YHC called an audible and changed #TheUptowner plans from Awkward Yoga to The Maltz Challenge. Today, people around the country honored fallen service men by completing the Maltz Challenge. This is a Hero WOD named after USAF Master Sergeant Mike Maltz, who along with five others, was killed in 2003 on a para rescue mission trying to save children in an Afghani Hospital. His grave is inscribed with the phrase “That others may live.” His older brother, who works for the Drug Enforcement Agency, started this challenge as a way to honor those that have been killed in action. Today people around the country participated in remembrance of the sacrifice others have made for us and others around the world.
The Thang
Fireman Carry 100 meters (Frac & Kim, YHC & Triple) or Farmer Carry 50 lbs 200 meters (Torque)
100 pull-ups
50 Dips (we did bench dips)
400m run to playground on opposite side of Pontiff
50 Knees to Elbows (hang from rings and bring your knees up to your elbows)
100 merkins
100 sit-ups
400m run back to the other playground.
We ended with some Vinyasas, including runners pose and the world’s greatest stretch.
Moleskin
Reading through all the information on MSgt Maltz is powerful stuff. I encourage you to do so if you haven’t. In John 15:13 Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” The six men killed that day laid down their lives for strangers, sick children that were in desperate need of supplies. MSgt Maltz was 42 years old that day; my age. He had two kids of his own. Many of us would say that we would do what ever was necessary for our own children and I think that’s honest. But would we be able to sacrifice everything for someone else’s children; children we had never met; children from a far away place that shares very little in common with our culture and ideals; children with relatives that might be trying to kill you? That’s what those six men did that day.
It’s not likely we will be asked to do what MSgt Maltz and his comrades did that day. But what we can do is look to put the needs of others ahead of our own needs; loving those around us, even strangers, with sacrificial love; not counting the cost, but giving freely. Let’s condition ourselves to love without counting the cost. Take some time to reflect on I John 3:16-18 today: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
Great work by all of the guys that showed up to The Uptowner today. I’m really proud to have completed this challenge with you all. Everyone completed it sub 29 minutes. Impressive work fellows.
-Hawg
