Are PRs Different As We Age?

July 17th, 2024

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • Friday Night Lights at the CrossFit Games is coming to Farrington Field in Fort Worth this August. To celebrate, we take a look back at some of our favorite Friday night events from Games past.

  • Training for performance and training for longevity both have their time and place. Today, we consider how we might rethink PRs as we age.

  • You may have seen 2024 Demo Team captain Scott Tetlow’s UPLIFT shirt at the West Coast Classic last month. Learn about the organization behind the shirt and how it’s using fitness to support suicide prevention efforts in the military veteran community.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“When you think in terms of suicide or anything with mental health, it's your community and your support system that gets you through.” - Emma Skellie, UPLIFT, on the role of community in the organization’s mission.

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: @ltevebaugh / Instagram 

A Look Back at Our Favorite Friday Night Lights Moments at the CrossFit Games

There are very few constants when it comes to CrossFit, especially at the Games when the unknown and unknowable are on full display. 

  • Yet one thing is almost always for certain is a Friday Night Lights event—and this year, it’s under a bigger spotlight as a celebration of the Texas tradition will play a part in the 2024 CrossFit Games as it heads to Fort Worth for the first time. 

The details: While the CrossFit Games team has been keeping most details of the weekend quiet, they did announce a Friday Night Lights event on Friday, August 9, at Farrington Field that will be open to the public. 

  • With the Games just a few short weeks away, we’re looking back at some of our favorite moments from Friday Night Lights of the past in anticipation of an epic weekend under the stadium lights of Dickies Arena.

Legless (2013)

We’re going to start by taking it way back to 2013 in Carson, CA. 

The event, named “Legless”—a couplet of thrusters and rope climbs—was the first time athletes saw the legless version at the Games. The event was held at the Tennis Stadium and drew a rowdy crowd excited to see what damage this brutal couplet could do.

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SPEED READS

⏰🏊 Run Swim Event Update and More: In his Week in Review this week, Dave Castro announced that Event 1, “Run Swim,” will start at 7 a.m. on Thursday, August 8, despite some speculation otherwise. That is, unless, in testing, the heat becomes an issue, which would bump the start time earlier.

  • He also confirmed that Friday Night Lights and Run Swim are the only outdoor events.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏋️ The Rogue Invitational “Q” in September: Announced yesterday, the Rogue Invitational qualifier will run September 6-9. Earn a spot to compete in the individual division in Aberdeen, Scotland. More details soon.

❤️🔥Dottir Skin: “Dottir Skin” — Annie Thorisdóttir and Katrín Davidsdóttir’s new venture with Helga Hermannsdóttir — is a mineral sunscreen made to help athletes perform. Check it out on July 17.

ICYMI: How is Training Think Tank athlete, Alexis Raptis preparing for her third trip to the CrossFit Games as an individual? She broke it down with us.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: @gunning_media / Instagram

Rethinking PRs: A Healthier Approach to Fitness As We Age

I've seen countless athletes fall into the trap of chasing personal records (PRs) at the expense of their long-term health and well-being. 

  • It's time we rethink our approach to fitness and learn to embrace the inevitable changes that come with age and life circumstances.

The Pitfalls of Chasing PRs

Recently, we did "Fran" at CrossFit New England. 

I did it with strict pull-ups and finished in 6:16 - a far cry from my PR of 2:22.

This might have been a source of frustration in the past, but I've learned to approach fitness with a new perspective. 

  • Constantly comparing ourselves to past achievements or idealized future versions of ourselves can lead to a destructive cycle of stress and disappointment.

When we become overly fixated on PRs, we risk losing sight of the true purpose of why we’re in the gym. We may find ourselves avoiding workouts or even entire training sessions because we fear we won't measure up to our previous standards. 

This mindset hinders progress and robs us of the joy and satisfaction that come with consistently showing up and putting in the work.

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COMMUNITY

Credit: @sarahmossphotography / Instagram

How Mark Moss and UPLIFT Are Bringing Awareness and Raising Money for Suicide Prevention Through CrossFit

Mark Moss’s grandfather committed suicide in 2013. And, like for many tragedies, there were remembrance walks. 

These were events where people could gather to walk and celebrate the life of their friend or family member. Moss and his family went to remembrance walks honoring his Grandpa for years, but it never felt like enough.

  • “They always made me feel sad, and I would leave in a bad headspace,” Moss told the Morning Chalk Up in an interview.

Fitness had always been important to his grandfather. So, during COVID, Moss decided to throw his own impromptu celebration of life. 

He called a few buddies up to come and throw down with him, all in the name of suicide awareness.

He told his wife the plan-–they were going to do a workout, have a hashtag, and hope that somebody would see it.

  • “Hopefully, this helps somebody where they can reach out if they're having mental health issues or depressed,” Moss thought.

She suggested Moss to dream bigger.

He started messaging people in the Louisiana CrossFit community, including some gym owners around New Orleans.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🎂Happy birthday to Tiaan Visser.

  • Nice job to Sammy Moniz and baby Eddie on the family garage gym workout.

  • Great work to Agustin Richelme on the 120-kilo/264-pound squat snatch.

  • Congratulations to Danielle from Landmark CrossFit in Canada on the 79-kilo/175-pound power snatch.

  • 🏋️‍♀️Check out this 120-kilo/264-pound snatch complex from Bronislaw Olenkowicz.