dime a dozen. Adventure Races are a dime a dozen these days, and most of them involve some form of running up a mountain after biking or kayaking a certain distance, and every one of them are fantastic in their own right.
Most of them have the same design and pattern; most of them are based on some form of water activity, a bike ride and a run. They all have their own selling points and each one is completely warranted.
Hellweek PT™ is a Military Themed Events company that organises Military Themed Challenges of varying nature and style, run entirely by a Military Directing Staff. The latest challenge to be organised by Hellweek PT™ is called the Commando Challenge, and it’s not as bad as it sounds, but it is of course based on authenticity of proven methods to test a person’s fitness and levels of competitiveness. It takes place in Oldbridge and surrounding areas of Donore and Tubberfin in County Meath, a very scenic and beautiful part of the country.
The Commando Challenge™ is simple; first, you complete a 15ft rope climb, then you complete a military obstacle course (designed and built by serving military personnel) followed by a 9 mile Speed March under combat load carrying a training rifle. The rifle is of course a dummy, but it adds to the authenticity and weight of the challenge. The load is 9.5kg for everyone, male and female, which is carried in a backpack on your shoulders. The only handicap given is the males must complete the run in 90 minutes and women must complete the run in 120 minutes.
This challenge is an authentic and proven method of testing a person’s fitness levels, endurance levels and competitive nature. Carrying weight in a run is one of the most difficult ways to test your body, especially your legs. It requires good leg strength to be able to complete this kind of run, especially after taxing your body’s upper and lower muscles on the obstacle course.
Anyone looking to do a good Half or Full Marathon, an Ultra or other similar event should really be training their body in this manner. It’s a great way to find out just what type of endurance your body and mind have!
This is a race, and since it is a race there will of course be awards, cash prizes for the first three males and the first three females over the line will be given.
Everyone will get a quality custom made medal and t-shirt for finishing the race.
This event is based on military standards and as such the organisation, execution and control of the event is extremely disciplined. You will complete the Rope Climb in waves, followed by the obstacle course and then do your run, we will allocate numbers to everyone and timings will be noted by our Directing Staff to ensure the winner is judicially determined. There is a limit of 500 places on this event for the purpose of logistical management.
When you are given your chance to complete your rope climb the clock starts. There will be 20 Ropes on site, meaning we will have 20 lines of people waiting for their chance to start the race. 25 candidates per rope will line up and you will have 5 minutes to complete your rope climb, if you don’t succeed in 5 minutes you will be sent to the back of the line each time until such a time as you do complete it.
The quickest to complete the rope climb will then proceed to the obstacle course once the DS (Directing Staff) have confirmed that your time has been recorded on the rope climb.
Once through the obstacle course, you will then put your ruck / backpack on and on the DS’ order, you will begin your run having been allocated a “run” start time!
The quickest to finish the run is not necessarily the winner of the race! Your timings are all cumulative, so the quicker you get through each stage, the greater a chance you stand of winning.
This is going to be a really fun event too, so invite friends and family to come and support you. Parking will be available onsite and we encourage car pooling to get to Oldbridge. The cut off time is very reasonable for people of all fitness levels that run regularly and are capable of running 10 miles or more.
A full training plan is available to everyone and it will get you more than ready for the event, it may even change your approach to training for other races in the future.
The obstacle course will undoubtedly be the highlight of the day for most but the run will be the test!
So, if you’re looking for an Adventure Race that will give you more than just a great day out, one that will really test you, this is it!
Don’t wait, get registered and get training!
https://www.runireland.com/events/hellweek-pttm-commando-challengetm