FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, FDIC IS THE BIGGEST CONVENTION FOR THE FIRE SERVICE IN AMERICA. FROM APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS TO T-SHIRT DESIGNERS, THEY ALL COME TOGETHER FOR 5 DAYS OF EDUCATION, COMPETITION AND CONVERSATION. IT TAKES PLACE IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA AT THE INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER AND LUCAS OIL STADIUM. THIS YEAR, 555 FITNESS SET UP SHOP AND FORK AND HOSE CO. TAGGED ALONG FOR THE RIDE, AND WHAT A RIDE IT WAS....LITERALLY.
PIP, ALAN, ED FROM 555 FITNESS AND MYSELF PACKED IT INTO A PICKUP TRUCK, TRAILER IN TOW, FULL OF 555 FITNESS MERCH, A SQUAT RACK AND OTHER GOODIES. WE TOOK OFF ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 10.5 HOUR DRIVE. 14 HOURS, A BLIZZARD AND A ZIP-TIED TRAILER HITCH LATER WE ARRIVE! EWA AND LARRY FROM 555 FITNESS BOTH FLEW IN ON EXTREMELY SHORT FLIGHTS, HOW UNFORTUNATE RIGHT?
Our first stop...somewhere in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. The location doesn't matter, what matters is the ridiculous chicken fried steak I devoured.
THE EVENT ITSELF WAS PRETTY OVERWHELMING AT FIRST DUE TO THE SHEER SIZE OF IT. I CAN SAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY FIRE-RELATED "THINGS" IN ONE PLACE. AFTER SETTLING IN AND GETTING THE BOOTH UP, WE WERE READY TO GO......RIGHT NEXT TO THE SCOTT'S FIREFIGHTER COMBAT CHALLENGE COURSE AND A BBQ TRUCK, WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR.
The smoked sausage from Company 7 BBQ was fantastic, so juicy with just the right amount of smoke and snap on the casing. The pulled pork was also great, notice how there is not a swimming pool of sauce on the sandwich? That is so you can taste the pork and smoke flavor while accentuating it with one of their many sauces available.
AND WE HAVE A LITTLE SECRECT TO ADMIT.....THE CREW AT 555 FITNESS LIKE DONUTS.....SO MUCH SO WE HAD THEM FOR BREAKFAST AT THIS GREAT LITTLE SPOT!
Nothing says Beast Mode more than a Maple Bourbon Bacon donut with a "Yeast Beast" donut on a kitten plate. You should have been there
WE HAD SO MUCH GREAT FEEDBACK FROM FANS, BOTH OLD AND NEW, OF 555 FITNESS AND FORK AND HOSE CO. THIS WAS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF THE TRIP, TALKING TO FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS ABOUT COOKING IN THE FIREHOUSE AND FITNESS MADE ME REALIZE HOW MUCH WE TRULY HAVE IN COMMON. WE EVEN GAVE OUT FREE FIRE AND FUEL APPAREL SHIRTS AT OUR BURPEE CHALLENGE!
Left to Right: Ewa (555 Fitness), Alan (555 Fitness), Ed (555 Fitness), Myself, Pip (555 Fitness), Jerry (Fire and Fuel Apparel), Larry (555 Fitness)
I WAS ALSO ABLE TO FINALLY MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE....AND YES I AM SHORT AND SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY TALL.
Top left clockwise: Brian Edwards (Combat Chellenge Competitor and long time F&H Co. and 555 Fitness supporter), Chief Miller of Instagram fame, Scott a.k.a Big_Socks (longtime F&H Co. supporter), The Brampton Fire Combat Challenge Team (1st Place I might add), John Carpenter (founder of The Firefighter Throwdown), Garrett a.k.a THE_OG_HUFFMAN (longtime F&H and 555 Fitness Co. supporter)
AND SO THE FEW SHORT DAYS I WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF IT WERE NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. I WILL HONESTLY NEVER FORGET IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MORE MEMORIES LIKE IT. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO STOPPED BY TO SAY HI, LET ME CHEW THEIR EAR OFF ABOUT COOKING AND ANYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE 555 FITNESS CAUSE. NOW SIT BACK AND ENJOY A LITTLE VIDEO RECAP OF DAY 1 FROM 555 FITNESS.....