Four (and a half) Rock City die-hards posted at Pontiff this am to better our bodies and minds. Light showing….rumor had it some of the regulars opted for the pillow fight at the Skinny. Rudy wanted to get some miles in for the Jazz half so he beat the PAX out there and was on lap two when we arrived. T-claps for the dedication and for meeting us at the COT. YHC’s plan for the am included accommodations for those that opted to bring rucks, which wound up being JV and Amnesty. After the disclaimer, we were off to the usual warmup area for:
SSH IC x21
Windmills IC x21
Arm Circles IC X21 (7 forward, 7 backward, 7 chinook)
Crab Cakes IC x21
Re-position against the fence to hold a people’s chair position for a few minutes while YHC filled the PAX in on the significance of the 21 count warmup. You see, October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month which happens to be near and dear to YHC since my son, Brady, was born with DS. YHC proceeded to inform the PAX about the specifics of Trisomy 21 (aka Down Syndrome) and how it impacts individuals born with the genetic disorder. (The complete rundown is at the bottom of this backblast)
Meandered to the pull up bars to pair up for 21 pull ups each, with partner assist if needed. Some split it up in two quick rounds. After cranking these out, head to the track for a metabolic circuit that was the suggested workout in the Go-ruck training schedule some guys have been following. Here’s how it went:
Got heart rate up with Burpees x21 OYO
Four laps on the track, stopping at each 100 Meter interval for:
Merkins x21, Lunges x21, Bench Dips x21, Squats x21
For those from Arkansas, that’s 1 mile of running and 84 of each exercise. T-claps to the ruckers for the very brisk, mosey-like ruck and making all four laps. You guys looked whipped.
Just enough time to hit the pull up bars for 21 more reps w/assist if needed. T-claps to those who kept their ruck on. Mosey back to the flag.
COT included announcements about the upcoming races along with prayer intentions for those in Haiti, flood victims, Mason, Brady, and others. YHC informed the PAX that he recently learned (thanks to Google) that St. Robert Bellarmine is The Patron Saint of Individuals with Down Syndrome. YHC read off The Prayer for DS (abbreviated version):
O Holy St. Robert Bellarmine, we pray for your loving intercession for the needs of those with Down syndrome.May you be at the side of every mother with child, that she will have the faith to overcome worldly thoughts and fears that could distract her from recognizing the precious gift of life growing within her.May you be at the side of the parents, families, friends, teachers, and caregivers that they will have the grace to know the Lord’s merciful hand is guiding them through life’s joys and struggles. May they place their hope and complete trust in Jesus.
Thanks for letting me lead and convey Down Syndrome awareness in the community.
Tool
P.S. – The DSAGNO Buddy Walk is this Saturday for 11am at Zephyr Stadium. Family friendly, lots of good food, live musics, and more. http://dsagno.org/feature/buddywalk2016/
P.P.S. – This is the quick rundown of what YHC read during the People’s Chair:
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It gives a chance to not only spread awareness, but celebrate people with Down syndrome and make the community aware of their abilities and accomplishments. “It’s not about celebrating disabilities, it’s about celebrating abilities.”
What are trisomies?
If a child is born with three #21 chromosomes, rather than the usual pair, then the child would be said to have “trisomy 21.” Trisomy 21 is also known as Down syndrome
What is Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that involves birth defects, intellectual disabilities, and characteristic facial features. It often involves heart defects, visual and hearing impairments, and other health problems. The severity of all of these problems varies greatly among affected individuals. Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic birth defects, affecting approximately one in about 800 babies. In this country, around 250,000 individuals have Down syndrome. Life expectancy among adults with Down syndrome is about 60 years, though average lifespan varies.
There is no cure for Down syndrome. Doctors are not certain how to prevent the chromosomal error that causes Down syndrome. To date, there is no reason to believe that a parent could have done anything to cause or prevent the birth of a baby with Down syndrome.
