“A place for everything, everything in its place.”- Benjamin Franklin
LIFESTYLE
Where to Get Your Caffeine Fix in Miami During TYR Wodapalooza
It’s WZA week! We’re just two days out from the start of competition in Miami, where thousands will take on the 305 for a weekend of fitness, community, sun-bathing and celebrating. It wouldn’t be a CrossFit event without proper caffeination, so look no further: here are five must-try spots (in no particular order) to get your fix while at 2023 TYR Wodapalooza.
1. Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar
(249 E Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33131)
Conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the action, Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar is a staple in the area. Serving up coffee drinks, juices, smoothies and a variety of fresh food items since 2012, the bright and airy cafe with abundant indoor seating opens at 7AM every day of the week. Breakfast is served all day, and there are classic health-forward staples to help keep you fueled for activities all weekend long—such as oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches and Greek yogurt bowls. There are several locations across the city if you find yourself exploring, and you can skip the line and order ahead of time online or on their app.
2. White Rose
(4703 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33134)
When we asked for your suggestions for local loves, White Rose came highly recommended. This fan favorite is closed on Monday, open 10AM-5PM Tuesday through Saturday, 11AM-3PM on Sunday. It’s approximately 15 minutes by car inland from the competition, perfect to swing by and pick up if you’re not staying right next to the bay.
However, once you see the inside of the cafe, you may want to stay awhile. White Rose shares a space with Ocho Placas Tattoo Company, home to New York Times featured artist and co-owner, Javier Betancourt. Coffee and tattoos under one roof? If you see us showing up to Flagler stage with an Americano in one hand and fresh ink on the other, just mind your business.
3. Panther Coffee
Founded by long-time coffee aficionados, husband and wife Joel and Leticia Pollock, Panther Coffee has grown from one location in 2010 to six across the Miami area. The trendy cafe atmosphere, investment in coffee culture and in-depth barista education makes it a uniquely elegant must-try cafe. They open bright and early at 7AM, order online is available, sweet and savory food items grace the menu, and the closest location is in the W Miami lobby (485 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131), though the Wynwood store isn’t much further (2390 NW 2nd Ave, Miami FL 33127).
4. Vice City Bean
(1111 Brickell Ave, Miami FL 33131)
This specialty coffee cafe with a neighborhood feel is a 20-minute walk (5-minute drive) from Bayfront Park, open 8AM-3PM every day of the week. Order ahead is available on their website, and their light-bites food menu includes gluten-free and vegan options as well. As for coffee, we love the “Spro + Tonic”, which is espresso, tonic water, vanilla and orange — yum!
There’s also a location in Wynwood (1657 N Miami Ave, Ste C, Miami FL 33136) with extended hours in case you find yourself in that part of town, as suggested in our Things to Do in Miami guide.
5. On-Site at Bayfront Park
For ultimate convenience, you can snag some of your household-name favorites right in Vendor Village. Reign Body Fuel (aka 300mg of White Gummy Bear goodness), Paper Street Coffee and Strong Coffee Company, just to name a few, will be dishing up your favorite beverages to sip while you cheer your heart out.
Other notable mentions:
Cafe Grumpy (5829 SW 73rd Street – 5A, South Miami, FL 33143)
All Day (1035 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33136)
Pura Vida (1104 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130)
Under the Mango Tree (737 5th St. Miami Beach, FL 33139)
Zak the Baker (295 NW 26th St Miami, Fl 33127, USA)
Look, friends don’t let friends drink decaf. Save this list, send it to your squad and prepare to double-fist energy all weekend long. See you there!
Writer’s Note: This is certainly not an all-encompassing list, but rather a jumping off point. That said, did we miss something we must include? Shoot us a note!
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Miami bound: Morning Chalk Up will be on the ground all week for TYR Wodapalooza, and we will be publishing newsletters daily through the competition (Jan. 12-15). So keep an eye on our competition hub, our social media and our emails for all the breaking news, leaderboards and event updates. 😎
Comp update: Well done to Serbia’s Luka Djukic for winning the SFA SandClash in Saudi Arabia.
Local love: Great TV spot about CrossFit athletes competing in the 7th annual KTX Games in Katy, TX.
More local love: Another great piece, this time in The Indiana Gazette about CrossFit Indiana opening its doors to the public.
INDUSTRY
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Are Gyms Charging Enough to Keep Up with Inflation?
Inflation. It was the talk of 2022. And with reason, considering inflation levels rose to the highest they have been in 40 years.
So what did gyms do about this? Are gym rates seven percent higher now than they were in 2021?
The long and the short of it, according to a new State of the Industry report that included 10,657 gyms, is no.
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 men’s field.
We’re just a few days away from TYR Wodapalooza in Miami, Florida, and Games athlete Annie Sakamoto, CrossFit reporter Niki Brazier and Morning Chalk Up’s Lauren Kalil, reveal their podium picks for the elite women’s field.
2023 TYR Wodapalooza Men’s Podium Picks: Individuals and Teams
We’re days away from seeing an absolutely stacked men’s field at the 2023 TYR Wodapalooza. The new event format is extending the entertainment, as several of the top individuals will also be competing on teams. Today we’re giving our podium picks for both the men’s individual and team competitions, along with other top contenders that could make an appearance on the podium.
Individual: The men’s individual field will bring over ten athletes from the 2022 CrossFit Games, with several of these athletes competing in both the individual and team competitions at this year’s Wodapalooza.
Patrick Vellner: The reigning Wodapalooza championhas always found a way to get it done in Miami. After nearly winning the Rogue Invitational, it will be exciting to see Vellner compete in a less strength-biased event along a roster of so many fellow CrossFit Games athletes.
Roman Khrennikov: After so much anticipation, Khrennikov lived up to the hype at the 2022 CrossFit Games. Now that he is living stateside and has his Visa issues taken care of, it will be exciting to see the progress this growing fan-favorite has been able to make since the Rogue Invitational.
Gui Malheiros: The young phenom has been one of the most entertaining athletes to watch, bringing a level of strength, power and swagger to every competition he participates in. The programming lines up well for Malheiros thus far, and the energy and vibe of Wodapalooza is the type of environment Malheiros thrives in.
Other individuals to lookout for:
Ricky Garard
Cole Sager
Nick Mathew
Fabian Beneito Selles
Brent Fikowski
Dallin Pepper
Team: The team division is bringing an equally competitive roster to that of the individuals, with a mix of experienced team competitors and big name individuals linking up to race for the gold.
The Boyz (Travis Mayer, Noah Ohlsen, Chandler Smith): The reigning Wodapalooza men’s team champions are back again and looking to defend their title. The prior experience of working together, paired with the incredible talent of each individual makes The Boyz the repeat favorite for 2023.
King B.K. & Friends(Tola Morakinyo, Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson, Khan Porter): After nearly a year of training together in 2022, King B.K. & Friends are immediate contenders for the top of the podium. The team experience Porter and Marakinyo bring to the table, matched with the legendary fitness of BKG make this one of the top teams to watch at WZA.
Canadian PB&J (Patrick Vellner, Brent Fikowski, Jeffrey Adler): After great anticipation, we will finally get to see Vellner, Fikowski and Adler compete together. The trio is guaranteed to be entertaining, but more importantly they collectively are one of the most talented teams on the men’s roster. The question is if their lack of team experience will hinder their individual talent from shining through.
Other teams to lookout for:
CrossFit Mayhem (Rich Froning, Sam Cournoyer, Tyler Christophel)
Good Dudes (Cole Sager, James Sprague, Jayson Hopper)
Le Boiz (Nick Mathew, Jonne Koski, James Newbury)
Team GOWOD (Willy Georges, Roman Khrennikov, Jay Crouch)
Zeus & the Dogs (Ricky Garard, Tim Paulson, Matt Dlugos)
Team SmartWOD (Moritz Fiebig, Giorgos Karavis, Enrico Zenoni)
The bottom line: It’s going to be a coinflip of who takes the top spot in both the individual and team competitions. The depth of the men’s field at the 2023 TYR Wodapalooza will be an entertaining end to this year’s offseason and exciting way to begin the 2023 CrossFit Games season.
And, check back to our 2023 TYR Wodapalooza competition hub, and on Instagram, for more updates on programming as workouts are announced.
LIFESTYLE
2023 New Year Nutrition Guide
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.
Editor’s note: Some of these deals from our partners are exclusive to Morning Chalk Up. Order fast while supplies last!
Some people suicide grip, some people motorcycle grip and some just barely hang on. What grip style is the best for being efficient at gymnastics? CrossFit’s Gymnastics Seminar covers that are more.
Introducing AIRWAAV HIIT Miami Vice Edition — made exclusively to celebrate the spirit of the Wodapalooza Fitness Festival and the surrounding fitness community. Head to AIRWAAV.com now to get your hands on this limited-edition mouthpiece while supplies last.
You might have heard “eat more to weigh less”, but why is that? If you are here to make serious changes this year, then knowing why you should be consuming more protein is key to success. Read to find out why.
This Simple Three Move Sequence for a Stiff Upper Back
Sitting in a car, hunching over a computer, sitting on a couch… all things that can put stress on your upper back. Use these exercises to combat your upper back pain.
🪵 Bronislaw Olenkowicz clean and squat jerked 295 pounds/133kg on a log bar at the Double Trouble Finals in Cologne, Germany this past weekend.
Olenkowicz and his partner, Julia Blazejowska, finished second overall.
Congratulations to teen athlete Delia Moises from Risen Strength CrossFit in Gainesville, FL on the 205 pound/93kg clean PR.
🥈 Congratulations Jason Davis from Dignified CrossFit in Clarkston, MI on taking second place in the Lex Artis Barbell Classic men’s masters division, and landing a snatch PR of 225 pounds/102kg.
CrossFit Synergistics in Ashland, MA is running a Blackout BINGO Challenge for the month of January to encourage movement and community in colder months.
The goal for Blackout BINGO is to fill the entire card of gym-related challenges and tasks by January 31st.
The most popular square so far is a selfie with Zeus, a 3-year-old border collie and the resident gym dog.
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