A 12-Hour SUP for the Invisible Wounds
In this article, Matt Spaid shares how a 12-hour, 40-mile SUP on the Sabine River became both healing and purpose. A Marine veteran and founder of Operation Antifragile, he paddled on PTSD Awareness Day to shine light on invisible wounds, and now he invites all of us to join the Warfighter 176 Challenge this fall.
After another rough night of broken sleep, I woke up to the thick, humid swamp air of Southeast Texas. Just before sunrise, which is my favorite time of the day as it’s always so quiet and peaceful, I went through my usual morning ritual: coffee in hand while balancing on my balance board, followed by breathwork and mindfulness. Sleep has always been a battle for me. I prioritize it, but years of life as a tactical professional have left scars that don’t heal easily.
I was a Marine grunt who fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan before moving into the fire service. Those years of high stress and constant trauma came with a heavy price. My nervous system still carries the weight, and I live with something most people have never heard of: Operator Syndrome, which is a mix of chronic sleep issues, trauma, TBI’s, and physiological wear-and-tear that lingers long after the fight.
That morning, my reading from The Daily Stoic felt like it was written just for me. June 21st, PTSD Awareness Day, was the day I chose for my first major fundraiser with Operation Antifragile. Seneca’s words guided me as I prepared to push off: “We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing.” I have found a tremendous amount of healing on the water…
I launched from the City of Orange’s boat ramp off the Sabine River, and paddled out right by the burnt-out bridge off old Highway 90 between Texas and Louisiana. The river is beautiful but unforgiving. You have to keep an eye out for the “swamp puppies” that roam its waters. It’s not a paddle for beginners. And on this day, the heat index climbed to a scorching 106 degrees. A bit toasty.
Still, I set out on a mission: to paddle for 12 hours straight, covering as much distance as I could, not just to test my own limits but to raise awareness for PTSD, Operator Syndrome, and the invisible injuries that plague veterans and first responders. I’m still pretty new to SUP, but I am not new to working for 12+ hours in austere environments.
I thought about the friends I’ve lost, both overseas in war and here at home in the aftermath. Far too many. That pain drove each stroke of the paddle. It reminded me why I created Operation Antifragile. It’s not just as another strength and conditioning program. It’s a nonprofit built to fill the gap in care. It’s a system of training, breathwork, mobility, and nutrition. It also doubles as peer support, community, and proactive health; and we connect our members with professional mental health services, if needed. Because waiting until someone is already in crisis isn’t enough… we need to be proactive, not just reactive.
I kept a solid pace spending the majority of the paddle in Zone 3 and Zone 4. By the end of the day, I had covered 40.10 miles on the water. The miles were measured not only in sweat and fatigue, but in purpose. A reminder that endurance is more than a physical act. It’s about carrying the weight for those who can’t anymore, and showing that even after trauma, we can still move forward.
What’s next? The Warfighter 176 Challenge
That SUP paddle was just the beginning. This fall, I’m taking on another challenge and I’m inviting you to join me.
We have teamed up with Modern Athlete Strength Systems, and from September 1-11, I’ll be traveling 176 miles in 10 days as part of the Warfighter 176 Challenge. You don’t have to be on a SUP to take part. You can walk, run, ruck, row, or paddle your own way to 176 miles. You can do it solo or build a team to combine your miles.
Why 176? Because every 10 days, an estimated 176 veterans take their own lives. And the true number is likely even higher. This challenge is about turning those numbers into movement, awareness, and proactive care.
How can you get involved?
To join the challenge, Sign up here to log your miles and track your progress. This is just based off the honor system, but what you are honoring is very real.
Choose your method: Paddle, walk, run, ruck, or row. Your choice.
Create or join a team: Rally friends, family, or colleagues to combine your efforts.
Share your journey: Every mile counts, and every story inspires someone else to move.
Why does it matter?
The stakes are personal. Too many veterans and first responders suffer in silence because care often arrives too late. Operation Antifragile exists to change that through movement, community, resilience training, and peer support.
The SUP community understands endurance, grit, and the healing power of water. By joining the Warfighter 176 Challenge, you’re not just raising awareness, you’re helping build a network of support that keeps our nation’s warriors strong long after the fight.
From 40 miles in 12 hours on the Sabine River to 176 miles in 10 days, every stroke, step, and breath is a stand against the silent suffering too many endure in isolation. This is how we shift from reactive crisis response to proactive resilience building.
Let’s paddle forward together.
Words: Matt Spaid
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