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- š«” One Last (Games) Salute for Pat Vellner
š«” One Last (Games) Salute for Pat Vellner
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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.
In todayās edition:
š„¹ 10 CrossFit Games. 5 Podiums. One Final Goodbye for Uncle Pat.
š Donāt let fitness become the fall casualty: Back-to-school chaos can push your health to the bottom of the list. Hereās how to keep workouts, nutrition, and wellness on track.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
For one thing, I think my wife would kick my ass if I was like, āHey, just kidding.āā
PROFILE
One Final Salute: Pat Vellner Reflects on His CrossFit Games Career
Credit: Scott Freymond
If thereās one thing CrossFit Games athletes have proven to struggle with, itās retirement.
Every year, there seems to be one athlete who announces their retirement, only to compete in the Open the following year and, oops, accidentally qualify for Semifinals or even the CrossFit Games again.
Some claim to be retired, only to re-emerge in the WFP or Wodapalooza, while others retire from individual competition but continue competing as a masterās athlete for years after their individual careers end.
Maybe itās because their passion for the sport runs too deep to stop competing, or maybe itās because CrossFit is a particularly challenging sport to retire from. Unlike most other traditional sports, CrossFit is a pursuit of lifelong fitness.
Ten-time CrossFit Games veteran Pat Vellner, though, insists his retirement plans are final: The 2026 CrossFit Games were his final Games, and the last time weāll see him on the competition floor will be at the World Fitness Project (WFP) Finals in December.
āFor one thing, I think my wife would kick my ass if I was like, āHey, just kidding,āā he told The Morning Chalk Up, adding that this is not going to be a āfive-year soft launch to retirement.ā
He added: āI think I have done enough.ā
More than that, though, it just feels like the right time to move on, Vellner explained.
āThe last two years for sure, the energy and time it takes to stay at the level I want to stay at is getting higher and higher, and I also have more and more things pulling me away because life changes. I have spent a lot of time doing this, and I think Iām just ready to pursue other interests and do other things,ā said the 36-year-old father of two young boys.
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SPEED READS
š£šŖ Want to rep HWPO? Applications for the HWPO Ambassador Program are officially open, giving everyday athletes who embody the āSHOW UPā mentality a chance to represent the brand and unlock exclusive perks. But move fast: applications are only open through September 8.
š š„ The Countdown Is On: CrossFit has announced the dates for the 2027 Open, giving athletes their target as the road to next season officially begins.
ššļø Back to the Journal: CrossFit Athlete Council Chair and affiliate owner Seth Page joins The CrossFit Show to discuss the CrossFit Journal in 2026 ā and why separating the CrossFit methodology from the CrossFit Games matters.
ICYMI: XENOM Heads to London This Weekend (Rx article)
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Back-to-School Without Burning Out ā A Playbook for Fit Moms
Credit: Shutterstock
The āback-to-school seasonā sounds cute in theory, but for many moms, it often feels like a whirlwind of Target runs, lunchboxes, hectic mornings, permission slips, and last-minute Amazon orders.
If youāre feeling overwhelmed, youāre not alone.
This time of year can be overwhelming. Thatās why this guide aims to help you reset, simplify, and breathe, all while taking care of your family and yourself.
Letās make this back-to-school season feel less like survival mode and more like a fresh start so you can stay focused on your health and fitness goals too!
Set the Routine, Without Losing Your Mind
You donāt need to overhaul your whole household. Start small with these realistic resets:
Gradually adjust wake-up and bedtime routines about a week before school begins. Just 15-30 minutes earlier each day can help make the transition easier for everyone.
Prep clothes, backpacks, and lunches the night before. Mornings run much more smoothly when decisions are already made.
Use visual schedules or checklists for younger kids to keep mornings on track without constant reminders.
Pro tip: Donāt expect Pinterest-level perfection. Just aim for fewer morning meltdowns, for them and you!
HIGHLIGHTS
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.
šHappy birthday to little Eddy (Mat Fraser and Sammy Monizās daughter).
Happy birthday (8/30) to Jessi Smith.
Congratulations to CrossFit Fort Vancouverās Adam Neiffer, who just earned his CF-L4.
Well done to Logan Filo Loos, who set a new APEX record by bench pressing 47 kilos (105 pounds) for 32 reps.
š¦¾Death by barbell: This clanker may need to up his creatine consumption. Check out this snatch attempt (we think it was a snatch).