Jake Halpern (Host)

Dex was especially impressed with Sarah. She was somehow doing all these really intense workouts while also dealing with what seemed like a pretty serious leg injury.

Dex was especially impressed with Sarah. She was somehow doing all these really intense workouts while also dealing with what seemed like a pretty serious leg injury.

Because Sarah was so modest, because she didn't boast or advertise about who she was and what she'd done, there was an air of mystery about her. Sarah said she was a cryptolinguist. She'd served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She came from a military family. Her brother had been a Marine, too. He was killed in combat and buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Because Sarah was so modest, because she didn't boast or advertise about who she was and what she'd done, there was an air of mystery about her. Sarah said she was a cryptolinguist. She'd served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She came from a military family. Her brother had been a Marine, too. He was killed in combat and buried at Arlington Cemetery.

In private moments, Sarah began to open up to Dex.

In private moments, Sarah began to open up to Dex.

As Sarah told it, her hip never healed properly. From the knee down, her leg was basically dying. But that's not all.

As Sarah told it, her hip never healed properly. From the knee down, her leg was basically dying. But that's not all.

Remember Natalie, the third musketeer from the Montana retreat, the clarinetist? Yeah, well, Natalie also stayed in touch with Sarah. In fact, right around the time that Dex was visiting the cemetery in Arlington, Natalie and Sarah were actually hanging out in person. A bunch of vets, including a few from the Montana retreat, gathered at a CrossFit gym in California to have a little competition.

Remember Natalie, the third musketeer from the Montana retreat, the clarinetist? Yeah, well, Natalie also stayed in touch with Sarah. In fact, right around the time that Dex was visiting the cemetery in Arlington, Natalie and Sarah were actually hanging out in person. A bunch of vets, including a few from the Montana retreat, gathered at a CrossFit gym in California to have a little competition.

Well, not so little. Even for Natalie, it was a lot.

Well, not so little. Even for Natalie, it was a lot.

Yeah, pretty insane. This was like an ultra marathon for weightlifters. They broke down into teams of two. Now, at this point, Natalie didn't know about Sarah's cancer. And this is because Sarah had never told her. She just confided this to Dex, which, as we've come to learn, is kind of how Sarah operated. She shared details about her life one-on-one in these small, private moments.

Yeah, pretty insane. This was like an ultra marathon for weightlifters. They broke down into teams of two. Now, at this point, Natalie didn't know about Sarah's cancer. And this is because Sarah had never told her. She just confided this to Dex, which, as we've come to learn, is kind of how Sarah operated. She shared details about her life one-on-one in these small, private moments.

And so the secrets remain compartmentalized. Natalie was aware that Sarah had some issue with her leg, but that was about all. Then, in the middle of the competition, during one of the breaks, they're all kind of just sitting around resting, Natalie, her teammate, Sarah, her teammate.

And so the secrets remain compartmentalized. Natalie was aware that Sarah had some issue with her leg, but that was about all. Then, in the middle of the competition, during one of the breaks, they're all kind of just sitting around resting, Natalie, her teammate, Sarah, her teammate.

Natalie is looking at Sarah's leg, and it's trembling.

Natalie is looking at Sarah's leg, and it's trembling.

And the proof was, Sarah's team then goes on to beat Natalie's team in the competition. And Natalie, she's in awe. The two women went to another retreat together not long after this. And it seemed like Sarah's leg was in bad shape.

And the proof was, Sarah's team then goes on to beat Natalie's team in the competition. And Natalie, she's in awe. The two women went to another retreat together not long after this. And it seemed like Sarah's leg was in bad shape.