Before we get into this week’s entry, one of my fellow SERE peeps, (and former Marine) Eric DeAvilla, is raising money for the Leary Firefighters. I know, I know... former Marine and Firefighter? LADIES: Maintain your composure! He is competing in both Death Races this year; the winter death race and Spartan Death Race. So, in short, this BAMF needs your help to raise five thousand dollars. He’s already a quarter of the way there. He promised that if he meets half of his goal before the winter death race in March, he will sport an MARPAT Desert Kilt (picture below) during the Spartan Death race… Needless to say, we NEED to help make this happen. For realz… Please contribute what you can. Click HERE.
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| Stop licking the screen, ladies. |
As many of you already know, I am still in the prep stages for my next event: The Raleigh-NC GORUCK Challenge. Given that I only have about two weeks to go, it’s proven to have been a wise choice to do the SERE Performance event in Washington D.C. With the physical and mental challenges that we endured and along with mental bouts that come with doing something that has never been done, I feel that I am all but fully prepared. I know that it will be a tough evolution, as all GRC events are. I also know that my humble disposition for the challenges I take on will continue to grow; for I know that the challenges that I face currently, they will most assuredly fall within the shadows of the Death Race when that time comes.
I learned quite a bit about where I stand in my journey at the SERE Performance challenge. I have a far better understanding as to where I stand physically. And mentally, for that matter. There will always be things when it comes to physical endurance in which I can improve on; always. But I also learned that your physical training will only take you so far. No matter how good of shape that I may be in, there will always come a time where I am completely worn out and I will still have to push myself to continue. Sometimes for just a few more hours, perhaps even days depending on the level of the challenge that I take on. But the largest challenge is that when you take on some endurance events, you have no idea what’s coming next or (here’s the kicker) how much further you have to go – how much more pain you will have to endure. You MUST put it in your mind that you will succeed, no matter the costs. The most successful athletes that I have met have an opposite approach that what you think. Rather than wonder what it would take to “break” them, they just continue to challenge themselves and causally wonder: “Will this stop me… Nope? Okiedokie then… next!”
So I have officially been tapped by the powers to be a SERE Performance Scout. Whoop-whoop! J This entails me to promote the events that are currently on the docket and to also “scout” out areas where a possible challenge could be done. My plan is to get one of the operators down here one weekend and do some boots-on-the-ground action in Wilmington, North Carolina. I think it would be a great place to facilitate maritime challenge. I will be sending up a healthy amount of documentation, PowerPoints, and pictures to the SERE operators. If they like what they see, then it’s just a matter of getting the folks to take on the challenge. Good thing I have a boatload of ideas pouring out. If you are interested, let me know. I put you on a notification list and let you know if it gets approved. But don’t expect any inside information to be given – it wouldn’t help you anyways. I’m excited because this is, in essence, what I do for my job – it’s just formatted in a different shade. And I’m good at my job. Really good. J
Although this may seem counter-intuitive to my previous paragraph but I have decided to pump the breaks on my journey. Just a little. My journey to the Death Race, albeit rewarding and very exciting, is starting to take its toll on my life and my responsibilities at home. I will still execute the events that I have signed up for this year and believe me, there are a good number of them. But I will begin to shift my attention on my family and loved ones a little more. And I don’t even really know what that will entail just yet. As of now, it’s nothing more than a mental note. For those of you who know me, when I get my mindset locked in on something, I’m unstoppable. I have, as of late, become obsessed with this journey. Bad things can come from obsession. I shall personify this thought with a funny video: J
On that note, I shall put an end to this for the day. As always, I hope all is well with all of you and I know I haven’t said so but I really appreciate the moral support I’ve been getting from you guys. It means a lot. Until next time.
