Your unofficial qualifiers for the Dubai CrossFit Championship

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Today’s edition is fueled by LÄRABAR, a delicious gluten-free blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts, and spices. Made from whole food, each flavor contains no more than 9 ingredients – minimally processed, and as close to their natural state as possible.

Interested in carrying LÄRABAR in your gym? Sign up for their soon-to-be-launched wholesale program and receive a free countertop display rack with your first order.

“You are what you settle for.” — Janis Joplin

This Runner Takes the Term Cross Country Maybe Too Literally

The story.

Pete Kostelnick started running to impress a girl. His now wife, Nikki, was an avid runner in college, where they met.

So he joined her on her runs and found he couldn’t keep up with her. When he had to start walking the college track, she kept going. He decided he would try harder.

He decided to run a marathon to shed some weight. It worked, but at the end of the marathon he vowed he’d never do that again.

Except…

Well, now he’s running from Alaska to Florida in under 110 days.

That seems like more than a marathon.

Totally more than a marathon. More than even an ultramarathon. It’s like an ultramarathon times a hundred.

He started his run on August first in Kenai, Alaska. As of this weekend, Pete is in Alabama and has run just over 4,505 miles. Just him and a stroller full of supplies.

Why would anyone do such a thing?

Well, Pete has already set the record for fastest time running from San Francisco to New York City. (It’s 42 days and 6 hours, covering 3,067 miles, FYI.) But, at the end of that run, Pete felt short changed. “I felt like I only had time to eat, sleep, and run, because I wanted to beat the record,” he says. “I felt like I didn’t get to experience America the way I wanted to. So, that’s what I’m doing now,” he told Runners World in an interview.

He posts his journey daily on his Instagram. People are rallying alongside him every day, helping him break up the miles, feeding him, and helping him with gear and supplies. He’s enjoying every day of his run, taking in all of America’s sights.

He’s having the time of his life. “It’s been the journey of a lifetime. I’ve met so many great people and seen so many great things.”

Coffee Break Conversations

What to tell your coach who decided to take the train in to work today…

All aboard. You’ve seen partner push-up trains before but have you ever seen a squat train? Neither had we until a reader shared this one from CrossFit Floripa in Trindade, Brazil. Which one of you boxes is going to try it next and share it on Instagram? #DropItLikeItsSquat.

Things To…

WATCH: The Truth About CrossFit Health

Armen Hammer got to visit CrossFit HQ and he learned a ton about what is really going on with all the CrossFit Games changes and health care. The push to focus on CrossFit Health lately has been huge and Armen explains it to you step-by-step and what the ripple effect will look like if we all get on board.

FROM THE GROUND UP. 

HEAR: Mat Fraser on the AMRAP Mentality Podcast

Jason Khalipa just released the first episode of the AMRAP podcast, and his guest is none other than Mat Fraser. Together they discuss the origin of HWPO, Mat’s early years in weightlifting, and how he’s still managed to study mechanical engineering while dominating the CrossFit competition grounds.

HIS BEST SELF. 

KNOW: Supplements for CrossFit Athletes

What supplements should you be taking? Which ones are designed for performance and which are for general health? Xwerks answers the most common supplement questions so you can find out what’s right for you.

GET THE GUIDE.

BUY: Invest in a Weight Vest 

Let’s face it, every CrossFitter looks even more badass than usual in a weight vest. We’re not even sure how that’s possible, but it’s true. Go get one for yourself and find out. Use code “CHALKUP25” for $25.00 off any weight vest purchase from Invest Fitness until November 1. 

GET TO IT.

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

Chalk Up Community

• STABBING IN CROSSFIT PARKING LOT — Tarpon Springs Police arrested 17-year-old Dedson Hallon Suas for the stabbing and attempted armed robbery of a 16-year-old outside of CrossFit Tarpon Springs. The victim is an employee of the gym. 
• ANAHOLA CROSSFIT SHUTS DOWN — Anahola CrossFit in Anahola, HI, built in the building of an abandoned church, has been shut down by the Department of Hawaiian Homelands for lacking the proper permits. Bronson Lovell, who operates Anahola CrossFit, is temporarily hosting members in his garage. 
• RILEIGH STRONG FUNDRAISER — Rileigh Denis is a long-time member of Iron Forged Athletics and the current Registered Dietitian on staff. Rileigh was recently and suddenly diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and faces a tough battle. Iron Forged Athletics is hosting a fundraiser to help Rileigh and her family over the next few months.
• UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP — Angelino CrossFit in Los Angeles, CA  is under new ownership. Gym manager and head coach Karlos Ramirez is now owner along with John Thyne as co-owner.

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

Congratulations to Hafthor Bjornsson and Kelsey Morgan Henson who tied the knot in Iceland last weekend • Melanie Haig hits a 200 pound clean PR • Dave Castro traveled to New Jersey to help CrossFit Morristown celebrate ten years as an affiliate • Holy leg death…100 barbell bear complexes for time • Noah Ohlsen hits a 2 hang squat clean + jerk complex at 315 pounds • Congratulations to former CrossFit Games athlete and President of USA Functional Fitness, Gretchen Kittleberger on getting engaged • Congratulations to Jaclyn DeMiro and Anthony Vazquez on getting engaged • Camille Leblanc-Bazinet makes a 230 pound clean and jerk look smooth • Carly Fuhrer gets a 230 pound clean PR • No, no one sped up this video of Paula Celik cycling clean and jerks • Rachel Garibay hit a 295 pound front squat PR • Willy Georges does 225 pound heavy Isabel in 5:14 • Amanda Barnhart hits an easy 245 pound squat clean • Cayla Haney squat cleaned 266 pounds.

…and for those of you looking for a squat mobility challenge, here’s one from Mallin Jansson.

Glassman in China — On Saturday, CrossFit senior staff members attended the CrossFit China Affiliate Summit in Hangzhou, where Greg Glassman spoke to more than 150 affiliates in attendance. Jimi Letchford, Sevan Matossian, Jeff Cain and some additional media and staff were on site to meet with more than 300
attendees from the Chinese CrossFit Affiliate community. The summit was organized by the CrossFit China staff led by Kong Liang (“the General”) who is a longtime affiliate owner and member of the CrossFit seminar staff. He runs CrossFit operations on the ground in China.

Kicking Off: CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town — Registration for the next sanctioned event has already begun. The online qualifier will run from November 1 – 11, 2018 and consist of three scored workouts.

— What you need to know: Athletes looking to qualify in the elite individual division need to register, smash some workouts and end up in the top 20 worldwide to receive an invitation. FiCT (Fittest in Cape Town) will also be doling out four spots in both the male and female division at their discretion. Athletes will have 72 hours to accept or decline their invitation.

PAY ATTENTION: Similar to the Open, athletes can be registered for both the individual and team competition then declare once the qualifier is over.

Elite teams are a tad more complicated. An athlete can only register for one team. For the Super Teams, the registered four athletes total individual ranking points will be added together, while for the Affiliate Teams the same will apply for their two highest ranked Female & Male athletes. The combined ranking points will then give each team a ranking.

…We don’t know how many super teams will be invited.

Wrapped Up Yesterday: Dubai Qualifier — The first-in-season online qualifier wrapped up yesterday morning and here are your 37 unofficial qualifiers and 10 teams for the December sanctioned competition. We fully expect these names to shift around a bit once all scores and videos are reviewed and athletes accept or decline their invitations.

— Previous individual Games athletes in qualifying spot:

Men: Streat Hoerner, Willy Georges, Jacob Heppner, Dean Linder-Leighton, Ben Smith, Alex Anderson, Travis Mayer, Alec Smith, Paul Castillo, Jason Smith, Brandon Swan, Roman Khrennikov, Frederik Aegidius, Paul Tremblay, and Eric Carmody.

Women: Laura Horvath, Jamie Greene, Eik Gylfadottir, Jessica Coughlan, Sam Briggs, Kelley Jackson, Pip Malone, Bethany Shadburne, Chelsey Hughes, Camilla Salomonsson Hellman, Alessandra Pichelli, and Casey Campbell.

— Athletes on the cusp:

Men: 36). Lukas Hogberg, 37). Mohamed El Omda, 38. Dane Smith, 39). Lazar Dukic and 40). Griffin Roelle.

Women: 36). Lindsey Valenzuela, 37). Haley Adams, 38). Emilia Leppanen, 39). Carole Castellani, and 40). Constanza Cabrera.

Wrapping Up Today: Wodapalooza — The second-in-season qualifier finishes up this evening; scores for WODs 6 and 7 are due by 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET. Look for the leaderboard to continue firming up over the next 24 hours, and if you’re wondering why all the big CrossFit Games names aren’t on the list it’s because they were all invited to bypass the qualifier and go straight to competition.

Last but not least…here’s the schedule for the 2019 CrossFit Games season so far. 

“She Studied CrossFit From the Hospital While She Recovered From a Kidney Transplant,” by Jessica Danger, Morning Chalk Up 

Ja’Nielle Alcantar thought she had the stomach flu. After days and days of throwing up every hour, her best friend gave her an ultimatum: either you go to the doctor yourself or I am taking you to the emergency room.

The doctor drew blood and gave her some anti-nausea medication. Told her they’d call her in a week and sent her home. But it didn’t take a week. The doctor called her back the next day.

Her kidneys had failed. The lab worker at the hospital told her she should be dead.

That is actually insane.

Headed into the emergency room for emergency dialysis, Ja’Nielle remembers that she could hear her pulse in her head. She looked at the nurse and said, “Please don’t let me die.”

Five days later, she went home to her new life of doctors appointments, nightly home dialysis, and changing her diet.

Desperate to feel normal and be around people, she went to boot camp with her best friend, Shala, who coached there. “It was really hard for me to constantly remind myself I was not like other people. I was in a walking depression,” Ja’Nielle said. “It was so hard to watch everyone else being so fit and so healthy. And then there was me.”

10/26 – 10/28: JAKTRX Atlas Games (Montreal)

10/27: Tough Temple Invitational (Rockville, MD)

10/27: Rock Your Box Throwdown (St.Cloud, MN)

10/27: Halloween Havoc (Harrisburg, PA)

10/27: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ CrossFit Trumbull (Trumbull, CT)

10/27: Saberspook Throwdown (Minneapolis, MN)

10/27: Monster Mash (Ann Arbor, MI)

10/27: The Foundry 5K (Steamboat Springs, CO)

10/27: Rock Your Box Throwdown (Saint Cloud, MN)

10/27: Beartown Halloween Beatdown (Lebanon, VA)

10/27: 9th Annual Fall Brawl (Gibsonia, PA) 

10/27: Boo Bash (Cleveland, TN)

10/27: Crush Cancer at Dogtown CrossFit (Los Angeles, CA)

10/27: Sin City Championships 2018 (Singapore)

10/27: Barbells For Boobs at CrossFit New Albany (New Albany, OH)

10/27: Barbells For Boobs Fundraiser (Nyack, NY)

10/27: WOD League Black River Edition (São José do Rio Pret, Brazil)

10/27: 2018 CrossFit Juke Joint Halloween Mayhem (Grand Junction, CO)

11/2: Wodapalooza Qualifier – Team (Online)

11/2: WOD League Mixed Doubles Edition (São Paulo, Brazil)

11/2 – 11/3: Women’s WOD Jam Individuals (Denver, CO)

11/2 – 11/3: Fenrir’s Mayhem at CrossFit Iron Legion (Ocala, FL)

11/3: The Battle of Port Royal Sound (Okatie, SC)

11/3: Battle for the Badges (St. Charles, MO)

11/3: PPS CrossFit Fall Throwsdown (Portland, OR)

11/3: CFT’s 2018 Strongman Classic (Carol Stream, IL)

11/3: WODamania (Riviera Beach, FL)

11/3: Barbells For Boobs at CrossFit Florian (Norwood, MA)

11/3: Bar Wars 2018  (Harker Heights, TX)

11/3: Masters Of The Midway (The Hills, IL)

11/3: Dynamic Duo Deathmatch 2018 (Southlake, TX) 

11/3: Inferno in the Forge (Lawrenceville, IL)

11/3: Perimeter Rowdown (Atlanta, GA)

11/3: Central Texas Showdown (Seguin, TX)

11/3: Rookie Rollout 3 at Troy CrossFit (San Diego, CA)

11/3: Masters of the Midwest (Greenwood IN)

11/3: Fit Wars Competition (Cedar Park, TX)

11/3- 11/4: Reignited Games 2018 (Wilmington, NC) 

11/3 – 11/4: Charlotte Throwdown for Mental Health Awareness (Charlotte, NC)

11/3 – 11/4: GameDay Championship (St. Paul, MN)

11/3 – 11/4: Clearwater Beach Brawl (Clearwater, FL)

11/04 – 11/05: WODNATION BR (Vinhedo, Brazil)

11/10: Emerald Coast Honor Games (Destin, FL)

11/10 – 11/11: Extreme Games (Piauí, Brazil)

11/10 – 11/11: South Loop Games (Chicago, IL)

11/10- 11/11: Southie Showdown (Boston, MA)

11/10: Metcon 4 Hope (Reno, NV)

11/10: Best of the Wurst (New Braunfels, TX)

11/10: Warrior Affiliate League Delta Force (Duarte CA)

11/10: USA Powerlifting Veterans Day Championship (Philadelphia, PA) 

11/10: Bromageddon 2018 (Chandler, AZ)

11/10: First Annual Sergeants Fitness Patriot Games (Caldwell, ID)

11/11: Bonsai Brawl (Philadelphia, PA)

11/15: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ Hybrid Athletics Bridgport (Bridgeport, CT)

11/16 – 11/17: Veterans Day Bash at CrossFit Wild West (Lubbock,TX)

11/17: MetCon Mashups CrossFit Lubbock (Lubbock,TX)

11/17: CrossFit TIG Turf Wars (Brighton, MI)

11/17: 2018 Energy Games (Houston, TX)

11/17: MetCon Mashups (Tulsa, OK) 

11/17: Green Valley Clash of the Fittest (Green Valley, AZ)

11/17: Push Pull for Pancreatic Cancer @ Invictus Boston (Boston, MA)

11/17: Team SuperFit Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)