they played dice with the devil, but who won?? On Sunday 21st of November 40 of 63 booked candidates turned up on the east coast beach-line of Bettystown/Mornington to take on the newest challenge to touch these shores – literally!
This article is not a short story, it’s not a wall post, it’s not even a ply – this article is a long and dedicated account of something very special that took place on the 21.11.10. This is the story of Hell Week PT’s 4 Hour Evolution Endurance Challenge and Class 004.
Already at 0930 before the event had even begun, 23 people made their choice and received a DOR by default, 3 dings of my ship’s bell for each of the 23 people that chose not to play dice with the devil on a bitter cold day in hell!
The 40 remaining souls standing on the beach decided to throw caution to the wind and brave not only the elements but the daunting task of completing 4 hours of arduous work on my Quarter Deck with no food and only two 60 second water breaks throughout! Of those 40, another 8 were to DOR voluntarily and in certain cases, forcefully.
The temperature on the day was no more than 5 celcius in the air, the water may very well have been 1 degree colder and the top-sand on the beach was creating a slight Sahara effect. The wind was a strong North / North Easterly and bitterly cold, biting into the bone. Upon receiving a briefing from my self and an introduction to my assistant, the 40 remaining candidates were given 20 minutes to get warmed up before falling in.
At 0955 the Chief lined the candidates up and they dressed in double open orders formation and candidate numbers were issued. At 1000, the challenge began and it was straight into Callisthenics. For 60 minutes 40 candidates of varied fitness levels were subjected to Evolution 1 consisting of circuits, built up of core punishing moves that are natural everyday functions of our bodies, but even Ironman finishers were struggling with them. 8 minutes into the challenge and already we were finding people who were not going to make the grade. At every stage of the first 60 minutes pain was etched on people’s faces and at the 45 minute mark we had our first involuntary DOR. At 55 minutes, we almost lost another, but he chose not to ring the bell and went back in. The level of mental weakness was beginning to show even at this early stage. At each stage of the first hour candidates, were teased by the Chief with the taunts of cakes and buns being eaten in front of them, warm cups of coffee and tea being offered, the chance to go the toilet even… but if they took any one of those options, they had left the challenge! This was not just physical, this was mental!
Upon completion of Evolution and Hour 1, it was time to change the dynamic and introduce weight and new moves to the scenario. As I walked away to acquire the equipment that would be introduced for the new dynamic, there was a call for permission for a toilet break; “Permission to go the toilet LT!”, a swift and simple reply of “NO!” was returned to which there was a banter of laughter. The scene was set and people began to understand how serious this gig is.
There was a plan to create mayhem and restore order to chaos by creating small crews of 8 candidates per crew and it was executed to perfection.
Upon choosing crew leaders, crews were picked and shortly after, the water element of the evolution began! After being worn out for 90 minutes, and with 2 hours 30 minutes left to go, everyone was sent into the bitter cold sea and instructions given to perform various exercises in the cold water. Upon returning to the shingle, monitoring took place to assess vital signs and those that needed attention and removing from the challenge received just that.
Surf bobbing, sandbag manoeuvres, surf sprints, sugar cookie rolls, dive bombers and more, each and every candidate was begging for it to be over. 30 minutes into this evolution we lost our second candidate, candidate number 5 decided that his decision not to ring the bell 35 minutes or so earlier, was not the right choice and rang out. He achieved a lot though, and learned a lot about him self in the process. Before the start of hour 3 we lost another candidate, people were starting to shutdown at this point.
Hour 3 and the third Evolution for Class 004 was really where the teamwork started to come into play, people started to gel, candidates began to question their resolve and it came down to crew leaders to keep their teams together. By the middle of hour 3 with the Log PT evolution we had lost a few more.
The water was introduced again and plenty more mental torture was dished out to test people’s resolve, but at the same time crew leaders were put under pressure to maintain their control over their teams, and also keep them as a unit. Advice was given to each crew leader on how to instruct their teams, encourage their teams and how to get the most out of their teams.
Upon completion of hour 3 all remaining candidates were brought to a new arena for the fourth evolution. Introducing upper body moves and also running, the candidates completed their two mile run and were subject to pull-ups and running up and down 2 very steep and difficult dunes, with a time limit on it. Only one team completed in the allotted time given, this team was about the only one not to have broken down into individuals again and it was due to their crew leader they worked so hard and well.
We lost 3 more candidates at this point, with the end only a whisker away. So near, yet so far!
By the end of that, everyone thought the challenge was over, but as is custom in military training, it ain’t over till it’s over. Back to the Quarter Deck it was and some more torture with logs and water followed by a group assembly in the middle of the soft sand as the tide went out!
Before the event was formally ended, all remaining candidates were assembled half way between the retreating surf and the shingle of the Quarter Deck on the wet sand. In a school circle formation they stood, each one asked to count in sequence from left to right. Of 63 candidates, 40 turned up, a further 8 quit and of 32 still standing, it was touch and go for many. Their team leaders pulled them through, but ultimately, the reason they made it to the end was because they made a choice! They made that choice to stay, stay to the bitter end, to get hit as hard as they could and keep moving forward! A valuable lesson that can be used in everyday life, no matter the challenges we face.
That one choice gave everyone a huge sense of achievement, it made people realise just who they are, brought the best and the worst out in them and made leaders shine at times when everyone just wanted to ring that bell!
Class 004 erupted in a roar as “LT” bellowed, “Class 004, Challenge Secure!” those two words meaning more than any medal, any t-shirt or any token ever could!
Each and every last candidate there that day had done something special, they crossed my Quarter Deck, took on my challenge and learned something invaluable; The only easy day, was yesterday…
Now it’s the turn of a whole new class to cross my Quarter Deck and take on the challenge of a 4 Hour Evolution Endurance Challenge. 4 Hours, never the same, always challenging but not impossible!
Are you looking for some hope in these tough times? Are you looking for a measure of who you are? Do you want to take part in something together with others, at the end of which you will have all experienced the same pain, the same mental obstacles and attained the same sense of achievement?
In times like these, people are indeed looking for something, something that will inspire, my event will indeed inspire! It will give you a measure of your self, it will test you mentally and physically and it will most certainly give you some valuable skills that you will use later in every walk of life – life skills. You will remember this event for a long time to come, believe you me!
If you are ready to make the choice, then sign up to my challenge, get cracking on training – I will point you in the right direction of where and how to train, either on your own or together with others!
When the chips are down, how deep will you dig?
Lt S Ó Cearrúlláin
HWPT Founder and Ograniser
Feedback from Class 004: 21.11.10:
Yesterday was madness. MADNESS! It was definitely an experience and I did learn a lot from it. I can be pretty stubborn at the best of times and I think that’s what got me through yesterday. It was difficult enough and I felt like I had been hit by a train afterwards. – Sarah Coleman
thank you lt and chief for a tough day…..won’t forget that for a while…..have a great night and thanks for a great event. – Adrian Gogarty (Repeat Candidate)
It’s fantastic def coming back for more 🙂 Perfect training 4 weeks from London marathon 🙂 – Sean Smith – Marathon Runner and BGM Newry Candidate
It was a great event and I’ll be running the Barcelona marathon 06.03.11. Not sure which would be tougher… – Brian Sullivan
hey LT had great crack on sund.talking to a few of my mates who said they would be interested in the new year to head out and do it again. – Alan Mc Donagh
One of the hardest event i have ever done, very tough were the sea was involved, many time nearly backed out, the cold in me was something i will never ever forget….but was on a complete high to have finished it….soo delighted i did it now…no doubt after a few days i will forget the hard parts and yes will prob be up for another one…thanks again. – Elaine Boyle – Tirathlete and Runner
aye aye L.T. great day yesterday, loved it!! All at BGM say thanks! – Michael Henry BGM Candidate
The whole experience and organisation was very well done LT and Chief 🙂 – Knut Nielsen (Repeat Candidate)
Super Challenge today Sean and Brian, great sense of achievement on completion. Well done on organising a really great event. I love the feeling of sea water coming down my neck whilst doing sit ups, everyone should experience it at least once in a lifetime!!! – James Gibbons – Bootcamp Ireland Meath Organiser.
Super day….loved every minute of it…. Would be happy to have more body fat after that experience today!!!Thanks guys!!! – Orla McAdam – Former TV3 Apprentice Candidate, Triathlete and Half Ironman Finisher
I’ll take yous over the mournes doing a 52 mile ultra. Now that’s hell 🙂 Brilliant day today. All should be proud! – Dermot Mathers, BGM Candidate and Ultra Marathon Runner
Team BGM crossed your quarter deck and played dice with the devil in HELL. You showed us a tough four hours but we survived. – Team BGM Newry
Thanks for a great day today 🙂 – Liosa McKeown, BGM Candidate
Great day Sean, thanks a million. Well organised, great people and a really fantastic experience. Feelin’ the pain today though 😉 Stuart didn’t make it. He made some excuse about having to wash his hair or something… He says he’ll sign up for the next one. Will probably have another go myself – sure what better way to spend a Sunday!! – Eric Quigley
What am amazing event yesterday, I am not going to say it was fun at the time but it was brilliant I was freezing cold, wet, tired and sore and DOR, when is the next one?? Thanks – Karen Pierce
Very tough, very rewarding. – Eddie Bohan TriPlanet
It was some experience on Sunday, I really didn’t think I’d make it the whole 4 hours and actually went to drop out about 3 hours in. Boat Crew 1 were brilliant though, I didn’t want to let them down and they talked me into sticking it out. I’m really glad I did, despite the pain I’ve been in this week. – Marcus Pearson
Facebook Photo Album of Class 004: 21.11.10
www.hellweekpt.com/gallery.htm
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/hellweek.pt
Sign up to the challenge here: https://www.runireland.com/events/hell-week-pt-4-hour-evolution-endurance-challenge
