31 Heroes

It’s come to this: I have to wear my glasses whilst I blog. Yup, it’s come to this.

I completed this Hero WOD last year and in 2011. Last year I competed solo. I vividly remember my failed 30″ box jump in 2001 (along with case of MRSA).

I attended the 8:30 am session led by Coach Jeff. I was delighted to discover that Angelina was partnerless. She’s an exceedingly strong athlete, and I very much wanted to partner with her for this workout. I’m very glad that I did!

“31 Heroes”
AMRAP 31 minutes (As Many Rounds and Reps As Possible)

8 Thrusters (155/105#)

6 Rope Climbs (15′)

11 Box Jumps (30/24″)
This is a Partner WOD – Partner #1 will perform the work listed above. Partner #2 will run 400m with a sandbag (45/25). Once Partner #2 returns from the run, Partner #1 will grab the sandbag and begin their 400m run while while Partner #2 continues work wherever #1 left off.
Score is your total # of rounds and reps.

This WOD was created specifically to honor the 30 men and one dog that gave their lives for our country on August 6, 2011. It is 31 minutes long—one minute in remembrance of each hero. The rep scheme is 8-6-11—the date of their ultimate sacrifice. Finally, this is a partner WOD. The men who gave their lives were from multiple branches of our military, working together as a team.  In the workout you and your team member will constantly be taking the load from each other providing much needed support and relief. We realize that no physical sacrifice made during a workout can come close to the sacrifice our brave heroes made, but we consider this WOD a CrossFitters “moment of silence.” This is how we can honor those that gave all in the name of freedom.

Unlike in previous years, the rope at CrossFit Surmount is indeed 15′. There was no way I was going to even attempt 1, 155# thruster. I settled on 115#, and it was a wise decision. I completed 15′ rope climbs and 30″ box jumps.

I began with the run and, to free up the ropes, Angelina began with rope climbs. As Angelina substituted 18 ring rows for 6 rope climbs, she had completed an entire round plus box jumps when I returned to the box. Thus, I began with 8 thrusters. Dammit. I completed every thruster as a single rep, i.e., I began with a full squat clean and dropped the bar when I was fully extended with the bar locked out overhead. Shit was heavy out of the gate and only got heavier. I lost focus and didn’t pull myself under the bar for 1 rep.

Rope climbs were challenging today. Why, you ask? Because my abs are still sore from completing 150 GHD sit-ups 3 days ago. I grabbed the rope for my first climb, twisted my leg around the rope, and attempted to push my hips away. My abs would not allow me to do so.

I’m still abulous. Don’t ever doubt that.

Box jumps were a welcome relief, and I completed all rounds in unbroken reps.

Running whilst holding a 45# rucksack is laborious. I didn’t, however, walk or even slow to a jog, as I could only think, “I can’t let Angelina down, as she’s in the box working her ass off. The sooner I get back, the sooner she won’t have to do thrusters, ring rows, or box jumps.”

Uhm, Angelina is not a fan of running. In retrospect I should’ve thought, “The slower I run the more work Angelina can complete while not having to run.” Hindsight and all that.

Angelina kept track of rounds, and I’m glad that she did. We had completed 8 rounds and were working on our 9th when Jeff said, “Thirty seconds left!” I completed 4 thrusters.

Score = 8 rounds + 21 reps

As often noted, I grunt loudly when the workout is challenging. I grunted loudly today. (I certainly wasn’t the only person to do so.) I can’t, however, recall a time when I made loud exclamations (not really grunting) whilst running, as running with that rucksack, as noted, was laborious. During the last few minutes of the workout a few of the athletes who happened to be running at the same time that I was thought that Jeff was calling “Time!” Haha! I’m that loud.