“I won’t apologize to anyone that I beat. I say ‘push harder and don’t let me get ahead of you.’” -Noah Galloway
One conversation with Noah Galloway. That’s all it takes for you to realize that he is one extraordinary person. Not because he’s a double amputee. And not because he takes on outlandish adventures. And not because he fought for his country. You can just tell. There’s just something about him. He has an indomitable spirit, personality by the truckload, and a heart of gold. Noah also happens to be a real-life American hero. But, he wouldn’t like us to say that about him, because he’s also humble. But, we’re going to say it anyway. Noah is an Army veteran who served with the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In December 2005, during his second tour of duty in Iraq, Noah’s vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED). Noah lost both his left leg and left arm. His jaw was shattered and he also sustained injuries to his right leg. Noah has always been physically active and this injury left him devastated as he recovered physcially and emotionally. After several years of struggle, Noah not only learned to cope with his injury and appearance, but he also reinvented himself as an inspiring athlete and motivational speaker. His spirit just couldn’t be contained by his disability.
We got to know Noah when he registered to compete in his first Garage Games event last summer, Rumble by the River. As an adaptive athlete, Noah reached out to the event organizers to discuss and plan for modifications that would help him to compete in the men’s scaled division. Noah’s coach, Sean Dickson, of Combat Fitness Training Facility, in Hoover, Alabama, assisted with determining the proper scaling for the workouts. After the event was finished, though, it was a great learning experience for everyone as it was evident that Noah had actually done more work than his fully-limbed competitors. Check out a recap of his performance here: http://paleonow.com/?p=3634.
It’s not so bad to lose a foot, or a hand. But to lose a limb above the elbow or knee, is a different kind of challenge that is hard for many to comprehend. On first appearance, it’s easy to identify that Noah is a double amputee. But, on top of losing his arm and leg, both injuries are above the joints. “My run time has taken a significant loss due to the amount of energy it takes for my remaining “stump” to swing the knee joint of my prosthetic leg and foot,” he said. According to Galloway, the higher the amputation, the more energy it takes to run/walk. Also, he said his right leg has to bear all of the work and has to fully balance his body even during standing. It’s just as difficult with his arm. “If I were below the elbow, I could easily use a prosthetic arm. But without that joint, I just choose to go without,” said Galloway. “I always say, I don’t miss my foot or hand, I miss my elbow and my knee more than anything,” he continued.
Noah not only competes in Garage Games events, but he also travels around the world living adventures that only few people would dare. Some of his most recent accomplishments over the past year include running the Marine Corps marathon, and attempting to climb Carstensz Pyramid, a 16,000 foot high mountain in Indonesia. Noah was unable to summit the mountain due to the weather, and he was not happy with that setback. But, Noah is not a quitter on his dreams. He has plans to attempt the journey again in the future. Also, last summer he made a dramatic parachute entry into a Spartan Race in Virginia, and then completed the race with his Team X-Treme comrades, while wearing a gas mask–as if the jumping from a plane and running the 8+ mile mud and obstacle course with one leg and one arm weren’t enough of a challenge.
We asked Noah what drives him to do these things, and particularly the Garage Games events. “My life is full of challenges, and this is another one to overcome regardless of my injuries,” he said. “I don’t compete to win, but to push myself. Even with adaptations to the workouts, it’s obvious to those that see me workout, I have to put much more into lifting as with life. And I won’t apologize to anyone that I beat. I say ‘push harder and don’t let me get ahead of you,’” he continued.
Of all the things Noah has done in his life, he told us that being a father is his greatest accomplishment. “I figure my kids may need therapy as adults, but until then I will continue to be the best dad I can and screw them up as little as possible,” he said.
The Garage Games also thinks Noah is a great comedian. You won’t regret following him on Twitter and Facebook. He makes us laugh daily at his quips, quotes and personal reflections. We are so honored to have him represent the spirit of the Garage Games!
Want to keep up with Noah? Follow him here:
Twitter: @Noah_Galloway
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenoahgalloway?fref=ts
Web site: http://noahgalloway.com/
Noah’s home away from home: Combat Fitness Training Facility (CrossFit Riverchase)