Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012

To mark Memorial Day, we will be joining CrossFits around the nation and world to complete a Hero WOD. Hero WODs, which are known as some of the most grueling workouts in CrossFit, are named after fallen CrossFitters, who have given their lives in service. A quick search on CrossFit mainsite or Google shows lists of Hero WODs, and each service member who inspired the workout.

As you know, CrossFit is one of the leading training programs for fire departments, law enforcement agencies and military organizations. CrossFit honors these men and women in uniform, and the sacrifices they have made to protect our country.

A great article from the CrossFit Journal explaining the significance of the Hero workout, includes the following excerpt:

A Community Honors the Fallen

To the average CrossFitter, Hero workouts are symbolic
gestures of respect for our fallen. CrossFitters from all
over the world, regardless of country or allegiance,
throw themselves wholeheartedly at these intentionally
gut-wrenching workouts that serve as a tribute to our
lost protectors.

Lest We Forget

For those of us who undertake these physical tests, the
psychological effects of performing a Hero workout are
tremendous. It’s easy to treat these prescriptions as
any workout of the day, but for those who take the time
to learn about the heroes they honor, the WODs can
become as spiritual and emotionally demanding as they
are physically grueling.

When keeping the stories behind the real-life heroes in
mind, slowing down during a Hero workout becomes
harder to justify. When the pain of pushing harder
becomes too great, I am reminded of the sacrifice these
men made for my freedom, and my struggle becomes
laughable. And when I compare my temporary suffering
to the lifelong sorrow felt by the grieving families of these
men, dropping the bar becomes an embarrassment to
my country.

The Hero workout is more than a test of physical ability.
It bridges the gap between the body and the mind,
emotion and experience, and gives us the chance to do
more than just remember our soldiers. It gives us the
chance to sweat, bleed, suffer and grieve for our fallen
heroes one rep at a time.

To read the article in full, click here: CFJ_Berger_Fallen

SCHEDULING REMINDER: We will operating on a holiday schedule for Monday, with one class at 8 a.m. Please be prompt. Workout will be explained and scaling options will be offered. Also, please bring a stopwatch or timer if you have one on your phone or another device.

Here’s the workout for Monday, 28, 2012:

“Bradley”

10 rounds for time of:
Sprint 100 meters
10 Pull-ups
Sprint 100 meters
10 Burpees
Rest 30 seconds

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith, 24, of Troy, Illinois, assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, based in Fort Riley, Kansas, was killed on January 3, 2010, by an improvised explosive device in Zhari district, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Tiffany, daughter Chloe, parents Gary and Paula, and brother Ryan.