Perhaps the worst story we’ve ever had to write

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“Success is not a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” — Arnold H. Glasgow

NO, NO NO NO. NO. STILL NO. AND REALLY NO. JUST ALL SORTS OF NO.

What happened?

Tom Tomlo, owner of Blue Ridge CrossFit in Fletcher, NC did something he really shouldn’t have.

On January 12, Tom videotaped several female athletes doing modified handstand push-ups from a box. He then posted that video to Instagram featuring zoomed in shots of their derrières — that’s French for buttocks — with some inappropriate comments. 

The video has since been taken down but a screenshot shows words like “dayum” and “humpday” with little peach emojis attached. 

Oh hell no. 

Unfortunately, oh hell yes he did. And it gets worse. 

Members got rightfully pissed and one member shared her thoughts on Blue Ridge’s private Facebook page. Except Tom didn’t like that very much so he deleted it, and responded:

“It has been brought to my attention that some people chose to get butt hurt today and make a public post in this group…You must have lost your f***ing mind if for one moment you think this is the platform or community for you to create some bullshit like that.”

Obviously he didn’t think through his choice of “butt hurt” to describe the situation.

He also called her a “degenerate,” and encouraged her to quit. 

What an A-Hole.

Of the first degree. But sadly it gets worse. Tom emailed that girl and said “see ya later” and cancelled her membership along with some encouraging words: “You must be going through some very difficult things in your life to have such a petty mindset…I hope you are able to get things together and your life straightened back out.” 

Since all that went down, we can confirm that several members have publically quit along with a majority of the coaching staff, including Amanda Turlington who worked as membership coordinator and was clearly very upset in an on-camera interview she gave last night. One former member has even filed a formal complaint with CrossFit HQ’s legal team. 

As another member wrote on her Facebook page, “The rest of the CrossFit community has your back, ladies,” and we do. Our ladies are off limits. 

THINGS TO…

HEAR: Hillary Froning…and Friends

This is the episode we’ve all been waiting for. Hillary Froning joins Froning and Friends for an unforgettable episode with Rich’s better half.

MEET HILLARY.

EAT: Roasted Squash and Grains with Tahini Honey

Crispy fried eggs and salty-sweet tahini sauce make for a plant-based dinner that really satisfies — no late night snacking required.

IT’S CHOW TIME.

BUY: O Captain! My Captain!

Our favorite Captain Amerca shield bumper plates are 20% off right now. I don’t care how old you are, these are literally the coolest thing on the planet. 

GO AVENGERS.

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

CHALK UP COMMUNITY

• BODY FAT AND TRAINING — We get it. You want to look jacked, be jacked and lift like you’re jacked. But is that heavy focus on weight loss when you’re already decently skinny helping or hurting your overall fitness? So where’s the balance? Coach Nick Fowler shares his thoughts.
• BRING SALLY UP — We’ve seen a lot of amazing athletes try (and fail) to complete “Bring Sally Up” with strict pull-ups. We’ve got a pair of Nike Metcon 4’s sitting here feeling all kinds of lonely. Special shout out to Blake Armitage who was only two pull-ups away! So, who’s got what it takes?
• ADDING GYMNASTICS? — When the people speek, you listen. CrossFit Manifold in Minden, NB decided to add a gymnastics class for young athletes as parents expressed interest in signing up their children. They now have 65 students across six classes after only four months. So yeah, good call. 

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

Dave Castro’s in London…scoping out Open Live locations perhaps? • Happy brithday to Rush Club founder AJ Richards • Every athlete should have their own personal cheerleading squad like Sol Sigurdardottir • Masters Athlete Justin King of Slingin’ Iron CrossFit hit a 451 pound front squat PR • Troy Reed of CrossFit Lumberyard hit five PRs (overhead squat, power clean, hang power
clean, clean and jerk and deadlift) on his 54th birthday • Jamie Hagiya went swimming with pigs in the Bahamas.

“Becoming Brave” by Emily Fanelli, Everyday Lifters

My relationship with food and exercise has always been complicated.

When I was twenty years old, I started spending too much time in front of the mirror. I ate no more than 800 calories per day, and I ran 5 miles every morning. My greatest joy was in manipulating numbers like these. Calories, miles, half-cups, teaspoons, and my body weight. I made rules and worshipped foods that were “safe” to eat. Once, my skin turned orange from a week of baby carrots. I was terrified I would always be “fat.”

Let’s also be clear that for me at this time, “fat” meant anything other than bone-thin hospitalized. The mental intricacies of anorexia are beyond the scope of what I’ll tell you about here, but I’d like you to trust me when I say, it is a prison built and maintained by your own worst fears.

The time spent underweight was hard on my body, and the disease conditioned my mind to reject strong and healthy as code for “not thin enough.”

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

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

1/20: Battle of the Ages (Fruitland, ID)

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)

1/27: The European Championships (Maldon, UK)

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)

2/10: A League of Their Own: A Women’s Only Challenge (San Antonio, TX)

2/10: Mayhem Showdown 2018 (Cookeville, TN) 

2/10: Valentine’s Day Massacre (Beaverton, OR)

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

2/17: Steel Rail Shootout 2018 (McComb, MS)

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)

4/14: The Siege (Baker, FL)

4/21: Festivus Games (Nationwide)

4/28: Battleground SoCal (Wimington, CA)

4/28: Girls Gone Rx (Cincinnati, OH)

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