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Triple 7 Spotlight: Retired JTF-2 Operator Glenn Cowan

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Triple 7 Spotlight: Retired JTF-2 Operator Glenn Cowan


This article is part of a new series focusing on the members of the Triple 7 team. It’s your chance to learn more about these individuals and their reasons for joining the expedition.

Let’s kick things off with a mental exercise:

Question: If a plane takes off from Santiago, Chile, carrying a 12-person team of former Special Operators to Antarctica for the first stop of a seven-continent skydiving expedition, why are there only 11 American former special operators on board?

Answer: That’s because the twelfth member of the Triple 7 team is retired Tier-1 Special Operations Officer Glenn Cowan, who’s “Proud to be the only Canadian on the expedition.”

It turns out our neighbors to the north aren’t just about hockey, poutine, and cold winters…they also produce some seriously badass Special Operators.

A graduate of McGill University and the Ivey Executive Leadership Program, Cowan is an investor, adventurer, and CEO of ONE9 Venture Capital, a company he founded in 2013 while serving as an Assaulter Officer with Canada’s elite Joint Task Force 2. During his 19 years of service, Cowan deployed to Afghanistan multiple times, participated in sensitive information operations in the Middle East, and conducted hostage recovery in Africa.

As a Squadron Commander, Cowan specialized in tactical leadership and strategic planning, skills which proved to be assets in the business world. Since its founding in 2013, ONE9 Venture Capital has experienced explosive growth and is “Canada’s only national security and critical infrastructure-based fund that looks for early-stage technologies to enhance security, infrastructure, and the military,” explains Cowan. In addition, they’re Canada’s premier defense ecosystem and the only one that uses national security end users to validate dual-use technologies, namely the special forces.

Cowan will set a new world record by completing seven skydives, on seven continents, in seven days to honor a fallen soldier and raise awareness for an issue impacting countless veterans.

The Triple 7 Expedition is working with Folds of Honor to provide the families of our fallen and/or disabled service members and first responders with the education they deserve. Along with that, each expedition team member is jumping in honor of someone.

Cowan is honoring Master Corporal Byron Greff, a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan on October 29, 2011. The 28-year-old served with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and aspired to be a Special Operator. “[Byron and I] were working out in the mornings. He had submitted his application, and I was helping him prepare for selection to our special mission unit,” says Cowan. “Byron was a great guy,” he adds.

In addition, Cowan says he’s jumping to raise awareness about burn pit-related illnesses, an issue that’s impacted countless veterans over the past two decades. Burn pits are protected military sites used to dispose of chemicals, tires, munitions, plastics, and medical and human waste in open-air burns that produce large volumes of black, toxic smoke. The Department of Defense estimates that 3.5 million service members have been exposed to burn pits during deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I’d like to honor those who’ve suffered and continue to suffer from respiratory diseases and cancers caused by toxic exposure,” says Cowan.

Why is Cowan willing to endure the long flights back and forth between Canada and the United States to be a part of the Triple 7 Expedition?

Along with running a successful company, Cowan advises Red Light Holland, holds observer positions with Tomahawk Robotics and Strider, and sits on the board of Ventus Respiratory Technologies, a company sponsoring Triple 7. Why does someone so busy fly down from Canada to do something like this? The answer is simple: to make a difference. After two decades of Canada and the U.S. fighting alongside one another, he believes those who’ve served “should continue working together because there’s strength in numbers, and we can mobilize our networks to [help people].”

Cowan sees the expedition as an opportunity to make a difference for those who have sacrificed so much. That’s because the primary focus of Triple 7 is providing 1,400 scholarships to the families of fallen/disabled military members and first responders. The team is working with Folds of Honor to help the children and spouses of America’s heroes get the education they deserve.

For Cowan, it’s never been about breaking a world record. Instead, it’s about honoring a brave young man, raising awareness about burn pits, and making a difference in the lives of millions.

Help the Triple 7 Expedition team provide 1,400 scholarships to the families of America’s heroes by donating to Folds of Honor today. You can make your tax-deductible gift online or by texting Triple7 to 76278. Remember, 100% of your donation goes directly to Folds of Honor.


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10 Best Porters to Drink Right Now

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A bottle of Deschutes Black Butte Porter




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Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

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Barbell Back Squat


The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.

“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.

If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.

Directions

Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.

Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength

Circuit 1

Marius Bugge

A. Barbell Back Squat

Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts renegade row
Marius Bugge

B. Renegade Row

Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side

Circuit 2

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing renegade row Dumbbell Bentover Row in gym
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bentover Row

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 
Marius Bugge

B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised 

Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 3

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Marius Bugge

A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat

Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Marius Bugge

B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift

Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side

Circuit 4

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing pullup
Marius Bugge

A. Pullup

Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Athletic man wearing gray T-shirt and maroon shorts doing Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Marius Bugge

B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press

Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps

Circuit 5

A. Dumbbell Pushup

Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps

B. Biceps Curl

Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps


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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout

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The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout




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