It was a mid-afternoon tweet that once again called YHC’s attention to the fact that he had signed up to Q REDFriday today and so YHC quickly located one of his favorite Hero WODs which had not been done in a little while. The problem was it involved a bunch of running. After logging more miles than YHC is accustomed to coupled with a late night playing pick-up basketball, an audible had to be called.
When there were only three pax at go time, YHC indicated a second possible audible that involved a number of pull-ups. Uncle Jesse is nursing a sore shoulder so we stuck with the second original plan and one of YHC’s favorites.
This workout is honor of Spc. Scott Morrison, who was killed in action on September 26, 2010, near Kandahar, Afghanistan. You can read more about Spc. Morrison here.
Morrison
- 50 Thrusters
- 50 Box jumps
- 50 KB swings
- 40 Thrusters
- 40 Box jumps
- 40 KB swings
- 30 Thrusters
- 30 Box jumps
- 30 KB swings
- 20 Thrusters
- 20 Box jumps
- 20 KB swings
- 10 Thrusters
- 10 Box jumps
- 10 KB swings
Uncle Jesse – 23:24
Juggernaut – 25:59
MeterMaid – 26:45
Following the workout (and requisite recovery period. It is amazing watching guys push through their glass ceilings and will themselves to work harder than they ever have in their lives to get through the toughest workout of every week.), we had a great discussion on the KB swing, Russian versus American version, and the mechanics of the swing. Too often, we don’t talk about and practice proper form. It was determined that we all had some shoulder mobility issues and needed to be very careful when extending the swing over the head. Good stuff, men.
Another great discussion ensued when we got back to the flag on what exactly qualifies a person as a hero. In this day and age of heightened awareness for the exploits of others, we tend to water down the definition. As MeterMaid noted, it really becomes special when we do these Hero WODs that are close and personal. For us here in The Wood, those are Matty V, Quarles and Stream. It really adds another dimension to the level of work put out on those WODs where there is a personal connection.
As many know, REDFriday is something very near and dear to YHC’s heart. While one reason is obvious (my ties to the military), I would like to touch on another reason. There were just three of us there this morning. It was a very close and personal workout. We offered each other encouragement through words, but, more importantly, through action. There were a number of times I wanted to quit and even more times that I wanted just a little more rest before I got after it again. Then I would look across and see MM grab his block and get to work or here UJ’s feet hitting the bench for box jumps and I knew that if those guys could keep putting out then so could I. Not because I am strong or a “beast,” but because they were laying it all out there and I owed it to them to do the same.
The net result of this is not that they are awesome to workout with (though it is a lot of fun to have those two guys around if you want to test your limits), but that I can observe and know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that if they are willing to lay it down like that in a workout then I can count on them day or night to lay it down like that if I need them. It is what draws me to extreme physical exertion. You find out what a man is made of when the crap gets so hard that the KB swings become the recovery part of the workout and you can see plainly in his face that he is in a place where most men quit and give up, yet he presses on. They embody the 40% rule described in the video.
While the physical aspect is nice (stronger people are harder to kill and generally more useful), it is the mental toughness that develops that is so unique.
I don’t think REDFriday is the only place to achieve this, but I know for sure that the two men who were there alongside me this morning simply will not accept anything less from me. Ever. They don’t care if I am a little sore or didn’t get much sleep last night (my mattress isn’t new); they still demand that I give everything I have in their presence. That’s the kind of men I want to surround myself with each and every day.
#Cobains for devolving from BB to soap box.
Aye.