So, on the overall, had a decent day. Got my morning workout done after sleeping in a couple of hours, which was nice. Did my Valor Challenge (more on that later), then came home and got breakfast done for the family. Everything went fairly well there. Morning workout was Arms day, so lots of dumb bell work, upper arms, lower arms, biceps, triceps, etc. Still have a hard time getting the flat-bench knees to elbows going at the gym as they don’t have a flat bench available upstairs which is where I do the rest of my workout, but I’m figuring it out!
Throughout the day had a little timing issues with trying to get a special project done in the garage, along with getting all of my challenge tasks completed. Had a great conversation with my son about his schooling and how things have been outside of his video games. Was a nice little heart to heart.
Got the special projects completed and headed off to the gym for my afternoon cardio. I decided that I needed to do it indoors today, because I’ve had these nasty allergies going, which is draining into my lungs as I breath, and therefore I’ve had a nasty cough for the last couple of weeks. Every time I spend too much time in the very cold air like we had today (30s to 40s), I seem to have a much harder time breathing for a while. It worked out in the end, because after my cardio workout I was coughing a whole lot less than usual, with my walks at the park outdoors. I’m usually a proponent for spending the time outside, and it is only because of this cough that I can’t shake that I’m trying to keep myself from failing, by getting worse and having to bow out. I can’t have that.
This morning I did do my Valor Challenge in 17:22 this morning, which consisted of Burpees (I do a modified version of them) and 400 meter runs (also, do a modified version on the bike instead. Our Valor Challenge this week is in honor of SGM James Sartor, U.S. Army (Green Beret). His information from Mission Six Zero is as follows:
Deliberate Discomfort
VALOR CHALLENGE
SGM James Sartor, U.S. Army
(Green Beret)
As you go through the challenge, please think about Sergeant Major James Sartor. This Valor Challenge was recommended by our Mission Six Zero teammate, Jeff Adams.
Sergeant Major James Sartor, a member of the 10th Special Forces Group, died during combat operations in Faryab province, Afghanistan on Saturday, July 13, 2019. He died as a result of injures sustained when the Taliban attacked him with small arms fire during combat operations. Faryab province is located in the north west of Afghanistan. James Sartor was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group which is based at Fort Carson, Colorado. It was his seventh deployment.
James “Ryan” Sartor, age 40, was from Teague, Texas and was born on Sept. 23, 1978. He loved sports growing up and played football for his high school team. He joined the Army in June 2001 and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as an infantryman. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to 10th group in 2005.
He deployed to Iraq as an infantryman in 2002, and as a Green Beret assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG (A) in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. He also deployed to Afghanistan with 10th SFG (A) in 2017 and 2019.
“We’re incredibly saddened to learn of Sgt. Maj. James ‘Ryan’ Sartor’s passing in Afghanistan. Ryan was a beloved warrior who epitomized the quiet professional,” said Col. Brian R. Rauen, commander of 10th Group. “He led his soldiers from the front and his presence will be terribly missed.”
Sartor’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster and National Defense Service Medal, among others. His posthumous awards include the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal.
Rest of my day has come together nicely, although a little later than I would have liked. Sometimes that just the way the ball bounces though, right? What I do know, is that Allergies Suck!