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Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Kennedy: Vets train for 2,800-mile row

Contributed photo by Jessica Morrisy. The five-member Range-Oar Row team, pictured in March 2025, will try to navigate from California to Hawaii in June.
Contributed photo by Jessica Morrisy. The five-member Range-Oar Row team, pictured in March 2025, will try to navigate from California to Hawaii in June. Contributed photo by Jessica Morrisy. The five-member Range-Oar Row team, pictured in March 2025, will try to navigate from California to Hawaii in June.


In December, when we last talked to former Army Ranger Jere Hartman, he told us about his ambitious plan to row a boat from California to Hawaii in June.

Now, almost four months later, Hartman, a Chattanooga-based fitness instructor, and his team of military veterans are deep into a training regimen they hope will prepare them for the rigors of the 2,800-mile Pacific Ocean journey, which could take up to 50 days.

It’s all part of the World’s Toughest Row, a series of worldwide races that test the mental strength and endurance of participants.

(READ MORE: Local Army Ranger to row for veterans’ mental health.)