Lawsuit Filed Against Trifecta by Two Former Employees

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by FNX, the Official Supplement Sponsor of the Morning Chalk Up. 

The CrossFit Games are less than one week away! Check out how Cole Sager fuels up with FNX in a day of food, training and supplementation he posted recently in an Instagram take over!

Five days until the CrossFit Games.

“A goal is just an awesome way to force growth on yourself.” — Deena Kastor

Lawsuit Filed Against Trifecta by Two Former Employees

The story.

Trifecta Nutrition, the official food sponsor of the CrossFit Games has had a lawsuit filed against them by two former employees. Trifecta also provides all the food for staff at Regionals, the Games, and to CrossFit HQ for those who wish to purchase it. 

The lawsuit claims that Trifecta has been repackaging processed foods such as “meat and products from IHOP; pork and other meat products from a local barbecue restaurant; and hamburger buns from McDonalds,” and passing them off as high-quality organic meals.

That’s a serious allegation.

And being the “nation’s largest all organic meal delivery service” there’s a lot on the line if the allegations prove true, something Trifecta wholeheartedly denies. 

“Trifecta strongly opposes the allegations and claims present in the underlying lawsuit,” Trifecta said in a statement. “While we cannot discuss the details of pending litigation nor provide specifics regarding the alleged claims at this time, we look forward to correcting the record regarding the salacious and misguided claims brought by these two disgruntled fired employees.” 

Morning Chalk Up spoke with Dan Schneiderman, partner at Witan Law Group, the legal team representing Trifecta on this matter. He added, “This is an honest, hard working company, that’s made its way from a concept to a start up to a successful company. We believe that the accusation and allegations in the complaint are ultimately trying to form an unfounded narrative to say that a certain culture exists at Trifecta that quite frankly does not exist in that manner. We believe that the allegations are unsubstantiated and are founded mostly out of retribution from two disgruntled employees.”

What’s next?

A spokesperson from CrossFit told us, “CrossFit was recently made aware of a lawsuit against Trifecta, a sponsor of the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games. CrossFit is currently investigating the allegations.”

And according to Schneiderman, as of yesterday Trifecta had not been formally served any papers regarding the lawsuit. Given the fact that the lawsuit “made its way into the media before formal litigation was even initiated we are very much waiting for the truth to come out through litigation,” Schneiderman said.

As of right now, Trifecta plans to have a booth and at the 2018 CrossFit Games. We’ll keep ya posted as this story develops. 

NUMBER CRUNCH.

The CrossFit Total Returns to the Games

It was July 2007 in Aromas, CA. The first CrossFit Games kicked off with three events across two days: a classic CrossFit style WOD, a trail run, and the CrossFit Total.

“The CrossFit Total reflects an athlete’s functional strength capacity more accurately than any other test,” wrote Mark Rippetoe back in 2006 when the workout was designed. “The CrossFit Total is the sum of the best of three attempts at the squat, the press, and the deadlift.”

Originally designed without a time limit, 2018 CrossFit Games athletes will have four minutes to complete three attempts at each movement. They’ll also be performing this after two previous events: 30 muscle-ups for time and what is speculated to be a lengthy bike race.

The CrossFit Total 10 years later.

The modern CrossFit Games athlete is a different athlete entirely.

In 2007, the top male lifted 1225 pounds and the top female lifted 530 pounds. CJ Martin, CrossFit Invictus’ head coach who also competed at the 2007 CrossFit Games, predicted that the top 5 – 8 male athletes will be over the 1250 mark and female athletes over 850.

Continue reading…

Things To…

WATCH: Sara Sigmundsdottir Does Mock Games 

Sara and her training team replicate as many events from previous CrossFit Games as they can, they review coping mechanisms to prepare for the unknown and analyze the 2018 CrossFit Games hints thus far.

SEE SARA TRAIN. 

HEAR: Ben Smith Wants to Win

Ben Smith is heading to his 10th consecutive CrossFit Games this year, and he’s got his eyes on the prize. He joins the Big Red Express and shares how his training, along with the people at CrossFit Krypton have made him a better athlete and person, and how much longer he may have in the sport.

TUNE IN.

EAT: Corn Tomato Avocado Salad

With fresh tomatoes and avocado, this corn salad is summer in a bowl. Add onions, crisp cucumber, salt and pepper, and you’re good to go.

THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS.

BUY: NOBULL Limited Edition Trainer

NOBULL just released an Orange Passion Limited Edition trainer yesterday. Their trainers are great for running, lifting, and even rope climbs. Trust us; you need them. 

CAN’T MISS ‘EM.

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

Chalk Up Community

• ENCEWEAR DROPS TODAY — At 1:00 PM PT Brooke Ence launches her line of leggings, bras, tanks, and hats. 
• GRAND OPENING — CrossFit Vice in Coral Springs, FL is hosting a grand opening Saturday, July 28. Stop by to check out their 5200 square foot facility, get a WOD in, and meet some new friends. 
• FITTEST SEATED MAN — Tom Miazga won the WheelWod CrossFit Games, a four-day, 10-event challenge in Toronto, earning the title “World’s Fittest Seated Man.”
• CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT — Green Mountain CrossFit will hold its second annual CornFIT Tournament Saturday, August 18, from 1 – 6PM ET at their new facility.
• MAYHEM ON THE MOUNTAIN —  Mayhem on the Mountain, hosted by Forge Fitness, is August 18 – 19 at Oak Mountain State Park with both Individual and team competitions. 

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

Dave Castro arrived in Madison • Margaux Alvarez’s flashback friday to volunteering at the 2011 CrossFit Games • Jalissa Deveraux did her
gender reveal with a partner deadlift. P.S. It’s a girl • Margaux Alvarez’s wine now being served at the Seersucker restaurant in Cesear’s Palace, Las Vegas • O2 Natural Recovery is hiring a Yoga and Boutique Fitness Sales Manager • Red H Nutrition is opening a storefront • Ben Smith is rocking a beard for the CrossFit Games • Colleen Fotsch split jerks 265 pounds for two • Jamie Hagiya gets a 210 pound snatch and 255 pound clean and jerk • Here’s a sneak peak at the North Park Stadium field. 

…and Alyssa Ritchey shows us the true meaning of the term “road snacks.” 

More Games Event Details Released — Dave Castro offered a hint on Individual Event 4, writing: “IE1 involves cycling. IE2 is 30 muscle ups for time. IE3 is the CF Total. And finally there is IE4. Which promises to be a nice finisher to this large day of testing.” He also gave a preview of Team Event 2 showing a team completing box jump overs on what appear to be 30″ and 36″
boxes. 

Hall of Fame for This Coach — Coach Leo Totten, founder and coach of the East Coast Gold Weightlifting Team, was inducted into the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame. “It was very humbling but at the same time it was very satisfying,” he said. “Most of the stuff you don’t get many accolades, you just do it for the sake of doing it because it’s the right thing to do and that’s what you love to do.”

Lindsay Kite on Having a Positive Body Image…“Having positive body image isn’t believing your body looks good; it is believing your body is good, regardless of how it looks. It isn’t thinking you are beautiful; it is knowing you are more than beautiful. It is understanding that your body is an instrument for your use, not an ornament to be admired.”

Mat Fraser on Winning the 2017 CrossFit Games While Injured — Stretching after the first day’s competition, Fraser felt something tear in his knee, and thought his Games were over. “It was pretty scary. It was loud…If I lifted my leg up to the side my knee bent the wrong way like it just drooped and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s not good.’ I didn’t know what tore, I didn’t know how bad it was, but I knew it was bad. Odds are I’ll need surgery, so if it blows out, it blows out. I didn’t want any of the sharks smelling the blood in the water, so I just put on my face and not let anyone know I was
hurt.”

“BS as Rx’d: The Magic Fitnes” by Lon Kilgore, the CrossFit Journal

The search for the fitness pill continues. As technology and our understanding of biochemistry increase, laboratories create more drugs that mimic the outcome generally produced by exercise.

The media takes the information within research reports and spins grandiose claims about the newest pill that might replace exercise. Google “exercise pill” and see how many news hits you get, then note how the stories usually refer to a recent research finding that might lead to a pharmaceutical replacement for exercise.

And those research findings pop up more than periodically. But the scientists who make these discoveries are not seeking to enable sloth; they are doing exemplary work in creating solutions for various diseases and pathologies. But the press does not tend to focus on these noble intentions.

All these drugs, if they were to be developed, clinically tested, approved for human use, and manufactured, would be solely prescribed as therapeutic solutions for those with metabolic diseases. They restore or augment physiology that is not currently functioning or not functioning properly.

The drugs are not intended for the average Joe or Jane who simply wants to skip the gym for a day—or a lifetime. Sloth is not a medical problem, and exercise—real, substantial, progressive exercise—can be a significant part of the solution for a host of disease states that are affected by or initiated by a sedentary lifestyle.

7/27-29: CanWest Games (Coquitlam, BC)

7/28: Garage Girls Hard Core Fit (Watkinsville, GA) 

7/28: Garage Girls CrossFit HardCore (Boca Raton, FL) 

7/28: AZ FitCom Competition (Phoenix, AZ)

7/28: Summer Knights Showdown (Springfield, IL)

7/28: Savage Wolves CrossFit Classic (Nazareth, PA)

7/28 – 7/29: CF Summer Circus (Des Moines, IA)

7/29: Summer Sizzle (Wadsworth, OH) 

7/30: Legends of Lebo (Pittsburgh, PA)

81 – 8/5: The CrossFit Games (Madison, WI) 

8/4: Lumberjack Lift Off (Buckley, WA) 

8/4: G-Town Throwdown (Georgetown, MA) 

8/4: US National Parks Tour with VoyEdge RX

8/4: War at the Shore (Neptune City, NJ)

8/5: Sure Shot Shootout (Greenville, OH)

8/11: Red Raider Backyard Brawl (Coatesville, PA)

8/11: 2018 Rimrock Ruckus (Billings, MT)

8/11: Survival Games 2018 (Wooster, OH)

8/11: The Warhorse Games (Kansas City, KS)

8/11: War of the Roses (Pasadena, CA) 

8/18: Bladium CrossFit Fossil Games (Denver, CO) 

​8/18: The Revolution: Articles of Confederation (San Antonio, TX)

8/18: Summer Slam Royal Rumble (Oakdale, CA)

8/18: CrossFit Krypton’s Compete for a Cure (Chesapeake, VA)

8/18: CrossFit Endure Granite Games Throwdown (Windsor, CO)

8/18: MKT CrossFit Granite Games Throwdown (Columbia, MO)

8/18: Rocky Mountain Throwdown (Fort Collins, CO) 

8/18: Crossfit Krypton’s Compete for a Cure (Chesapeake, VA)

​8/18: Mayhem on the Mountain (Pelham, AL)

8/18: Crossfit Charlevoix Granite Games Throwdown (Charlevoix, MI) 

8/18: Battle in the Boro (Washington, NJ)

8/18: Troy CrossFit Granite Games Throwdown (San Diego, CA)

8/18: Babes & Bros ( Grand Rapids, MI)  

8/19: Battle on Broadway (Garnder, MA) 

8/25: Iron Belle and Femme Royale Women’s Competition (Austin, TX) 

8/25: CrossFit Sua Sponte Summer Slam (Raleigh, NC) 

8/25: AMRAP For Autism (Waxhaw, NC)

​8/25: CrossFit Decathlon (Indianapolis, IN) 

8/25: Best of the West Summer Event (Bend, OR) 

8/25 – 26: Battlegrounds Nevada (Reno, NV)