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The Showdown of the Super Teams

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is powered by FNX.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” — John Wooden

The Showdown of the ‘Super Teams’

 

The shakeup to the system as we know it has seen the roster for the 2019 CrossFit Games stacked with so-called “super teams.” The Teams competition – once described by commentators as a “controlled riot” – one could argue is now set to rival the main event.

But first: Invictus Boston just announced they’ve tapped Kaitlyn Kassis to replace Meg Reardon who will take her individual invite instead. Kassis competed on Invictus X’s Games team last year.

  • Invictus Boston in a statement to Morning Chalk Up: “Invictus Boston is excited to announce that the newest addition to their team will be Invictus Athlete Kaitlyn Kassis. Kaitlyn has been in the Invictus family for a long time and took second place at the Games with Invictus X last year. Invictus Boston is looking forward to the Games and continuing showing the world that they are a dominant force despite the changes to this season.”

The set list is now set in stone.

If you struggled to keep up with team reshuffles throughout Sanctionals, you’re not alone. The line-ups are now finalized and this is how the top 14 teams will take to the field.

Why do some teams only list one alternate and not two? Teams that have an alternate competing as an individual have been removed from the roster.

  • Jamie Greene, Sam Briggs, Maddie Sturt James Newbury, and Meg Reardon.
  • Even though Haley Adams is competing as an individual she’s still listed on Mayhem’s roster as an alternate in case somethig were to happen. She confirmed this to us in an email: “I am 100% committed to competing as an individual at the 2019 Games…I have committed to Rich and the team if something were to happen, then would go and compete with Mayhem Freedom.”

The last minute changes.

Invictus Boston was claiming “third time’s a charm” in qualifying through the final sanctioned event The French Throwdown. Meg Reardon helped Invictus Boston gain the final qualifying spot in Paris, but decided to accept her invite as an individual from winning the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Championship, a decision which came as a bit of a surprise to the organization.

  • There was also talk of a potential reshuffle with the Invictus X squad, after speculation both Kristi Eramo and Margaux Alvarez had no intention of returning to the 2019 CrossFit Games.
  • Holden Rethwill told the Morning Chalk Up: “Our team is committed to living balanced lives … we can still compete well without draining ourselves in the gym on a daily basis. We’re all on the same page with it … along with how much fun we all had at the Granite Games.”

Continue reading…

Things To…

 

WATCH: Full Day of Games Training for Cole Sager
Cole Sager films a typical training day to show what it’s like as he prepares for the Games. He starts with a swim session, before heading to the track for some intervals. Then Genasee and Cole get into the gym for some weights and then back home for some fueling and recovery.
SUCH VOLUME.

 

HEAR: Build a Better Brand with Ben Bengeron
Ben Bergeron and Patrick Cummings, hosts of the Chasing Excellence podcast dive deep into marketing, branding, and advertising. They cover topics like the marketing hourglass, why advertising doesn’t work for CrossFit affiliates, creating talk triggers, and understanding your three uniques.
FIND YOUR OWN.

 

WIN: A Year Supply of RXBAR and $500
Make sure you enter to win the Summer of RXBAR Giveaway. Three winners will receive a year’s supply of RXBAR product, a carryall, a Hydroflask water bottle, a sleep mask and $500. Show RXBAR where you’re taking them by tagging RXBAR in an Instagram post with the hashtag #SummerOfRXBAR.
EMBRACE SUMMER.

 
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5X MORE ABSORPTION.

 

EAT: Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar, sometimes called Mexican Caviar, is like a cross between a bean salad and a fresh salsa. It combines two types of beans, black beans and black eyed peas, with a colorful medley of fresh vegetables and a tangy lime-balsamic vinaigrette. 
MIX SOME UP.

 

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

Chalk Up Community

 
  • CROSSFIT HEALTH CONFERENCE — The 2019 CrossFit Health Conference will take place Wednesday, July 31 to Thursday, August 1 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, WI. Tickets are $40 each.
  • LISA BRANDT BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT FUND — CrossFit Unrivaled in Chesapeake, VA member and firefighter paramedic Lisa Brandt was recently diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and needs a bone marrow transplant. Many of the gym’s members are registering to get on the donor registry in hopes she will find a match as well as raising funds to help with her medication.
  • WOD FOR OFFICER KEVIN VALENCIA — On Saturday, July 13, Armor CrossFit in Ocoee, FL and CrossFit Pursuit in St. Cloud, FL are holding “In the Line of Duty,” as a benefit WOD being held for Officer Kevin Valencia, who was shot in the head in the line of duty last June and is still hospitalized. All proceeds go to the Valencia family.
  • REEBOK’S ROAD TO MADISON — CrossFit Hartford and Fleet Feet in Hartford, CT are hosting a free WOD on Saturday, July 13 to celebrate the community leading up to the CrossFit Games. The top male and female RX scores will win a $150 Reebok gift card to Fleet Feet Hartford.
  • HONOR RILEY HOWELL — On July 13, CrossFit Asheville in Asheville, NC is holding a fundraiser WOD to honor 21-year-old Riley Howell, who died while charging a gunman at UNC Charlotte on April 30. All proceeds raised will benefit the Riley Howell Foundation.

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

Maya Saenz gets her first rope climb • And so did Marc BlytheKenzie Riley did 5 unbroken peg board climbs for a PR • Albert-Dominic Larouche back squats 425 poundsChase Knight does 20 back squats at 235 pounds for a PR • Adam Klink does a set of deadlifts at 455 poundsMichelle Merand hang snatches 168 poundsChasing Excellence hits 7 million downloads • Sara Sigmundsdottir showcases the new Nike Pro collection, out yesterday.

…and we know you go hard, but do you go crazy eyes hard like Katrin Davidsdottir?

CrossFit Filthy 150 Has a New Location — Yesterday, on Instagram, the CrossFit Filthy 150 announced a new location for this year’s event.

— “This year’s CrossFit Filthy150 has a new location…Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare. It is located amidst 450 acres of prime Irish countryside and includes a 200 acre racecourse that is 2 miles long.”

Balancing Medical School and the CrossFit Games — Recently, in the South China Morning Post, Patrick Blennerhassett wrote an article detailing 24-year-old Ian Wee, the national champ for Singapore.

— “Wee said balancing what is basically three massive endeavours comes down to prioritisation, efficient time management skills and discipline.

— “My life generally revolves around medicine and CrossFit…It is ultimately an extremely tough road trying to balance between training for CrossFit and medical school. However, I always look up to Julie Foucher as my inspiration given the similar path that she has been through.”

Reads
CHALK UP READS

“Labor ‘Like a Workout’ For Kara Saunders,” by Brittney Kleyn, Morning Chalk Up 

A month into motherhood, the Games veteran sits down for her first interview with the Morning Chalk Up to talk about her 54 hour labor, getting back into training and making her comeback to the CrossFit Games.

Announcing her pregnancy with a koala tucked into her weight vest, we’ve followed Kara Saunders for seven years in CrossFit but for the past nine months, ‘She Bear’ has shown us a very different side.

“My training really paid off in the end, when it came time to push .. aside from all the complications, when it came time to work, that was good to go,” Kara laughs.

I first met Kara when I joined her affiliate Crossfit Kova in Brisbane Australia. I watched her prepare for the 2018 Games balancing life as a professional athlete, business owner, coach and wife.

You can’t argue, the chick can multitask.

She also made no secret, her and her husband Matt were ready to start a family.

“Going from being a professional athlete which is completely selfish …  that’s a real change … but it’s actually been nice,” she said.

Reads
CHALK UP CALENDAR

7/12: OUTWOD San Diego Crossfit Invictus (San Diego, CA)
7/13: Warrior Affiliate League Barbellas (Anaheim, CA)
7/13: Wods For A Cause Nova Scotia (Bedford, Nova Scotia)
7/13: The Mountain Meltdown Wilmot (Wilmot Mountain, WI)
7/13: Battle of the Beasts (Hudson, NY)
7/13: The Freedom Fitness Festival (Gainesville, FL)
7/13: River’s End Rampage 2019 (Sharpsburg, KY)
7/13: OUTWOD Westport CrossFit Westport (Norwalk, CT)
7/13: OUTWOD Lubbock Capstone CrossFit (Lubbock, TX)
7/13: Showdown at the Swamp 2019 (Greenville, SC)
7/13 – 7/14: Fresh Coast Games (Muskegon, MI)
7/19: OUTWOD Las Vegas CrossFit Social City (Las Vegas, NV)
7/19 – 7/20: The 2nd Annual 24 Hour Kettlebell Challenge (Chino, CA)
7/20: OUTWOD Twin Falls The Pack CrossFit (Twin Falls, ID)
7/20: OUTWOD Chicago PXM CrossFit (Chicago, IL)
7/20: The CFB Gymkhana (Burlington, VT)
7/20: Masters Mayhem (Kilgore, TX)
7/20: Belmar Beatdown (Belmar, NJ)
7/20: Battle at the Falls (Granite Falls, NC)
7/20: Old Timers Classic (Williamsburg, VA)
7/20: Hero Games 2019 (Bedford, VA)
7/20: 2019 McCall Throwdown (McCall, ID)
7/20: RX’Mas in July 2019 (Urbana, OH)
7/20: Sacred Pine Invitational (Ladson, SC)
7/20: Barbells for Bullies Denver (Denver, CO)
7/20: Shoofly Lift Off (Fuquay Varina, NC)
7/20: Coffland Hero Challenge at CrossFit Mt. Hood (Gresham, OR)
7/20 – 7/21: Battle of the Barbells (Nashville,TN)
7/21: The Buckeye Games (Medina, OH)
7/21: Coffland Hero Challenge at Rough House CrossFit (Bridgeport, CT)
7/26 – 7/28: CanWest Games (Coquitlam, BC)
7/27: The Mountain Meltdown (Arapahoe Basin, CO)
7/27: 7th annual Dog Days of Summer Competition (Roswell, GA)
7/27: The CF Summer Circus (Des Moines, IA)
7/27: 2019 Summer Meltdown (Birmingham, AL)
7/27: Masters Tour (Travelers Rest, SC)
7/27: Rock The Ages CrossFit Team Comp (Carollton, TX)
7/27: The WoDer Games (Ontario, Canada)
7/27: Girls Gone RX Waco (Waco, TX)
7/27: Rock the Ages at CrossFit Templum (Carrollton, TX)
7/27: The Meshugge Melee (Overland Park, KS)
7/27: All Gave Some, Some Gave All (Whitesboro, NY)
7/27: EVF “Stronger Together” Challenge (New York, NY)
8/2: Pirate Supporters Friday Night Light Kick Off (Lefors, TX)
8/3: OUTWOD Kansas City at CrossFit FIF (Kansas City, MO)
8/3: War of the WODs Summer Series (Greensboro, NC)
8/3: Riverport Rumble (Louisville, KY)
8/3: G’Town Throwdown – Chapter 3 (Georgetown, MA)
8/10: CFE’s Sugar & Spice Co-Ed Partner Competition (Burlington, MA)
8/10 – 8/11: No Surrender Survival Games (Wooster, OH)
 

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