What do Games athletes think about the new format?

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



Did you know FNX has a protein designed specifically for your mornings? Yes, you heard me right it’s called “Restart.” The AM product is chalked full of 22 grams of protein, a probiotic blend for gut health and a wake and thriveblend that combines natural caffeine sources of green tea, yerbamate, and guarana seed with nootropics. They just launched a new blueberry muffin flavor that is taking the community by storm, get your order in while supplies last!

“To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s,” Fyodor Dostoyevsky 

Your Chestee Now Comes With a Little Brown Bag

Say what?

The Chestee, the only patented sports bra with built-in collarbone protection and every woman’s favorite bra for cleans and front squats, has just launched a new line in Bloomingdale’s.

Bloomies?

That’s right. Keep an eye out for the exclusive collection available only at Bloomingdale’s. And, select Bloomingdale’s in Florida will host a few release events through March, coinciding with The Chestee’s five-year anniversary which happens to be today. 

Happy B Day Nicole!!!

That’s a big day for Chestee.

Nicole Biscuiti, Founder of the Chestee, said “This is such an important period of growth for us, and I couldn’t be happier to spend our five-year anniversary celebrating this exclusive launch with Bloomingdale’s.”

We’ve seen the Bloomie’s designs and we’re enamored. 

A big step for a CrossFit-born company.

The Chestee is a CrossFit born company. Biscuiti designed the Chestee on her own after a brutal WOD that left her collarbones bruised. And now, here they are in Bloomingdale’s. “We’ve worked diligently to create something that will be meaningful, yet light and fun for customers to enjoy. We hope this collection is everything an active athlete will love to wear regularly,” said Biscuiti.

Now your beautiful bra comes with an equally gorgeous little brown bag. 

GAMES SEASON.

So what do athletes think about Sanctionals and the new season format so far?

Last week, we sat down with Lauren Fisher and Alessandra Pichelli up at Diablo CrossFit a little before the announcement of 19.3.

Now that we’re five Sanctionals into the new season, we asked Fisher and Pichelli — who have both competed in two so far — for their thoughts on the new season format. Here’s what they had to say.

Fisher:

“I think that [Sanctionals] are great for the athletes. We get to travel and compete. I know it’s a lot harder for us to rally up all the expenses to travel to all these different countries but I think it’s really great exposure.”

On ways the sport can improve: “I really like this qualification process…Getting everyone behind the scenes, getting everyone on one page and maybe having like an Olympic committee and they’re the ones deciding deciding these sanctioned competitions what the events are going to be. They’re deciding the workouts rather than just going to the Sanctionals and having them deciding what the workouts are going to be. I think that if there’s one committee, kinda the secretive committee deciding all the workouts, that would be really good for the sport. Maybe end up paying judges and making it more of a professional sport.”

Full Interview.

Pichelli:

“I think [Sanctionals] are great. If you really think about it you have more opportunities to qualify as compared to last year you had one shot at Regionals to make it and now it’s like you can do a couple of sanctions and if you’re still not qualified you have many more opportunities to do that.”

Full Interview.

Coffee Break Conversations

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Things To…

WATCH: Fraser, Horvath and Others Try Football in Spain 

While in Barcelona for Fittest Freakest Mat Fraser, Lukas Högberg, Laura Horvath, Sara Sigmundsdottir and Sol Sigurdardottir got a private tour of Camp Nou, where the Barcelona Football Club trains. These CrossFit athletes got to test their football skills with challenges like the rondo, hit the crossbar, and precision passing.

REGULARLY LEARN AND PLAY NEW SPORTS.

HEAR: Christmas Abbott with Brandon Lilly

Sorinex’s Brandon Lilly sits down with Crossfit athlete and entrepreneur, Christmas Abbott at the inaugural WinterStrong 1 in Lexington, SC. Abbott covers being an athlete, businesswoman and mother in the fitness world.

SHE’S STILL A BADASS.

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EAT: Paleo Chicken and Avocado Soup 

This soup will become a fast favorite with lime, scallions and cilantro. It’s also really easy to make and comes together in less than 30 minutes. The avocado adds a creaminess and richness to the light broth and is naturally low-carb, keto and Whole30 friendly.

FEED THE FAMILY FAST.

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

Chalk Up Community

• HANDSTAND UP FOR HAITI —  On April 13, CrossFit Imagine in Smyrna, TN is hosting HandSTANDUP for Haiti, a fundraiser to provide Fitness Equipment to a Village in Nepy Haiti. Registration is $25 a person and 100% of proceeds go directly to Haiti. 
• GRAND OPENING — CrossFit Millard in Omaha, NE is having their grand re-opening March 23rd. 
• NEW AFFILIATE — CrossFit War Box in New Port Richey, FL is open for business and ready to serve their community. 
• SCHOOL CROSSFIT PROGRAM — On Saturday, April 27th West Tech CrossFit is hosting a competition for the local CrossFit community called Fast Times at West Tech High. Students from the program will be volunteering and 100% of the proceeds will go to the CrossFit program at West Tech High School. 
• BARNYARD THROWDOWN — Barnyard Throwdown takes place on a working cattle farm and many WODs use the natural beauty and landscapes provided by Katie Valley Farm. This year, Ohatchee high school’s FFA members will be helping run Barnyard Throwdown. In return, we will be donating all proceeds to their FFA program.

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

Kristina Baxter got her first strict HSPU in 19.3 • Tucker Mclemore retires from CrossFit Flower Mound • Wolf Critton got a 410 pound deadlift PR • Bethany Shadburne hang cleaned 210 pounds • Five-year-old Princess P did 19.3 and got 37 strict HSPUs • Lauren Fisher reached one million followers this weekend • Mia Mellon got a 145 pound snatch PR • Happy birthday Hunter McIntyre and happy birthday Tommy Marquez • Pete Edgar got his firs strict ring muscle-up • Spencer Murphy snatched 305 pounds from the high hang • Feysel AK Mungenast got his first bar muscle-up. 

Scores Due Tonight — 19.3 scores are due today by 5:00 PM PT. If you still have to complete or give 19.3 another go check out the CrossFit Open 19.3 workout description and strategy guide. 

Down Under CrossFit Championship — The Down Under CrossFit Championship, a CrossFit Sanctional taking place May 17 – 19, announced their first team event yesterday. 

Asia CrossFit Championship — The Asia CrossFit Championship announced yesterday that Brent Fikowski has joined the roster of athletes to compete at the sanctioned event in April.

USA Weightlifting National University Championships — Mattie Rogers got three new university American records in the 76kg category with her 234 pound snatch and 293 pound clean and jerk. 

Becca Voight on BMI — Ten-time Games athlete Becca Voight posted a client’s story to her Instagram. “I recently had a member come to me and say that when he was at a doctors appointment, the doctor asked if he was happy with his weight. Now mind you this guy is fit has very little fat on his body. The doctor told him that his BMI was a little high and that he needs to consider exercising and changing his diet. The doctor knew nothing about him and had no clue about his daily workout regime. She solely went off a
number on a chart.” 

— She continued the post, “This is exactly why I love SteadyMD.I work with a doctor that really knows me and understands things like nutrition, movement and overall wellness — not just generalized guidelines that don’t apply.”

“Why the Newly Sanctioned Games Helps Brands Support CrossFit,” by Eric Le, Morning Chalk Up

I’ll never forget my first CrossFit Regional.

It was the California Regional in Del Mar, only hours away from the birthplace of CrossFit. So many of the top competitors were there, all of us fighting for a select number of coveted spots — the spots in consumer mouths and pantries.

Vendor Village at the Regionals might not be as physically intense as the competition itself, but I still felt both exhilaration and overwhelm while working the EPIC Provisions booth amid the heat and sand. As a passionate member of the CrossFit community even before my food marketing career, I was eager to show up in the best way possible.

While I’m still uncertain as to whether or not the new Games format is a change for the better, it certainly gives brands like EPIC more opportunities to support the amazing CrossFit community — which is responsible for a significant amount of our success and growth over the years.

First, we can better support CrossFit at events.

Events cost money, and that’s something brands are willing to give in exchange for the opportunity to get in front of eyes (and mouths!). The birth of “Sanctionals” provides twice as many opportunities for brands to engage with the community, and it allows us to do so throughout the year — rather than just during Regionals or the Games.

It also provides us a larger pool of events to choose from, so that we can find the event that is most relevant to our audience (depending on location, size, sponsored athletes, etc.).

3/14: Open Announcement 19.4 (Online)

3/16: 2019 Shamrock Showdown (Pittsburgh, PA)

3/16 – 17: The Tactical Games (Burnet, TX)

3/21: Open Announcement 19.5 (Online)

3/23: Down for Donuts (Ocala, FL)

3/24: The Rockwell Championships Series Team Qualifiers (Online)

3/30: Game of Barbells (Houston, TX)

3/30: Row for a Reason 2019 (Nashville, TN)

3/30: Reps For Rescues at CrossFit Hanover (Hanover, PA)

3/30: Crossfit Redoubt Open Competition (Slovakia)

3/30: Cru’s Crusaders Fundraiser WOD (San Clemente, CA)

3/30: Burritt Built Throwdown (Port St. Lucie, FL)

3/30: The Havoc Games (Bradenton, FL)

4/1 – 4/8: Northern California Classic Online Qualifiers (Online)

4/1 – 4/11: The Liege Throwdown Online Qualifiers (Herstal, Belgium)

4/5 – 7: Iron Sharpens Iron Camp (Nashville, TN)

4/6: Feed, Clothe, Love and Lift (Amarillo, TX) 

4/6: St. Peters CrossFit Fitness Awards (Saint Peters, MO)

4/6: Powerstroke Partner Throwdown 2019 (Fallon, NV)

4/6: Metcon Meltdown (Flemington, NJ)

4/6: Two Peas in a POD Competition (Burlington, MA)

4/6: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit Diversion (Williamstown, NJ)

4/6: Rise of the Machines IV (Austin, TX)

4/6: Bay Area Beatdown 2 (Webster, TX)

4/6: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit Cornerstone (Cincinnati, OH)

4/10 – 4/24: Granite Games Online Qualifier (Online)

4/11 – 4/14: CrossFit Lowlands Throwdown Online Qualifier (Online)

4/12 – 4/13: Capstone Caveman Clash and Cook Off (Lubbock, TX)

4/12 – 4/14: Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge (Washington, D.C.)

4/13: Capacidad De Dos Amigos (San Antonio, TX)

4/13: The Craic Throwdown (Norwood, MA)

4/13: Warrior Affiliate League Deuces Wild (Chino, CA)

4/13: Battle of the Ages (Pineville, NC)

4/13: 5th Annual Battle for the Mountain (Dawsonville, GA)

4/13: The Requisite Masters Classic (Philadelphia, PA)

4/13: HandSTANDUP for Haiti (Smyrna, TN)

4/13: WOD Wars Fit Fest (Dunedin, FL)

4/13: CFL Loganville Lockdown (Loganville, GA)

4/13: CrossFit Katy Team Classic (Katy, TX)

4/15 – 4/27: Top Of The Box Online Qualifier (Clarksville, TN)

4/19 – 5/1: CrossFit French Throwdown Individual Online Qualifier (Online)

4/20: The Wodfather VII 2019 (Keller, TX)

4/20: Rookie Rumble at Bucktown CrossFit (Chicago, IL)

4/20: Barnyard Throwdown (Ohatchee, AL)

4/26: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit Nashua (Nashua, NH)

4/26 – 4/27: Gameday Competition (Mankato, MN) 

4/26 – 4/28: CrossFit Italian Showdown (Milan, Italy)

4/27: 4th Annual Spring Fever Partner Masters Comp (Souderton PA)

4/27: Rookie Rumble at CrossFit KOA (Cranford, NJ)

4/27: The Gnardog Challenge (Reedley, CA)

4/27: Festivus Games (Worldwide)

4/27: Raising the Bar for Charlotte (Medina, OH)

4/27 – 4/29: Asia CrossFit Championship (Shanghai, China)

4/27: Autism Rocks and Rows (San Clemente, CA)

4/27: Garage Games Xs and Ys (Hiram, GA)

4/27: The Explode Individual Classic (West Chester, PA)

4/27: Fast Times at West Tech High (Las Vegas, NV)