienced coach.

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

Katrin Davidsdottir and Cole Sager got some dancing in while in South Africa • Congratulations to Jessie Somers on completing her first CrossFit competition • Sage Evans got a Rogue cake for his birthday • Reps for Rescues is hosting a giveaway with RXBAR and Kill Cliff • CrossFit Beyond Albany was voted one of the ten best gyms in NY • Happy thirteenth birthday Shiloh Ellis • Congratulations to CrossFit Fairview on being open one month • Amanda Barnhart hit a 200 pound hang snatch PR • Mattie Rogers joined the Rogue Fitness team

…and Chyna Cho did a partner WOD with a special visitor. 

Sean Sweeney on Winning Fittest in Cape Town — “It still seems surreal, but this cowboy is heading back to the CrossFit Games. I want to thank everyone for being in my corner, for believing in me, for bringing so much energy and encouragement, and making this dream of mine a reality. Winning is cool, but the real prize is feeling all of the support from you guys. I am honored to be able to perform for you guys again at the biggest stage of our sport. Now the real work begins!”

Rogue Invitational Tickets On Sale Today — Time of release is currently unknown, but this is the best place to go to find more details.

Just Revealed: The Northern California Classic — An elite level, 3-day competition was just announced in Sacramento, CA and slated for early Summer 2019. The online qualifier starts in April and there will be $30,000 in prize money up for grabs. 

— OUR TAKE: Organized by Blair Morrison, a Regionals mainstay,  we wouldn’t be surprised if this new competition is being positioned as a future candidate for a sanctioned event. 

Meredith Root on Jennifer Lopez’s 10-Day No Carb Eating Challenge — “As JLO brings her 10 day [nutrition] challenge to a close, I can’t help but wonder what’s next? On the Today Show she was already talking about her next challenge, about how weird it felt eating normal food. It’s sad really, the notion that constantly dieting is the only path to health. I realize that my message is probably lost on her and on so many people who have much more influence than I do. But I hope if you’ve taken the time to read my posts
and stories, you feel positively about the message I’m trying to convey.”

— “If anything, maybe we can all recognize that mental health, eating disorders, and body image are something that many many people continue to struggle with. Maybe the better 10 day challenge would be to wake up every day and practice gratitude for everything your body can do for you instead of obsessively focusing on what you think you need to fix. Be kind to yourself and others.”

“Why Should I Even Still Do the Open?” by Jessica Danger, Morning Chalk Up

These last few days, our team has been inundated with emails about the Open. What happens if an athlete that won a sanctioned event also wins the Open? How will backfilling work for the Open? Why are there two Opens this year?

But most of these emails are from everyday CrossFitters like Justin and me. And, for the most part, they’re unsure of what’s next. Will there be live announcements? If there are two Opens this year why should I even bother? With age groups being limited, what’s in it for me? Will my age group ever be officially recognized by CrossFit?

Here’s what we have to say: Do it anyway.

For 99% of us mere mortals, we are not going to make it to the CrossFit Games. Not before the changes and not now.

Greg Glassman is the first person to ever define the term fitness. And this is the modus operandi of CrossFit; You can now measure your fitness.

What better way to do that than the Open?

2/9: The Garage Games Master of the Masters (Suwanee, GA)

2/9: Cupid’s Roar Partner Competition (Melbourne, Australia)

2/9: 3rd Annual Black Ops Partner Competition (Wheaton, IL)

2/9: Bedrock Heart Breaker (Calgary, AB)

2/9: Can’t Stop Brock Event (Mankato, MN)

2/9: Battle of the Ages (Jacksonville, FL) 

2/9: Battle for Bae 2019 (San Mateo, CA)

2/9: Battle of the Fittest 6: NYC Throwdown (New York, NY)

2/9: My Bloody Valentine (Vidalia, OH)

2/9: 2nd Annual Battle of the Ages (Fruitland, ID)

2/9 – 2/10: The CF Circus (Des Moines, IA)

2/9 – 2/10: The Chitown Throwdown 2019 Masters Edition (Emhurst, IL)

2/15 – 2/16: 2nd annual Tough Love Competition (Louisville, KY)

2/16: Valentine’s Day Massacre (Kilgore, TX)

2/16: The Garage Games Xs & Ys (Valdosta, GA)

2/16: Couples Clash 2019 (Pensacola, FL)

2/16: Tuff Love (Boulder, CO)

2/16: Valentine’s Day Massacre (Selma, TX)

2/16: Winter War Games (Spanish Fort, AL)

2/16: Vicious Valentine’s Partner Throwdown (Carlisle, PA)

2/16: Ice Breaker 3 at Unbreakable Athletics Academy (Plainfield, IN)

2/16: Hometown Hero WOD (Sierra Vista, AZ)

2/23: Amicus Ambush: Mixed Teams (Dickinson, ND)

2/23 – 2/24: Strength in Depth (London, England)