From a childhood of adversity in Columbia, Pennsylvania, to the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, and now the peaks of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains, Justin Howe's journey is one of discipline, redemption, and relentless self-discovery.
Today, Justin works with the U.S. Forest Service, supports wildland firefighting efforts, and continues to train like a warrior. But his path here wasn't easy.
From Trauma to Transformation
"I had an extremely difficult childhood. One where most people do not make it out of."
Justin was raised in a household surrounded by trauma, addiction, and instability. By 5th grade, he weighed 160 pounds. He was wrestling heavyweight and growing up in a family where no one worked out or ate healthy. But everything started to change in middle school when he discovered something simple, but powerful: the jump rope.
"It always felt like I could find my flow state, listen to music, and just have fun. I honestly became quite addicted to it."
Jumping rope became a form of freedom, an escape, and a path forward. It was low-impact on his joints, easy to access, and gave him something he had never experienced before: control.
The Navy, Wrestling, and Finding Purpose
Justin joined the U.S. Navy, serving 5 years and completing 4 overseas deployments. Fitness was no longer just personal, it was professional.
After leaving the military, he set an ambitious goal: walk on to the Penn State wrestling team. He spent the summer training hard, jumping rope for cardio. His effort paid off. He earned a spot.
"Fitness saved me when I didn’t even know I needed saving."
Crossrope: A New Chapter
Though he's been jumping for nearly 30 years, Justin was introduced to Crossrope about 8 years ago. What drew him in? The quality, versatility, and challenge of the weighted ropes, especially the 2-pound rope from the Get Strong Set, which he now uses daily.
"That 2-pound rope became a weapon for my mental clarity."
For Justin, the rope isn’t just a workout tool. It’s a mental switch. A way to transition from work headspace to workout headspace. A way to feel alive.
"It is the purest state of flow and just having fun. Almost an alternate form of dance for me."
Fitness for Life, Not Just for Work
Justin's resume reads like a movie: Navy veteran, wildland firefighter, search and rescue ranger in Grand Teton National Park. These jobs aren’t just physically demanding—they require emotional and mental strength.
"There is pain and trauma that comes along with not being able to save someone's life in their time of need, but the joy of pulling off a successful rescue is why we do it."
Today, fitness remains central to his resilience. It’s what allows him to push through fatigue, make sharp decisions in extreme environments, and show up fully for his loved ones.
"Health is our greatest asset. It provides endless opportunities and benefits."
A Community of Strength
Even though Justin often trains solo, he credits the Crossrope community with giving him a sense of belonging.
"I wanted to meet other Crossrope enthusiasts, create new experiences, memories, and hopefully make new friends."
As someone who dreams of being a motivational speaker, Justin hopes to use his story to help others.
"I just want to know what makes people tick. What brings them joy? What does it mean to be physically fit?"
The Road Ahead
Today, at nearly 40, Justin continues to set ambitious goals: 90 minutes of continuous jump rope with the 2-pound rope, 315 lb squats for 5x8 reps, and summiting three 14ers in Colorado.
His favorite move? Criss-cross. His best streak? 286 in a row!
But it’s not just about records. For Justin, every jump is a step toward his future.
"I am just grateful to be me, to be alive, to have an incredible wife, amazing friends, a great career, an awesome pup named Barkley, and a beautiful home in Colorado."
Ready to start your own fitness journey? Discover the rope that changed Justin's life. Explore Crossrope sets and find your flow today.
Navy veteran fitness journey, Crossrope transformation story, Weighted jump rope workouts, Mental health and fitness, Inspirational fitness stories, Wildland firefighter training, Jump rope for mental clarity, Flow state fitness, Veteran weight loss success story
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