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🏋️‍♀️ 5 Rogue Invitational Performances You May Have Missed (But Shouldn’t Have)

November 7th, 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • 🔥 Laura Horvath and Jeff Adler took Rogue Invitational gold, but five other athletes delivered show-stealing moments you might’ve missed in Aberdeen.

  • 🌙 Winter slowdown, reframed — Short days don’t have to mean stalled progress. A mindful routine can help you recharge and stay consistent.

  • 💪 Four-time Games athlete and community legend Rob Orlando is fighting Stage IV cancer, and the CrossFit world is rallying behind him.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

Rob has always been the ultimate competitor and warrior…he continues to fight and show everyone just how tough and strong he really is.”

Mathew Palmieri, “Rob Orlando Deadlift Cold Bar Challenge” GoFundMe organizer.
COMPETITIONS

5 Memorable Rogue Invitational Performances You Might Have Missed

Credit: Sebastian Vallejo

Most of the attention surrounding last weekend’s Rogue Invitational has focused on the podium finishers, especially Laura Horvath, who earned her third career title, and Jeff Adler, who defended his. However, there were plenty of other noteworthy individual performances worth highlighting.

Here are five of the most impressive from Aberdeen, Scotland.

Danielle Brandon in Event 1

The event had Danielle Brandon’s name written all over it, and the fan favorite delivered.

Event 1: Nessie

For time:

  • 160 double-unders

  • 80-meter handstand walk

  • 60 GHD sit-ups

  • 40 box jump overs

  • 20/16 log bar muscle-ups

Brandon was the first to finish the double-unders before putting on a handstand walking clinic: her hips were perfectly stacked over her shoulders, and her technique and sheer speed are unmatched in the sport.

  • She maintained her lead through the GHD sit-ups and box jump overs, and had pulled far ahead of the field by the time she reached the log bar muscle-up, a movement women have struggled with in the past at the Rogue Invitational.

Not Brandon. Her last rep looked just like her first, and she cruised to the finish line over a minute faster than any other athlete.

And then came a twist.

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SPEED READS

🎙️💪 Meet Dr. Fatty Acid: The viral mind behind @When_Nerds_Teach sat down for a refreshingly real CrossFit podcast episode with Denise Thomas. From battling fatty liver disease and navigating Wegovy to rediscovering strength and confidence, she opens up about humor, healing, and learning to love movement for what it gives, not how it looks.

🏢➡️🧘 Big Box Gyms Go Boutique: Big chains are spinning up studio-style experiences inside their clubs to capture the boutique vibe without a separate membership. Think Life Time’s small-group “Signature Group Training” like GTX/Ultra Fit and strength tracks such as Alpha, plus Equinox’s treadmill-based Precision Run. Read on for why this matters.

🎙️🔥 New Podcast Alert!: Not In My Box, hosted by affiliate owner and Caffeine and Kilos founder, Danny Lehr, goes deep on the unfiltered side of CrossFit — from coaching debates to affiliate realities. Expect laughs, hard truths, and gym-floor wisdom from the people who live it daily.

⚡️🇬🇧 Scotland Roars, Britain Rises at the Rogue Invitational: The seventh edition in Aberdeen delivered elite competition, record performances, and a loud reminder that Scotland isn’t just a host — it’s a heavyweight for the weekend of strength at P&J Live. Check out this recap from Fittest PR’s Well.Being.

ICYMI: 🌎 As the World Fitness Project Finals approach, injuries and withdrawals are reshaping the Pro Division lineup.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

5 Steps to Create a Winter Routine That Works for You

Credit: Shutterstock

Winter often encourages us to slow down. Shorter days, colder weather, and that natural desire to stay cozy under a blanket with something warm and comforting. 

While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying coziness, it’s easy for healthy habits to fall by the wayside during this season. Many people find themselves just trying to get through winter, waiting for longer, sunnier days to feel like themselves again.

  • But what if this winter could look different? What if instead of surviving the season, you built a routine that helped you feel good? One that nourishes your body, supports your mental clarity, and leaves room for self-compassion?

The key isn’t about overhauling your life; it’s about creating small, sustainable routines that align with the season, rather than working against it.

THINGS TO…

…KNOW

Why Everyone Is Switching to HYBRID

The Buttery Bros visit Austin’s run-scene and HYROX pits to ask a simple question with messy answers: what is a hybrid athlete? Cameos from Alec Blenis and Adam Klink make the case that hybrid = concurrent mastery, not just “runner who lifts.”

…WATCH

Rich Froning and Crew Recap Rogue

Rich, Angelo, and crew debrief Aberdeen: standout Event 1 (heavy D-balls + long HS walk), Strongman showstoppers (Thor dwarfs the Echo Bike), a legends throwdown (Sakamoto/Voigt/Margaux), and a fan-friendly midway (deadlifts → longest-drive sim). Plus a peek at Rogue’s new SkiErg and FML rack setups.

STONE, STEEL, & STORYLINES.

…DISCOVER

Why Lunchtime Is Like Recess at 84 Lumber

At 84 Lumber’s HQ, employees trade lunch breaks for lunges. With on-site CrossFit classes led by in-house coaches, the company has turned wellness into culture — improving morale, focus, and retention along the way. The result? Fitter teams, stronger communities, and a model that proves “movement at work” isn’t just good for health, it’s good for business.

COMMUNITY

As CrossFit OG Rob Orlando Battles Cancer, Community Launches Unique Fundraiser Challenge

Credit: Rob Orlando

Four-time CrossFit Games athlete and true OG, Rob Orlando, has been an integral part of our sport and community from the very beginning. 

  • His first CrossFit Games was in 2009, the third iteration of the competition, held at Dave Castro’s Ranch in Aromas, CA. He finished in 22nd place out of the 50 men who competed, including CrossFit legends such as Chris Spealler, Josh Everett, Jason Khalipa, and Matt Chan. 

After three consecutive years competing as an individual, he moved into the Age Group division and finished 11th in the 40-44 category at the 2016 CrossFit Games. However, his fitness and enthusiasm for the sport stayed strong even after he stopped competing. He kept training and running at Hybrid Athletics, an affiliate in Connecticut.

Just last January, during training, Orlando set a new powerlifting total PR of 1,525 pounds — including a 370-pound bench press, a 550-pound squat, and a 605-pound deadlift. The very next day, he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in his lower jaw and lymph nodes.

  • After the jump — how Rich Froning, Annie Thorisdottir, Jason Khalipa, and other legends joined forces to create the “Deadlift Cold Bar Challenge,” and how gyms worldwide are stepping up.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🎂Happy birthday to Heather Weir and Mike Molloy.

  • Happy birthday (11/8) to Chase Ingraham.

  • Happy birthday (11/9) to Maddie Espinoza.

  • Watch Ant Haynes tackle 150 toes-to-bar for time. How would you break it up?

  • 🔥Congratulations to Age-Group athlete Gia Griffith on this 90-kilo/200-pound clean and jerk PR.