Greetings, Be Warrior Community! Matt asked if I could say a few things about what the Be Warrior Challenge means to me.
My name is Greg and I have done the Be Warrior Challenge twice now and it is definitely one of my favorite days of the entire year. I just love the inspiration that it provides people, and I think what is so cool about it is that it can be something different to everybody. Whether it’s a different level of challenge or just thinking about the challenges we face and how to face them with grit and determination.
I’ve had two different experiences and both were pretty meaningful and impactful. Year one I got to be part of leading Matt when he was blindfolded. That’s one of the most mentally strong, challenging, inspirational, insane, mind-blowing things I’ve been part of! It meant a lot to myself and Laura to see that experience. I also had my 11 year old along with Matt and Laura. Getting to see him push on through his own barriers was amazingly impactful. Being a coach and a dad I enjoy helping folks to push themselves.
This year was amazing! There were 17 kids under 15 years old who made the 10.6 mile round trip summit hike to the top of Mount Rose. It was hard for us adults. There was one really strong group of 15 year olds who were pushing each other and going for it. They led the crowd. They were definitely the first ones up on the peak.
Then I got to be with a group of 10 to 12 year olds who all said they were going to make the peak. There was no question in their minds. I think if I told them to go hike Mount Rose, they would say, “No! I hate hiking!” Many of them would be whining and complaining five hours into this hike, had they not been in this environment knowing that Ben would do it, and that he did much much harder things.
Getting to be in an environment where all of the people feel the same and are all out there to do the same brings out the best in people. I think everyone comes home with a little more grit than they had previously and that’s that’s magic! That’s really amazing!
I’ll be there next August. My kids will be going for their second and third rounds. I hope that we have not 17 kids on the summit, but 30! That’s 30 kids who probably wouldn’t have ever thought to go hike five or six hours. It’s amazing!
So, Be Warrior!
