Welcome to the club

Photo By Sgt. Felicya Adams | Staff Sgt. Evan Kreakie, an operations non-commissioned officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and a Hicksville, Ohio native, shows off the T-shirt he received for completing the 1,000 pound club challenge on Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Kreakie achieved this by combining his squat, bench press and deadlift weights.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

06.09.2011

Story by Sgt. Felicya Adams 

310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – What is 1,000 pounds? A thoroughbred horse, five 200-pound soldiers, an average Harley Davidson motorcycle or maybe a Siberian tiger? For one soldier, 1,000 pounds is a goal he had set for himself when he began his deployment.

Staying physically fit is an ambition for almost all soldiers, especially during a deployment. Some are trying to improve their Army Physical Fitness Test score, while others are working out just for the health benefits and tangible results. But one soldier is testing his strength and power in a different way.

Staff Sgt. Evan Kreakie, an operations non-commissioned officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and a Hicksville, Ohio native, made a goal for himself to become a member of the 1,000 pound club.

“It’s motivation, stress relief and something to look forward to outside of normal, everyday work,” Kreakie said about the club.

A combination of three different exercises must be performed to join the 1,000 pound club: squat, deadlift and bench press. Success is achieved by having the sum of the maximum lift in all three events equal to or greater than 1,000 pounds.

When Kreakie first arrived in Iraq, he found out about the challenge through a flyer in his email. He said he thought it was interesting and was curious to see what people could lift. He initially had plans on trying out toward the end of his deployment, but quickly changed his mind.

“I figured why not try it earlier, just to see where I’m at,” Kreakie said.

Kreakie has competed in the challenge twice to date, making weight both times.

“It makes me feel pretty good, especially last month, because I was one of the smaller guys compared to [those] who showed up,” he said. “And, knowing that I can stay in there is motivating.”

Not only did he make the club on his first attempt, but Kreakie said he surprised himself by lifting his personal best on both the bench press and dead lift.

He said he tries not to think about the weight during the challenge.
“I think about making sure I do the lift right and correctly,” he said. “I don’t get too nervous, I’m pretty relaxed, I just try to focus and take my time.”

Kreakie’s battle buddy, Staff Sgt. Donald Distler, a supply sergeant for HHC, 310th ESC, and a Middletown, Ohio native, helps ease his nerves by attending the competitions and also supports him while he prepares for the challenge, Kreakie said.

“He keeps me from getting too nervous and keeps me focused during the challenge,” Kreakie said.

He said he works out with Distler all the time and that Distler encourages him because he knows what Kreakie is capable of.

“I have helped him get motivated for [the challenge],” Distler said. “A lot of the times he doesn’t realize what he can do, so I have to tell him and explain to him how much weight he can do, and I also have to convince him that he can do more than what he thinks he can actually do.”

Kreakie said he works out about five to six times a week. On a month’s schedule, he’ll go about three weeks with heavy weights and a week with light weights for a recovery period all in preparation for the 1,000 pound challenge.

A personal challenge for Kreakie is fitting in regular workouts while getting ready for the competition.

“Consistency and just continuing getting into the gym on a daily basis is one of my challenges,” he said. “I also try not to overwhelm it; stay healthy and make sure I don’t get worn out or injured.

With the challenges of working out and his job, Kreakie is unsure whether he will continue with the club.

“It’s kind of hard to stop doing it because it’s motivating,” he said. “I might stop, but it depends on the mission; how busy we get and mission changes.”

If he does continue to compete, Kreakie’s goal is to maintain the max weight he’s lifted so far, he said. He’s not trying to lift too much weight because he knows what his limits are and does not want to risk injury.

“I’m not a big guy, I know my body can only take so much beating and stress, and now I pretty much want to maintain,” Kreakie said.

• Date Taken: 06.09.2011
• Date Posted: 06.12.2011 02:10
• Story ID: 71959
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ