Hybrid CF-L2 Coming Soon for Busy Gym Owners

September 2nd, 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • 🎓 CrossFit announces a one-day Hybrid Level 2 certification built for busy affiliate owners.

  • 🥘 Meal prep doesn’t have to drain your wallet; smart planning saves cash and calories.

  • 🍼🏋️ PRs and pacifiers — Ludvig Hahnsson hits personal best lifts, then pushes a stroller through 26.2.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

She’s only 11 months old, and I don’t think that many have been involved in completing a marathon at that age.”

Ludvig Hahnsson, about pushing his daughter, Estel, in a stroller for a sub-4-hour marathon last week.
INDUSTRY

CrossFit Launches One-Day Hybrid Level 2 Course

Credit: @crossfit / Instagram

Earlier this month, CrossFit LLC announced the launch of a one-day in-person CrossFit Level 2 course – the Hybrid Level 2 Certificate Course – designed for busy gym owners who might not be able to dedicate a full weekend to completing their Level 2 certification, as has traditionally been required.

The details: The Hybrid Level 2 includes an online lecture component you can complete at your own pace, followed by a one-day in-person course.

  • Pre-requisites include a current or expired CrossFit Level 1 or Level 2 certification. For those interested in the traditional two-day Level 2 course, it will remain an available option.

Find out where the first Hybrid Level 2s are happening, and why Dave Castro says it’s a “great option,” after the jump.

A MESSAGE FROM MOMENTOUS

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SPEED READS

🌎🥇 WFP Tour Stop II Results: Congrats to the Pro (Roman Khrennikov and Laura Horvath) and Challenger Division (Chris Ibarra and Paige Powers) winners. Full recaps and analysis coming this week.

🦺🏋️ Carry the Weight: Weighted vests aren’t just for Murph. Adding five to 10 percent of your body weight can turn walks into full-body workouts, boosting calorie burn, strength, and bone health. Research supports this claim: studies show that vests help preserve muscle during weight loss and improve power and endurance.

🤸‍♂️⚡ Rapid-Fire Gymnastics Hacks: Training Think Tank coaches drop quick hits for chest-to-bar (wider grip, faster drop), handstand walks (neutral gaze, bent knees), wall walks (jump both feet to the wall, fixed step count), and pegboards (hips to the board, long arms on the descent). Click here for the drills you’ll actually use.

🇺🇸📈 Oura’s U.S. Manufacturing Play: The smart-ring company is opening a Fort Worth, Texas, facility in 2026 to support new Department of Defense contracts—boosting service-member readiness and splitting supply chains. Read the full story here.

⚡️🤝 Coaches Need Coaches: Invictus reminds us that even the most seasoned trainers benefit from outside eyes, renewed accountability, and expert perspective to keep growing. Get the full breakdown on the Invictus Blog.

🚒❤️ Firefighters’ Silent Killer: Nearly half of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters are tied to heart disease. In this video, firefighter and PRVN athlete, Garrek Jordan, shares how CrossFit keeps him ready when lives are on the line — and why first responders should train like athletes.

🛠️🏋️ Mayhem’s “Secret” Hire: Austin Malleolo reflects on 15 years shaping CrossFit — from athlete to seminar staff to Reebok — and why joining Rich Froning’s crew marks the next chapter in empowering affiliates and athletes worldwide.

ICYMI: 🦈 Southwest Florida Sharks redeem last year’s near miss, claim 2025 Grid League crown.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Meal Prep on a Budget – How to Eat Well Without Emptying Your Wallet

Credit: Shutterstock

Let’s be honest – eating healthy can be costly. 

Organic produce, fancy superfoods, and protein-packed everything often come with a hefty price tag. When you’re busy and trying to eat healthier, it's easy to assume that fast food or frozen meals are just more convenient and affordable.

But here’s the truth: with a little planning and some clever strategies, meal prep can actually save you money, not cost you more. 

  • You don’t have to be a bodybuilder with a six-burner stove or spend Sundays surrounded by Tupperware. You just need a system that fits your lifestyle and budget.

COMMUNITY

Deadlifts, Diapers, and a Sub-4-Hour Marathon: Meet Ludvig Hahnsson

Credit: @lahahnsson / Instagram

Completing a marathon is a big deal. Being a parent is a big deal. PRing your squat is a big deal. Doing all of these three things at the same time is extraordinary. 

Just ask Ludvig Hahnsson.

Hahnsson has been training in CrossFit for nearly ten years, participating in his first Open in 2017. Before that, his main fitness activity was running; he completed four marathons between 2014 and 2016. 

Hahnsson and his wife, Neea, welcomed their daughter, Estel, last September, and since then, the family has been working on including their daughter in as many physical activities as possible.

  • “I asked on social whether I should aim to go sub-four hours in a marathon running with a stroller. I got great feedback,” he told the Morning Chalk Up in an interview, “but one friend said he didn't want to see me trade strength and CrossFit performance for endurance in long-distance running capacity.”

Continue reading to learn how Hahnsson paired heavy lifts with marathon miles — stroller in tow.

HIGHLIGHTS

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