The sound of footsteps on plyo boxes. Steady, relentless, purposeful.
Yesterday, 64 Beyond Walls members took on CHAD 1000X,a Hero workout that honours Navy SEAL Chad Wilkinson and raises awareness for suicide prevention. On paper, it’s simple: 1,000 step-ups with a weightedrucksack or vest. In reality, it’s an hour or more of quiet determination,grit, and community spirit.
Barry set the tone the day before, choosing to complete all 1,000 reps alone and in silence, a moment of reflection that rippled on. Next day, from the early hours to the evening, our space was alive with purpose.
Members showed up for the 6 a.m. class, shaking off the cold and stepping into something bigger than fitness; whether RX or scaled. The daytime sessions carried the momentum. Mark, started his challenge in class but refused to stop when time was up; he stayed, dug deep, and finished all 1,000 steps, a quiet act of determination that said everything about our community.
By evening, the gym was packed, boxes shared, plates stacked, encouragement shouted across the room. John completed the full version in military boots and a weighted pack, carrying a tangible reminder of the man this workout honours.
Every person found their own version of hard, and their own reason to keep stepping. Yes, there was music, laughter, and fist bumps, but beneath it all ran something deeper: a shared purpose that tied us together. We were all doing our version of the workout, but what it meant to each of us wasd ifferent. Where our minds went during those thousand steps was deeply personal.
It sparked a wave of honest discussion in our Men’s Health chat; members sharing their experiences, their struggles, and stories of others. Conversations like these don’t happen often enough, but when they do,they have the power to change lives.
That sense of purpose is why we did it. CHAD 1000X is partof a global movement that asks us to talk, share, and support one another, a message that fits perfectly within our Men’s Health Month at BeyondWalls.
Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50. That’s not a statistic we can ignore.
This month, we’ve been leaning into conversations that matter: about mental health, connection, and what real strength looks like. Completing CHAD 1000X was more than a physical test; it was a statement that we are here for each other.
That’s our theme for Men’s Health Month, but it’s also theDNA of Beyond Walls.
- We train hard, not for vanity, but because pushing our limits together reminds us we’re capable of more than we think. Doing hard things helps.
- We talk honestly, because silence helps no one,and the best conversations often happen between rounds, over coffee, or mid-workout when guards are down.
- And we laugh a lot, because community is built on joy just as much as sweat.
Yesterday, those three ideas came together perfectly. Watching members cheer each other on, share boxes, swap stories, and honour Chad through effort was a reminder that community doesn’t just make workouts better, it makes life better.
"For me, CHAD 1000X was a deeply moving experience. I have people in my life facing their own challenges, and I spent my time in contemplation, resolving (and acting) to reach out and remind them that I was,and always will be, there for them.
I often joke that we thought we were opening a gym, but what we actually opened was a swap shop, social club, cake stall, forgotten-kit storage, BBQ shack...take your pick, there are a thousand versions!
But in truth, I’m only just beginning to appreciate what Beyond Walls truly is and can be: a cradle, a safe space, a place where people rediscover themselves. It’s where strength isn’t just measured by how much you lift but in the simple act of just showing up, for yourself and for others.
Beyond Walls is our community. It is our values. It is our shared belief that we all matter and that we’re stronger together. Where hard days can be softened by laughter, by a smile, or by the simple question, “How are you?”
If even one person walked away yesterday feeling seen,supported, or inspired to check in on a mate, then every single one of those 1,000 steps mattered. Movement can heal. Connection can lift. And community can quite literally save lives.
Thank you, Beyond Walls, for teaching me this.
— Jamie Thomas, Founder & Coach, Beyond Walls
