What to Expect for 19.5

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“The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.” — Simon Sinek

What to Expect for 19.5

After four weeks and four workouts, a total of 12 movements have been programmed in the 2019 Open. There is only one week left with the possibility, however unlikely, of two scored events.

Here’s a little overview of Open movements over the past nine years.

• There has been an average of 13.25 movements programmed every year. But an average of 14.6 movements in the past three years.
• Number of movements in the Open since 2011: 14, 10, 12, 13, 13, 13, 15, and 16.
• The following movements have been programmed in every Open but have not shown up in 2019: thrusters and chest-to-bar pull-ups.

Here’s what we now about the history of the final Open workout.

1. These things have happened in the final workout every year:

• There has always been thrusters.
• It has always been a couplet.

2. The following has never happened:

• The final workout has never included a new movement never introduced to the Open before so don’t expect that to happen here.
• It has never been a two-part workout with two separate scoring opportunities.

Continue Reading. 

NUMBER CRUNCH.

If the Open Ended Today, Who Would Get Sanctionals Invites?

Four of five weeks are in and the 2019 CrossFit Open is nearly over. With national champion races and top 20 close to set, it will have broad implications on backfilling at Sanctionals.

The Games qualifying cutoff looks to be around 28th place for men and 32nd for women. There is certainly the possibility of a two-part workout showing up in 19.5, and that would shake things up, but it’s very likely this year’s Games athletes are on the first page.

• Consider This: No athlete from outside the top 50 after week 4 has finished in the top 30.

Also coming into focus is who is poised to receive the Games invite from the first five Sanctionals that have already taken place: Dubai CrossFit Championship, Wodapalooza, Australian CrossFit Championship, Fittest in Cape Town and Strength in Depth.

• Remember, if an athlete qualifies for the Games through the Open and they have an invite to the Games from a Sanctional, that Sanctional invite is passed down to the next athlete without a Games invite.

Continue Reading…

Coffee Break Conversations

What to do if you woke up with a serious case of FOMO…

Regret, such regret. You should have met us in Ireland for the 19.5 live announcement with CrossFit Filthy150 in Dublin. Next time, get to it and make sure you get the most reasonably priced flight. Leaves more spending money anyway.

Things To…

WATCH: Brute Showdown Finale

On the final episode of the Brute Showdown we see the ladies take on the last three events, which include softball, soccer and a watermelon eating contest. Who will take the lead? Mattie Rogers, Brooke Ence, Dana Linn Bailey or Maddy Forberg?

THE HOME STRETCH.

HEAR: Tommy Marquez on the West Coast Advantage

Tommy Marquez was the face of the Update Show for CrossFit and prior CrossFit Games Open announcements. In his eight years of work with CrossFit Tommy has helped to develop a strong media presence that no doubt has contributed to the success and growth of the sport of CrossFit.

A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.

KNOW: What’s CBD and How Does it Work?

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THE DEETS.

EAT: Chocolate Avocado Pudding 

This recipe is so easy to prepare you can even get the kids into it, which is a great way to help build a love of cooking and preparing homemade food. With avocados as the base, this recipe adds cocoa, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond butter. You can even mix it up with mint or vanilla.

TIME FOR DESSERT.

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• CROSSFIT FOR ALL — All Levels CrossFit in Windsor, Canada will officially launch an inclusive athletic program for athletes with Down syndrome and autism tonight during the Open announcement. The public is invited to watch and cheer on the athletes, including other gym members participating in Open.
• FITNESS FAIR — CrossFit Hakkapeliitta in Hancock, MI is participating in the inaugural Wellness Fair at Finlandia University on Saturday, March 30. The fair is free and will include more than a half dozen vendors, health assessment and educational opportunities.
• CHRISTCHURCH DONATIONS — CrossFit Waitakere in Auckland, NZ is having a community moment of silence this Saturday morning to commemorate those who died in the Christchurch shooting. They will also take donations for the official Christchurch fundraising page while their members complete 19.5.

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

Congratulations to Baley Wright on getting her first bar muscle-up • Regan Huckaby front squats 310 pounds for a PR • Emmily Butz gets a 210 pound split jerk PR • Synne Krokstad got both a 199 pound thruster PR and also a 226 pound clean PR • Gym Gypsy and Vull Sport are hosting a giveaway • Sixty-year-old Beth Hoppe gets her first muscle-up.

Behind the Leaderboard — Behind the Leaderboard with Tommy Marquez is out today at Noon.

Asia CrossFit Championship — Kristin Holte is confirmed to compete at the Asia CrossFit Championship in Shanghai, China April 27 – 29. 

19.5 Live Announcements — Be ready for the 19.5 live announcements. All streams will be available at Games.CrossFit.com today at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM GMT +1:

— CrossFit French Throwdown at CrossFit Silvius Brabo with Lukas Esslinger, Jonne Koski, Carole Castellani and Siri Rohmesmo.

— Down Under CrossFit Championship in Sydney, Australia at CrossFit Ethos with Khan Porter and Jessica Coughlan.

— Wodapalooza from Miami, FL with Tia-Clair Toomey, Mat Fraser, Brenda Castro, and Lea Schmidt.

— CrossFit Filthy 150 with Travis Williams and Sean Sweeney, Michael Smith and Niall McCarthy, and Aoife Burke and Emma McQuaid at CrossFit Bua in Dublin, Ireland.

LIVE IN DUBLIN TODAY — Morning Chalk Up is hanging out at CrossFit Bua in Dublin, Ireland prepping for the live 19.5 announcement. Justin LoFranco will be taking you behind the scenes on the live blog throughout the day as they prepare to drop the final workout of the 2019 CrossFit Open.

— The 19.5 live blog is powered by O2 Natural Recovery. Grab a case of O2 at 19.5% off with code “19POINT5.”

CrossFit on Harassment — Yesterday, on the Games website CrossFit posted a reminder that harassment is not welcome. The announcement reads, “The 2019 season introduced a new element of competition within the Open, allowing National Champions to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Many countries will have representation at the Games for the first time.

— “For most of these athletes, the country they represent will coincide with where they currently live, work, and train on a daily basis. However, it is not a requirement for citizens to be living in-country. As long as they can provide proof of citizenship, their country affiliation adheres to the rules of the competition.

— “In the heat of competition, or when there is disagreement with a new rule, there can be a tendency toward responding aggressively. We understand the passion for sport and we tolerate different opinions and perspectives. But there is no place for coercion, of any athlete or member of this community. Sportsmanship has been a pillar of the CrossFit Games, and threats and harassment are not welcome and may be grounds for penalty, suspension, disqualification, removal, disqualification from future events, or legal action.”

“How Big Tobacco Hooked Children on Sugary Drinks,” by Andrew Jacobs, the New York Times

What do these ads featuring Joe Camel, Kool-Aid Man and the maniacal mascot for Hawaiian Punch have in common?

All three were created by Big Tobacco in the decades when cigarette makers, seeking to diversify their holdings, acquired some of America’s iconic beverage brands. They used their expertise in artificial flavor, coloring and marketing to heighten the products’ appeal to children.

That tobacco companies once sold sugar-sweetened drinks like Tang, Capri Sun and Kool-Aid is not exactly news. But researchers combing through a vast archive of cigarette company documents at the University of California, San Francisco stumbled on something revealing: Internal correspondence showed how tobacco executives, barred from targeting children for cigarette sales, focused their marketing prowess on young people to sell sugary beverages in ways that had not been done before.

The archive, known as the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents, was created as part of a settlement between major cigarette companies and states that were seeking to recoup smoking-related health care costs. The researchers published their findings on Thursday in the medical publication BMJ.

Using child-tested flavors, cartoon characters, branded toys and millions of dollars in advertising, the companies cultivated loyalty to sugar-laden products that health experts said had greatly contributed to the nation’s obesity crisis.

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)

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

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

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

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)

4/6: WOD 4 Trent (Phoenix, AZ)

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)

4/12 – 4/14: Athens Throwdown (Athens, Greece)

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)

4/13: Rescue Road: Obstacle Course Event (Alpharetta, GA)

4/13: Quad Wars at CrossFit Adversary (Williamstown, NJ)

4/13: First Annual McClaren Cup (Rio Rancho, NM)

4/13: Mayhem for Mustard Seed Ranch (Cookeville, TN)

4/14: To Hill and Back 2019 (Albemarle, NC)

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)

4/20: Southeastern Scuffle III (Lumberton, NC)

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)

4/26 – 4/28: The Sun Coast Fitness Festival (Kwa-Zulu Natal, AUS)

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)

4/27: Tyler’s Voice CrossFit Competition (Jefferson City, TN)

4/27: SWFL Sharks Semi-Pro Grid Combine (Cape Coral, FL)

4/27: Explode’s Independent Classic (West Chester, FL)

4/27: Festivus Games at Crossfit Sav-up (Petaluma, CA)

4/27: 4th annual Apple Town Throwdown (Cornelia,GA)

4/27: Kettlebells for Cojones (Montgomery, TX)