Setting the Stage: Day Fifteen of the Just Do Ten Challenge
Welcome back to the Just Do Ten Challenge. By the time we reach day fifteen, the journey has become about more than just burpees. It’s about honoring where we came from, paying respect to those who shaped us, and proving to ourselves that even a small daily commitment — ten reps, ten steps, ten mindful movements — can add up to transformation.
I’ll be real with you. This day didn’t go perfectly. My phone filled up mid-workout, and I accidentally deleted the footage of my first set. But I didn’t let that derail me. I had already done my first set of ten burpees, and I kept going. That’s the essence of this challenge: persistence, honesty, and accountability, even when things don’t line up neatly.
A Walk Down Memory Lane: Huntsville, Alabama in the Late 1980s
On day fifteen of the Just Do Ten Challenge, I found myself honoring the people who shaped me back in Huntsville, Alabama. From Chris Anderson and Dante Snodgrass to Coach Fletcher, I carried their lessons into each set of burpees. This journey is about more than fitness — it’s about legacy, consistency, and gratitude.
Day fifteen became a trip back in time. For those who grew up in Huntsville, Alabama during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the names I’m about to mention will hit home.
I arrived at Huntsville High School in 1988. Back then, the varsity football team had a quarterback wearing number fourteen and a running back wearing number twelve. Those two players — Christopher Wayne Anderson and Dante Snodgrass — embodied excellence. Alongside them was Big Al James, running the veer option like it was a natural extension of his body.
These men weren’t just athletes. They were examples. They showed me what commitment, leadership, and discipline looked like long before I had the words to describe those qualities. Looking back, I realize just how spoiled I was to be surrounded by that level of talent and character at such a formative age.
The First Time I Heard My Name Echo in a Stadium
One memory stands out like it happened yesterday. It was my freshman year, and a torrential downpour had drenched the field. At halftime, Coach Patterson had us freshmen and JV players swap jerseys with the varsity starters.
I was number twenty as a freshman, but I ended up wearing number twelve — Christopher Wayne Anderson’s number. On the first play, the announcer, not yet updated, called my name over the loudspeaker as though I were Chris.
“Don West on the carry!”
Hearing my name echo through the stadium was electric. For a moment, it felt like I was stepping into greatness, even if the announcer had simply mistaken me for the stallion himself, Chris Anderson. That single call lit something inside me. I thought my name would ring out all night. It didn’t — but once was enough. It showed me how powerful recognition can be and how much it means to be connected to excellence.
The Lessons of Chris and Dante
Chris Anderson left Huntsville High for the University of Alabama, trading number twelve for number thirty-three. He became the embodiment of “Roll Tide.” Dante Snodgrass headed south to Florida State on a track scholarship under the legendary Tom Shaw.
Chris taught me leadership by example. I don’t recall a single conditioning drill where Chris wasn’t first across the line. He set a standard of consistency that explained perfectly why Alabama wanted him. Dante taught me how to work out, how to discipline my body, and how to think like an athlete. He literally picked me up off the side of the road once and gave me the kind of mentorship you can’t put a price tag on.
Those two men shaped me more than they’ll ever know. They were living proof that greatness isn’t some abstract ideal. It’s real, and if you keep up, you can touch it.
Carrying It Into Day Fifteen
So, on day fifteen, I put those names “on the clock.” Chris Anderson, Dante Snodgrass — you owe me ten. That’s the beauty of the Just Do Ten philosophy. It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing burpees, push-ups, steps, or stretches. It’s about participation, accountability, and respect for the process.
For me, after fifteen days of burpees, I can see the difference. My body feels sharper. My endurance is climbing. My spirit is lighter. Do you see it too? Maybe, maybe not. But I see it, and that’s what matters. The small steps are adding up.
Day fifteen was also about remembering Coach George Fletcher, our receivers and DBs coach, who has since passed. In the 1980s and 1990s, running a mid-ten-second 100-meter dash in high school meant you were blazing fast. Chris and Dante were those guys. And their consistency, their speed, their presence — it all built a culture of excellence that I absorbed by proximity.
Burpees for Dinner (and Egg Rolls After)
I closed out day fifteen with three sets, grinding through burpees even though my mats were slipping. By the end, I earned my dinner. And speaking of food — let me tell you something important. Around the corner in Henderson, Nevada, I found the best egg rolls I’ve tasted anywhere in the continental United States, paired with some of the best pho in the country. When you’re working hard, eating good food feels like a celebration.
This challenge isn’t about punishment. It’s about balance, gratitude, and honoring the fact that life is meant to be enjoyed. Ten burpees, a story from the past, and the best egg rolls I could find — that’s day fifteen.
The Deeper Message: Just Do Ten, In Your Own Way
I want to remind everyone reading this: I’m doing burpees, but you don’t have to. Your ten could be walking ten steps, doing ten stretches, lifting ten light weights, or even practicing ten breaths of mindfulness. The principle is universal: movement is medicine, and consistency builds transformation.
Day fifteen isn’t just my story. It’s an invitation. Who are the people who inspired you? Who lifted you up when you were younger? Who showed you what was possible? Honor them today with ten movements. Put them “on the clock.” Do your ten for them, the way I did mine for Chris and Dante.
Closing Reflection
Fifteen days in, I’ve learned this challenge is about much more than fitness. It’s about story, memory, and legacy. It’s about connecting past, present, and future with the simple act of showing up and doing ten.
Chris Anderson, Dante Snodgrass, Big E, Coach Fletcher, and everyone else who left fingerprints on my journey — thank you. This challenge is dedicated to you. And to anyone reading this, I say: pick your ten and make it count.
