• Morning Chalk Up
  • Posts
  • Confidence, Community, and Second Chances At "CrossFit for Change"

Confidence, Community, and Second Chances At "CrossFit for Change"

July 3rd, 2025

POWERED BY

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • “CrossFit for Change” is building better futures, one youth workout at a time.

  • Is your summer cut supporting your life, or sabotaging it?

  • Say goodbye to banded pull-ups — Pamela Gagnon shows you how.

Just a quick note: We are spending Independence Day with our families and affiliate communities. We’ll see you back here, bright and early on Monday.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

Out of 100 kids, less than 3% have left us and within one year, received another criminal charge and got in trouble.”

Courtney Cook on the success of “CrossFit for Change.”
COMMUNITY

“CrossFit for Change” – Fitness Meets Purpose in Small-Town Ohio

Credit: Jessica Cook

Living and working in the small town of St. Clairsville, Ohio, Jessica Cook and her husband, Courtney, sought ways to make a positive difference in their community. 

  • Jessica works for the local gas company and also coaches at OV CrossFit, while Courtney is a probation officer at Belmont County Juvenile Court.

Belmont County, where St. Clairsville is located, has limited resources for youth intervention, especially for kids involved in the juvenile justice system. 

Spurred on by their passion for fitness and their drive to make a difference locally, the Cooks founded “CrossFit for Change,” a youth CrossFit program operated through the Belmont County Juvenile Court system. 

  • The program offers children involved in the juvenile justice system – all of whom are on probation for various reasons, from school truancy or other minor charges, such as vaping or fighting – the opportunity to train alongside probation officers, promoting fitness while also providing a supportive space for mentorship and open conversation.

Continue reading to learn about the life-changing impact “CrossFit for Change” has had in St. Clairsville.

A MESSAGE FROM REEBOK

Save Up to 60% Off During Reebok's 4th of July Sale 🇺🇸

Reebok's 4th of July sale is live! You'll find deals up to 60% off on tees, hoodies, shorts, and shoes - including the Reebok Nano X4 and the NanoFlex TR 2.0.

Stock up now and kit yourself out for the summer. But act fast, the sale is only on for a limited time.

*This newsletter relies on our sponsors. Please consider supporting them.

SPEED READS

🌎🏆 WFP Challenger Qualifier II: The workouts for the World Fitness Project Challenger Qualifier II were released this week. Registration is open until July 8. Learn more and sign up here.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏋️ 2025 Rogue Invitational “Q”: Announced earlier this week, the Rogue Invitational qualifier will run September 5-7. Earn a spot to compete in the individual division in Aberdeen, Scotland. More details soon.

🧪✅ Informed Sport Badge: FITAID now carries the Informed Sport and Informed Choice badges. That means every can of FITAID is tested for banned substances, heavy metals, and other harmful contaminants, so you can sip with confidence.

🏋️‍♂️🎯 Bolder Athlete Title Sponsorship: Jason Grubb’s Bolder Athlete is the new Title Sponsor and Programming Partner for the 2025 Legends Championship. With Grubb’s five Legends titles and five Masters Games wins, the 9th annual event is set to deliver a standout test of fitness. Learn more.

🚦🥇 Road to the Games 25.06: CrossFit dropped a new episode of the fan favorite “Road to the Games” series reboot. This episode features two-time CrossFit Games qualifier Lucy Campbell and Games rookie Lucy McGonigle.

🏋️‍♂️📬 Lift Smarter: Olympic lifting is a global sport—the Weightlifting House newsletter brings it all to your inbox every Friday. Get the latest industry news, read exclusive interviews with top athletes, and see the biggest lifts happening both on and off the competition platform.

ICYMI: Double-under crossovers return to the CrossFit Games.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Shred Season or Sanity Check? Why Cutting Isn’t Always the Right Call

Credit: @ctpcam / Instagram

Every year, as temperatures climb and routines change, a common question emerges: “Should I do a cut this summer?”

And the honest answer? It depends.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to going into a calorie deficit, especially during a season that often brings both structure and chaos.

  • Some people thrive in a summer cut, while others find it entirely miserable. Neither reaction is wrong.

My goal today isn’t to steer you toward one choice or the other, but to provide you with the insights to determine what’s best for you.

POLL

🇺🇸 What’s Your 4th of July Fitness Plan? 💥

How are you sweating (or not) this Independence Day?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Last week we asked: How do you stay cool training in the summer heat ☀️?

  • Early morning WODS

  • Midday grind -- heat be damned 🥵

  • Cool evening sessions

  • Big 🫏 fans + hydration🚰 = survival

  • Heat hacks (such as frozen towels, cooling vests, etc.)

The top answer was early morning WODs, with 42.8% of the vote, followed by fans and hydration at 33.3%. 🥵 🥵 🥵

COACHING

Why Your Pull-Up Game Is Weak (And How to Fix It)

Credit: @b.a.w_media / Instagram

POV: Why have I been doing CrossFit for over three years and still feel stuck on ring rows or banded pull-ups? SOS!

  • Does this scenario sound like you? You're not alone in feeling frustrated by the pull-up game.

Do you roll your eyes when you see pull-ups in a workout, knowing you’ll be perpetually doing tedious ring rows or bouncing on that band to get your chin over the bar?

I heard your SOS, and I am here to help!

SIGN UP
BarBend NewsletterThe BarBend Newsletter has all the strength training tips and fitness hacks you need (for free!) in a three-minute read.
HIGHLIGHTS

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