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sports (August 11, 2012) |
CrossFit Petoskey typically has been a busy place since the upstart business opened it's new location in the spring.
It was full of activity as well last weekend as some 70 participants took part in the national "31 Heroes" benefit, an intense workout regimen designed by CrossFit headquarters to honor military members killed in action.
The Petoskey branch saw an increase from 20-25 people a year ago, and also raised $2,500 for the families of fallen soldiers through the Navy SEAL Foundation, individual family funds, and other similar organizations.
"We know that what we are doing is to only honor the soldiers and their sacrifice for their time and sweat for our freedom," CrossFit Petoskey owner/trainer Jon Jansen said. "What we suffer is in no comparison to what they've suffered and it's a way to honor them."
More than 430 gyms worldwide with more than 10,000 participants from various CrossFit communities took part in the event. Some $300,000 was raised and given directly to the 30 families.
CrossFit Petoskey's $2,500 raised was the most in the state of Michigan.
The 31 Heroes is comprised of 17 Navy SEALS, two Navy EOD technicians, three Naval special warfare combat support sailors, two Army aviators, three Army air crewmen, three Air Force special tactics operators and one military working dog.
One of the fallen soldiers was Navy SEAL Heath Robinson of Petoskey, a 1995 Petoskey High School graduate and former Northmen football player.
Robinson was part of a unit supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Their helicopter was shot down by enemy forces in Afghanistan's Wardak province.
"That really fueled the flame for us," Jansen said. "There's a lot of people that come to our gym that went to high school with him or that knew them.
"Whenever you have that connection, it makes what you're doing so much more special."
The money that CrossFit Petoskey raised not only will go to help support memorial funds for the families, but a third also goes to the Travis Manion Foundation, and another third to the Snowball Express, foundations that assist the families of fallen heroes.
The "workout of the day" as it is known in CrossFit language involved a rigorous 31-minute, high-intesity session with a partner. While one partner ran 400 meters carrying a 25- or 45-pound sand bag, the other began an 8-6-11 (the date of the fallen soldiers) repetition scheme workout. It started with eight thrusters, where the participant lifts a weighted bar, squats down and then thrusts it over their head.
Next came 15-foot rope climbs followed by 11 box jumps.
"We had two different times for the workouts, 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and had over 70 people, was a tremendous number for us," Jansen said. "It's a new facility for us and last year we had about 20-25 people because we just couldn't handle many more.
"It was nice to see people throughout the community come out and support it."
It was full of activity as well last weekend as some 70 participants took part in the national "31 Heroes" benefit, an intense workout regimen designed by CrossFit headquarters to honor military members killed in action.
The Petoskey branch saw an increase from 20-25 people a year ago, and also raised $2,500 for the families of fallen soldiers through the Navy SEAL Foundation, individual family funds, and other similar organizations.
"We know that what we are doing is to only honor the soldiers and their sacrifice for their time and sweat for our freedom," CrossFit Petoskey owner/trainer Jon Jansen said. "What we suffer is in no comparison to what they've suffered and it's a way to honor them."
More than 430 gyms worldwide with more than 10,000 participants from various CrossFit communities took part in the event. Some $300,000 was raised and given directly to the 30 families.
CrossFit Petoskey's $2,500 raised was the most in the state of Michigan.
The 31 Heroes is comprised of 17 Navy SEALS, two Navy EOD technicians, three Naval special warfare combat support sailors, two Army aviators, three Army air crewmen, three Air Force special tactics operators and one military working dog.
One of the fallen soldiers was Navy SEAL Heath Robinson of Petoskey, a 1995 Petoskey High School graduate and former Northmen football player.
Robinson was part of a unit supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Their helicopter was shot down by enemy forces in Afghanistan's Wardak province.
"That really fueled the flame for us," Jansen said. "There's a lot of people that come to our gym that went to high school with him or that knew them.
"Whenever you have that connection, it makes what you're doing so much more special."
The money that CrossFit Petoskey raised not only will go to help support memorial funds for the families, but a third also goes to the Travis Manion Foundation, and another third to the Snowball Express, foundations that assist the families of fallen heroes.
The "workout of the day" as it is known in CrossFit language involved a rigorous 31-minute, high-intesity session with a partner. While one partner ran 400 meters carrying a 25- or 45-pound sand bag, the other began an 8-6-11 (the date of the fallen soldiers) repetition scheme workout. It started with eight thrusters, where the participant lifts a weighted bar, squats down and then thrusts it over their head.
Next came 15-foot rope climbs followed by 11 box jumps.
"We had two different times for the workouts, 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and had over 70 people, was a tremendous number for us," Jansen said. "It's a new facility for us and last year we had about 20-25 people because we just couldn't handle many more.
"It was nice to see people throughout the community come out and support it."
