Everyone should go to this Challenge

Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge
Dallas / Ft. Worth Texas 05/09/2009

On Saturday May 9, 2009 the Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge visited the Dallas – Ft. Worth Metroplex and was held at the Keller School District Natatorium. (I live about 5 miles from the location.) It was their biggest event by a long shot with 590 people competing. They competed in a 500 yd. swim, push-ups, sit-ups, pull ups and a 1.5 mile run. The event was free and open to anyone over 13 years old. Since both males and females are allowed to compete there is no difference in the set standards. Everyone who completed the five rounds received a White Shirt, those with scores that would qualify for SEAL Training received a Brown Shirt and the ones who scored the minimum or higher SEAL Competitive Standard of 500 yard Swim in under 10 minutes, 80 push-ups in 2 minutes, 80 sit-ups in 2 minutes, 11 push-ups with no time limit and 1.5 mile run in under 10 minutes received a Blue Shirt. In each Group the best for each event received a Silver Medal and at the end of the day the Best of the Best for each of the five events received a Gold Medal. The first Group started at 0700 (I arrived at 0650) and the last Medal was Awarded at about 1630 (I left at 1700). While I had a long day I was really amazed at the way each person put out their all to Win. I as well as others had a scratchy voice from yelling “Come on you can do one more!!” and it did help some do more than they imagined. There were several Sailors with bullhorns heckling the guys and gals to make them do more. I remember during the swim all I heard for about 5 minutes was a bullhorn screaming “Get Off My Wall”, and when they would swim to the other side of the pool and rest someone on that side would scream the same thing. One Gentleman destroyed the SEAL Fitness Standard and earned a Blue Shirt and 2 medals; not bad if you consider he was 41 years old, a special education teacher and 13 years too old to join the SEALs. Another Gentleman smoked everyone in his heat of the 500 yard swim in a time of 8 minutes flat and he was using his worst stroke, the breaststroke. Did I mention he was 48 years old? Everyone (participants and spectators) had things to do at the event. I watched a 3 year old girl do a count down at the start of one group’s sit-up competition through a bullhorn, a girl about 5 show the right and wrong way to do a pull-up (she did have help from the instructor) and both times they got as loud or louder HooYah! than the guys and gals doing all the work. I really enjoyed meeting all the people. I had the opportunity to speak with a retired Navy Frogman from Class 3 and one from Class 30. What an honor! The pride they showed and the stories they told were priceless and I could have gone home after that, but there was so much more to watch. The Leap Frogs attempted a jump about 0900 but the ceiling was too low. They tried again about 1300. It took about 4 passes before the ceiling opened so they could see the ground and proceed. One of the guys told me when they jumped that the top of the plane was in the clouds, it was a quick and short jump since they were at 2000 feet.

Enough about the Challenge in general, the reason I am writing this is because I have a Grandson who is in SQT and I expect him to get his Trident in a few month. I also have a Grandson who along with his girlfriend took the Challenge. Remember when I said the standards are the same for both male and female? He decided about 3 days earlier to enter and had not been doing any extra workouts; he just Graduated HS and is working. His girlfriend plays soccer. Do you see where this is going? I am really, really proud of both my Grandsons and scores do not tell the whole story. Just attempting the challenge and completing it is an accomplishment in itself. With that said, I am going to list their scores as they appear on the SEAL Fitness Challenge Web Site.

Grandson age 19:
Run Time 20:00
Swim Time 15:29
Pullups 7
Pushups 30
Situps 87
PST 1970

Girlfriend age (ask her):
Run Time 11:38
Swim Time 14:00
Pullups 6
Pushups 30
Situps 45
PST 1427

Enough said on that subject.

The next Challenge will be August 8, 2009 in Seattle, Washington. If you live in the area, will be visiting the area, or can make a trip to the area at that time it is worth going. Just in case the Captain I met is reading this you may see me there, I have relatives in that area and may feel the need to schedule a visit.

That Saturday was a Great Day for me and our family! I have said that same thing so many times as I go through this process of having a Grandson join the Navy, complete Bootcamp, finish Pre-BUD’s, ship to Coronado and conclude each of the 3 phases of BUD’s while still with his original class. It’s equally as rewarding as he completes the different phases of SQT. Pride, joy, amazement…. There are not enough words to describe the emotions. I cannot imagine what is around the corner. When I think I have seen the most amazing thing to date something new comes along and I have to make my list of incredible things even longer.

To see Photos, Videos and Scores from past Events you can visit.

http://www.sealfitnesschallenge.com/index.html