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One Week

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is powered by Red H Nutrition, a veteran owned and operated functional fitness nutrition company with over 10 years experience in the CrossFit community. As an athlete, you are driven to pour your heart and soul into your workouts. The “hustle” is who you are, so your supplements should perform the same. Created by a CrossFitter, for CrossFitters, Red H Nutrition’sHUSTLE Pre-WOD will increase your work capacity, motivation and recovery so you can do more work, faster!

It is exactly one week until the 2017 CrossFit Games kicks off. Get pumped up for all the action by turning the volume up on one of our Road the Games Spotify Playlists featuring curated training playlists from Alessandra Pichelli, Emily Bridgers, Carleen Mathews and Margaux Alvarez.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I would rather go down the river with seven studs than with one hundred shitheads!!” — Col. Charlie Beckwith

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES

GAMES WATCH

Well that was embarrassing…yesterday we published our take on the chipper event and the prescribed weight for the push press. Having written our comments early Tuesday, and not seeing that CrossFit had released all the details later in the day, we published our thoughts unawares. Luckily, it wasn’t far off.

Everything you need to know about watching the CrossFit Games. The events page continues to fill out with more details, especially in the Masters and Teens (M/T) divisions. The Saturday Masters 50+ event is a 2-rep max front squat, a movement that has never been tested at the Games for max weight. Dave Castro releases the makings of another team event including muscle-ups, GHDs, assault bike and deadlifts. We’d fully expect muscle-ups to be synchronized. MYSTERY UNKNOWN… Rogue teased some interested cylindrical packaging (possibly the outer shell of a barbell tube) with Katrin Davidsdottir’s signature sled dog logo.

Spealler Status Update…After finding out last week that he has a bulging disc L4/L5 and L5/S1 is immobile, his Games status was questionable. Chris told us yesterday that he plans to compete. “Going to head out there and do the best I can. If I need to pull out with the back getting aggravated I will.”

FUN FACT: Thought Madison was a bad choice and would be a total bust? More tickets have been sold for the 2017 CrossFit Games than any other in its 10-year history; with more than 60,000 spectators expected to attend.

MAD TOWN ROUNDUP

Rory McKernan bar crawls around Madison with some local CrossFitters and shows you where to hangout and grab a beer. Here’s our guide to the best brunches in Mad Town.

2017 Pan Am Watch… Mattie Rogers took home three silvers and clean and jerks 133kg, just 1kg under her own senior American record. The 17 year-old phenom Harrison Maurus takes bronze in the clean and jerk at his first ever senior event. Originally a backup, Angelo Bianco lit up the stage and earned silver with a 188kg clean and jerk and silver in the total.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR FRIEND WHO’S ALWAYS ASKING TO PASS THE BUTTER…

Don’t let the American Heart Association fool you. Last month, they took aim at butter, steak and coconut oil (of all things) labeling foods like these leaders in the worldwide cardiovascular disease epidemic (a line they’ve been peddling since the early ’60s). Ironic, the study said little to nothing about leading a sedentary lifestyle. And as one notable researcher wrote in the LA Times, “That the AHA should be so resistant to updating its view of saturated fats, despite so much legitimate science, could simply reflect the association’s unwavering devotion to a belief it has promoted for decades.” Oh and just in case you’re interested in learning more about how to cook with Coconut Oil, Well + Good put together this quick start guide.

THINGS TO…

WATCH: Setting Goals with Katrin Davidsdottir

What is your definition of success? The 2x CrossFit Games champion shares her #1 goal in life and how it drives her every day. Plus, get a peek into her lifestyle in this exclusive interview with Katrin, her Coach Ben Bergeron, and fellow athlete Heather Bergeron.
WATCH.

HEAR: Matching Tattoos

The Girls Gone WOD Podcast is back. In this week’s episode, Claire gives an update about moving and how the concept of the “Year of Less” has continued to evolve in her world. Joy talks about the way food affects her emotions, and wonders what should go on her “must do” list before she turns 40.
TUNE IN.

EAT: Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Did you know you can make grilled sweet potato fries in no time at all? Try this amazing recipe for sweet potato fries with a hint of garlic and sesame flavor! Served with a yogurt curry dip.
PASS THE FRIES.

BUY: 25% off KILL CLIFF

In celebration of the CrossFit Games, you can pick-up a 12-pack of either Blood Orange or Raspberry Blueberry KILL CLIFF Recovery Drinks on Amazon for just $24.74 with code “25OFF12S” at checkout.
PRIME IT.

CHALK UP AFFILIATES

STORY SERIES: How’d your box come up with its name?
“We are located in the community of Ballard which is an old, Nordic, fishing town. We wanted the name of our affiliate to represent the heritage of our community and the ‘Kraken’, mostly knows as a Greek mythological sea-monster (Clash of The Titans…’Release The Kraken’) is also part of Nordic mythology. We are Kraken CrossFit!” — Kraken CrossFit in Seattle, Washington.

Share Your Affiliate’s Story.

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Dog heaven… CrossFit Cervus, in Hainesport, NJ is holding its second annual Fran for Fran fundraiser. The event will benefit the Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of animals in the county. After owner Melonie Perino finally got her chance to open an affiliate in 2015, her mother passed away just six weeks later. Her mother Marnien was a nurse, but also a passionate animal lover and advocate which inspired her daughter to put together this fundraiser.

THIS WEEKEND, about 120 athletes are competing in the third annual “Battle For the Flag” event at CrossFit Mt. Juliet in Juliet, TN. The money raised will be will be used for equine-assisted counseling for combat veterans and their families. Battle Flag Ranch is a nonprofit that provides free short-term respite to and high-impact retreats for combat-weary veterans and their equally weary spouses and families.

CHALK UP READS

“A Day In The Life Of 17-Year-Old Weightlifting Phenom CJ Cummings” by Darci Miller, TEAM USA

CJ Cummings is an undisputed star of USA Weightlifting. He’s currently riding a winning streak of more than a year, dating back to June of 2016, and just recently won his fourth consecutive youth or junior world title in the 69 kg. division. His streak started when he became the first U.S. weightlifter since 1994 to set a world record.

He’s also just 17 years old.

He’s nearly unbeatable at the youth world level and currently holds the world record in his weight class, but out of the gym, Cummings is just a regular teenager who spends his summer days at the pool with friends, eating French fries and working a part-time job.

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