“Heather”

“Heather”

AMRAP 20 Minutes:
8 Pull-Ups
12 Alternating Dumbbell Snatches
17 Wall Balls 20/10, 14/9

In honor of Heather Heyer, who was killed by a white supremacist in Charlottesville, VA on 8/12/17 during an anti-discrimination protest. Scale the Pull-Ups to Ring Rows as needed. Use a dumbbell that’s heavy for you but that allows you to move through.

Post rounds, reps, and Rx to comments.

A New Type of Hero WOD

By Noah Abbott
Reposted from CrossFit Lumos

This past weekend in Charlottesville, VA, Heather Heyer, a 32 year old paralegal and activist, died as a result of injuries sustained when a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters who had gathered to oppose a “Unite the Right” rally that had quickly become a organizing point for the worst parts of American society—Nazis, KKK members and sympathizers, and racists.  Heather was a passionate fighter against injustice who paid the ultimate price for her beliefs. If you’d like to know more about Heather, read the links at the bottom of today’s post  A GoFundMe page for Heather’s funeral has already met its goal and been deactivated, but if you’d like to donate, please give to Natalie Romero, a 20 year old Texas native who sustained a skull fracture and other injuries in the attack.

In CrossFit, there is a tradition of doing Hero “WODs”—especially tough and grueling memorial workouts typically named after soldiers, police officers, and other first responders who have died in the line of duty. CrossFit was adopted early on by military and LEO communities and the reciprocal connection between the two groups is enduring and profound. That said, it is myopic to argue that being a soldier or law enforcement officer is the only way to stand up for something you believe in. History is rife with examples of brave men and women who have risked and sometimes lost their lives defending movements, ideas, and principles they believed in. Many of these heroes put themselves into these dangerous situations fully aware that they would be opposing armed, hostile opponents with little more than their beliefs and bravery to shield them.

This Saturday we will be performing the first of a new series of “alternative” Hero WODs—“Heather”—at the gym. It is not our goal to do away with traditional Hero WODs like “Murph” or “DT” (sorry kids, you don’t get off that easy), but rather to foster a more complete and complex discussion about the nature of sacrifice.  We hope that this acts as a catalyst for discussion and insight and isn’t seen as a condemnation of any group (except for Nazis/white supremacists). Instead, we see this WOD and others like it as a way to celebrate the bravery of soldiers and teachers and freedom fighters, police and activists and clergy—men and women of any race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or creed who decided to risk their personal comfort and safety for what they knew was right.

Heather’s family asked that attendees to her memorial service wear purple, her favorite color. If you’d like to pay tribute in that way please wear an item (or more!) or purple clothing on Saturday for the workout.

News and Notes

• Today’s 10am Yoga for Athletes class is cancelled. Yoga for Athletes will be cancelled for the rest of August while Coach Whit is out of town. Class will resume on September 2nd!
• In just two weeks, on Saturday, September 2nd, CFSBK will be hosting a potluck at Prospect Park. Come lounge on the grass, throw some frisbee, toss the ol’ pigskin, and hang out with your gym buds. What better way to spend Labor Day weekend? We’ll be on the hill south of the Picnic House from 2pm on. Bring a dish or drink to share. Friends, family, and dogs are, of course welcomed. We can’t wait to see you there!
• The water at 608 is back on! Due to continuing work on Degraw, it may be out again on Monday, but 608 will have water today and Sunday. 597 is still good as well.

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Yesterday’s Results Board: Rest Day
Heather Heyer, Charlottesville Victim, Cannot Be Silenced, Mother Says NY Times
Charlottesville Victim Heather Heyer Told People in Crisis “It’s Going to Be OK” Daily Beast