More than just a workout

Photo By Sgt. Jesse Smith | Master Sgt. Bryan Vann, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 2nd CAB communications section, performs a deadlift Sept. 12 during a CrossFit competition at the Fitness Annex on Camp Humphreys, South Korea. The deadlift was only one of the four exercises that were part of the third workout of the day.  

PYEONGTAEK, 41, SOUTH KOREA

09.12.2015

Story by Sgt. Jesse Smith 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Sweat dripped down his face as he pulled his body to the top of the bar. His face showed the determination and fight he felt in his heart. He breathed in deep and pulled himself up once more as if to defy gravity. He then dropped his feet to the ground and moved to the next exercise. This was only one small exercise from the Camp Humphreys Throw Down CrossFit competition.

Master Sgt. Bryan Vann, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 2nd CAB communications section, competed in the CrossFit competition Sept. 12 at the Fitness Annex here.

Vann said he originally wasn’t going to compete, but the lead Humphrey’s CrossFit coach, Angela Whidden, convinced him to do otherwise.

“She is not only one of the best CrossFit coaches out there, but also just a great person,” Vann said. “She has an awesome personality and really helps people improve.”

After deciding to compete, he was coming off of a two-week, peninsula-wide exercise and only had around two and half weeks to train before the competition. He said he worked out twice a day and focused on his form for the different exercise over the weekends.

The day before the competition Vann volunteered to help run the 9/11 Hero Workout of the Day which took place at the Fitness Annex. He said the workout was developed by a Soldier back when he was stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga., and he wanted to take the idea with him to every base he goes to.

“It provides a great way for people to get together to honor the first responders who lost their lives on September 11,” Vann said.

The turnout at the Hero WOD was fantastic and the support from everyone was invaluable, he said. The next day was the real competition for Vann and he said he was ready for the challenge.

“I felt endurance was my weakness, so I did a lot of running working up to the event and was confident I had improved,” Vann said.

He finished in 8th out of 15 competitors and said he was happy with that placing.

“I think I could have done better, but I did match a personal record on the clean and jerk,” he said.

Vann will leave Korea in October and does not know when his next competition will be, but he said he will always continue with CrossFit due to the supportive community it fosters.

“You will always see people who are where you were, and you will want to help them to get better, and there will always be people who are where you wish you were who will push you to become the best,” Vann said.

Vann hopes to continue doing competitions and dreams of one day owning a CrossFit gym, so he can coach others using the knowledge he has learned over the years.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2015
• Date Posted: 09.15.2015 21:26
• Story ID: 176160
• Location: PYEONGTAEK, 41, KR