The Community Rallies Around It’s Own

Good morning and welcome to the weekend edition of the Morning Chalk Up. This is Justin LoFranco, your Editor-in-Chief to bring you a quick wrap-up of the major news items throughout the week.

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“Practice making yourself promises, and practice keeping them.” — Ben Bergeron

Early Tuesday morning, I got a message from a reader about Becky Conzelman. We get a lot of emails daily, so I’ve gotten pretty good at telling the difference between open immediately, and open a little later.

“Doctors found an aneurysm bled into her brain and had to conduct surgery for several hours…As part of the recovery process from surgery, Becky will be sedated until Friday. We won’t know the full extent of her condition until the doctors bring her out.⁣”

They couldn’t mean Becky Conzelman, “our” Becky, everyone’s Becky; the Becky who has a smile on her face every time you see her, the ready with a word of encouragement Becky, the great listener Becky, fantastic friend, fierce competitor, the masters, individual and team athlete Becky.

Sadly, it was our Becky.

Since the news of that night has spread, I’ve seen no less than a dozen posts from athletes like Becca Voigt, Andrea Montalvo, Jenny LaBaw, Tanya Wagner, Julie Foucher, Stacie Tovar, and Emily Bridgers supporting Becky. One thing I’m reminded of, and encouraged by, is the immense love and support CrossFit has for their family.

It is so big-hearted and hopeful, even as the doctor “has not given the family much hope of a recovery or full recovery.”

But night turned into morning and Becky woke up. Slowly at first but by Thursday evening, she managed to breathe out a few words: Ty-Ty, Kylie, Kendra and Jim. And yesterday she received some nutrition through a tube. Baby steps, but steps. 

To be sure, the road to recovery will be long with an uncertain outcome, but she won’t walk it alone.

Get well soon.

Justin Lofranco

Editor-in-Chief

After five weeks and five events, the 2019 CrossFit Open has concluded. CrossFit HQ is undergoing a thorough verification process to vet scores, crown national champions and certify the top 20 worldwide. See what the process looks like from here.

The 2019 CrossFit Open officially wrapped up on Monday. Now CrossFit will undergo a lengthy review process to verify all qualifiers, so as of right now everything is technically unofficial. Currently, 18 veteran females from the 2018 Games will be returning; 14 veterans on the mens side.

The crowd favorite CrossFit Mayhem Freedom, much to everyone’s surprise, didn’t walk away with a podium spot at Wodapalooza, coming in 5th place over all and out of contention for the Games. But, now that the Open has ended, CrossFit Mayhem may have qualified after all. 

Dani Speegle is currently in line to qualify as the United States National Champion. Now that the Open is in the rearview, she took the time to reflect on each workout and the major takeaways from each week.

After honorably serving in the United States Marine Corps, Jake Worthington came home lacking purpose. His brother dragged him to the 2009 CrossFit Games. It changed everything.

For many CrossFitters this week was a transition. The last five weeks have been full of Open WODs but now we’re getting back to regularly scheduled programming. Here’s what got us through the week.

1. Some big announcements. Like CrossFit babies, babies and more babies.
2. And Jenn and Sam Dancer sold everything they own and packed up to travel.
3. There were some heavy lifts this week. This this 491 pound clean and jerk from Wes Kitts and this 270 pound clean and jerk from Mia Akerlund. 
4. Apparently, y’all like smoothies with coffee in them.
5. One thing to keep an eye out for is the upcoming Fittest in Dubai documentary. 
6. And one thing to read this weekend as you prepare for next week is Ginny Hoover’s transformation story.