Gilroy
Even with the music blaring at the “Hotshots 19” Memorial Workout Saturday at Coast Range CrossFit, owner Megan Piatt could still be heard. On the outside, she was an exuberant, vocal leader, pushing the members of her gym through the grueling 35 minute workout. But on the inside, Piatt was fighting back tears.
As the wife of a firefighter — her husband and co-owner Wes Piatt works for Pismo Beach — she knows all too well the feeling of uncertainty and worry when her husband is out fighting fires. For Megan to see 50-plus members turn out for the CrossFit-wide memorial workout, the feeling of pride was overwhelming.
The event was held in memory of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew, who lost 19 members to a wildfire in Yarnell, Ariz. in early June. CrossFit gyms all over the world participated in the “Hotshots 19” workout to raise funds for the families left behind. On site donations were placed in a fireman’s boot and donations were also being accepted online. As of Wednesday, CrossFit had raised $220,065 for the families of the fallen 19.
“Wes worked for the forest service and all last summer was out on fires,” Megan said with tears welling up in her eyes. “He was out there doing what these guys did. To know that they lost their lives doing that and they have families and loved ones left behind, this is the tiniest bit that we can do to give back. I know of course it’s not going to bring them back, but at least we can do something. It touches really close to home.”
The day was extra special for Wes who was invited to Prescott, Ariz. to do the workout alongside of some of CrossFit’s best. A live feed of Wes and the rest of those taking part in the memorial event in Arizona was broadcast online.
Having a workout dedicated to firefighters was special not only for the Piatts, but for co-owners Steve and Christine Clet as well. Steve is a third generation firefighter currently serving the city of San Jose.
The “Hotshots 19” workout is what CrossFit calls a hero workout — a workout named in memory of a fallen member of the police, fire department or armed forces. These workouts are intended to be tough and this one was no different. It’s comprised of six rounds of 30 squats, 19 power cleans — lifting a barbell with or without weights — seven strict pull-ups and a 400-meter run. Since this workout is much more intensive than normal CrossFit routines, it was capped at 35 minutes whether participants finished it or not.
Members of the Gilroy Fire Department Engine 71 — Jeff Macphaile, Brian Maurer, Steven Hayes and Will Nguyen — attended and participated in the event, using it as their workout for the day. Macphaile, a member of Coast Range CrossFit, said he was honored that the Clets and Piatts were hosting the event and even more so that GFD was invited to attend. GFD brought along its firetrucks, entertaining a crowd of children who looked in awe at the shiny, red engine.
There was no rest for the Engine 71 crew, however. After the event, it was business as usual.
“Today we’re going to be tuckered out,” Macphaile said. “We work 48 hour shifts, so we still have to be ready to run calls during this event and after this event, too. Vehicle accidents, structure fires, hazmat calls — the options are endless — so for us, we have to work really hard for the guys that lost their lives but also leave a little in the tank for the rest of the work shift.”
With a workout of this magnitude, Steve said he didn’t expect many people, if any, to finish. But for him it wasn’t about whether his gym members finished or not, just the fact that they turned up to support the cause on a holiday weekend was enough.
“Just knowing what my family has gone through and what my future family might go through, to see this many people come out and support it is just awesome,” Steve said. “It’s a worldwide thing, that’s what’s cool. People in China, people in South Africa and all over the planet are doing the same thing. It’s nuts, it’s pretty cool. It’s not just about coming here and working out. It’s a family, a community and I think we proved that today.”
With so many people in attendance for the “Hotshots 19” memorial, the workout was broken up in multiple heats with 12 participants in each.
Tammy Schween, 46 from Gilroy, was the first person to finish the workout. She was part of the first heat, completing the workout in just under 31 minutes. Schween did the workout alongside her 13-year-old daughter Isabell Schween and the pair knew it would be tough. But Tammy said it was important for her to power through in the name of the fallen firefighters.
“I belong to two gyms, but Wes and Steve are both firefighters and I think it’s a great cause,” Tammy said. CrossFit is the only thing that really does something like this. …I’ve done CrossFit for awhile and I looked at the workout and I knew it would be pretty crazy. I knew a firefighter who did it in his full gear. If he could do it in his full gear, then the rest of us could do it without it on.”
The amount of money raised or the number of people finishing wasn’t important to the Clets and Piatts. For them, the most important part was the ability to give back and raise awareness for the Hotshot 19.
“It is amazing,” Megan said. “Not only do we have the opportunity to open a CrossFit gym which is our passion and what we love, but we get to combine our passion with giving. That’s the best of both worlds — it’s amazing.”
