Photos courtesy of SUPERFROG

There were a multitude of ceremonies throughout the United States on Sunday as the nation remembered the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Some members of the Navy’s SEAL, SWCC (special warfare combatant craft) and explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) units based in Coronado, California commemorated the day at the SUPERFROG triathlon.

This year’s race was a special event for more than just that reason.  There was cause for celebration as the course added another year to its long-standing heritage while stewardship of the event changed hands. But the somber tone of the event was deepened due to especially painful and recent losses within the community.

“Every triathlon is a celebration of life, but I’m super grateful on this day.”

In its 33rd year, SUPERFROG is one of the oldest half-iron distance triathlons in the United States. First organized by SEALs as a training race for the Hawaiian Ironman, its long history and infamous soft-sand run course along the beaches of Coronado have made it a standalone paragon in the triathlon world. For the last 32 years, the race has been organized by its founder, Lieutenant (ret.) Philip “Moki” Martin. Martin relinquished the event this year to fellow SEAL Mitchell Hall. Though Hall has raced and won the Superfrog several times, he found organizing the race to be as great an effort as training for it.

“This has been a year-long deal for me. I’ve been working 16-18 hour workdays to get it ready,” Hall said. “I really wanted the event to grow, and we have a 90-percent increase in the number of athletes attending this year, so I think it’s gone well. I have even bigger plans for the future, though.  So expect this race to do even more incredible things next year.”

Hall’s stake in the expansion of SUPERFROG goes beyond dollars and sense, though. For him, the commemorative aspect of SUPERFROG is even more important.  He wants people to come to the race to remember the loss of 9/11, and to recognize the price Navy commandos have paid for our freedom.  To that end, Hall created banners for each of the 71 Navy SEALs who have died since September 11, 2001. Donors were asked to sponsor each banner, which lined the chute leading to the finish line. Proceeds went to the Navy SEAL Foundation. Hall’s initiative was tragically complicated on August 5th, when 25 SEALs were killed in Afghanistan when their helicopter was shot down.

“The timing on that was interesting,” he recalls.  “I knew one of the guys from back when I started in SEALs.  You go through the entire range of emotions.  You’re sad, angry, I don’t really know how else to describe it.  But you remember that’s the nature of the business and you have to pick your head up and move on.”  That’s exactly what Hall did, and no banner went unsponsored this year.

Mirroring Hall’s sentiments was fellow SEAL Paul Tharp, who competed in the event. An “east coast” SEAL for most of his Navy career, this year’s SUPERFROG was Tharp’s second.  Regardless of his recent transplant, he feels right at home among his fellow SEALs, and wouldn’t spend the occasion any other way.

“On a day like this, you really think about family.  I mean, there are a lot of kids who have lost their fathers since 9/11.  It makes me appreciate what I have.  Every triathlon is a celebration of life, but I’m super grateful on this day.”  Tharp also pointed out that the spirit of family extends beyond the SEAL community, and adds with humor that he appreciates the camaraderie of civilian triathletes as much as other SEALs.  “It’s funny, because not as many SEALs are into triathlon as you might think. Guys are into all kinds of different sports, but the other guys make fun of you if you shave your legs!  What I appreciate is the civilian community around us, though.  I’ve been a SEAL for 26 years, and I’ve never seen so much compassion and support from the community as I have in the last ten years.  The local community just never stopped caring.  It’s really an incredible thing, and we appreciate it.”

For Hall and Tharp, SUPERFROG was a way to bring the communities together as one and remember a day that brought them together as few in history have. Both men reflect distantly on the national tone that day ten years ago and how American society has changed since, but they quickly resume their composure when they suspect their remarks may be construed as partisan. Though they are profoundly enlightened men and given to philosophical moments, they are SEALs. They see themselves as warriors, not politicians.

Against such a backdrop of heroism and heritage, the winners of this year’s SUPERFROG don’t seem all that important. Those who carry the day will not long be remembered, so let us reserve the remainder of this column for those whose sacrifice is the reason for the day.

STG2 (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson

HMC (SEAL) Matthew J. Bourgeois

SOC (SEAL) Adam Brown

SOC (SEAL) Mark T. Carter

CTT1 Steven P. Daugherty

GM2 (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz

HMCS (SEAL) Theodore D. Fitzhenry

FCC (SEAL) Jacques J. Fontan

SOC (SEAL) Jason R. Freiwald

SO2 (SEAL) Shapoor “Alex” Ghane

SOC (SEAL) Nathan Hardy

SO1 (SEAL) Joshua Thomas Harris

ITCS (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy

SO2 (SEAL) Ryan Job

SOC (SEAL) Michael Koch

LCDR (SEAL) Erik S. Kristensen

AO2 (SEAL) Marc A Lee

SO1 (SEAL) Jason D. Lewis

PR1 Andrew J. Lightner

LT (SEAL) Brendan John Looney

ET1 (SEAL) Jeffrey A. Lucas

IT2 (SEAL) Mario Maestas

SOCS (SEAL) John W. Marcum

LT (SEAL) Michael M. McGreevy, Jr.

CTRCS David Blake McLendon

MC1 Robert R. McRill

SO3 (SEAL) Denis Christopher Miranda

MA2 (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor, MOH

LT (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy

CDR (SEAL) Peter G. Oswald

BM1 (SEAL) Brian Ouellette

MM2 (SEAL) Shane E. Patton

ENS (SEAL) Jerry “Buck” Pope

SN Freddie Porter

IC1 (SEAL) Thomas E. Retzer

ABH1 (SEAL) Neil C. Roberts

SO2 (SEAL) Joseph Clark Schwedler

SOC (SEAL) Eric F. Shellenberger

SO2 (SEAL) Adam Olin Smith

EOD1 Luis Souffront

QM2 (SEAL) James Suh

PH1 (SEAL) David M. Tapper

HM1 (SEAL) Jeffrey S. Taylor

SOC (SEAL) Collin Thomas

EOD2 Tyler J. Trahan

SOC (SEAL) Lance M. Vaccaro

SOCS (SEAL) Thomas J Valentine

BM1 (SWCC) Robert P. Vetter

SO2 Ronald Woodle

LCDR (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall

SOCS (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff

SOCM (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais

SOCS (SEAL) Brian R. Bill

SOCS (SEAL) John W. Faas

SOCS (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston

SOCS (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason

SOCS (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills

SOCS (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves

SOCS (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson

SO1 (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson

SO1 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell

___________________

Jim Gourley graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Astronautical Engineering. He served seven years in the Army as an infantry and intelligence officer in the 101st Airborne Division. An Iron-distance triathlete, he writes on technological developments and military athletes in triathlon for LAVA.