“If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.”- Thomas Aquinas
LIFESTYLE
Five Favorites for Bites and Beverages in Miami during TYR Wodapalooza
Thus far we’ve brought you all you need to know for working out while in Miami, where to get your caffeine fix and things to do in the city during your visit for the 2023 TYR Wodapalooza. Last, but certainly not least, we’re dropping recommendations for where to grab a meal or libation to keep you fueled all weekend long.
“Miami is a city of flavor!”, boasts Anthony Tom, Miami local and eight-year staff videographer with the WZA media team. “The city is full of Latin and Caribbean heritage. There’s a lot to pile on your plate from Cuban sandwiches, pastelitos de guava, croquetas, ceviche, vaca Frita, and let’s not forget the ‘liquid gold’ Cuban coffee, a sweet shot of a colada!”
There’s an abundance of options but we sourced suggestions from readers like yourself and included some of the most highly recommended below in no particular order.
1. Cafe Bastille
248 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131
I mean, if it’s good enough for Brent Fikowski, it’s good enough for us! Cafe Bastille, a French inspired all-day breakfast spot less than a 10-minute walk from Bayfront Park, is a home run. And, you can even order the Canadian podium-conder’s signature dish: “Fikowski’s PB&J French Toast” now through January 16th.
There’s a variety of delicious options on the menu, and they’re open Monday through Friday 8AM to 4PM, Saturday and Sunday until 6PM. Plus, on the weekend, there’s a DJ at noon!
2. Finka Table and Tap
14690 SW 26th St, Miami, FL 33175
This all-encompassing restaurant is a crowd-pleaser; with wok-inspired meals, pizzas, lean options and more, all available for sit down in their large brick and mortar location or to-go (delivery or pick-up), it’s hard to go wrong. Open 11:30AM-11PM Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, it’s a great place to bring the crew post-competition.
3. 1-800-Lucky
143 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127
This is truly the ultimate Asian-inspired food hall, with seven cuisines available from Japanese to Thai and everything in between. The local marketplace feel coupled with karaoke rooms and walk-in only environment within the artistic Wynwood neighborhood make it the perfect hangout spot. Plus, they’re open until 1AM Monday through Wednesday, and until 3AM Thursday through Saturday.
Are you an UGHHH, AHHHH, or HURRRGHGH? Whatever your grunt, Goodr is here for it.
Meet Goodr (good-ER, if you SAY good-ARE, that’s a NO-REP). They make fun, fashionable, functional and affordable sunglasses for anyone.
They won’t slip or bouncewhile you lift weights on a beach in Miami, do burpees (ugh), carry all the groceries in one trip (NOBODY has time for two), or strike a pose while your swolemate takes a photo of those muscles you worked so hard for.
Their shades come in a variety of frames, including BFGs for big heads. Best of all, the prices start at $25, so you have more money for post-WOD drinks. Now get back to crushing it. AHHHHH!!
SPEED READS
Miami bound: Morning Chalk Up will be on the ground at TYR Wodapalooza and we will have you covered for everything related to the event. Check out our YouTube page for daily recaps and interviews, our Instagram for posts and stories, and our competition hub for stories and up-to-date leaderboards. 🏝
CrossFit HQ update: Two athletes have been granted competition region exceptions: Antonio Barrias moves from Europe to Asia and Roman Khrennikov moves from Asia to North America East.
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Two big findings that jumped out as areas in need of some serious improvement were in the areas of owner and coach pay.
We’re just a few days away from TYR Wodapalooza in Miami, Florida, and sports analysts Adrian Conway and Joey Adduci reveal their podium picks for the elite team men’s field.
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TYR Wodapalooza Gives Adaptive Athletes a Chance to Shine on the Big Stage
Wodapalooza’s popularity has only seemed to grow over the years, attracting athletes from around the globe who all want a chance to workout under the Miami sun, including adaptive division athletes whose opportunities to compete are limited.
The 2023 TYR Wodapalooza competition, also known as WZA, will kick off later this week and launch what will likely be an epic weekend of fitness. While most of the divisions are quite simple (i.e. individual or team elite, Rx, intermediate) one division that isn’t as clear cut is the adaptive division for able-bodied athletes, which has four classifications. The most in the competition’s history.
Chris Stoutenburg, the founder of adaptive athlete platform WheelWOD, says Wodapalooza contracts WheelWOD to program all of the able-bodied competition workouts. Up until 2015 there was no adaptive division at WZA. Separately, the CrossFit Games has also only recently included adaptive divisions to the pinnacle event of the sport.
“It’s a spotlight for them, it’s not only for them to prove what they can do in training and be part of such a large atmosphere and community,” said Stoutenburg. “The inclusiveness is what always drew me back to Wodapalooza and we continue to work with them because they do want to be fully inclusive.”
A typical adaptive competition includes classifications very specific to the able-bodied persons ailments, however due to space and time constraints WZA only includes four, which are adaptive standing upper extremity, adaptive standing lower extremity, adaptive standing neuromuscular, and adaptive seated.
With elite divisions stacked to the brim with Games-level talent on both the individual and team side, all eyes will turn to Miami this week to watch the stars of the sport compete for the first time in 2023. However, TYR Wodapalooza reaches far beyond the top 40 on their roster with over 30 divisions (plus an hour-long Gauntlet event for spectators).
The competition prides itself on bringing the entire community together providing space for athletes of all skill levels, abilities, and backgrounds on one of the biggest competition floors in the CrossFit space.
But what draws these athletes to a competition as big as Wodapalooza?
Team “Young & Free Only 17” has no fear of taking on the big stage–though, as the team name suggests, members Jenna Michellotti, Emily Meyer, and Hailey Rolfe are only 17-years-old. Each of the girls also have Games experience under their belts in the teenage division. But coming off of a stressful season rounding out their years of teen eligibility and now into their senior years of high school, the girls weren’t looking for a big solo competition in the middle of the offseason.
“I honestly wasn’t originally planning on doing Wodapalooza this year to not add any stress to this time of the season,” Michellotti said. The girls decided that competing as a team would take some of the pressure off and allow them to focus on having fun during competition. “I’m looking forward to the weather, having fun with my team, and doing a fun competition that will lead nicely into the 2023 season.”
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Make it rain PRs at this year's Open with better hydration, fat stacks of $25 gift cards, and exclusive Challenge Coins from O2! Encourage elite performance, reward your scrappiest warriors, and hydrate your hearts out with waterfalls of delicious O2. LFG, baby!
Ready to focus on your 2023 goals and dial in your nutrition post-holiday? So are we! That’s why we’ve put together a Guide with some of the best health and nutrition products, services, apps, and more! We are making it easy for you to start the new year off right with this guide.
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Iron Wolf Recovery and CrossFit Fox Den in Summerville, SC are hosting their 3rd annual CrossFit Total Lift-Off fundraiser on Saturday, February 4th, with 100% of the proceeds going to Iron Wolf Recovery Fitness.
IWRF offers free CrossFit classes to anyone with at least 48 hours of sobriety.
As stated on their website, “We aim to remove any financial barriers that stand in the way of recovery support and to provide a safe, nonjudgmental environment to help others feel, deal and heal.”
With a goal of raising $15,000, funds from the Lift-Off will go directly toward adding classes and expanding their reach. Donations can be made here.
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