G.I. Jane Q:
Double Backblast for 9/11 and 9/12
This week at FiA NeTN we did 2 workouts in honor of 9/11. Both workouts were led by GI Jane and this backblast covers both the workout done on the morning of 9/11 and the evening of 9/12. All the numbers chosen have significance (as is noted) and all PAX were requested to do the workout weighted in honor of the firefighters who climbed the towers in their full gear.
9/11/2019Q: GI JanePAX:Crush, Margarette, Diego, Perdita, Passport, Gish
9/12 PAXQ: GI JaneWhoopie, Athena, Sgt. Socks, Msafari, Houston, Nutmeg, Doublemint, Salty, Weaver, Sweet Tooth, Dr. Buff, Heartland, Bobby, Princess Sparkles
DISCLAIMER/WARM UP – PAX did warm up on their own while music played that integrated live recordings from 9/11 air traffic control audio and voicemail messages as well as news reportings.
The Thang: The PAX was given 9 exercises with 11 reps each to complete. After each exercise, they sprinted down to the light pole and walked back. PAX were asked to do the entire workout weighted. All PAX did so.
- Burpees
- Squats
- Step-ups
- Calf-raises
- Mountain Climbers
- Squat/Lunge/Squat combo
- Side Step-up
- Box Jump
- Lunges
After all rounds completed, as a PAX, complete 18 Man Makers (for 18 years since 9/11)
The PAX then completed a DORA style workout where the reps are split between 2 team members. In the morning workout, time was too short to complete it standard DORA style so we split the reps up among all PAX there and did them as a team. The night group did the workout in standard DORA format. 175 Mountain Climbers – in memory of American Airlines Flight 175 that hit the South Tower. 170 Squats – in memory of American Airlines Flight 77 that hit the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. 125 Lunges – in memory of the 125 lives lost at the Pentagon. 110 Step Ups – in honor of the number of floors each tower had
COT: 18 years later we all have memories about 9/11. The images that stood out to us the most. For some of us it is the planes, the images of people searching for loved ones, the dust, the towers falling. For me, the most indelible images are the firefighters and first responders turning towards danger, towards the towers, towards their fellow man and woman and choosing them over fear. In that moment in time, they chose the most vulnerable, the most in need, and they turned TO them not away from them. The cost was high. They paid with their lives and those who survived continue to pay with their health – both mental and physical. But they didn’t hesitate. They chose hope. They chose love. They chose service to something greater than themselves. If we learn nothing else from those days, let us remember that each of us has the ability to do right by those who need us. It is as simple as CHOOSING TO TURN TOWARDS THOSE WHO NEED US and away from fear, away from hate, away from comfort. If we do this, perhaps when our time here is done, we will have left this world just a little bit better for our children.
