9 Pax posted at the Kohl’s parking lot with I believe 7 having done the Bear less than 48 hrs prior. The reason? To get better, and to honor one of the most significant events in history, D-Day 6-6/1944
Run to El Dorado
However you choose to do it
6 Rounds of 60 Reps (25 Merkins, 25 WW2 Situps and 10 Burpees)
1944 steps which is 19 full trips up Stairway to Heaven plus 31 additional steps
at 6:07 Run Back to Parking lot
– @Gnarly Goat led the #Chippendale charge departing sans shirt by the end the count was at 4
– I believe there were a few who completed the full count but special recognition who put in OT complete all reps, inspiring.
– As I said, I knew this would be very challenging, wouldn’t have it any other way to pay tribute to the beyond Giants who looked death in the face and said told it to step aside. The threat was very real, but those brave men rose to the occasion.
– Everyone know @Primetime he cannot be ignored, he insists he is not a runner, we all know this to be a lie. But in case he doesn’t believe that anyone can be a strong runner there are 3 Pax who were there today who have radically changed their running performance. @Kato @Colonel Mustard and @Gordo you 3 men have worked hard to become strong runners and now you are true forces to be reckoned with
-Special thanks to our Isotope brothers who made the trip, it is now way easier with 485, if you can figure out the signs.
Here is the letter General Eisenhower sent troops before the offensive
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of
1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats,
in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their
strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home
Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions
of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to
Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Thanks @Winnebego for a workout that was very appropriate for the day. While nothing can compare to the horror on those beaches, it was a fitting tribute.
I never really knew my Grandfathers. As I started dating Becca (My M) her Grandfather, PopPop George, quickly, became the Grandfather I never had. He was the rock, the patriarch of the family. While quick with a joke and a smile, he was also full of strength and discipline. A symbol of which was the wooden paddles he made that were personalized with the name of each grandkid they were intended for.
PopPop George joined the Navy as a teenager. He served 20 years and was part of the Normandy invasion shuttling troops to the beaches. While I never knew the kid that did what was required on that day and throughout the war, I knew and love the man he became. PopPop George was married 56 years and his legacy of faith, commitment, and honor lives on in the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren he left behind.
Even when relegated to a wheel chair in his later years after several heart attacks, PopPop’s humor, faith, and dignity remained. He finished his race well and I am grateful for the years I spent with him. I am thankful that my children had the privilege of knowing him.
I have been thinking a lot recently about my legacy. Much of my life thus far has been consumed with selfish disposable ambitions with no lasting value. That has to change. I want to make decisions now that will make sense when I look back from eternity. I want to commit to doing the hard things that are required in my station. I want to leave a legacy like PopPop George. I want to finish well.
Kato you have a gift brother, to connect with people with words and emotion. I am very glad you have become such a huge part of F3. I think most of us show at F3 trying to run away from one demon or many. But there becomes a tipping point or points where we stop running from and start running too. Keep at it, you are already shaping a legacy. Thank you for sharing this story. My M Grandfather marched all over Europe in WW2 and have had the honor of talking to him about it a few times. He said there was no doubt in the importance of what he was doing and while he wouldnt wish to do it again he would in a heartbeat because it was so important. Truly the greatest generation.
@Bago – thanks for all you do to keep our service men and women like your M.Grandfather in our thoughts, hearts, minds and prayers. Your leadership and continued focus on them that you bring to the PAX is invaluable for shaping our values and perspectives. Thank you brother.
Awesome tribute today Winnebago!!! I agree nothing will ever come close to what those men on those duck boats tried to pull off but today was a struggle to push through the rubber that your legs turned into towards the top of the deck. I’m not a runner but my coach is trying his best to turn me into one. Apologies for being late that was bush league on my part. Still a wonderful workout with men that make me better and for that I’m grateful
I too like Kato took great joy and time with my Grandpa who was a waist gunner on a B-17. He simply was the most faithful, kind, disciplined, fair, honest, hardworking man I ever met. Every day I try to be like him the best I can and everyday I’m sure I fall short, however because of him I get to try again another day.
@PT, from what I’ve seen out of you the last 48 hrs, you’re hardly falling short. In fact, it’s that drive to get better everyday (even if it is in a fashionable bad-ass orange tank) that’s put you in the league with your Grandpa. Awesome to hear that he motivates you like that. Looking forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you for some more pain in the near future, brother.
@Kato – if PopPop George knew half the man I’ve come to know, he’d be quite proud. You finished well today and you’re well on your way in every other facet, my brother.
Tclaps to the boys from Isotope for making the trek from NoCo… strong. very strong. Besides the inspiring performances, the chatter kept YHC going when I had none myself.
@Winnebago – that was awful. thanks. finished my last set of 31 steps at 0606 (appropriate.) I think I would have finished earlier, but ye ol’ gnarly one kept referring to my line up of stones as The Goat’s Feeder Pile.
Aye Kato. You – and all of us – finished well today. It was a good memorial workout to Pop Pop George and all those courageous souls who stood (and stand)against evil tyrants. As I made that infernal climb 19.5 times today I was drawing inspiration from what happened on those beaches – Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants, but they never knew they were giants. We hope that’s what the next generation can think about us.
@GG – you kept me going today brother. Your own drive, your chatter and, most importantly, your short history lessons… they all motivated me to keep going when everything else was telling me to quit. T-claps and thanks for your service to us and this country.
On a lighter note, I learned today that Simple Green can be used to clean the funk out of workout clothes.
Thanks men. There are regular workouts for Memorial Day and Veterans Day and that is appropriate but I felt D-Day was more than deserving. That day truly changed the course of history. I firmly believe the Allies would have found a way to triumph because there was no choice but that is the day we look to that turned the tide. I knew anything short of a humbling workout would do injustice to the occasion.
Thanks @Bago for continuing to honor the lost and sometimes forgotten in today’s backa$$ward society. As to your workout, yeah it sucked but you know that’s ok. We would have more men waiting in the parking lot at 0510 if it was easy. If they knew what was good for them they would get their six out of the #fartsack and lock shields with us. Alright enough of that.
T-claps to our three men from @NoCo that joined us. Now that I-485 is open, men are starting to branch out. Not sure if that is a good thing to allow the #lakeboys to come join us for some pain. Roads have two ways though, so we will be sure to come join you men also.
-Col. Mustard out