24 Hours of Heroes Honors Those Fallen in Service with First-Ever Virtual Event

On November 14 and 15, 24 Hours of Heroes is holding their fourth annual, CrossFit-style community event to honor those fallen in service and raise funds for Wounded Warriors Canada and National Service Dogs. 

Remind me: 24 Hours of Heroes was started in 2016 by two Canadian Veterans and active CrossFitters. For 24 hours, the two performed hero workouts — WODs written to honor fallen service men and women that are well-known for their difficult nature — every hour, each athlete completed a total of twelve workouts. 

• “The result was an overwhelming amount of awareness and money raised, but also, soul crushing injuries….they were going to need some help if they wanted to keep this thing going,” writes 24 Hours of Heroes on their website. 

In subsequent years, things changed. In 2017, 18 total workouts were performed, along with an overnight ruck march. The 2018 event focused on expansion, including more athletes and affiliates. Last year, the organization offered an “All In” registration option, where teams of four camped overnight at a host gym to share the 24 workout load. In total, the 2019 event raised $40,000. 

The details: Rather than cancel the 2020 event, a possibility earlier in the pandemic, 24 Hours of Heroes decided to go virtual. 

• “At 24 Hours of Heroes, we have always made acknowledging the importance of mental health a priority, especially for the frontline workers and service men and women for whom we workout, and this year has only served to prove that this has even greater importance,” wrote Isabelle Hicks, the organization’s director. 

The workouts — there are eight this year, split between two days — are open to any CrossFitter, anywhere in the world. There are also a few gyms functioning as in-person, satellite locations. 

• Athletes are not required to complete all eight WODs, and can choose the number they wish to complete. Scaling, at-home, and limited equipment options will be provided upon registration.
• Warm-ups, a workout review, and information on the heroes will kick off each 75-minute Zoom call. 
• There is a minimum $20 donation fee for every participant. (To date, 24 Hours of Heroes has raised about $100,000 through Wounded Warriors and National Service Dogs.)
• All of the workouts are listed on their website, and remember: hero workouts are hard for a reason. As the organization points out on their website, “Hero workouts are typically long and gruelling, and are meant to make you really uncomfortable, but also to remind you of [the hero’s] ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and safety.”