Let’s not forget Canada

Happy Friday, and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is powered by Working Against Gravity, the Official Nutrition Sponsor of the Morning Chalk Up. Today, Working Against Gravity releases the first chapter of a four-part documentary going behind the scenes with Brooke Wells as she shares her backstory and what it takes to be an elite athlete.

“Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.” — Unknown

LET’S NOT FORGET CANADA!

What happened?

We published a story on Wednesday featuring Highfive, a new iphone app that lets you search for affiliates while you’re on the road and even pay for your drop in without leaving your phone.

Turns out, they’re not alone.

I love a good competition.

Meet FranFindr, and let’s just hope that you don’t actually find Fran wherever you drop in. For realz tho!

FranFindr is solving the same issue: helping you find a box to WOD at while you’re on the road. Instead of an iPhone app, it’s built as a mobile-friendly web app so even if you’re rocking an Android you’ll be able to use it. Plus it was developed by the owners of CrossFit Currie Barracks so you know they understand what both coaches and athletes are looking for when dropping in. 

Is it only in Canada?

Yessiree. Right now, it’s only available in Calgary, Canada with Victoria and Vancouver coming soon. You know Emily Abbott is from Calgary and nonstop flights from LA to Calgary are only $300 right now…just sayin.

COFFEE BREAK CONVERSATIONS

What to tell your friend who’s really bored at work right now…

Have you played Rxcovery yet? It’s a new RPG video game where a patient (you) navigates around a hospital battling monsters to raise enough money to pay for their life-saving health care procedure. You only get 30 minutes so it’s great for eating lunch at your desk but it’s only available for free download on PCs. 

Words you need to know for your first meeting…

Snow Bomb. “A massive winter storm…[dumping] as much as 18 inches of snow…and unleashing hurricane-force winds and flooding…followed immediately by a blast of face-stinging cold air that could break records…and bring wind chills as low as minus 40 this weekend.”

For when you need to feel warm about this winter storm…

Oh Canada! A group of Canadian snowmobiliers rescued a moose who was trapped up to his neck in snow. 

THINGS TO…

WATCH: Recapping Her First World Championships

After only one year of weightlifting, National 48kg Champion Alyssa Ritchey sits down to recap her experience at the 2017 IWF World Championships, where she placed seventh against the best lifters in the world. 

THE MIND OF A CHAMPION.

DO: Join the Morning Chalk Up Community

We just launched our Facebook community for you to share your big goals and accomplishments, connect with other Chalk Uppers (that’s gonna be a thing?!) and get timely announcements from our team.

JOIN THE CLUB.

HEAR: Year of Connection

Joy and Claire from Girls Gone WOD Podcast kick off their first peisode of 2018 recapping their holidays and talking about the process of growing out of certain habits and into others, and why some types of goals don’t work for everyone.

2017 WAS SO LAST YEAR.

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

CHALK UP COMMUNITY

• FIRST-TIME RX — Rebecca Hammonds‎’ 15-year-old daughter just did her first Rx WOD with her mom at CrossFit Ionracas in Gate City.
• PASSING 140 — What does sticking with CrossFit from 2009 through 2017 look like for someone who was morbidly obese? It looks like 144 pounds lighter. P.S. Your author used to CrossFit alongside Ginny back in 2012 when we were both members of District CrossFit. 
• CF AFTER A DECADE — CrossFit New England just celebrated their big 1-0 so Greg Glassman decided to pay them a visit and congratulate the community. “What we’re actually doing is forging a place where you guys can have deep, meaningful, real relationships. And I’m so proud to say that over the last 10 years, I think we’ve done just that.”
• AMAZING RACE — Katrin Davidsdottir made an appearance on the Amazing Race Wednesday night. Contestants had to answer two questions when they found the Icelandic queen: “What do Icelanders call the “Black Death'”? and “What is Porskalys”‘? We’ve had Brennivín AKA “Black Death” and it aint that bad. 

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

Rich Froning’s front lawn is now frozen • Dane Smith tried to run a 7K and mile sandbag carry topless through the snow • Only a CrossFitter would do wall balls with a giant snowball • Sara Signmundsdottir, Mathew Fraser, Josh Bridges and Kara Webb were hanging in London for the Nike Metcon 4 launch party • LOL, but this is the only proper way for a CrossFitter to build a snowman • CrossFit HQ is hiring a copy editor • Ninja Warrior Fanny Josefine does “Bring Sally Up” with strict
pull-ups • Margaux Alvarez sets a 2018 goal of hitting a 205 pound snatch. 

“Banned: What Happens When You’re Caught Cheating” by Athlete Daily

It came up again a few months back. Natalie Newhart was in a new state, a new gym and there it was: her name plastered across the bottom crawl of the TV screen. CrossFit athletes dream of that kind of recognition from CrossFit HQ’s Update Show. But not when the subject is violating the sport’s drug policy.

They say cheaters never prosper and Newhart —who tested positive for the anabolic agent oxandrolone in February 2016— will be the first to agree. She lost sponsorships she already had and some in the making. She lost her reputation and her drive to compete, leaving the sport completely in favor of bodybuilding for a while.

“The thing is, you may run through the consequences [of taking steroids] in your head but you have no idea how bad it is and what you are going to deal with,” Newhart said. “It’s not worth it. I can’t go anywhere without explaining it. Nothing will prepare you for the aftermath. This will haunt me until the day I die.”

Like it or not, it is how Newhart —whose two-year ban will expire in March — will ultimately be remembered. But what drives an elite athlete to cheat? And how do you begin to try to pick up the pieces? Newhart opens up.

HANDSTAND GRADUATION — Cause you’re ready to graduate from the wall to the open floor. Kati Breazeal demonstrates three progressions to improve your freestanding handstands.  

1/5 – 1/7: CFV Championships (Fort Vancouver, WA)

1/6: BrickYard Brawl (South Windsor, CT)

1/6 – 1/7: KO in the OK (Tulsa, OK)

1/11 – 14: Wodapalooza Fitness Festival (Miami, FL)

1/11: Row’d Royalty (Worldwide)

1/13: Abominable Snowdown II (Orem, UT)

1/13 – 14: War of the Wods (Greensboro, NC)

1/20: Winter WOD’rland 2018 (Bend, OR)

1/20: Garage Games’ World Wide WOD (Worldwide)

1/27: Winter Chiller (Fairmont, WV)

1/27: NorCal Masters 2018 (Richmond, CA)

1/27: IceBreather Classic (Springfield, IL)

1/27 – 28: The Fittest Experience (Austin, TX)

2/3: No Weak Links “V” (Whitesboro, NY)

2/3: Caution Grounds 7 (Hialeah Gardens, FL)

2/3: Output Fitness Trials (Miramar, FL)

2/3: 6th Annual Women’s WOD Jam (Broomfield, CO)

2/3: 5th Annual Golden State Games (Stockton, CA)

2/3: Garage Girls Tour (Milton, GA)

2/10: Mirror Image CrossFit’s Cupid’s Clash (Panama City, FL)

2/10: New WODs On the Block – The Third Wheel (Nationwide)

2/10: Tuff Love (Boulder, CO)

2/17: Lovers and Lifters (Springfield, KY)

2/22: CrossFit Open 18.1 (Worldwide)

3/1: CrossFit Open 18.2 (Worldwide)

3/8: CrossFit Open 18.3 (Worldwide)

3/10: Women Who WOD (Barbados)

3/15: CrossFit Open 18.4 (Worldwide)

3/22: CrossFit Open 18.5 (Worldwide)

4/28: Battleground SoCal (Wimington, CA)

4/28 – 4/29: Walter’s Cup Throwdown (Amsterdam, Netherlands)