Grit (noun): courage and resolve; strength of character.
YHC had been contemplating what it means to have “True Grit” in the days leading up to this fine morning. Shaggy and Java have implemented a tradition of the Q sharing a story of grit in COT each week. The man that immediately came to mind, along with the workout theme, left YHC excited about the opportunity to lead on this muggy, hot morning. 18 PAX were present, no FNGs.
Mosey to the field for warm-ups. SSH x20, Good Mornings x15, Imperial Walkers x20.
Partner up. Today’s first task would be the Army Physical Fitness Test. Here’s how it goes.
2 minutes AMRAP sit-ups
2 minutes AMRAP push-ups
2 mile timed run.
Typically, push-ups and sit-ups are judged by an instructor and a count is kept of “actual” reps. We’ll go by the honor system. Do your best to do push-ups with upper arms coming parallel to the ground, butt down etc. We did our sit-ups and push-ups in the field and then set off on our 2 mile run.
Through the miserably muggy heat, the men toiled through the Shelley Lake loop. Heavy mouth breathing was in full effect. A few of our pre-runners lamented they had already done their loop. That’s why they call it “extra” credit. Although YHC misjudged the distance a bit, the men put in close to 2 miles and finished up on the dam. Mary while we wait.
Mosey down to the bottom of the dam and grab a rock. Circle up.
Curls x12, Squats x12, Hammers x12, pass your rock, repeat.
Mosey back to the parking lot for a full 5 minutes of Mary.
Freddie’s x30, WWIIs x20, Box Cutters x20, Reverse LBCs x15.
Done.
Announcements – Maybe Haven House workout today, maybe not. Maybe don’t ask Java because he’s unsure. News forthcoming on F3 Raleigh’s IT future, more to come from Azul.
Prayer requests – M Headgear as she continues cancer treatment, praise that Jet Ski made his way back to Healing Transitions. Continue to pray for those guys.
Moleskin:
When Shaggy texted YHC about the new TG tradition, one man immediately came to mind as someone who exemplifies “grit”.
Colonel William S. Reeder Jr.’s helicopter was shot down over Ben Het in Vietnam, 1972. His back was broken, and his ankle badly injured. He was captured by the North Vietnamese and tortured before being put into a prison camp. What followed was a march up the Ho Chi Minh Trail that would take months and last several hundred miles. Many of his fellow prisoners did not survive, and Reeder barely did. In fact he came within minutes of death, until a fellow prisoner helped keep him alive. In the end, Bill Reeder was a prisoner of war for 11 months. He survived, and was liberated at the end of the war.
YHC cannot claim to do this man’s story justice. Below are two links. One is an essay Colonel Reeder wrote about his capitivity (relatively short read). He’s also since written a book called Through the Valley: My Captivity in Vietnam”. The second link is to an interview with Bill Reeder on Jocko Willink’s podcast. You can download the podcast on your phone as well (Jocko Podcast Episode 63). It’s long, but well worth the listen. You will be moved.
Thank you men for the opportunity to lead, it’s an honor. Elsinore prayed for us.
http://www.thebattleofkontum.com/memories/136.html
