CrossFit provides a method for a personal journey to constantly improve oneself physically, mentally, and spiritually. The intensity of the workouts often makes you question your physical and mental capacity. I heard Greg Amundson say that "The biggest improvement that CrossFit athletes experience is between the ears." The mind can allow us to achieve greatness or cause us to fail. There are only two ways to fail...quit or die.


Since starting CrossFit I have always had a deep appreciation for the Hero WODs. I grew up on various Military Bases as my Father served in the USMC as a helicopter pilot. I remember when we got the news of a helicopter crash involving his squadron while lifting off from a carrier off the coast of Okinowa. He lost good friends, most of which had their families living in Hawaii while they were deployed. I remember seeing these families pack up and move back to the mainland. I often wonder what happened to the children.


I was introduced to CrossFit by a fellow Police Officer back in 2005. "Fight gone bad" on my first day? Really Rochet? Well, I was hooked. "Murphy" came to be my favorite workout. I remember the days when every six months or so we would see a new Hero WOD. Now, I think it's almost three a month. I went to "Randy" Simmons funeral. (Hero Workout #10). I was a new SWAT officer myself at the time and was taken back at how he died. More so, I was incredibly moved by what type of man he was outside of law enforcement. He left two children behind that loved and admired their father. He led a group of inner city youth from his Church who were left without a great mentor.


My personal desire to become a better husband, father, and find some inner peace pushed me to find a way to appreciate life and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to those left behind. Since opening my own CrossFit affiliate with my wife in 2009, I have missed completing many of the new Hero WODS. The Challenge I came up with for myself was to complete all the Hero WODs, as prescribed, in the order they were posted. To add to the challenge, I decided I would do one Hero WOD a day, six days a week, resting on Sundays. When I started the challenge there were 50 Hero WODS.

20110322

Friday - March 4th, 2011


Oakland SWAT Sergeant Daniel Sakai, age 35, was killed on March 21, 2009 in the line of duty along with fellow officers Sergeant ErvinRomans, Sergeant Mark Dunakin, and Officer John Hege.  Daniel is survived by wife Jenni and Daughter Jojiye.

First posted 16 April 2009










Day 17 of the Hero WOD Challenge

"Danny"

AMRAP in 20 minutes

30 - 24" Box Jumps
20 - 115 pound Push Press
30 - Pull-ups

Score: 4 rounds + 30 Box Jumps


I attended the funeral of these four slain Officers.  The department approved a number of us to drive units up to Oakland for the funeral.  I thought we drove a long way.  There were two units from Chicago PD and a large number of Officers from NYPD and Boston PD that flew out.  It was a heart wrenching service but also very uplifting by the brotherhood represented.  Good time spent with fellow Officers.  We actually drove into San Francisco after the funeral and took pictures by the Golden Gate Bridge.  Not a fan of the occasion but a unique experience to have pictures in uniform with our marked units so far from home.

I'm thankful for the opportunity I have to serve as a Police Officer next to honorable men and women.
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