What a weird day today has been! There are all sorts of little anomalies today, that normally don’t happen, but seem to be setting the day apart. Some of them are good, some of them aren’t bad or good, but distracting, and a few of them are less desirable. For example, a cashier asked right out loud if the littles could have stickers, and in a panic we answered a rather loud, “NO!” Last time we did that the stickers got stuck to the leather seats in the car and it took us two days to get it off. He ended up with this deer in the headlights look on his face, before we realized how loud we were and explained ourselves. He was initially surprised and thought he had done something to upset us, which wasn’t the case. Once the truth was out, everyone was pleased and he quickly asked us if the littles could have a treat instead, to which we were obliged to accept. So that is the theme today, and we shall get back on track!
Morning workout was Arms Day! Tons of dumbbell work for the biceps, triceps, and forearms along with a little core work. Altogether, one of my favorite days in the weekly workout regiment. After that was the Valor Challenge, which this time consisted of sets of Burpees (I do a modified version) followed by Shuttle Runs. I substituted .1 miles on the bike for all but the last two rounds which went to .2 and .25 miles to match the increasing quantities and distances. My overall time for the Valor Challenge was 21:30 exactly. Some of this was the getting on and off the bike, but it is what it is. The Valor Challenge information from Mission Six Zero is:
Deliberate Discomfort
VALOR CHALLENGE
MAJ Thomas Kennedy, U.S. Army
As you go through the challenge, please think about Major Thomas Kennedy, of New York, New York. This Valor Challenge also pays respect to our Mission Six Zero teammate, Florent Groberg (MOH).
Major Thomas Kennedy was originally from New City in Rockland County and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy (Class of 2000), where he was on the hockey team, as well as where he’d also worked the past several years. He was the son of a former NYPD detective.
Kennedy was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based at Fort Carson.
He was one of four Americans killed along with an Afghan civilian in a suicide attack on Aug. 8. Also killed were USAID foreign service officer Ragaei Abdelfattah; Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, of Conyers, Ga.; and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, of Laramie, Wyoming.
In August 2012, Mission Six Zero Team member and Medal of Honor recipient, Flo Groberg was leading a personal security detachment with the 4th Infantry Division’s Task Force Mountain Warrior in a mission through the town of Asadabad.
They were in a protective diamond formation around a group of visiting VIPs — two brigade commanders, three battalion commanders, the brigade’s command sergeant major and an Afghan general — who were moving on foot toward a provincial compound for a security conference.
Groberg had gotten fewer servicemembers than he wanted for the mission and was taking every precaution to keep the group safe. At a bridge — a natural choke point along the route – the group encountered Afghans on two motorcycles. It caused no immediate alarm but was likely a diversion.
The situation then took a bizarre and ominous turn. A man came out of a building along the route and began walking backward. Groberg was tracking him, but thought that the Afghan might have had a mental disability. Suddenly, the man made a 180-degree turn, faced the group and charged. The Afghan was wearing a suicide vest with a “dead-man’s trigger.” It had been activated and ready to detonate before the bomber approached the security detachment and VIPs. All the bomber had to do was release his grip and he did.
Kennedy deployed to Afghanistan in July. He had earned three Bronze Stars and is survived by his wife, Kami, and two children, Brody and Margaret.
Good luck today, guys. May your workout honor his memory.
-Jason B.A. Van Camp
Everything else went rather well, including the reading of Mere Christianity, which is blowing my mind awesome, in my opinion. I’m almost done, so finishing it up tomorrow should not be a problem.
Afternoon workout was a little strange just because I kept hearing voices from somewhere, but couldn’t figure out where. I’m thinking there was someone upstairs in the gym or something that I just could not locate, but I’m not really sure. The cardio itself went well, with a record distance for the short workout of 1.79 miles in 35 minutes. I cranked the treadmill up a little and worked a little harder today…felt good!
Getting finished up a little late, but with as busy of a day as we had (did some epic shopping to restock the house), I’m not sure I could have worked it any better.
It’s just A Weird One!