Team X-T.R.E.M.E

As promised in my last blog post, here is the story behind the guy in the gas mask. Team X-T.R.E.M.E is a non-profit support organization working to raise awareness and funds for wounded warriors. They direct focus to wounded service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns through innovation, vigilance and "Xtreme" feats of physical and mental endurance.

These guys are some tough hombres. In the last couple of years, I have seen them at various events including 10Ks, half-marathons, and marathons. They run in gas masks to help bring awareness and attention to their cause. It is hard enough to complete one of these events without adding an Avon C50 gas mask into the mix.

Jeremy Soles founded Team X-T.R.E.M.E. (Train, Rehabilitate, Empower, Motivate and Endure), a non-profit support organization with an ongoing mission to honor, motivate and empower wounded veterans. He wears the gas mask as a way to symbolize perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds and overcoming mental and physical obstacles. Challenges experienced in the mask last for hours, while wounded warriors endure their challenges for a lifetime.

For the Xterra trail marathon which took place on Saturday, June 11th in Richmond, Jeremy and a group of Team X.T.R.E.M.E. runners broke the World Record for fastest trail half marathon while wearing a gas mask. The folks from the Guinness Book of World Records were on hand to present them with the certificate of their great achievement.



The following day after this amazing accomplishment, Jeremy went on to race the Xterra Sport Triathlon which was the same race I did except half the distance in each discipline. And again, he did the whole thing in the gas mask. He was going for another World Record and Guinness was on board in the days leading up to the race but then the folks at Guinness decided it would be too dangerous and they withdrew their support for the event. Of course Jeremy is a warrior and he did the race anyway. My hats off to him and all our service men and women for the sacrifices they make.

After Jeremy finished his race, he gave an interview and Melissa was able to capture some of that on video from our little camera. The video is not super high quality but you can view it on Youtube at the following link.



I encourage you to check out the Team X-T.R.E.M.E website at http://www.teamxtremerunning.org/.