Tri For The 22
The Athlete's Story
Cody Hitson — Athlete. Veteran. Husband. Father. Still Moving Forward.
A new mission, carried forward one mile at a time.
Who I Am
Seven Years in the Navy
I'm a husband, father, Navy veteran, and endurance athlete. I spent seven years on active duty in the United States Navy as a Mass Communication Specialist.
In 2011, I deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a combat journalist — alongside service members operating in an environment where violence, loss, fear, and uncertainty were part of everyday life.
Like a lot of veterans, I came home physically present but carrying things I didn't fully understand how to process.
How This Became Tri For The 22
My next major goal is completing a 70.3-mile triathlon — 1.2 miles swimming, 56 miles cycling, and 13.1 miles running. Tri For The 22 began as a personal endurance challenge: train for the race, tell the story honestly, connect people with established resources, and encourage direct support for organizations already doing the work.
I have benefited from people and organizations willing to invest in veterans when it mattered most. Now I want to return that investment. I cannot solve everything a veteran or first responder is carrying, but I can swim 1.2 miles, ride 56, run 13.1, and tell my story.
Why Endurance
You do not have to feel strong to keep moving. You just have to take the next step.
2015
Spartan Trifecta completed
2016
Back surgery — adapts, trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
2027
IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga — May 16, Chattanooga, TN
That is what endurance has become for me. Not an escape. Not punishment. A way forward.
Who This Supports
Tri For The 22 raises funds for confirmed nonprofit beneficiaries — organizations already doing this work, not a fund Cody administers himself. See the Beneficiaries page for who's currently confirmed and how donations reach them directly.
We remember those we have lost—and keep showing up for those who are still here.
Beyond Chattanooga
Chattanooga is the finish line for this race — not for the mission. Crossing it doesn't end the work; it's one measurable step in a longer effort to support veterans, first responders, and their families.
Whatever comes after this race, the same questions will still be in front of me: who still needs support, and what's the next way to move toward them.
Help Fund the Mission
Support the $70,000 goal directly, or meet the beneficiary organizations it funds.