LEXINGTON – It’s a fitting hero’s workout on a day designed to honor all heroes.
The public is invited on Memorial Day at 9 a.m. to the Torture Chamber CrossFit gym, 125 Plymouth St., to participate in a salute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the United States.
On deck for the “workout of the day,” i.e. WOD, is the “DT,” named in honor of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis, 28, who was killed in Afghanistan on Feb. 20, 2009, when his vehicle was struck by an IED.
“It’s a notorious workout that is very hard,” said A.J. Beddow, a 2011 Lexington High School graduate and the head trainer for TCLC Fitness. “That’s why it’s a hero’s workout. It will tire you how no matter how good a shape you are in.
“The idea is when you get worn out during the workout that you think of Sgt. Davis and his sacrifice and that you just keep moving and remembering him as you go,” Beddow said.
“DT” calls for participants to do five rounds of three exercises for time, i.e. as fast as they can. The exercises are 12 deadlift repetitions of 155 pounds, followed by nine power clean repetitions at 155 pounds, and six shoulder-to-overhead repetitions of 155 pounds.
“For most people, this WOD will take 15 minutes or less, but we will have several heats. So we will likely go to 10:30 or 11 with the event,” Beddow said.
No prizes will be awarded. “Just bragging rights,” Beddow said.
CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program consisting mainly of a mix of aerobic exercise, calisthenics (body weight exercises), and Olympic weightlifting.
CrossFit, Inc. describes its strength and conditioning program as “constantly varied functional movements executed at high intensity across broad time and modal domains,” with the stated goal of improving fitness, Hour-long classes at affiliated gyms, or “boxes”,
Hour-long classes at affiliated gyms, or “boxes”, typically include a warm-up, a skill development segment, the high-intensity “workout of the day” (or WOD), and a period of individual or group stretching. Some gyms also often have a strength focused movement prior to the WOD. Performance on each WOD is often scored and/or ranked to encourage competition and to track individual progress. Some affiliates offer additional classes, such as Olympic weightlifting, which are not centered around a WOD.[19
On Monday, participants need not be members of the gym, which is owned by Dan Studer, Jason Murray, Darrel Strickler and Emily Patterson. Studer, a physical fitness teacher and weight training instructor at Lexington High School, actually brought the Torture Chamber concept to Lexington from Massillon, following concepts used by his father, Steve.
“You can just show up and join us in the workout to honor Sgt. Davis and others who died serving in the military,” Beddow said.
For those who wish to join the gym, an initial one-month beginner program is $60, which includes classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“The goal of the (beginners’) program is to get people acquainted with CrossFit. Teach them the lingo. Build up their baseline skills, etc.,” Beddow said.
“The great thing about CrossFit is the variety of the workouts,” Beddow said. “You are never doing the same thing day to day or week to week.”
For more information about Monday’s event, call Beddow at 419-545-0432 or Studer at 419-545-3684. You can also visit the gym’s website at www.torturechambercrossfit.com.
