The new Morning Chalk Up swag is here

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by O2 natural recovery drink, a product developed by a CrossFit trainer focused on delivering a world-class wholesale program for affiliate owners wanting a non-carbonated recovery drink for their members.

Affiliates, pick-up some free samples, no strings attached. In the words of CrossFit 43123, “We are selling it like crazy! Margins are good, customer service is great, ordering is easy, delivery is fast, and product is worth selling.”

“No matter how fast you go, every marathon runner runs the same distance.” — Chris Watt

Army Fitness Gets More Functional

The story.

The U.S. Army physical fitness test got a serious overhaul. Since the 1980’s the test has remain unchanged. The Army Physical Fitness Test, aka the APFT, was a standard fitness test consisting of a series of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2 mile run. Pretty simple, right?

Something new.

The new test, known as the Army Combat Fitness Test, is designed to simulate field fitness and provide army leaders with a tough, realistic assessment for the soldiers.

The new test will include deadlifting, throwing ten-pound balls for distance (backwards), hand-release pushups, sled drags, sprints with a 40 pound kettle bell, hanging leg tucks (picture a two minute, unbroken AMRAP of knee raises), and a two mile run.

…So basically CrossFit.

The new test will be a much more comprehensive and realistic assessment of the soldier’s functional fitness, which is a huge stride for the U.S. Army and it’s soldiers.

The only concern so far is mostly a budget issue. The APFT didn’t require any equipment, whereas the Combat Fitness Test is going to require some serious dough in gear. $30 million just for the initial investment, in fact.

And tomorrow’s WOD is…

While they haven’t worked out all the details of how the assessment will be scored, there’s still plenty of time to figure out all the deets. In the meantime, affiliate owners all over the country will be living out their childhood fantasies by programming Army Combat Fitness Test WODs in their gyms.

Or Maybe You Want to Train Like an FBI Agent

But what if you never dreamed of being in the Army?

Just when your inner ten-year-old is starting to lose hope of your future as a special agent — your dreams are coming true! Well, okay…Not really. But kind of.

There’s an app for that.

It’s the new FBI Physical Fitness Test mobile app and it runs users through the test it takes to become a special agent. The test includes sit-ups, push-ups, a 300 meter sprint (for catching the speedy bad guys), and a 1.5 mile run (for catching the very fit bad guys).

The test is administered regularly to ensure that special agents remain in tip-top shape for the job. Even members of Hostage Rescue Team are required to pass.

Let’s do it.

The app gives tips on form and includes instructional videos featuring the actual FBI fitness trainers that work with new agents at the Academy in Quantico, and you can download it in the App Store and in Google Play.

Maybe you didn’t end up joining the Army or working as an actual FBI agent (or maybe you did, what do we know?), but that’s okay. Now you can at least train like one, or both. Have at it. 

The Morning Chalk Up Tank & Tee

We get it. You already have 12 CrossFit tees and another half dozen you got from local competitions and fundraiser WODs. 

…BUT, the Morning Chalk Up just aint any regular ‘ol brand. We’re right there with you when you take your first sip of coffee in the morning, when you need that extra dose of inspiration to be your best you, and when you have absolutely no idea what’s going on in the CF world and you need to catch up.

With the Morning Chalk Up tanks and tees you get to take us with you to the gym, and like Nanos in the early days they’re a secret handshake that says you’re in the club.

So what are ya waiting for. Pick one up today.

Things To…

WATCH: Making Her Own Path

In February, Reese Scott became the first woman to own and operate a boxing gym in New York City exclusively for other women. At Women’s World of Boxing in East Harlem, she trains dozens of women and girls ranging from the ages of 10 to 72.

WOMEN’S WORLD OF BOXING.

HEAR: Make Success Controllable

Ben and Patrick sit down on the Chasing Excellence Podcast to discuss the ways people can make success controllable by stepping away from results, holding a growth mindset, and allowing practice to be riddled with mistakes.

PATIENCE AND PRACTICE.

DO: The 2018 BoxPro Leadership Summit

The Box Pro Leadership Summit, November 14 – 16 in Louisville, KY, is an exclusive event bringing together affiliates and sponsors for two days of roundtable discussions, networking and memorable experiences.

SEE YOU THERE. 

EAT: Firecracker Salmon with Peach Salsa

Delicious baked sweet and spicy firecracker salmon topped with an unbelievable delicious peach avocado salsa. A healthy weeknight meal that everyone will love.

SWEET AND SPICY.

BUY: Free Hoodies for Fall

Yeah we know, it’s still kinda blazing hot out there, but fall is technically right around the corner and if you spend $99 at Barbell Apparel, you’ll get a free hoodie. Plus if you use code “CHALKUP10” you’ll get an extra 10% off + free shipping.

OMG SO MUCH SAVING.

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

Chalk Up Community

• FITNESS IN DUBAI — US-based fitness experience app ClassPass will launch in Dubai in October, allowing members one month of free exercise classes ranging from CrossFIt to boxing. “Dubai is a fast-paced and dynamic city where studio fitness is booming. We are excited to bring a completely different model to the market that we think is best for both consumers and studio partners,” Fritz Lanman, CEO of ClassPass said.
• FUN AND FITNESS AT REEBOK — On September 29, join the Jimmy Fund and Reebok at the shiny new Reebok HQ for the Jimmy Fund Fit Fest, a half-day fitness festival featuring everything from CrossFit to yoga, as well as beer and food. There is a $10 registration fee, and participants are expected to raise a minimum of $200. All the money raised goes to cancer research.

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

Matt Bischel gets a 270 pound split jerk in khakis • 48-year-old Rodney Brownell did 56 chest-to-bar pull-ups at the Valhalla Games • Rebecca Fuselier shows what five years of CrossFit progression looks like • Brent Fikowski has officially launched the Professor Project • Alessandra Pichelli spent the weekend coaching the Lift Like a Girl seminar at Diablo CrossFit • Jacob Heppner joined the FNX team. 

…and which one of the eight snatch start positions are you? 

Independence Games — Kicking off their fifth year on October 20 – 21 in Florence, SC, the Independence Games has attracted a deep roster of top athletes after opening a new elite division. The top male and female athletes will walk away with $5K each, with $32,500 in total prize money up for grabs across the board.

Confirmed top athletes so far:

— Male: James Hobart, Travis Williams, Dakota Rager, Jeff Evans, Jacob Anderson, Jordan Troyan, ZA Anderson, Travis Mayer, Chandler Smith, Dane Smith, Raymond Romanick, and James Lancaster.

— Female: Mekenzie Riley, Kelley Jackson, Allison Scudds, Dani Sidell, Dani Speegle, Brooke Haas, Emma Chapman, Tori Dyson, and Sarah Scholl.

Sneak Peak: Day 1 at the Dubai CrossFit Championship — Still three months away, but we got the first sneak peak at venues under discussion for the Dubai CrossFit Championship for the day 1 events. And it looks like lots of water. If the DCC follows suit from previous years, athletes will likely see a trail run element paired with a beach workout. In 2017, athletes were taken to the desert dunes to complete a weight vest 5K run, followed by a swim and BikeErg event afterwards. In 2016, athletes completed a 32K road bike race followed by an indoor swim and Ski Erg combo on Day 2.

Paul Tremblay Joins the WOD on the Waves Cast — This 4-night, 5-day full ship charter cruise from Miami to the Bahamas in January 2019 will offer fitness enthusiasts the chance to vacation without slowing their fitness routine or compromising their healthy eating habits. With daily scheduled fitness classes led by athletes, coaches, and trainers, workshops on elite nutrition and training strategies, and fit friendly menus.

— Athletes on the roster: Rich Froning, Josh Bridges, Jen Smith, Chyna Cho, Brooke Wells, Dan Bailey, Margaux Alvarez, Pat Vellner, James Hobart, and Paul Tremblay.

“How CrossFit Turned An Overweight College Grad Into a Very Fit Marine,” by Ericka Andersen, Morning Chalk Up 

When you know, you know. At least that’s how freshly minted Marine Officer Zach Bowman felt nearly two years ago when he decided he wanted to serve his country at the age of 23.

He could have been swayed from his goal of joining “the few and the proud” because of a major strength deficit and weight surplus (he weighed 260 pounds) when that dream began. Instead, he used his weakness as fuel to reach the lofty goal of joining the Marines as an officer — not something just anyone can attain.

According to Major Trey Kennedy, who would become Bowman’s Officer Selection Officer (OSO), less than 50% of those who apply to become Marine Corps officers even make it past the interview process to get into Officer Candidate School (OCS). After that, only two-thirds of those who start end up graduating — but he knew from the “get-go” that Bowman would be one of them, due to his very evident determination.

Bowman’s success wasn’t a surprise to friends either, those who call him very “driven and self-disciplined,” someone who has an “unbelievable work ethic.” The road to the Marines was paved with hard physical work and determination that would be an inspiration to anyone — and CrossFit is what started it all.

9/15: Box Bash 2018 (Broomfield, CO)

9/15: Warrior Affiliate League Three Amigos (Pomona, CA)

9/15: No Mans Land 4 (Painesville, OH)

9/15: Average Joes (Troy, MI) 

9/15: Stateline Throwdown 2018 (McHenry, IL)

9/15: Project Uplift (Fort Collins, CO)

9/15: Barbells for Bullies (Lexington, SC)

9/15: Barbell Brawl IV (Kennett Square, PA)

9/15: Double Date Got Twisted (Bowling Green, KY)

9/15: Doomsday CrossFit Team Competition (Beachwood, OH)

9/15: Unravel Pediatric Cancer WOD/Fundraiser (Gilroy, CA)

9/16: 2018 Battle at the Rock (Castle Rock, CO)

​9/16: 5th Annual North East Masters Classic (Plainville, MA)

9/16: The Brazen Cup 2018 (Fairfield, NJ) 

9/22: Shatter the Stigma III (Boyertown, PA)

9/22: New Kids on the 321 Block 2018 (Topsham, ME)

9/22: Femme Royale at Eagle Wing CrossFit (Orange, CA)9/22: 2nd Annual CrossFit TUFF Charity Row-A-Thon (Nashua, NH) 

9/22: Girls Gone RX Denver (Denver, CO) 

9/22: Legends of the WOD (Grapevine, TX)

9/22: Beers and Burpees (Charlotte, NC)

9/22: Burpees 4 Autism at Lucky’s (Roswell, GA)

9/22: Lt. Nathan Flynn Memorial WOD (Columbia, MD) 

9/23 – 9/23: Field of Teams (Cedar Falls, IA)

9/22 – 9/23:The D-Town Throwdown (Decatur, Illinois)

9/22 – 9/23: The Cascade Classic (Seattle, WA)

9/22 – 9/23: Heartland Havoc 3 (Davenport, IA) 

9/23: Games of the Ages Masters Team Competition (Hanson, MA)

9/23: Cadre Crucible Team Competition (Hudson, OH)

9/23: Detroit Red Wings WOD (Detroit, MI) 

9/23: IronWorkz Gauntlet (Medina, OH)

9/24: CrossFit New England 3rd Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament (Hudson, MA)

9/28 – 9/29: Pensacola Beach Brawl (Pensacola Beach, FL)9/28 – 9/29: The Primal Games (Savannah, GA)

9/29: Kilo Crush Fest (Hampton, VA) 

9/29: Barcode Team Competition (Leander, TX)

9/29: Long Island Masters Team Competition (Hauppauge, NY)

9/29: Fallout Powered by Battleground Events (Long Beach, CA)

9/29: Battle for Boise (Meridian, ID)

9/29: 5th Annual WOD for a Cause (Murrietta, CA) 

9/29: K-9 Pursuit (Bristol, CT)

9/29: Swolemates (Cincinnati, OH)

​9/29: CrossFit Be Someone Charity WODathon (Houston, TX) 

9/29: Garage Girls (Pousbo, WA) 

9/29: Adoption Fundraiser WOD (Millcreek, UT)

9/29: Warrior Slam at CrossFit Waldwick (Waldwick, NJ)

9/29: Fall Face Off 2018 (Albany, NY)

10/5: The Hopper (Asheville, NC)

10/6: Beer City Beatdown (Asheville, NC) 

10/6: Gallant Gauntlet 2 (Bedford, TX)

10/6: WOD for Water Troy (Troy, AL)

10/6: Cactus Games (Phoenix, AZ)

10/6: Pound-4-Pound Competition (Denver, CO)

10/6: Invictus Boston Barbells for Boobs (Boston, MA)

10/6: Girls Gone RX @ Old Line Crossfit (Millersville, MD)

10/6: The Battle To Benefit Badge (Utica NY)

10/6: Iron Eagle Challenge (Cookeville, TN)

10/6: The Grit Games (Jacksonville, FL)

10/6: Fit For Freedom (St. Peters, MO)

10/6: Fitness Freedom Project Jay WOD (San Marcos, CA)

10/6 – 10/7: The Iron Clash (Fayetteville, NC)

10/6- 10/7: 307 Throwdown (Casper, WY)

10/12: 10/14: Faith RX’d (Denver, CO) 

​10/13: C4 CrossFit Co-Ed Classic (Brunswick, NJ)

10/13: 2018 War in the Woods (Norton, MA)

10/13: The Festivus Games (Online)

10/20 – 10/21: The Independence Games (Florence, SC)