Why Glassman’s Games Gambit Might Pay Off

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

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“Things that tell the truth: old people, small children, and yoga pants.” — Unknown 

Adaptive Athletes in Wheelchairs Find Their Own Box

The story. 

In South Orlando, FL a new pilot program through Orlando Health is getting athletes that use wheelchairs into a CrossFit class on a regular basis. 

How’s that?

The Craig Neilsen Foundation helps people with spinal cord injuries adapt to daily life by getting them into the box. “When they’re done with their inpatient care and outpatient care, we wanted to focus on where these individuals can continue working on their health and physical activity outside of a rehab setting,” said Andrea Cooper, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist.

So the program teamed up with CrossFit coaches at South Orlando CrossFit in Orlando, FL to adapt WODs to train athletes for daily tasks like getting in and out of vehicles and lifting wheelchairs.

That’s a cool program.

It is, and the athletes love it. 

“They welcomed us as one of their own since we started,” said athlete C.J. Bellamy. “You know, they give us their respect, you know nobody disrespects us or talks nonsense about us.”

The program has been successful enough that Orlando Health is looking at branching out to other gyms to serve more athletes. 

“We’re looking at other gyms. We’re looking at more training. We’re looking at extended memberships. We’re looking at more participants,” Cooper said.

Why Glassman’s Games Gambit Might Pay Off (Op-Ed)

By: Patrick Cummings, co-host of the Chasing Excellence podcast

In the summer of 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan plugged in an electric Fender Stratocaster guitar and promptly pissed everybody off.

What’s happening now in CrossFit isn’t so dissimilar.

In both cases, the drastic changes were about adjusting expectations, shifting perceptions and redefining the future. At the time, the boos and hisses from the crowd were plenty proof that success wasn’t assured for Dylan. It worked out okay, though. I think it’ll work out okay for CrossFit, too. But it’s far from guaranteed.

We’ll take a step in the right direction if we start spending more time trying to understand why these changes are happening and less time indulging our collective dislike for change. We’ll take a step when we recognize that these adjustments of expectation, these shifts of perception, are all — pardon my use of obnoxious business jargon — issues of branding.  

It takes a lot of guts to break promises on purpose, to intentionally screw with your established brand, to go electric at a folk festival. When Dylan walked off the stage that day, nobody was left saying he was just a singer of acoustic protest songs. He lost some people whose values no longer aligned with those of this “new” artist.

But I think Dylan knew he had written himself into a corner and that drastic action was needed to free himself from it. I think those who are great at branding play chess when the rest of us are playing tiddlywinks.

Dylan was three moves ahead of everybody else that year. Dylan is great at branding. So is Greg Glassman.

Continue Reading.

Coffee Break Conversations

The next time your mother just walks right into your apartment…

Ma, you gotta ring the bell, just like 65-year-old athlete Renee Warner Miner did on Friday night. After a few misses on the cleans, Milner nailed a 105 pound clean for a thirty pound PR. Her coach might have been a bit more emotional than her, but we get it. We’re not crying, you’re crying. 

Things To…

WATCH: McKernan, Sawyers and Cannon do 19.2 

Rory McKernan, Heber Cannon and Marston Sawyer did 16.2 in Iceland. So it only makes sense to get the three back together again to do 19.2 this time. So that’s just what they did.

EVER GET DEJA VU?

HEAR: Margaux Alvarez on the NoRep Podcast

No Rep podcast hosts Seth and Tony caught up with Margaux Alvarez as she prepares to compete on American Ninja Warrior, heads to the Rogue Invitational and plans an appearance at a world long drive competition.

BUT WHAT DRIVES HER?

EAT: Coconut and Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars 

Peanut butter protein bars made with simple, healthy ingredients like oats, peanut butter, chia seed, coconut and protein powder. Drizzled with chocolate and a little sea salt. Truly the ultimate protein bar because you can easily make it your own.

HOMEMADE IS THE BEST.

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

Chalk Up Community

• PRO-TIP: TRAINING WHILE PREGNANT — Kara Saunders, who just completed 19.2 in her third trimester of pregnancy, gives her tips for the WOD and discusses training while pregnant and competing in the 2019 CrossFit Open.
• ROW FOR A REASON — The 2019 Row For a Reason at CrossFit East Nashville will be held on March 30. All proceeds go to Gigi’s Playhouse, an organization that provides free educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
• WEIGHTLIFTING CLINIC — Jamie Hagiya and Andrew Kong are hosting a weightlifting clinic at Torrance Training Lab Sunday, March 24 and Sunday, March 31. 

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

Lindsey Valenzuela coaches Games teen Maddy Espinoza through 19.2 • Chandler Smith snatched 300 pounds • Will Georges snatches 245 pounds for four reps • Happy birthday Jenny Labaw • Tiffany Bautista gets an 85 pound clean PR •
Katrin Davidsdottir did 19.2 in Columbus, OH • Addie Long is getting ready for her first CrossFit competition • Brooke, who is visually impaired, did 19.2 with her coach Chase Knight. 

…and when Brooke Wells celebrates getting one million followers, she is allowed cake, kind of.

Kara Saunders Launched a YouTube Channel — Kara Saunders has launched her own YouTube channel where she’ll be vlogging about her life, daily routines and answering questions. She’ll also feature interviews, CrossFit news, mobility workouts and training techniques.

19.2 Scores Due Tonight — Don’t forget to submit your 19.2 scores tonight by 5:00 PM PT. 

— How to approach a possible re-do: Dani Speegle was waiting for redemption on this WOD and Noah Ohlsen is re-doing 19.2 today, despite feeling like he did well on take one. Pat Vellner is pleased with his first run at 19.2. His advice, “Do the same thing as last time except just be stronger for the last two bars.”

19.3 Live Open Announcement — One of the hosts for 19.3 live Open announcement, taking place this Thursday at 5:00 PM PT, will be CrossFit Diablo in Pleasanton, CA. Alessandra Pichelli and Lauren Fisher and will going head-to-head. But you’ll have to watch it from the CrossFit Games
website because they’re sold out. Tickets went on sale at 10:30 PM PT and were gone by 6:30 AM the next morning. 

If Your Favorite Part of the Open is the Leaderboarding — Then you’ll love Challenge Me, a new app that helps you know your world rank in the movements and workouts you care about most. With real-time rankings based on region and weight class, you can prove how well rounded of an athlete you are on the overall leaderboard all year round. Useful for gyms, great for events, and perfect for fitness brands its designed to help achieve fitness goals across the board.

FIRST LOOK — Mycal Anders, co-host of Feed Me, Fuel Me podcast dropped “Inner Circle: Focus & Fulfillment Habits of the Enlightened” on Amazon. Excerpts:

— “The enlightened are incredibly protective of their inner circle; who they let in, who they associate with, who they give and seek counsel from, is held in the highest of esteem.”

— “…in choosing happy, progress, and positive — challenging as it may be — you grant yourself the foresight of the greater good, transcending the most trying times to make the best decision for yourself and others in the wakes of those decisions.”

— Pick-up a copy.

So Long Mail-Order Meal Kits — A recent essay in Eater spells out the downfall of mail-order meal kits. “Meal kits struggles could come down to human nature: People want more spontaneity when it comes to what’s for dinner. ‘Dinner is often a last-minute decision and sometimes people just don’t want to decide [what to eat] a week before,” says Seifer. “They want to decide in the moment.”

— “Additionally, while people are enthusiastic about buying damn near everything online these days, the major exception to that is groceries: A recent Gallup poll showed that Americans still overwhelmingly prefer to get their food shopping done the old-fashioned way.”

“US Fast-Food Giants Have Increased Their Portion Sizes, Calories, and Sodium Content,” Chase Purdy, Quartz

The last decade has been a tumultuous one for the American food industry, marked by consumer rebellions against genetically modified foods, artificial flavors, sugars, eggs from caged hens, and trans fats, among others.

The fits and demands of real people have actually moved the needle in recent years. They’ve forced major food manufacturers to redesign some of their most popular products, pushed egg farmers in Iowa to physically redesign their operations, and has soda makers playing defense against taxes for drinks with added sugar.

The industry now has to operate in a new reality, where consumers hold more power than ever to publicly reshape what the food system looks like.

There is one exception, though.

While so many other companies bent to the wills of consumers asking for better food, America’s fast-food giants flouted the trends. In the last 30 years, as Americans demanded less salt and tried to trim their caloric intake, fast-food chains served up more salt, increased portion sizes, and added calories to their meals, according to a new study published this week in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

3/7: Open Announcement 19.3 (Online) 

3/14: Open Announcement 19.4 (Online)

3/21: Open Announcement 19.5 (Online)

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)

4/1 – 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: 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)

4/10 – 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)

4/15 – 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)

4/26: 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: 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)