Six things you need to watch

Welcome to the weekend edition of the Morning Chalk Up. We’re officially kicking off our coverage of the CrossFit Games, which starts in only four days. 

Today’s edition is powered by Brute Strength, the Official Online Training Sponsor of the Morning Chalk Up.

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“Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers rejoice in war.” — Seneca

Here are six things to watch before the CrossFit Games begin

1. Can Katrin Davidsdottir Win Again? — Katrin sat down with CNN to share how she has been training, how she found her magic again, and how she feels about returning to the CrossFit Games this year. Also, see how Katrin keeps her family close while she trains in Boston.
2. Can Anyone Beat Mat Fraser? — Dave Castro has a simple answer. “No.” But that’s not going to stop Brent Fikowski, Cody Anderson, and Cole Sager from trying. On this episode of Road to the Games, titled Mat Fraser vs. The World,  see how Fraser is preparing to win again. FUN FACT: The only athlete still competing to ever beat Mathew Frasier is Ben
   Smith, and he’s gone full Rocky Balboa in Rocky V.
3. Road to the Games: The Champs — Tia-Clair Toomey is the reigning Fittest Woman on Earth. Katrin Davidsdottir has two CrossFit Games championships under her belt. In this episode of “Road to the Games,” follow Toomey and Davidsdottir as they prepare to take on the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games.
4. Individual Men and Women’s Preview — ​A review of the top five women from last year that promise to put on a show as they battle for the CrossFit Games podium this year. There’s also a preview for the CrossFit Games Individual Men, where everyone asks, who can beat Mat Fraser? 
5. Team, Teens, and Teams Preview — If you want to keep an eye on the future of CrossFit, here’s a preview of the Girls Teen and Boys Teen Divisions. Don’t forget about the teams. 
6. The Leader’s Jersey — The prestigious white leader’s jersey is both a symbol of achievement and a visual guide for fans and viewers to know who’s on top as each event closes out. Who has worn the leader’s jersey the most? (Hint: it’s Mat Fraser. By a long shot.)

Castro’s Clues

What’s Dave Castro Doing?

Dave Castro Moves Individual Event 4 to Thursday — Thursday, Dave Castro revealed a hint to Individual Event 4, writing “IE1 involves cycling. IE2 is 30 muscle ups for time. IE3 is the CF Total. And finally there is IE4. Which promises to be a nice finisher to this large day of testing.”

But yesterday, on the Games Event page, Individual Event 4 shows as scheduled for Thursday.

Team Event Four Hinted — Dave Castro also revealed a photo for Team Event 4, which should take place on Thursday. Then, last night, CrossFit posted this video of Paul Tremblay snatching 275 pounds to release Team Event 4. The event, a one rep max snatch, is scheduled for Thursday, which means we’ll probably see a third team event announced for Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

P.S. The Masters and Teens competition details are shaping up nicely. 

Things To…

EAT: Celery, Green Bean, and Tofu Salad with Chile Crisp

It’s Saturday. No need to turn the oven on and put a ton of work into a fancy dinner. While you’re watching all the videos we shared today (did you take notes?) try this spicy green bean salad with tofu, refreshing lime, and crunchy peanuts.

YES, PLEASE. 

BUY: RX Bars are Closer Than You Think

Did you know you can find RXBAR’s nut butters and bars in Target, Walmart and even Starbucks? Now you can find your favorite snack on the road with the RXBAR store locator. Just plug your zipcode in and go get em.

FIND ONE NOW. 

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

Chalk Up Community

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

A truck load of Trek bikes arrive in Madison • Reebok gets Lake Monona ready for CrossFit Games • Madison greets CrossFit Games guests • Mathew Fraser is Madison bound • Stefi Cohen bench presses 209 pounds for six while a dog climbs on top of her • Adam Barfoot gets a six
unbroken muscle-up PR • Andy Rosenbaum gets a 315 pound split jerk • Coach Chase Knight helps his new client, Alicia, learn to squat after a broken leg • Ryan Fischer shows off his two year transformation • Kate thanks RP Strength for her 83 pound weight loss.

…and the next time you get a front squat PR bust out with some sweet dance moves.

Emily Bridgers Continues Her Countdown — Emily Bridgers, who has announced she is retiring after the 2018 CrossFit Games, has been counting down her favorite CrossFit Games memories. Number seven is 2015 Regionals. “Team Terminus and myself both earned first place punching our ticket to the CrossFit Games! It was so special making the games with all my training partners! I also got to prove that 2014 was no fluke, and this was the one and only time I would beat Sam Briggs. More specially, event three (the long chipper) might be my favorite crowd moment ever! Chills just thinking about it.”

Panchik Brothers Still on the Road — Scott and Saxon Panchik are still on the road to Madison for the CrossFit Games, and they’re documenting the whole thing. Yesterday’s episode gives you a small insight to the people who support them.

Sean Sweeney is Games Ready — “I have been dealing with a leg injury of some sort for about a year and a half. The only squats I have done this year are during Regionals and the Open for the most part. My team and I totally remodeled our original location of CrossFit Powerstroke, opened a second affiliate CrossFit Powerstroke Fernley, and started the company The Musclestache. It would seem with all of that I would be sidetracked and not prepared for the upcoming CrossFit Games, but it is quite the opposite. I am feeling more mentally and physically
prepared than any time in my life. I have a great feeling about this year and am excited to show the world what I’m all about.”

Tia-Clair Toomey thanks Rich Froning — “Environment plays a big part in our ability to perform. When it comes down to those final reps or that final sprint only I can get myself there, but there’s a community of people along the way who have played a pivotal part in my preparation leading up to those moments. Simply put, if you surround yourself with the right people you’ll learn from them, build strength off them and take bits and pieces of what makes them great. There’s none greater than Rich Froning and to train in the presence of greatness was hugely beneficial to my preparation and this journey. To him and his community, thank you for having us, for giving us a place to train and imparting your wisdom. You leave an experience like that feeling super charged and right now I couldn’t be more excited for the games to begin and to tough it out with the world’s greatest.

“The CrossFit Total Returns to the Games” by Justin LoFranco, Morning Chalk Up

It was July 2007 in Aromas, CA. The first CrossFit Games kicked off with three events across two days: a classic CrossFit style WOD, a trail run, and the CrossFit Total.

“The CrossFit Total reflects an athlete’s functional strength capacity more accurately than any other test,” wrote Mark Rippetoe back in 2006 when the workout was designed. “The CrossFit Total is the sum of the best of three attempts at the squat, the press, and the deadlift.”

Originally designed without a time limit, 2018 CrossFit Games athletes will have four minutes to complete three attempts at each movement. They’ll also be performing this after two previous events: 30 muscle-ups for time and what is speculated to be a lengthy bike race.

But ten years later, the CrossFit Games athlete is a different athlete entirely.

In 2007, the top male lifted 1225 pounds and the top female lifted 530 pounds. CJ Martin, CrossFit Invictus’ head coach who also competed at the 2007 CrossFit Games, predicted that the top 5 – 8 male athletes will be over the 1250 mark and female athletes over 850.

7/27-29: CanWest Games (Coquitlam, BC)

7/28: Garage Girls Hard Core Fit (Watkinsville, GA) 

7/28: Garage Girls CrossFit HardCore (Boca Raton, FL) 

7/28: AZ FitCom Competition (Phoenix, AZ)

7/28: Summer Knights Showdown (Springfield, IL)

7/28: Savage Wolves CrossFit Classic (Nazareth, PA)

7/28 – 7/29: CF Summer Circus (Des Moines, IA)

7/29: Summer Sizzle (Wadsworth, OH) 

7/30: Legends of Lebo (Pittsburgh, PA)

81 – 8/5: The CrossFit Games (Madison, WI) 

8/4: Lumberjack Lift Off (Buckley, WA) 

8/4: G-Town Throwdown (Georgetown, MA) 

8/4: US National Parks Tour with VoyEdge RX

8/4: War at the Shore (Neptune City, NJ)

8/5: Sure Shot Shootout (Greenville, OH)

8/11: Red Raider Backyard Brawl (Coatesville, PA)

8/11: 2018 Rimrock Ruckus (Billings, MT)

8/11: Survival Games 2018 (Wooster, OH)

8/11: The Warhorse Games (Kansas City, KS)

8/11: War of the Roses (Pasadena, CA) 

8/18: Bladium CrossFit Fossil Games (Denver, CO) 

​8/18: The Revolution: Articles of Confederation (San Antonio, TX)

8/18: Summer Slam Royal Rumble (Oakdale, CA)

8/18: CrossFit Krypton’s Compete for a Cure (Chesapeake, VA)

8/18: CrossFit Endure Granite Games Throwdown (Windsor, CO)

8/18: MKT CrossFit Granite Games Throwdown (Columbia, MO)

8/18: Rocky Mountain Throwdown (Fort Collins, CO) 

8/18: Crossfit Krypton’s Compete for a Cure (Chesapeake, VA)

​8/18: Mayhem on the Mountain (Pelham, AL)

8/18: Crossfit Charlevoix Granite Games Throwdown (Charlevoix, MI) 

8/18: Battle in the Boro (Washington, NJ)

8/18: Troy CrossFit Granite Games Throwdown (San Diego, CA)

8/18: Babes & Bros ( Grand Rapids, MI)  

8/18: CFBD Summer Showdown 2018 (East Longmeadow, MA)

8/19: Battle on Broadway (Garnder, MA) 

8/25: Iron Belle and Femme Royale Women’s Competition (Austin, TX) 

8/25: CrossFit Sua Sponte Summer Slam (Raleigh, NC) 

8/25: AMRAP For Autism (Waxhaw, NC)

​8/25: CrossFit Decathlon (Indianapolis, IN) 

8/25: Best of the West Summer Event (Bend, OR) 

8/25 – 26: Battlegrounds Nevada (Reno, NV)