On June 30, 2013 19 fire fighters lost their lives in a fire in Yarnell, Arizona.
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All 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were CrossFitters at Captain CrossFit and, as is CrossFit tradition, a hero workout (WOD) was designed and named in their honour.
The workout has been completed all around the world and for the second time the members at CrossFit Southern Highlands (CFSoHi) paid their respects to the 19 young men who were killed.
CFSoHi co-owner and head coach David Miller is a former NSW Rescue Fire Fighter and he, along with current fire fighter and box member James Allen, completed the workout in full fire fighting attire.
"It's such an emotional workout for myself, being a former firefighter, and having an understanding of what conditions these men tragically lost their lives in has a profound impact on me," Miller said.
"Being a member of the CrossFit community means that we can honour these men through a workout and pay some respect to the families of the fallen."
Hero workouts are by design the most challenging and demanding workouts in CrossFit, but Miller said doing it in the full fire fighting kit meant it got hot and claustrophobic fast.
"It's just something you have to put out of your mind," he said.
"All I focused on was the names of the 19 fallen officers and doing my best to honour their legacy to their community and the CrossFit community."
Miller and fellow box owner Naomi Benedetti take great pride in training Allen.
"To train a current serving officer is a huge and humbling honour," Miller said.
"Most people train with us simply to better their lives, but a firefighter trains so that one day he will have the fitness to either save a life or his own and thats not something we take lightly.
"We do everything we can to ensure that at any given, unpredictable moment they will be safe and return home to their families.
"Nothing gives me more of a sense of pride and accomplishment in my job than to be able to achieve this for someone."
In a hero workout, every number has relevance and the Hotshots 19 Memorial Workout is six rounds of 30 squats, 19 power cleans, seven strict pull-ups and a 400 metre run.
It is six rounds because they were killed in June, there are 30 squats because it happened on the 30th day, 19 power cleans because it honours 19 young men, seven strict pull-ups and a 400 metre run because they are a requirement to become a Hotshot.
The workout was in honour of the following 19 men:
- Jesse Steed, 36
- Wade Parker, 22
- Joe Thurston, 32
- William Warneke, 25
- John Percin, 24
- Clayton Whitted, 28
- Scott Norris, 28
- Dustin Deford, 24
- Sean Misner, 26
- Garret Zuppiger, 27
- Travis Carter, 31
- Grant McKee, 21
- Travis Turbyfill, 27
- Andrew Ashcraft, 29
- Kevin Woyjeck, 21
- Anthony Rose, 23
- Eric Marsh, 43
- Christopher MacKenzie, 30
- Robert Caldwell, 23