Why I Love [solidcore] as a Marine

Like thousands of other Americans, I joined the military shortly after September 11, 2001. I had graduated from college the year before and was working for an insurance brokerage in Chicago. Given the challenges our country was facing after September 11th, I couldn’t see myself sitting in an office every day while others gave what I knew I was capable of giving. 

In 2004, I deployed to Ramadi during one of the deadliest periods in Iraq – what was later called the “Battle of Ramadi”. I was there for nine months, leading a sniper platoon. During that deployment, I almost died several times, but I made it home; others I knew didn’t. 

I learned a lot about myself during that time. One was the power of persistence: we’re capable of enduring and continuing to perform far past when our inner voice tells us we should stop. We all possess an inner strength that we can build and develop over time. You’re never done becoming stronger and more resilient. When the worst day happens, and then happens again, we keep going. 

Some may think that [solidcore] is an unexpected place for a Marine veteran to be twenty years later. But it's one of the few times I’ve found a workout and a community that challenges me to reach for that same inner and outer strength. It’s not just an amazing physical workout; it’s also an amazing mental workout that builds resilience and determination. 

As a Marine, I’ve done difficult workouts, but [solidcore] was a surprise for me. In my first class (and many others after that), my inner voice challenged me to give up. But I pushed myself to keep going, and I walked out of the room with my muscles shaking. It was humbling.

[solidcore]’s workouts use slow and controlled movements that break down muscles to failure so they build back stronger. You push through the discomfort, thinking “If I can just hold for five more seconds…”, or “If I can just do one more rep…” And then you do it. 

Similar to my experience as a Marine, I draw from these moments in class in other areas of life, whether it’s a long run, a difficult personal situation, or a stressful day at work. I’ve learned that your mind gives up before your body does. So, I push myself when my inner voice wants me to stop, and instead I work longer and harder toward my goals. I keep going. 

This kind of fortitude is something everyone needs – men and women, people in their twenties or late fifties, athletes or those who have never done a workout. The best part about it is that you never get to the end of your journey – which is what makes hard things like [solidcore] worth doing.