Email   Print   Share By Michael Heckman, Sentinel Staff

Facebook Digg Delicious December 10, 2009 | Sports

Sgt. 1st Class Zanda Watson, platoon sergeant for the 510th Clearance Co., 20th Eng. Bn., 36th Eng. Bde., completes a dumbbell squat and clean during the Hero WOD (workout of the day). Watson was one of about 112 athletes who helped to raise $400 Saturday at the Wellness Center. Michael Heckman, Sentinel Staff

Maj. Don Clarkson, EOD officer, III Corps CBRNE, completes an overhead squat Saturday at the Wellness Center.

1st Lt. David Judson, 510th Clearance Co., 20th Eng. Bn., squats.

In the first lane of the 10-lane CrossFit challenge, Central Texas athletes did as many 275-pound dead lifts as possible before running 400 meters.

Women also participated in the Hero WOD, part of the Lumberjack 20 fundraiser held at the Wellness Center.

Central Texas CrossFit training affiliates joined their counterparts nationwide Saturday to raise funds to help the surviving children of four Fort Hood Soldiers, all members of the 20th Engineer Battalion, who were killed during the Nov. 5 rampage on post that left 12 Soldiers and a civilian dead and dozens wounded.

According to Maj. Don Clarkson, co-leader of Centurion CrossFit Fort Hood, 112 Soldiers and civilians, members of CrossFit affiliates located on post and from the communities of Belton, Waco, Cedar Park and Round Rock raised about $400 through donations made at the post’s Wellness Center and online.

Similar events held at CrossFit centers nationwide, he added, raised about $30,000.

“It’s a great showing from the CrossFit community and it’s a great indication of how much the civilian and military communities in Central Texas are intertwined and support each other,” Clarkson said Saturday before the Hero WOD (workout of the day) began on the rubber-mat floor of the center’s gym.

Soldiers and other athletes were challenged by sets of 20 dead lifts, kettle bell swings, overhead squats, burpees, pullups, box jumps and dumbbell squat and cleans. Between each set, participants also ran 400 meters for a total of more than a mile outside the gym.

“It’s a much more difficult and more lengthy workout than usual,” said Centurion CrossFit member Joe Minus, a retired Soldier.

Based on levels of training, Minus said, participants selected one of 10 lanes set up inside the gym. At the most difficult level, regional CrossFit champions performed 275-pound dead lifts; at the far end of the hardwood floor. Beginning CrossFit athletes lifted 90 pounds. Other events were similarly staggered.

After completing his dumbbell squat and cleans, about 35 minutes after beginning the WOD, 1st Lt. David Judson, 510th Clearance Co., 20th Eng. Bn., acknowledged, “It’s a very good workout.”

He said his unit does CrossFit training five days a week for PT.

“It’s a full-body workout, it’s quick, it’s hard and we use it a lot because it’s geared toward our combat ops. We have quick, hard engagements and then you’re done. Then you have to reset, recoup and go back again,” Judson said, wiping the sweat from his brow on his T-shirt.

Lt. Col. Pete Andrysiak, battalion commander, said the fundraiser reflected the relationship the installation has with surrounding communities.

“As we continue through the healing process, I think we’re seeing the CrossFit community coming together to show how close it is. It speaks volumes to the community as a whole as well; they’re doing this nationwide in honor of these four Soldiers,” Andrysiak said.

As the battalion prepares to deploy, he added, “It gives you a great sense of security knowing there is a legacy that gets left behind and these guys help out with that.”

With support from the military and from Central Texas communities, he added, “Everybody’s rebounded pretty well but we have more resolve and it shows in the numbers who came out to support this thing.”

“It’s tough but we’re moving forward and we’re ready to go.”