LIFEAID Launches a New Beverage

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by EPIC Provisions, providing protein-packed snacks made from whole foods for all of your muscle-building and adventure goals.

The Whole Animal Project is EPIC’s initiative to utilize as much of each animal as possible. Their traditional jerky is the newest product offering that supports this effort, and you get two free bags with any purchase for a limited time!

“We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated by purpose.” — Bob Goff

One Train, Two Bags, Reddit and a Giant Fiasco

Some background.



Lily Ray and her husband Adal took a train from Vienna to Budapest. When they got off they grabbed their bag and headed to their Airbnb.

But once they arrived, they realized they had made a big mistake. The bag they’d grabbed off the train wasn’t theirs. It belonged to someone named Brian.

So who’s Brian?



Well that’s the thing. They had no idea. But they knew his name from his laptop and that he was a CrossFitter thanks to a shirt from CrossFit Werk in Berlin, Germany. So they took to Reddit’s CrossFit community.



“Help! Accidentally took the wrong bag on a train from Vienna to Budapest and the bag we took by mistake (matching ours) is a CrossFitter named Brian! It has his laptop! He has a shirt from Berlin CrossFit Werk. Hoping this works and we can bring it back to him (and that he has ours).”



That’s a terrible start to vacation.



Coincidentally, Brian did have their bag. He noticed right away and dropped it off at the train station lost and found. But Lily and Ray kept sleuthing all over the internet, scouring for Brian the mystery CrossFitter.

And everyone on Reddit joined in to help, asking Lily all kinds of questions about his CrossFit gear, hoping to nail down what box he belonged to.

“I don’t know anything about him except what kind of laptop he has, his underwear and socks, and the fact that he takes vitamin supplements. He has medium blondeish hair and his girlfriend has long blonde hair and they both had CrossFit stuff on. Both blonde and fit like surfers. Probably 25ish.”



24 hours later…



Brian came home from a night out in Budapest, hopped on the CrossFit subreddit, and stumbled upon Lily’s post. They linked up, gave Brian his bag, and now everyone has clean socks and underwear again.

Maybe now that he has his gear back, Brian can drop-in to some CrossFit boxes in Budapest.

We love you Internet. 

LIFEAID is Launching a New Beverage, IMMUNITYAID

The story.

Coming off their third straight year on Inc.’s list of fastest growing privately held companies, LIFEAID is gearing up to introduce their newest product: IMMUNITYAID.

LIFEAID has already begun phasing out TRAVELAID, which they’ve re-branded as IMMUNITYAID and is set to launch mid-October.

So what’s in it?

IMMUNITYAID introduces a completely new flavor profile that president Aaron Hinde described as similar to Orange Crush.

Packed with Echinacea, Zinc, Vitamins C and D IMMUNITYAID is designed to boost your immune system much like Emergen-C but with all natural, non-GMO ingredients that customers of LIFEAID have come to expect.

And how do I get some?

They’ll be available for purchase at Whole Foods, HEB, Vitamin Shoppe, and yes they’ll be available to Affiliate wholesalers. If you’re interested in carrying IMMUNITYAID, shoot a note to Jordan Costa.

And if you’re flying to and from Las Vegas anytime soon, you can pickup a can in the airport. Good time to boost that immune system ya know.

Coffee Break Conversations

What to tell your affiliate owner when he suggests a fundraiser at your next coaches meeting…

Absolutely, yes. But if this is your first community fundraiser, then maybe consider following these five tips on hosting a successful fundraiser from BoxPro Magazine. Things like hiring a photographer, planning for the year ahead, and including the media (Hey! Hey! Look over here!) can all help you host the best fundraiser your box has ever seen. 

What to tell your lifting partner the next time she apologizes for her embarrassing PR dance…

Girl, get it. Dance away just like Anthony Davis of Crossfit Lake Effect did when he snatched 325 pounds at this year’s Granite Games. His lift at the 2018 Granite Games is the heaviest known and recorded snatch at a local competition, so when a handful of total randos on Facebook started to give him a hard time about it in the comments, CrossFit swooped in and starting replying left and right. Pretty much, even CrossFit wants you to victory dance so have at it. 

Things To…

WATCH: You’ve Got 200 People Behind You

Buddy Lee taught a CrossFit Jump Rope course last weekend in Scotts Valley, CA. But what he taught at that CrossFit course was much more than how to jump rope. 

CROSSFIT IS FAMILY.

HEAR: Armen Hammer on Girls Gone WOD

This one might blow your mind a little bit folks. Armen Hammer sits down with Joy and Claire from Girls Gone WOD. They discuss his own development as a podcaster and video host, and how some things are bound to grow and adapt, while other things (like sneaking microphones into the CrossFit Games) never change. 

DROP THE HAMMER.

EAT: Sweet Potato Cornbread Muffins

Pumpkin isn’t the only fall favorite. These healthy and moist sweet potato cornbread muffins are sweetened with a touch of pure maple syrup. Easily made vegan and gluten free if you’d like and easy to take on the go as a guilt-free snack.

A NEW STAPLE. 
 

WIN: Squat Your Stud Muffin For Some Muffins 

Ladies, squat your stud muffin for a chance to win a twelve-pack of Mighty Muffins. Before 7:00 PM on October 15th, grab your favorite stud muffin, hoist them on your back and squat him to parallel or deeper. Post the video to Instagram with the hashtag #flapjackedchallenge and they’ll send a 12-pack of Mighty Muffins for you to share (or not) with your partner.

COME HERE, HONEY.

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

Chalk Up Community

• NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN HAWAII — Bronson Lovell just opened the Anahola Community Gym with some help from Aaron Hoff, who hosts the Ultimate Hawaiian Trail Run. But he also got some help from Greg Glassman, who donated equipment. “I’m just out here to support and be part of it. We need something like this in every community,” said Hoff. 
• PUPPY YOGA — Enjoy yoga and puppies for good cause at the upcoming Doggy Noses and Yoga Poses fundraiser for Wise Animal Rescue at Three Danes CrossFit October 14. Participants must be over 14. Tickets are $35 in advance, and $40 at the door.
• WOUNDED WARRIOR 5K — Reporter and blogger Heather Lake will host the start of Carry Forward, a 5K fitness challenge by Wounded Warrior Project on Saturday, October 6. 
• SPONSORED AT 14 — Melanie Jump, at 14, was the youngest female competing in the age 13-17 division at the Cascade Classic last month in Seattle. And she competed thanks to a sponsorship from 911 Driving School. “Her dedication and drive embody a spirit that we hope the community can look up to. We’re proud to support her as she pursues her
  goal of competing,” CEO Joe Giammona said in a press release.
• ROCKTAPE BOUGHT OUT — Implus, the market leader in athletic, fitness and outdoor accessories,  announced the acquisition of RockTape, adding to their already impressive product line which includes TriggerPoint and Harbinger.

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

Congraulations Katie Weber on her two year CrossFit transformation • Happy 65th birthday to Sheriff Lott • The 2017 IWF World Weightlifting Championships won the Sports Travel Best Amateur Single-Sport Event Award • The October BarBella Box was put together by women-owned brands in the industry like Femme Royale, The Chestee, and Fleo Shorts • Cass Olholm squatted Morgan Rose Moroney • Lucinda Lee gets a 320 pound deadlift PR • And Morning Chalk Up HQ put up their very first sign. 

…and this team took the synchronized burpees to a new level.

Dr. Catherine Walter on Weightlifting in Her 70’s — At 71-years-old, Dr. Catherine Walter of the University of Oxford holds every record for her age and weight in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation. “It’s good to have the records because it shows people that older people can be strong. After the age of 40, your muscles start deteriorating.
Cycling won’t help it, swimming won’t help it, walking to the shops and doing aqua gym won’t help it. The only thing that will keep your muscles from deteriorating is resistance exercise, lifting heavy weights. You’re concentrating on what your body can do instead of what your body looks like, which is important for me, and important for a large number of younger women.”

Dubai Qualifier Week 1 Announcement — The Dubai CrossFit Championship online qualifier was announced yesterday. There will be three total qualifiers announced over the next three weeks. Athletes will have until Sunday 5:00 AM PT/8:00 AM ET/4:00 PM GMT+4 to submit their scores, and here’s where you can follow the leaderboard.

— WOD #1: Part A

For time (00:00 – 10:00)

60 Double Unders

10 Thrusters

60 Double Unders

20 Thrusters

60 Double Unders

30 Thrusters

The thrusters 50/35 kg or 110/80 pounds (must select kg or lbs, no mixing weights will be permitted)

Remainder of time : Rest

Part B

5 Rounds for time (10:00-20:00) 

30 Double Unders 

15 Chest-to-Bar Pull-ups

Wodapalooza Individual Qualifier Week 1 Announcement –– Last night, Wodapalooza announced the first qualifier WOD for individuals on Wodapalooza.com. Today at 6:00 AM PT/9:00 AM ET, a second workout for week 1 will be released. Both will be due Monday 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET.

— WOD #1

12 Minute Time Cap

150 Double Unders

60 WB (20, 14lbs @ 10ft)

30 Chest to Bar

150 Double Unders

“Abs[ence] of Self-Love,” by Zach Anderson, Black Iron Nutrition

From a young age, I always noticed that I had a “belly”. So much so that I hated the word “belly” with a fiery passion. To this day, the word still makes me queasy. But I always felt like I was overweight in some regard simply because I had a “belly”.

What exacerbated the situation was that I chose to be competitive in swimming, where I would wear a simple Speedo brief. And I felt like I stood out (or rather stood “rounder”) in the way I didn’t want to: I was one of the “fat” ones in a sea of tall, skinny swimmers.

This feeling was a predominant issue throughout most of my swimming career, when I first started swimming year-round at around age 5. For nearly 16 years of competitive swimming, I never felt comfortable. I always felt like I didn’t belong physically.

Again, adding to that sense of non-belonging, I would compete at Nationals, standing 5’9″ ish with a midsection of some fat, while a large majority of my competitors were tremendously lean and tall. Perhaps it drove my competitive spirit because I felt like I had to prove the majority that I could still compete, even with an atypical body.

I specifically remember my sophomore year of college, I started to develop a serious eating disorder. But I dropped at least 20 pounds and I was getting compliments from many directions, teammates, competitors, coaches from other teams. My performance was the best it had ever been. I broke one school records and a conference record, qualifying for the NCAA Division I National Championships. When I finally reached my lowest weight and I thought it was enough, I got greedy. I wanted to lose more and I became obsessed with the goal.

My workouts took a major hit and my parents finally intervened. Even with the weight loss, while competing at the National Championships, I still only noticed the fat around my midsection and that I was substantially shorter than most of my competitors. Here I was at the peak of my swimming career, and ashamed of how I looked.

10/3: Wodapalooza Qualifier – Individual (Online)

10/5: The Hopper (Asheville, NC)

10/5 – 10/7: International Functional Fitness Federation World Championships (London)

10/6: Beer City Beatdown (Asheville, NC)

10/6: Gallant Gauntlet 2 (Bedford, TX)

10/6: WOD for Water Troy (Troy, AL)

10/6: Cactus Games (Phoenix, AZ)

10/6: Pound-4-Pound Competition (Denver, CO)

10/6: Invictus Boston Barbells for Boobs (Boston, MA)

10/6: Girls Gone RX @ Old Line Crossfit (Millersville, MD)

10/6: The Battle To Benefit Badge (Utica NY)

10/6: Iron Eagle Challenge (Cookeville, TN)

10/6: The Grit Games (Jacksonville, FL)

10/6: Fit For Freedom (St. Peters, MO)

10/6: Fitness Freedom Project Jay WOD (San Marcos, CA)

10/6: OUTWOD (Philadelphia, PA)

10/6: Garden State Open 2018 (Berkeley Heights, NJ)

10/6: T-Town Throwdown (Toledo, OH)

10/6: 7th Annual Dog – WOD (Minneapolis, MN)

10/6: Hulks and Ninjas (Bangor, ME)

10/6: 7th Annual Dog WOD ( Minneapolis, MN)

10/6: Masters & Minors Invitational (Kill Devil Hills, NC)

10/6: Capitol City Classic (Madison, WI)

10/6: Team Scream Crossfit817 (Fort Worth,TX)

10/6: Iron October 6 (Woodland, CA)

10/6: The Calypso Cup at Crossfit Calypso (Farmington, MN)

10/6 – 10/7: The Iron Clash (Fayetteville, NC)

10/6 – 10/7: 307 Throwdown (Casper, WY)

10/12 – 10/14: Faith RX’d (Denver, CO)

10/13: Barbells For Boobs 2018 (Sutton, MA)

10/13: WOD for a Cause (Bloomsburg, PA)

​10/13: C4 CrossFit Co-Ed Classic (Brunswick, NJ)

10/13: 2018 War in the Woods (Norton, MA)

10/13: The Festivus Games (Online)

10/13: Grand Games 2018 (Westfield, IN)

10/13: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ Red Island CrossFit (Smithfield, RI)

10/13: Barbells for Boobs (Steamboat Springs, CO)

10/13: Older, Wiser, Faster, Stronger (Plymouth, MI)

10/13: The Greenville Games (Greenville, SC)

10/13: Reps For Recovery (Hickory, NC) 

10/13: Kal-Haven Trail Ruck (Kalamazoo, MI)

10/13: Fall Brawl (Saint Michael, MN)

10/13: Sweat for Georgia Mae (Wendell, NC)

10/13: Barbells For Boobs (Southaven, MS)

10/13: Wodtoberfest Co-ed Team Competition (Owosso, MI)

10/13-14: Central Florida Throwdown 6 (Lakeland, Fl)

10/13 – 10/14: Box Wars 3 (Fort Valley, GA) 

10/14: CrossFit for Kayden (Fallsington, PA)

10/20: BCS Classic 2018 (Bryan, TX)

10/20: Head 2 Head in Hamilton (Hamilton, NJ)

10/20: Fittest on the Valley VI (Lahaina, HI)

10/20: Crossfit Bona Fide Third Wheel Throwdown (Portsmouth, NH)

10/20: CrossFit Katana Samurai Showdown VI: Trio of Terror (Mansfield, OH) 

10/20: SE Texas Masters of CrossFit Fall Classic (Cypress, TX) 

10/20: Barbells For Boobs (Stamford, CT)

10/20: Filthy 150 Irish Competition (Dublin)

10/20: CFT’s METAvivor Fundraiser (Carol Stream, IL)

10/20: WOD for the Fallen (Columbia, SC)

10/20 – 10/21: The Independence Games (Florence, SC)

​10/20 – 10/21: The Lincoln Invitational (Spokane, WA)

10/21: Chalk It Up 2018 (Akron, OH) 

10/21: Me Jane, You Jane (Santa Rosa, CA) 

10/26 – 10/28: JAKTRX Atlas 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) 

11/2: Wodapalooza Qualifier – Team (Online)

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

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

11/3: Battle for the Badges (St. Louis, 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 – 11/4: Battle of the Barbells (Murfreesboro, TN)

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

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

11/4: WODFather VI (Eastchester, NY)