Lt. Colonel Brian Grana and his sons Jake and Luke
Name: Lieutenant Colonel Brian T. Grana, 39, United States Marine, Kailua, Hawai’i
Why do you make fitness such a huge component of your life? To honor my wife who passed away, while also demonstrating a positive image to my boys, Jake and Luke, to emulate. Maintaining balance in my moral, mental, and physical health is critically important to all United States Marines.
How long have you been training? Since I was at least 13 for running and working out; Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) for the last two years.
Do you compete? Tell us about that. I consider Marines professional athletes. So in a way, yes, I am always in competition with myself to seek the highest level of Marine Corps standards. Our job is an entirely different type of competition where moral, mental, and physical health must be in balance to do our jobs correctly, accomplish missions, and protect our most precious resource: the Marines and Sailors whose America’s mothers and fathers have entrusted to us.
Brian and Carey Grana
Most challenging aspect of exercising: Getting out of bed every morning in order to set the proper example for my children and Marines.
Most fun aspect of working out: I am getting paid to do something I thoroughly enjoy and believe has a tremendous amount of purpose.
Most rewarding aspect of working out: I am honoring my wife’s memory. Since I routinely work out in the morning, I absolutely believe it sets the proper tone for my day.
Who/what inspires you when you’re felling weak? My wife, Carey. She absolutely loved health, fitness, and the Marine Corps. I was empowered by her every morning to get out of bed and perform to the best of my abilities. She passed away on December 18, 2012 from a primary brain tumor. So many images and emotions come to mind with this; devastating. I can say honestly, since her passing it has taken me quite a bit to get out of bed in the morning and get back into a routine I previously enjoyed. I draw on her boundless positive energy, selflessness, and outlook on life to move forward. By getting up in the morning I am honoring her and presenting the exact image of strength I want my boys and Marines to emulate.
Advice for others who’d like to get started: Like my good friend Andy Person has been reinforcing to me since Carey’s passing: “Brother, if you put two feet on the ground when you wake up in the morning, you have won the day. Know you are honoring Carey by doing everything that made her proud to be with you in the first place.” So my advice is this: choose to fight and live. Take personal responsibility for your effort and attitude. Own your life.
Your must-have equipment: New shoes every three to four months. I tend to look and sound like a pregnant yak when I am running. I am very hard on my shoes.
Favorite training song: Any military cadence chanted in a unit physical training formation.
Favorite healthy food: Pizza.
Favorite not-so-healthy food: Pizza.
Funniest /weirdest/most awkward during your experiences: Seeing the President of the United States running a few treadmills down from me in the gym on Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay. For Stand-up Paddling, when on the water, you realize just how small you are.
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- To honor his wife Carey, Brian makes the most of every day.
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- Carey loves fitness and family.
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- Brian at the Makahiki Challenge
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- Brian, his boys and friends.
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- Carey, her sister Joellen to her left and the boys. What a trooper!
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- Brian, Jake and Luke. These boys are bound to grow up fit like Daddy.
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- The Grana Family
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- The Grana Family
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- We miss your beautiful smile, Carey!
Thanks for the article. I am lifetime friends with a friend of Brian’s and she linked me up. My wife also just passed away from stage metastatic breast cancer in November of 2012. During her fight she worked out whenever she felt strong enough to exercise. During 2011, she was in remission for a short time and actually trained and ran a half marathon in December of 2011. A very close and personal friend of our family here in Tucson, AZ was inspired by my wife and started running in October of 2012 to train for a half marathon. At first, she could barely run 1/2 mile. She joined a running group sponsoring the half marathon here in Oro Valley, AZ and started on a 3 month training schedule for the race. I also joined her team and said I also would run the race. I am in construction and am in fairly good shape, just not running shape. I trained on my own and we just comleted the race last week. We both did well, I finished in 1.57.34 and Laurie finished in 2.05.47 and this was both of ours first race and half marathon. Thanks again, Charlie Pippins
Charlie, well done brother! Semper Fidelis, Brian Grana