No, there weren’t “jazz hands,” but the choreography was exquisite. Not many places can pull off 40 people pullin, pushin, jumpin at high intensity, high fatigue…and CFers make it go without a hitch. That was as fun to watch as it was to do! Thanks for the preparations, focus, and intensity…efforts worthy of the memories of Navy SEALS Ryan Job & Collin Thomas.
Ryan Job (Navy Seal) survived 20 firefights. But then a sniper’s bullet hit his gun sending shrapnel into his face, causing blindness in 2006. After that, Job climbed Mt. Ranier, trained for a triathlon, and helped other wounded veterans by championing Camp Patriot. Tragically, Ryan died in 2009 from injury complications.
Simply put, Ryan Job represented tenacity and courage.
Chris Kyle wrote the book American Sniper in honor of Ryan Job and Marc Lee (who died in the same fight). “I’m no hero. The reason I agreed to write American Sniper is to raise awareness for our guys in combat, to show the hardships they face and the sacrifices they and their families make. The real heroes are guys like Ryan Job and Marc Lee who gave everything for their country.”
Collin
6 rds
Carry 50 lb sandbag 400m
12 Push Press
12 Box Jump
12 SDHP
OUR VISION (according to the WWAST website):
“…to push the limits of modern prosthetic technology with more and more applications…our vision is to support and honor our soldiers and veterans sacrifices, and to show other amputees and everyone…that life without a limb is limitless.”
Watch some vids here…that’ll getcha goin’ for Mr. Joshua!
Mr Joshua: 5 rds
400m
30 GHD sit ups
15 DL
Mcghee & Daniel…strong performances to recognize the relentless perseverance of our heroes — Sullens, Maurolis, Jukes, and Snyder, some of the best I’ve witnessed at a Hero Week! And to have 4 of the 7 workouts during our big Corps Fitness classes is something special…gotta love the big energy, constant motion, and controlled chaos!
Sunday 8am
Monday 9am (all other classes canceled): Happy New Year’s Eve
Tuesday 9am (HW Finale): Happy New Year
Lt. Brad Snyder went to the Naval Academy, swam competitively and made it onto the elite naval bomb-disposal team. A pretty intense guy.
“I was with an assault team doing operations and then in the snap of your finger I was benched. I wasn’t able to be with my team anymore.”
In September 2011, he stepped on an IED while trying to assist 2 other IED blast victims. The blast left him blind. In almost the same snap of a finger, he made a decision. “I was not going to let my injuries get me down. Compared to other patients who were on my floor, I had nothing to whine about.” Within 5 weeks, he was back in the pool.
And exactly one year after that blast, Brad Snyder won 3 medals (2 gold, 1 silver) at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
“I know there are a lot of guys out there, guys and girls, who are struggling with a tough hand and hopefully my success here at the Paralympics can reach out to those people and say, ‘Hey, there is a way forward; there is something you can go out and do that will give you that relevance and success again.'”
Check out the US Assn of Blind Athletes.
Classy character, attitude. Attack this classic WOD.
Daniel
50 Pullups
400m
21 Thrusters
800m
21 Thrusters
400m
50 Pullups
Andrew Sullens, Nicollette Maurolis, and Chad Jukes were all injured as they served in Iraq/Afghanistan. They were part of a group of vets who climbed the Grand Teton on Sept. 11, 2012. Read an excellent summary here. They top the Honor Roll today and represent all vets who listened to the high call of military service, and through their injuries return with an even higher purpose.
Sullens summarized why they climb:
“Getting into the mountains and climbing … grants a really remarkable sense of self dependence. The ability to experience that again really puts someone on a path to wholeness and self-fulfillment. It can really change lives.”
“If I can show people they don’t have to accept defeat or compromise, if people can realize that, they’ll be surprised by what they can achieve in their life.”
Jukes and Maurolis are also featured in the movie “High Ground.”
Also related is Higher Ground Sun Valley.
Take the high ground for these 3 focused, motivated veterans during your 30 minute AMRAP.
McGhee
30 min AMRAP
5 DL, 13 Pushups, 9 Box Jumps
Each Honor Roll rep shows us (in hope that we can possibly understand) the power of a strong will and indomitable spirit in living a fully enriched, self-actualized life. And that was an apt recognition for Sgt. Duncan. Staying positive, moving forward, motivating the CFers around you during the long grind of Strange echoed his message that barriers are simply things we build in our minds. It was an even more prominent reminder with IM ABLE’s presentation of a handcycle to the Magee Rehabilitation Center.
Neil served as a paratrooper for 5 years including 2 combat deployments. In 2005, Sgt. Duncan lost both legs to an IED blast and suffered other serious injuries. By all accounts, he should be dead. The blast sent the Humvee engine directly into his body, crushing his legs, breaking bones and causing facial trauma. By the time the medics arrived, he had almost bled out.
8 months of recovery and he was running on a track. 20 months and he says “I reached my full potential.”
In 2010, with 2 friends he successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. Currently, he is climbing Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas.
(info from University of Denver, pics by Reed Hoffman)
Strange:
8 rds
600m Run
11 Pullups
11 KB Lunge Steps (total)
11 KB Thrusters
“The opportunity to climb one of the seven summits is a tremendous challenge that will allow me to accomplish three primary goals: Raise awareness and funding for the returning wounded veteran population, motivate newly wounded amputees to set their goals high and finally to challenge myself.”
“He really has been one of the warriors who has changed the paradigm for what disabled people can do. He’s really been a leader — a shining example of someone who has confronted their disability and moved beyond it.”
The AM classes fired up HW with some outstanding performances! Looks like PM is gonna have a true Winter HW Murph experience…kick it!
**IMPORTANT**
Tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 27 5:25PM: IM ABLE Handcycle Presentation
If you are attending the 530PM Hero Workout, arrive a bit early to support this presentation. Everyone is welcome to stop by for this brief presentation. Thank you.
IM ABLE is proud to present a Top End handcycle to the Magee Rehabilitation Outpatient Program in Philadelphia. Keith Newarla, the Wheelchair Sports Program Coordinator for Magee, will be accepting the handcycle on behalf of Magee. Magee currently supports wheelchair tennis, rugby and basketball teams, but there are individuals who are interested in pursuing racing. By providing this handcycle, IM ABLE is helping individuals with disabilities bridge the gap between their acute rehabilitation to a life of independence and involvement within their community.
The handcycle will be used to further interest in Magee’s racing team that has participated in the Philadelphia Marathon in 2011 and 2012. It will be used in the outpatient program to enable newcomers to racing to try the sport. While the handcycle will remain on campus during the week, disabled athletes will also be able to borrow the handcycle to compete in races during the weekends. IM ABLE looks forward to maintaining a relationship with Magee to both support and encourage the establishment of their racing team and track program.
Disabled Sports USA celebrates 45 years of support for individuals with disabilities. For just about that long, Jim Martinson, too, has created opportunities to “get up and move.”
Excuses? No way. Jim Martinson says, “Nobody ever let me have a chance to feel sorry for myself.”
In 1968, he lost both legs and his index finger when struck by a land mine while serving in Vietnam.
While recovering, Jim stayed focused on, “well, what now.” So he pursued his passion for sport and fitness. In the 1980’s he won the Boston Marathon wheelchair division, several gold medals at the Paralympics, and more recently participated in the X-Hames.
He designed lighter weight wheelchairs, the first mono-ski with a mono-shock, and is recognized as a pioneer in equipment innovations. “I can’t believe it took a Vietnam War and people like myself to make it happen. We have airplanes and autos and all those things, but I can’t believe they didn’t make this stuff for disabled people.”
Jim Martinson leads the HW honor roll for his spirit, no excuses-get-it-done attitude, and contributions to adaptive sport and fitness.
“You have to be thankful for everything you have. You’re alive for a reason, so you might as well make the best of it.”
Murph
1 mile run
100 pullups
200 pushups
300 squats
1 mile run
(partition reps as needed)