At 10 a.m. tomorrow gym go-ers at CrossFit Fort Bragg will join CrossFitters around the world in honoring the 31 service members who lost their lives in the tragic Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan last month.
Like Crossfitters everywhere Saturday, the local group will be doing a workout called “31 Heroes WOD” to honor the fallen troops. “WOD” is CrossFit speak for Workout of the Day.
“I’m not military myself and I am always humbled to think of these guys going out there and risking their lives for me,” CrossFit Fort Bragg gym owner and head coach Michelle Benedict said. “It is an honor to give something to them, considering that every day they give me my freedom.”
The purpose of the special workout is simply to honor and remember the brave troops who lost their lives in defense of our nation on August 5. Donations will be collected at each gym and participants are asked to register for the event for $31 and will receive a t-shirt when they do. Proceeds from the donation and registration fees will go to families immediately affected through the Navy SEAL Foundation, other like-organizations, & individual family funds.
The 31Heroes WOD, though simple to describe, will likely be difficult to do. It consists of one round of eight thrusters, six rope climbs and 11 box jumps done as many times as the person can manage in 31 minutes. A thruster is a move that combines a weighted front squat and a push press. However, CrossFit coaches are known for “scaling” workouts to an individual’s fitness level, lest anyone be scared off by moves they cannot yet do.
For many years now CrossFit workouts have been created to honor individual service members who have lost their lives. Called “Hero WODs” they are usually named for a specific service member and those doing the workouts are reminded of the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom while pushing themselves to do their very best on the workout. According to the website created for the event, Hero WODs are the CrossFit community’s version of a moment of silence. Even those not interested in working out can donate to the cause here.
And, if you can’t make this Saturday’s workout but still want to honor fallen troops, CrossFit Fort Bragg will be holding it’s Second Annual CCT 21/23 Fundraiser in honor of Senior Airman Danny Sanchez and Senior Airman Mark Forrester, both Air Force combat controllers of the 23rd and 21st Special Tactics Squadrons, respectively, who lost their lives in September 2010 in Afghanistan.
Sanchez and Forrester, as well as three of the airmen on the Chinook that crashed last month, had close ties to several of the members of CrossFit Fort Bragg. Last year the the gym created a special Hero WOD called “CCT 21/23” modeled after the Air Force’s Special Tactics PT test to honor Sanchez and Forrester. Dozens of participants wore weighted vests and did the grueling workout, which included two 1.5 mile runs, 100 pull-ups, 100 push ups and 200 sit ups and raised $2,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
This year’s CCT 21/23 fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the gym, located at 7135 Overhills Road in Spring Lake, NC at 10 a.m. and there is a $10 fee to participate, with all proceeds again going to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Everyone is invited to participate in both the September 3 or September 10 workouts. No CrossFit experience is necessary and coaches will work with participants to help them determine how to do exercises that may be unfamiliar.
“Many of the people who work out in my gym are in Special Operations,” Benedict said. They dedicate themselves daily to intensely punishing workouts and they leave their sweat and sometimes even their blood and tears on my gym floor as they train to prepare themselves for their missions. It is good for us to show them that even when our troops are gone, they are not forgotten.”