Ellie Wins Fittest Durapulse Athlete

I participated in the Durapulse “Functional Fitness Challenge” this past week.  My coach created this competition to determine the fittest all around athlete in six grueling days of strength and endurance events.  There were nine total events.  Though it was a “friendly” challenge, it brought the competitive nature out of all of us.  There was no prize for the winner, just a whole lotta bragging rights. I just wanted to beat all the trash talkers  (aka Mother Russia, McGinty, Gordo) and rub it in their faces at the end.

Nick emailed us the night before the competition:

I am so excited for this week I could not sleep last night.

This got me pumped up to try it out and give it my best shot.

Women and men were scored separately, with women using about 30 percent less load than the men.  Thirty athletes completed all events.  The winner of each event was given 1 point, 2nd place 2 points, and so forth.  The nine events consisted of:

Event #1 (Monday):

Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 min of:
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 3
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 6
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 9
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 12
Run 400 meteres
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#/65#) x 15
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 18
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 21
Run 400 meters
Sumo Deadlift High Pull (95#) x 24

Event #2 (Tuesday):

3 Rounds for time of:
10 Toes to Bar
5 Front Squat (155#) from the rack
Run 100 meters (wall and back)
(8 min time cap)

Event #3 (Wednesday):

Clean and Jerk Ladder to One Rep Max

Event #4 (Wednesday):

One mile run for time

Event #5 (Thursday):

“Helen”
Three rounds for time of:
Run 400 meters
Kettlebell Swings X 21 (35#)
12 Pull-ups
(15 min time cap)

Event #6 (Friday):

100 Double Unders
75 Burpees
50 Sit-ups
25 Deadlift (115#)
20 Pull-Ups
15 Power Cleans (115#)
10 Box jumps (30″)
5 Thrusters (115#)
(45 min time cap)

Event #7 (Friday):

500 yard swim TT

Event #8 (Saturday):

One mile run TT at Fountain Hills Middle school track, followed by 26-mile bike TT to Needle Rock and back.

Event #9 (Saturday):

6.5 mile run TT along Mcdowell Mountain Road

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All events were tough, but I had the most difficulty with the weight-based workouts.  All men had to lift the same weight.  For lots of events, I was lifting over my body weight… a tough task for a triathlete! I was really sore after the first couple days, but these types of challenges allow myself to push myself beyond what I could normally do on my own.

Nick wanted us to treat this past week as we would a race or any other competition.  It required mentally and physically preparing for each day.  Most importantly it was a good “kick start” to the 2014 season.  I’m excited to see how the past couple months of weight-based training translates over to a more endurance focus.

Huge thanks to Nick and Joe for putting on this challenge.  I encourage any athlete to participate in our next competition.  It truly was a lot of fun and brought the best out of everyone.  Congrats to everyone who endured to the end and completed all events. This week served as a good break from normal triathlon training and really tested who could do other things beside swimming, biking, and running.

Durapulse Fitness Challenge

Rowing

Bryan doing pullups

Thrusters

Front squats

Ellie doing pullups

Double unders

Jimbo getting ready to clean and jerk