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Why Are You Doing This?

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition was chalked up while getting on a plane to head up to NorCal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I did yesterday what you didn’t, so I can do today what you can’t.” — Mathew Fraser

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE BOX

A look at a few of the notable names on top of the unofficial CrossFit Games Online Qualifier leaderboard. Unofficial, but it looks like 2017 will see the return of Becky Conzelman to the CrossFit Games as a Masters athlete and Kristi Eramo’s mom well be coming back to the CrossFit Games too. Sarah Hopping Estrella did 90 strict handstand push-ups for time. Austin Malleolo celebrates his wedding anniversary. Whoever gets closest to guessing how long it took Julian Alcarez to do 30 rope climbs will win a free month of Street Parking programming. Christy Adkins joins the PurePharma team.

In Case You’re in the Area — Joy and Claire from Girls Gone WOD Podcast are hosting their 200th episode party this Saturday in Denver.

Power Players — With yesterday’s announcement that the Sixth Fittest Woman on Earth, Brooke Wells officially joined the Cellucor team, it’s signaling an early shift in the supplement industry’s approach to the sport of CrossFit. Cellucor’s products are a staple on sites like Bodybuilding.com. We’ll be curious to see if they develop a line to market specifically to athletes. In the announcement, CMO John Hardesty said: “Brooke is a great example showing how Cellucor supports competitors with a variety of goals, training regimens, techniques and body types. What works for a body builder may not work for a CrossFit athlete or a long-distance runner, and we’re here to help anyone and everyone achieve their goals from beginner to pro.” The door has now opened.

THINGS TO…

WATCH: Making of a Champion, Part 2

The second part in this new documentary series following Mathew Fraser as he trains to repeat as CrossFit Games champion. In this episode, Fraser walks through the evolution of his training and approach to the entire Games season that led him to win the CrossFit Games in 2016, after two second place finishes in a row.
WATCH NOW.

HEAR: Nicole Biscuiti, Founder of the Chestee

What? You’ve never heard of the Chestee before? Nicole started The Chestee after a particularly painful Wodapalooza workout left her trying to explain her collarbone bruises at her business formal job. Girls Gone WOD Podcast sits down with this full-time CEO and dives into everything from starting her company to ignoring naysayers along the way up.
HEADPHONES ON.

KNOW: Why Do You Crave Sugary and Salty Foods?

So 2PM rolls around and you’re thinking that Ghirardelli salted dark chocolate square would be pretty perfect right about now. Cravings can come on for many different reasons, but if it’s happening often there might be an explanation. A couple dietitians were asked to dive into what makes us crave sweet and salty foods and here are three reasons they came up with.
IN THE KNOW.

BUY: 50% Off RockTape Pre-Cut

Through May 31, RockTape is having an insane 50% off sale on pre-cut rolls of tape with code “POSTURE.”
DEAL ME IN.

CHALK UP AFFILIATES

Congratulations to John and Hannah Dunlop and Manasseh and Aimee Gudgeon, co-owners of North Bound CrossFit who opened their doors this week in Yanchep, WA.

CHALK UP READS

“Social Sabotage: Why You Really Aren’t Getting Better” by Athlete Daily

You do it. Nearly everyone does. The biggest mistake Dawn Fletcher, owner and founder of Mentality WOD, sees on a daily basis has nothing to do with lifting technique, mobility or even athletic ability. “Everyone from the competitive athlete to the general gym-goer is way way way too hung up and caught up in engaging whether it’s in feedback via your phone or conversation about stuff that a) doesn’t matter, b) you can’t control, c) is just nonsense,” Fletcher said.

“Whether it’s ‘hey did you hear?’ and ‘this person’s coaching and they’re not’ and ‘why don’t they do more weightlifting?’ All of that chatter is just a waste of time. It takes away from you and what you’re there for.

But we’re so used to doing that, that’s how we just build rapport with others—we talk, we gossip, we look at things online. It’s all just waste and we get caught up in all of that shit. If you don’t think it’s impacting you, it impacts you.”

“When You Know Your Enemy” by Emily Beers, CrossFit Journal

She knew about the barbell complex for weeks: 3 deadlifts plus 1 hang power clean plus 3 front squats. Amanda Workman had practiced the complex multiple times and had a plan she intended to execute at a fitness competition designed for novice and intermediate athletes. It would be her first time in a competitive venue.

When the big day arrived at CrossFit Influx in Ladson, South Carolina, the barbell complex didn’t go anything like the 34-year-old had planned.

“Under all that pressure, I ended up with an extra plate on one side. I misloaded the bar and couldn’t get the lift,” she said. “Neither me or my partner noticed until it was too late.” Workman was furious. “We had known about the workouts forever and had been practicing how to approach them for five weeks. There’s no way I ever would have expected something like that to happen in competition.”

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