What a different sort of day! We were out of town still as of this morning. I was able to find a gym that had a weekly pass for a decent price, so I could workout while there with 24 hour access, which was nice because I tend to complete my morning workouts early in the morning around 5 am. This means that going to a gym that requires employees to get in, is usually not going to work!
My morning workout went fairly well, once I located all of the equipment I needed to get it done! Got it all figured out for Arms Day though! Really starting to feel the difference in my arms after today! Chest a little too, as the push-ups are starting to really pay off! After my initial Arms Day workout, it was time for this weeks Valor Challenge! This weeks challenge required 2 rounds of exercises after a 1.5 mile bike each round (my version due to my inability to run). Altogether got it done in 24:43 for Petty Officer Danny Dietz. Here is the Valor Challenge information from Mission Six Zero:
Deliberate Discomfort
VALOR CHALLENGE
Petty Officer Danny Dietz, U.S. Navy
As you go through the challenge, please think about Petty Officer Danny Dietz. This Valor Challenge was suggested by our teammate, Jon Macaskill. This Challenge directly hits home for Jon. Danny Dietz was in Jon’s platoon. He identified his body, escorted his body home, and was a pallbearer at his funeral.
His Navy Cross Citation reads as follows:
For extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy while serving in a four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, Naval Special Warfare Task unit, Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June 2005. Petty Officer Dietz demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan.
Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to disrupt enemy activity. On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to the militia fighters. As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy.
Demonstrating exceptional resolve and fully understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his teammates, Petty Officer Dietz fought valiantly against the numerically superior and positionally advantaged enemy force.
Remaining behind in a hailstorm of enemy fire, Petty Officer Dietz was wounded by enemy fire. Despite his injuries, he bravely fought on, valiantly defending his teammates and himself in a harrowing gunfight, until he was mortally wounded.
By his undaunted courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and absolute devotion to his teammates, Petty Officer Dietz will long be remembered for the role he played in the Global War on Terrorism. Petty Officer Dietz’ courageous and selfless heroism, exceptional professional skill, and utmost devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for the cause of freedom.
Good luck today, guys. May your workout honor his memory.
-Jason B.A. Van Camp
It’s always an honor to do the Valor Challenge, and I’m thankful that my family understands my commitment to doing this part of the Challenge every week!
My afternoon cardio workout wasn’t the typical way of doing things, but it is what it is! We decided to join a little online Geolocation Event that required walking all over the town we were in looking for clues, solving puzzles and riddles, finding more locations, until we solved the whole game. I decided that we were walking enough after we did part of it so start tracking my progress to see how much more walking we did. We completed another 1.06 miles in 70 minutes (there was a LOT of standing in one spot reading clues, then walking to the next spot, etc.). Altogether I think we completed 2 miles or more, but don’t have an exact count. It was outside, in a slight drizzle rain, and sometimes required us to hustle to the next location because we were being timed! On the overall we were playing for 3 hours or more, and the whole family also agreed that this should count for my afternoon walk!
I also need to highlight my Gratitude Journal entry today, which I don’t usually do! I’m thankful for God looking after us today and putting whoever it was in our path that purchased our entire family’s lunch today! We don’t know who you were, but it was very kind of you to recognize us praying and paying for our lunch just because we were praying in public. Humbling, and Kind! Thank you, and Thank God for sending you!
Because of all the travelling I wasn’t able to get a lot of my other tasks completed until after we got home, but they are all done now! I have a lot of catching up to do in my reading tomorrow, as I wasn’t able to read as fast as I would like on the trip. We will have to see how that works out tomorrow! Either way it was a fun day, with lots of adventure, and I’m glad to be home! I would hate to still be out and possibly end up Late, For a Very Important Date!