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.

20110313

Saturday - February 19th, 2011


SO1 (SEAL) Jason Dale Lewis was killed by an IED while conducting combat operations in Southern Baghdad July 6, 2007.  We name this workout "Jason" in honor of his life, family, and courage.

First posted 2 August 2007










Day 6 of the Hero WOD Challenge

"Jason"

For time:
100 Squats
5 Muscle-ups
75 Squats
10 Muscle-ups
25 Squats
20 Muscle-ups

Time: 15 min 47 seconds (New PR)

This challenge has already caused a significant change in my thought process.  After 290 pull-ups the past three days there is no reason why I should be able to set a new PR in a workout that has 35 Muscle-ups.  Turns out there is a reason.  The mind.  If we focus on our objective and stop making excuses for why we can't succeed we will find ourselves accomplishing what we didn't think possible.

Jason is also the name of a cousin of mine and Dale is the name of one of my Brother-In-Laws.  A simple thing like a name seems to bring me closer to these heros and reflect on loved ones.  I admire greatly my Brother-In-Law.  His family has been through tremendous trials having lost two children at childbirth and his eldest son, Aaron, at the age of 3 in a car crash.  He continues to lovingly support his wife and is a dedicated Father.  As I complete these workouts motivation is extending to those who still live and make this country great.

Week 1 is done.  I look forward to my rest day.
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