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đŸ”„ Is Adidas’ ATHX the Next Proving Ground for the Fittest?

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • 🌍 ATHX goes global — the Adidas-backed hybrid comp is fast becoming the next CrossFit-HYROX battleground.

  • đŸ„€ “Functional foods” or just fancy junk? EC Synkowski breaks down why protein chips and probiotic sodas rarely deliver on their hype.

  • 📚 CrossFit’s fall book club is in session — Dani Speegle, Arielle Loewen, and Abbie Domit share their top cozy-season reads.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

Sometimes world-class training is a matter of having elite training partners, and at times it’s about being around elite people.”

Chandler Smith on the inaugural ATHX training camp in Tenerife, Spain (the Canary Islands).
COMPETITIONS

ATHX Hosts Inaugural Training Camp, Athletes Prep for Berlin

Credit: ATHX Games

As the lines between CrossFit, functional fitness, and hybrid sports continue to blur, ATHX is emerging as a key proving ground for the next generation of performance-focused competition.

The details: A UK-based hybrid fitness competition blending strength, endurance, and speed across a series of high-intensity events, the ATHX Games are gaining a foothold in competitive fitness. 

Designed for athletes of all levels, the format includes challenges like barbell lifts, cardio machines, functional movements, and tactical workouts that test both power and endurance. 

  • With divisions from elite to everyday competitors, ATHX strives to foster an inclusive yet competitive environment where performance and grit take center stage. 

In just a few days, on October 25, ATHX will make a big leap forward by hosting its first competition outside of the UK, in Berlin, Germany. Elite CrossFit and HYROX athletes have signed up to compete. 

  • 2024 CrossFit Games champion James Sprague, along with 2025 CrossFit Games rookies Jen Muir and Ty Jenkins, as well as 2025 Elite 15 HYROX racers Graham Halliday and Jana Lebenstedt, will compete.

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SPEED READS

đŸ‹ïžâ€â™‚ïžđŸƒ Functional Fitness vs. HYROX: In this Red Bull article, Noah Ohlsen breaks it down — HYROX tests your engine, CrossFit tests your versatility. One’s steady endurance, the other’s controlled chaos.

💡📉 What’s Replacing CrossFit?: Chris Cooper of Two-Brain says CrossFit isn’t dying — it’s evolving. Affiliates are shifting toward hybrid models with HYROX-style training, personalized coaching, and wellness add-ons. The future gym won’t just teach workouts — it’ll prescribe results.

đŸ’ĄđŸœïž CrossFit Nutrition Nuance: Stephane Rochet’s (CF-L#) article, “Defending Nuanced Nutrition,” reminds us the goal isn’t perfection — it’s consistency. Forget diet extremes; focus on whole foods, context, and what works for you.

👣đŸ’Ș The Gymnastics Hack You Should Know: Rebecca Fuselier says one simple cue can transform every bodyweight movement — point your toes. It fires your entire chain from calves to core, builds tension, and turns “tighter is lighter” from a cue into a game-changer.

đŸ”’đŸ’„ CrossFit Behind Bars: In a powerful CrossFit Podcast collab with the CrossFit Medical Society, Nick Wells and Gino Aviles share how Redemption Road CrossFit turned workouts into redemption — cutting recidivism from 80% to 1.6% through fitness, mentorship, and community.

ICYMI: đŸ—“ïž Nearly 50 elite CrossFit events in one year, here’s who packed the busiest schedules in 2025.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

What Are “Functional Foods”? (And What Do CrossFitters Need to Know?)

Credit: @optimizemenutrition / Instagram

Walk down any grocery aisle today and you'll see them everywhere: high-protein potato chips, probiotic cookie dough, and "GLP-1 friendly" ice cream. These so-called "functional foods" promise to deliver health benefits that go far beyond basic nutrition.

However, here's the problem – most of these products are essentially ultra-processed foods masquerading as healthy options.

  • As we discussed on a recent episode of the Consistency Project podcast, the functional food market is booming, but the health claims often fall short of the marketing.

For CrossFitters focused on performance and recovery, understanding what these products actually offer (and what they don't) is essential for making informed nutrition decisions.

PROFILE

Cozy Season Reading List, Curated by CrossFit’s Bookworms

Credit: Janko Ferlič

As the weather cools and training routines move indoors, especially in some parts of the world, it's also the time of year to curl up and get cozy with a good book. 

  • Whether it's for motivation, mental recovery, or simply a good story by the fire, reading is an essential part of many people’s winter reset. 

We caught up with a few CrossFit athletes we know have a strong reading game to see if they have any recommendations. 

Here are the books they selected, along with reasons why you might want to add them to your cold-weather collection as well.

Dani Speegle 

Besides sharing that she always rereads the Harry Potter books during the holidays, Speegle recommends the Lovelight Farms series by B.K. Borison.

  • This small-town romance series, set around a Christmas tree farm, combines love stories with themes of found family. Each book centers on different characters discovering love in the town of Inglewild.

Speegle adds about the series: “All very holiday themed and great for this time of year.”

  • After the jump — more athlete favorites, from dystopian fantasy to deep-space adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.

  • 🎂Happy birthday to Dallin Pepper.

  • Check out this squat clean ladder from Marnie Sykes, as she’s getting ready for the Down Under Championship.

  • Well done to 56-year-old Johnny, on this 100-kilo/220-pound snatch.

  • We love these trending reels right now - watch Lucy Campbell’s version.

  • đŸ”„Congratulations to Sophie Shaft, on this 106-kilo/233-pound snatch.