A Hero Workout for Molly

I belong to a Crossfit Gym here in Concord. This should not be a big surprise to anyone as I talk about it a lot. It was joining White Mountain Crossfit in 2011 that helped lift me out of my depression after I lost my job in the school district. I am now at Crossfit Ironborn and, not surprisingly the folks at this gym have been a big part of what has kept me (and Kenny and Gracie) afloat since Molly died. Actually, several Crossfit Gyms in New Hampshire have provided support to us. Crossfit is an incredible community.

A big part of Crossfit are Hero Workouts. These are workouts that are named after fallen military, police and firefighters. The workouts are often reflective of how that person liked to train, their life philosophy, or how they died. Two years before Molly died a Navy SEAL named Blake Marston died in a tragic accident. He and his Dad were good friends of mine. There is now a Hero Workout named for him. I have participated in it every year. His parents often come to the gym to watch this workout and his cousins and other relatives participate. When Molly was nine, she came to Memorial Field with me to do a hero workout on Veteran’s Day. At that time Molly was still a little pudgy and not athletically inclined. She danced, but getting too winded was not her thing. So, I was incredibly touched when she completed the workout. I wrote a blog about it here on PATCH. I struggle to think about it now without crying. She was so tender and perceptive.

After Molly died, a friend of mine named Joan Kelly put an event on Facebook. It recurs on the 13th of the month and is called “Thirteen Burpees for Barb”. When this event pops up on my page, or shows up in my memories I am reminded that Molly is remembered. I am reminded that people in Crossfit Gyms and in their homes or where ever they are will do 13 burpees in memory of Molly and in support of us, her family. I don’t have to see people doing this, I know that they are and that is enough. This is a perfect example of Crossfit in day to day life. As I am writing this, I received a video of my good friend Catherine Parker from her Bootcamp class. A room full of women I don’t even know doing 13 burpees in memory of my girl.

As the one-year anniversary approached, another Crossfit friend Emily McCormack asked if she could put together a workout in Molly’s memory. It is called the MollyWOD or MollyBWOD. Molly didn’t like to see people left out so she would go out of her way to make people feel included. When she was in 4th grade a new girl joined her classroom. She was often alone at recess, so Molly asked her what she liked to do. She told Molly she didn’t like running around, that she preferred to read. So, Molly started reading with her at recess. Soon, there was a small group of girls reading at recess. This was the essence of Molly. I heard hundreds of similar stories about her in the days after her tumor was discovered.

The first MollyWOD was held on May 13th, 2017. (The number 13 is pretty significant in our house now but that is another blog for another day). Athletes at Crossfit Ironborn and White Mountain Crossfit completed the workout. We sold t-shirts. The money we raised was used to help young people participate in sporting activities. Gracie and I brought the shirts to a Crossfit competition later that year at EverProvenCrossfit in Dover. The gym owner was so touched by Molly’s story that me made the final workout of the day “Molly”. My heart was in my throat as I watched it being done. This past May I couldn’t pull it together. The hardest part about losing Molly for us, (her family) is that time does not lessen our hurt, or how much we miss her. But time does move on for others and people fall away. The MollyWOD will be this Saturday. December 15th at 10:00am at Crossfit Ironborn. Our friends at White Mountain Crossfit, Breathe Crossfit and Battle Crossfit will have “Molly” as their work out of the day. Loralyn LaBombard, one of my best friends at Ironborn is helping organize the event. She lost a sister to suicide and the one-year anniversary is on this day. The money raised will go to HOPE in Manchester. It will be used to support our most vulnerable citizens and perhaps save someone from choosing suicide as their solution. Loralyn brought food every day to Dartmouth when Molly was on life support. Her husband Greg stood by and gave hugs the night we found out Molly wouldn’t be waking up. The two of us will be working out for Sweet Cathy as well as Sweet Molly. We will think about all of those who have died by suicide. We will be together.

The workout is as follows: 400m run, then three rounds of 13 burpees, 13 sit-ups, 13 pushups, 13 air squats, then another 400M run. It takes me about 15 minutes. Another feature of Crossfit is that workouts can be scaled so as to create manageable workouts for every fitness and ability level. This particular workout reflects Molly’s desire that everyone be able to participate. It requires no special equipment. It can be done anywhere. My mother will walk rather than run. Her burpees are modified by use of a chair. She does pushups on the wall. The fittest members of the gym will complete it as prescribed in under 10 minutes. Everyone working together regardless of ability or fitness.

This year, the t-shirts for the event have our now famous #<3MollyB logo on the front, and the workout on the back. All money raised from these V-necks, tank tops, and crewneck t-shirts will be used to support HOPE and the many things this program offers. The shirts are pink (Molly’s favorite color). They will be on sale at our event Saturday. I am also happy to sell them from my kitchen before and after the event. You do not have to belong to Crossfit Ironborn, or any of the Crossfit Gyms for that matter to complete the MollyWOD. Anyone can do it. That’s the beauty of it.

One of the ways we cope here in my home is by creating events, awards, and opportunities in Molly’s name. This is a good one. While I will be sad that there has to be a MollyWOD rather than an actual Molly, I am comforted knowing that she is seen as a hero. That her small gestures to others is recognized as hero worthy, and that there is a workout named for her. I love you Molly.