Comments on: Hero Training: The Chase Down a Purse Snatcher Workout

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:03:39 +0000

Chase em’,.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:13:20 +0000

One of my favorite stories is of my grandfather chasing down a purse snatcher in Berlin. He and my grandmother had just arrived back from the U.S. after a visit. While waiting for their baggage, a man snatched my grandmother’s purse. The thief’s biggest mistake was underestimating the slender 6’2″ man that is my grandfather (he was in his late 60′s early 70′s at this time). There is a legend about my grandfather from when he was a missionary in southern India that he outran a tiger many years before. The thief had the “pleasure” of meeting the legend. After a short while running, the thief realized he could not match my grandfather’s endurance and surrendered the purse to the ground.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:37:05 +0000

I agree, we need to get up and do it. Some people think running and working out can’t be fun. I found a obstacle run and a festival where u can chill with friends called Rebel Race. You get a good workout and relive your childhood:
i just signed up. …can’t wait to run the 5k through boot camp style obstacles and crawl in the mud! My girlfriend’s crazier than I am- she’s doing the 15k! I’m so excited to run and go camping with my friends all weekend. They’re even giving me a free beer! Is anyone else doing Rebel race??

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:50:48 +0000

Moldy (and others), I fully agree. Too many people nowadays work out and do things like this, so that other men can envy them “Damn, I wish I looked like him”, and women can be all over them. If you physically improve yourself for these reasons only, you will fail. You will fail because you will never see yourself as “good enough”, because there will always be someone out there better looking, stronger, and with more women around him than you.

Rather, a man should work to do things like that so that, as the article says, he is physically able to help others in need, and so he can take the things he gets from physical training, and apply them to all areas of his life. Things such as dedication, progress tracking, self-criticism, and improved confidence.

By: Moldy

Moldy — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:04:39 +0000

I think this is rad. The problem with fitness is it all seems to be based on looking “good” I want to be strong to do things not to look like I bought a shirt too small. Working out just to be healthy gets boring so, a workout that helps me do something practical or accomplish a measurable task would be awesome.

By: jordan w

jordan w — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:47:25 +0000

Funny- a few years back I was skateboarding an empty street at night in Oakland. Heard a scream, then saw a guy tearing down the street with a purse. Ran after him as far as I could, only got close enough to see his face. Helped the distraught woman, stayed with her till her boyfriend came, called the cops etc.. and later even was called to see a lineup..inconclusive- but that woman was grateful, came and visited me and my wife, brought a bottle of wine… I wished i’d caught him, but in the end it was more valuable to help her..after all, its only a purse.

By: Radek

Radek — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:53:04 +0000

Hero workout – great idea for motivation.

One tip my friend from border patrol gave me:
Never try to catch somebody running when you are running after him. Just push and let his speed and gravity do the job… You should maintain enough speed to perform master running kick into his groin before his face hit the ground.

By: Brucifer

Brucifer — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:43:06 +0000

Capital idea! Tying fitness routines to heroic acts is exactly what men need these days. Doing fitness typical so that one can measure oneself by numbers; repetitions, miles, lbs of weight lifted, etc, … is frankly, insipid clerical work.

*Real* men of old practiced tactical fitness so that they could deal with life’s problems, not chart “progress” on a silly clipboard.

As an aside, the US Army is *finally* moving toward tactical fitness training and measurement

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:00:40 +0000

Great workout, keep mixing it up for us! As a police officer I’d add a tactical note for foot pursuits: Don’t try to tackle the perp when you catch up to him, you’ll end up getting yourself hurt. Get close and push him: He’ll go down hard and you’ll be on your feet.

By: Rickvid in Seattle

Rickvid in Seattle — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:43:42 +0000

To steal a line: Illinois burpees! I HATE Illinois burpees!

@Scott Shaffer. Israeli Defense Force pal o’ mine on leave here in Seattle was walking with a girl in downtown. Guy jumps out at them carrying a knife and lunges at the girl. My pal disarmed him, broke his arm, tossed him to the ground, whipped out a zip tie and cuffed him. Okay, he is IDF, hence the disarm and bone breaking, and carries zip ties on a date. Is that so strange!