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A Newcomer’s Guide to Participating in the Firefighter Combat Challenge
Where to start when it comes to training, team creation & more
Story & Photos by Michael DeGrandpre
The Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge is a bit like one of those workout videos you see on late-night television. You want to do it. You know it would be good for you. But there’s always a level of intimidation and hesitation when you go to make the move and dial the number flashing on the screen.
Don’t hesitate! An all-too-common misconception is that the Challenge is only for super-star athletes. Is the Challenge a walk in the park? No. It’s a reasonable representation of a good “worker.” Consider that you’ve got nothing to lose from participating. Well, you might lose a few pounds in training, but the positive experiences you’ll gain are innumerable.
It’s the goal of the Challenge to push you—to take you physically and mentally to new places and to make you stronger. The friendships and bonds made by the men and women who participate in this sport (yes, sport) are similar to those made between soldiers in war. The participants share like ideas and interests, and they’re all bound together by a brotherhood that stems from America’s most respected profession.
With all this in mind, you may be wondering, “How do I participate in the Combat Challenge?” Fortunately, it’s easy to get started.
Training Basics
First, do some light training. Start with stair-climbing with the kids or the other people in your department. Spring is almost here, and there’s no excuse for not spending 30 minutes basking in the fresh air and getting your heart rate up.
Some moderate lifting is also encouraged. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to start with the 45-pounders, go right ahead and get jacked. Kettlebells allow you to mimic many of the biomechanics of the Challenge, such as the hose hoist. Or you can start easy and work your way up.
The point is to build stamina and pace yourself. Yes, the Challenge is physical, but it’s also mental, and that’s why it’s important to train hard and smart.
3 Ways to Participate
In terms of actually signing up, that’s easy. You have five days before each regional event to get registered.
The main criteria to run: You must be a current or retired firefighter or EMT. If you are any of those, then there are three ways you can participate: as an individual, in a tandem or on a relay team—or all three, which some people do.
Running as an individual is just how it sounds: You run the whole course by yourself. An individual registration is $75. If you have two to four other firefighters from your local area who are competing at the same event with you, then you can form a team, where your times will be added up, and a winning team will be determined at the end of the day. A team registration costs $290.
As a tandem, you and another person combine forces to tackle the course. One will complete the first half, and the other person completes the second half. This is probably the best way to introduce your body to the Challenge. You’re getting the workout, you’re gaining the experience and you get to share the course load with a partner. Tandem is also the only place where there are no geographic or gender rules concerning who can run with who. A tandem registration costs $90.
Lastly: the relay. Relay teams are made up of three to five people from a local area. We like to label it as “one-fifth the work; five times the fun.” The five-task course is divided so each member is responsible for one or two events. It’s also a great way to focus on your strengths. If you know you can lift a 175-lb. manikin and run like the wind backward for 100 feet, then this is where you can shine. There are male and female categories. The registration fee for relay teams is $195.
Join Us!
The Firefighter Combat Challenge is an inclusive event. We want you to feel like you’re part of a family of first responders who are there for each other and support one another. If you’re on the fence about giving it a whirl, don’t fret. Hop on the Challenge’s official website (www.firefighterchallenge.com). There you’ll find an open discussion forum where some of your questions might already be answered or where you can interact with the Challenge community. Also check out some of the pages and discussions on Facebook. You’ll quickly learn that people who compete in the Challenge are typically elated to talk about it and share tips and training regiments with others.
Don’t hesitate. Make the proverbial “call” and jump on the bandwagon. With spring on the horizon—and the 20th season of the Challenge—why not get outdoors with the goal of getting more fit and joining a national, actually international, community of comrades? It could also be your chance to see a new part of the country, too, as competitors are invited to participate in as many Challenge events as they want, all over the country.
Think about it. Then sign up!
Michael DeGrandpre lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the Firefighter Combat Challenge handling creative content, including photos, video and writing.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
SUBSCRIBE to FIRERESCUE
Story & Photos by Michael DeGrandpre
Don’t hesitate! An all-too-common misconception is that the Challenge is only for super-star athletes. Is the Challenge a walk in the park? No. It’s a reasonable representation of a good “worker.” Consider that you’ve got nothing to lose from participating. Well, you might lose a few pounds in training, but the positive experiences you’ll gain are innumerable.
It’s the goal of the Challenge to push you—to take you physically and mentally to new places and to make you stronger. The friendships and bonds made by the men and women who participate in this sport (yes, sport) are similar to those made between soldiers in war. The participants share like ideas and interests, and they’re all bound together by a brotherhood that stems from America’s most respected profession.
With all this in mind, you may be wondering, “How do I participate in the Combat Challenge?” Fortunately, it’s easy to get started.
Training Basics
First, do some light training. Start with stair-climbing with the kids or the other people in your department. Spring is almost here, and there’s no excuse for not spending 30 minutes basking in the fresh air and getting your heart rate up.
Some moderate lifting is also encouraged. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to start with the 45-pounders, go right ahead and get jacked. Kettlebells allow you to mimic many of the biomechanics of the Challenge, such as the hose hoist. Or you can start easy and work your way up.
The point is to build stamina and pace yourself. Yes, the Challenge is physical, but it’s also mental, and that’s why it’s important to train hard and smart.
3 Ways to Participate
In terms of actually signing up, that’s easy. You have five days before each regional event to get registered.
The main criteria to run: You must be a current or retired firefighter or EMT. If you are any of those, then there are three ways you can participate: as an individual, in a tandem or on a relay team—or all three, which some people do.
Running as an individual is just how it sounds: You run the whole course by yourself. An individual registration is $75. If you have two to four other firefighters from your local area who are competing at the same event with you, then you can form a team, where your times will be added up, and a winning team will be determined at the end of the day. A team registration costs $290.
As a tandem, you and another person combine forces to tackle the course. One will complete the first half, and the other person completes the second half. This is probably the best way to introduce your body to the Challenge. You’re getting the workout, you’re gaining the experience and you get to share the course load with a partner. Tandem is also the only place where there are no geographic or gender rules concerning who can run with who. A tandem registration costs $90.
Lastly: the relay. Relay teams are made up of three to five people from a local area. We like to label it as “one-fifth the work; five times the fun.” The five-task course is divided so each member is responsible for one or two events. It’s also a great way to focus on your strengths. If you know you can lift a 175-lb. manikin and run like the wind backward for 100 feet, then this is where you can shine. There are male and female categories. The registration fee for relay teams is $195.
Join Us!
The Firefighter Combat Challenge is an inclusive event. We want you to feel like you’re part of a family of first responders who are there for each other and support one another. If you’re on the fence about giving it a whirl, don’t fret. Hop on the Challenge’s official website (www.firefighterchallenge.com). There you’ll find an open discussion forum where some of your questions might already be answered or where you can interact with the Challenge community. Also check out some of the pages and discussions on Facebook. You’ll quickly learn that people who compete in the Challenge are typically elated to talk about it and share tips and training regiments with others.
Don’t hesitate. Make the proverbial “call” and jump on the bandwagon. With spring on the horizon—and the 20th season of the Challenge—why not get outdoors with the goal of getting more fit and joining a national, actually international, community of comrades? It could also be your chance to see a new part of the country, too, as competitors are invited to participate in as many Challenge events as they want, all over the country.
Think about it. Then sign up!
Michael DeGrandpre lives in Washington, D.C., and works for the Firefighter Combat Challenge handling creative content, including photos, video and writing.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
SUBSCRIBE to FIRERESCUE
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