“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”- Marcus Aurelius
GOOD
Born Primitive to Give Veterans Weekend Profits to Charity
Born Primitive, the veteran-owned apparel company built in the CrossFit community, is using Veterans Day to show support. The company will donate 100% of its online profits (up to $100,000) through the weekend to veteran-related non-profit organizations.
The details: 2022 marks the second year of the donation campaign after the apparel company donated $75,000 in 2021. Born Primitive co-founder/CEO Bear Handlon wanted to raise the bar, so he set the goal of $100,000 and extended the campaign for the entire weekend.
Members of the CrossFit community can easily show their support. They just have to make a purchase on bornprimitive.com from November 11-13. Their money will go completely to a select group of non-profit organizations.
If anyone wants to show even more support during the three-day event, there is another way. They can click a button during checkout that adds some extra money straight to the non-profit organizations.
The charities: According to a press release from Born Primitive, there will be three main veteran-related non-profit organizations receiving donations after the three-day event.
The first organization is the Navy SEAL Foundation, which provides critical support for “the warriors, veterans, and families of Naval Special Warfare.”
The second is The Best Defense Foundation. This non-profit founded by former NFL linebacker Donnie Edwards supports veterans in many ways. The most notable is the program that takes WWII veterans back to where they served so they can honor their fallen comrades and gain closure.
The third non-profit organization is Tunnel to Towers, which provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families. Tunnel to Towers also builds custom-designed homes to fit the needs of those that were catastrophically wounded.
Optimized breathing has always been a major focal point of Rich Froning’s training and he’s trusted the AIRWAAV® Performance Mouthpiece to help.
“Wearing it during lifting sessions required no adjustment period and I’ve felt the most benefit in breathing during heart-rate-focused workouts like metabolic conditioning,” said Froning.
Tune in live: Today at 9am CT join us for Coffee Break Conversations, where Morning Chalk Up’s Preslie Hirsch will be chatting with Tasia Percevecz about her pivot to entrepreneurship, nutrition coaching and helping athletes fuel optimally. ☕️
ELFIT Competition: We’re bringing you coverage from Egypt all weekend long, with one day of competition left (Thursday to Saturday). Roster, workouts, leaderboard are on our competition hub.
Athlete update: Chandler Smith reveals that he had hernia surgery five weeks before the 2022 Rogue Invitational, where he placed second.
Out map: The OUT Foundation is putting out a call for gyms to apply to be added to their Inclusive Fitness Map as a LGBTQIA2+ friendly fitness space.
Olivia Kerstetter Reflects on Individual Debut: “The most important thing I learned was that I belong”
Annie Thorisdottir first competed at the CrossFit Games in Aromas, California in 2009. One thousand, six hundred miles away in Kansas was 3-year-old Olivia Kerstetter. Throughout her CrossFit career, which she started at eight-years-old, Kerstetter has looked up to the stars of the sport as role models.
Now, with two teenage championships under her belt, Kerstetter is poised to be the next big thing to hit the individual field. She debuted her prowess and potential at the Rogue Invitational last month.
Kerstetter ended the weekend in Texas in 16th place, including a 2nd-place finish in the final event. Kerstetter says that these results weren’t exactly what she had in mind, but she is taking it in stride as a learning experience. Kerstetter says she has refined guidelines for what to train for leading up to the 2023 season, and a renewed sense of confidence.
"A good rep is a good rep so I'm not that nervous," Alex Gazan ahead of the Zelos Games
It’s time to head to Las Vegas for the Zelos Games, where 12 elite-level men and women will throw down across four workouts. Morning Chalk Up’s Lauren Kalil catches up with one of the competitions, Games athlete Alex Gazan, to talk about the prep leading up to the competition.
The Semifinal stage of the CrossFit season has been under refinement since Regionals were axed in 2019. Now, a new framework to bring the most competitive field to the Games is being put in motion. Beginning with the 2023 season, CrossFit is introducing a new worldwide athlete ranking system to help find the fittest 40 men and 40 women on earth.
How it works: The new athlete ranking system was inspired by professional tennis and golf, using past performance to help determine a more objective ranking.
Each region has been assigned a minimum number of qualifying spots for the CrossFit Games at their Semifinal.
Athlete rankings will be based on performance in the Open, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Games from the previous two years.
Rankings will determine the strength of each competitive region using a strength of field calculation.
The more competitive regions will be given additional qualifying spots for the CrossFit Games, while the less competitive regions will retain their minimum number of qualifying spots.
How to Watch the 2022 Zelos Games and Schedule of Events
The Zelos Games showcase takes place in Las Vegas this weekend, November 12-13. In its second year, the competition has expanded to a hybrid model, largely to increase fan entertainment and athlete earning opportunities.
*Rosters are up to date as of Thursday, November 10 at 11pm CT.
Planning on going? Zelos Games have prepared a travel guide on where to eat, stay and play while in the area. The competition is held at Camp Rhino CrossFit: 7211 S Eastern Ave #120, Las Vegas, NV 89119.
As a Morning Chalk Up Partner Event, the MCU team will be providing onsite coverage of the competition including athlete interviews, highlights and a competition recap on our YouTube channel and Instagram page.
Following the two-day invitational, enthusiasts around the world are encouraged to participate online; completing the same four workouts as the elite individuals did in their own gym through November 21st. Sign-up here and use CHALKUP20 for 20% off your registration fee. See you on the leaderboard!
WORKOUT
Devyn Kim’s Workout of the Week
Today’s workout is programmed by 20-year old college student Devyn Kim. Kim isn’t your typical student though as she is fresh off winning a bronze medal at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games with CrossFit Invictus. Despite her age she’s no stranger to the Games having competed in the teen division four times, placing second in 2017 in the 14-15 age group.
Kim will make her individual competitive debut as one of the 12 elite women athletes competing at the Zelos Games Invitational.
Devyn Kim
Every 4 minutes for 20 minutes:
20/15 Cal Row
10 Lateral Burpees over the Rower
5 Snatches (185/125 LBs – 85/57 KGs)
Time Cap: 20 minutes
Scaling Options:
Weight = 135/95 LBs – 60/43 KGs)
Row = Adjust calories as needed, intent is for row to be fast
Some advice from Kim: “Go fast and go hard! This workout is a spicy sprint, testing a moderate snatch under fatigue. I would attack this workout by focusing on my breathing on the row while also maintaining a high cadence. The rep scheme is set to where this is supposed to be an all out sprint and recover in the time remaining. Stay smooth and consistent through your transitions.”
To inquire about submitting an upcoming workout of the week, shoot us a note.
THINGS TO...
...WATCH
A Preview of the Zelos Games
This weekend in Las Vegas, the Zelos Games begin! Morning Chalk Up's Lauren Kalil catches up with the founder of the event, Jared Graybeal, to talk about the process of upgrading the competition from year one to year two, some exciting new implements, and what you can expect as an athlete and a spectator whether you're in person or at home.
Starting your holiday shopping? Help them reach their goals with the training gear they need. They'll love unwrapping TYR's apparel, sunglasses and swimwear designed for athletes, by athletes. Can't decide what to buy? Pop a gift card into their stocking!
Handstand holds are often a source of frustration and can involve some fun bloopers when we are first learning. Read through these “do’s” and “don’ts” of handstand holds.
Have you ever tried cold therapy? Cold therapy is proven to aid in better health, recovery, mood improvement, brain function, sleep, circulation, metabolism and more! If you don’t want to lug a bunch of bags of ice inside into your bathtub, don’t worry- neither do we! That’s why you need an Ice Barrel, the ultimate cold therapy tool. You can get $75 off your purchase with code “COLDTODAY”.
Picture this: your programming for the day says kettlebell swings, but you’re traveling and your hotel gym doesn’t have any available. Try this substitute instead for the same stimulus!
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise. Send us a tip.
🎂 Happy birthday, Dr. Sean Pastuch, Alexis Johnson, Alison Scudds, and Betsy Vanderburgh.
💕 Happy 3-year anniversary to the Morning Chalk Up’s own Kelly Sekulovski and her husband Kiril.
Congratulations to Sabrina Raahauge from CrossFit Butcher’s Lab in Copenhagen, Denmark on 25 unbroken bar muscle-ups.
Semifinal athlete Leo Franco from Las Vegas, NV puts 365 pounds/165.5kg over his head for a split jerk PR. Franco is one of 12 men competing live in this weekend’s Zelos Games.
Congratulations to Kelly Baker from CrossFit Greater Heights in Houston, TX on her first-place finish in The Fittest Experience online qualifiers, Pro division. Baker now advances to the Finals in Austin, TX on January 27-29.
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