"Roger that. Thank you sir."
- The last words of Lt. Micheal Murphy
I was scheduled to have an off day from training today. I was supposed to kick my feet up and rest. And I was happy doing just that. For a while. Then I got the text from my goddaughter who was teaching class at INENT tonight. She asked if I was coming in to take class, and that she was programming a hero wod. My relaxing day indoors suddenly became almost wasteful; I knew what I had to do. And that meant getting ready for the workout.
In the world of Crossfit, Hero Wods are known as the most difficult workouts, because they are a tribute to the men who gave their lives serving our country. Soldiers killed in combat, alongside their brothers, fighting to the very end, for us. The workouts were designed to be a way of remembering them, and suffering just a little bit, for those who have given so much.
As I entered the gym, I felt a reverence, a sense of determination. Even though everyone who was about to take the class hadn't experienced one before, it was if they knew this would be a special workout. And in that moment, I knew coming in to the gym was the best thing I could have done.
Once the work began, I came alive, more than I have in any other time I train. Nothing makes me work harder than a Hero Wod. I was energized by the thought of the men and women who gave their lives to defend our way of life. I thought about my Dad, my uncles, all good men who served this country with pride, honor and dignity. I thought about Lt. Michael Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, Matt Axelson, Danny Dietz, that 4 man team of SEALS who were outmanned and out-gunned but sacrificed it all for our country, and for each other. I thought about the men of SEAL Team 6 who captured and killed Bin Laden, my friends who have served and continue to serve, some doing up to 4 tours of duty because they knew it was the right thing to do. It was the only thing to do. They understood that when you are alongside your brother in combat, there is no feeling like it. They are more than soldiers, they are family.
To our veterans. We owe them so much more than a workout. Our freedom, no matter whether we abuse it or treasure it, those brave men and women always answered the bell to preserve it. Thank you for all you do.
Stay strong,
Guy
