On Saturday May 21st, I competed in the 3rd annual Navy SEAL Museum Bridge Challenge. It was definitely a challenge!
Unlike the 1st year where it was 1 on 1 this year we competed in 3 teams of 2. As usual, we started at the Riverside Cafe in Vero Beach. We jumped off the pier in to the lagoon, while strapped with an oar & a ( fake!) MP 5 sub machine gun . We then swam out about 150 meters to an anchored raft, climbed in , rowed around the lagoon, anchored our raft. Then we climbed up a caving ladder about 70 feet , with our fake gun still strapped to us, on to the Barber Bridge. Like they say in SEAL training " It pays to be a winner" and this challenge lived up to it. When you reached the top, the first man had to carry 2 kettle bells , farmers walk style, down to the bottom of the bridge . That's almost a half mile! Well the first team got 20 lb kettle bells, the second team got 25 lb kettle bells, the last team 30 lbs! Sad to say , because of my slow swimming and non existent rowing skills, my team made it last! I had the pleasure of carrying the 30 lb kettle bells down the bridge ! Teamwork also was critical. My team mate helped sling my kettle bells around my back saving my grip, some. At the bottom of the bridge we switched, and I slung both guns around me while he took both kettle bells and carried them up the bridge ! When you made it back to the top, you got a paintball gun & got 5 shots from the bridge down towards a dummy target in the lagoon. I got a whopping 1 shot while my partner got 4. Then we climbed back down the caving ladder. I went first, then my partner came in, and we just repeated rowing around , swimming back to the pier and climbing back up. Easy right?!
This race shows why I believe in practical workouts. Tactical athletes & adventure racers take note. Isolated exercises like triceps kickbacks, leg extensions & pec deck flyes won't do anything for you ( note: the exception would be exercises prescribed by a physical therapist for a specific injury). Even the big , heavy power lifting compound exercises like overhead presses & dead lifts will be of limited use in such an endurance race, although these are good starting exercises. What I found was my forearms & biceps were burned, and this was just climbing the caving ladder! Remember, then I had the pleasure of farmers walking with 30 lb kettle bells! Even climbing down taxed the forearms. Also, carry 5 lb guns or worse kettle bells slung around your back totally changes your gait. Running will be changed to trotting. Having a strong core is critical.Completing such a race requires long, strength endurance workouts. Focus on moderate - high rep/multiple sets of pull ups ( both regular & biceps), push ups, kettle bell or dumbbell overhead presses, especially Kettle bell bottoms up presses,kettle bell swings,farmers walks,etc. If possible also try rope climbs & farmers walk. Of course swimming & running are also important.
As a side note , one of the teams was composed of retired SEAL team 6 officer Ryan Zinke and Army EOD tech Brian Mast. The fact that Brian Mast competed says alot about him. While disarming an IED in Afghanistan the bomb blew up. Tragically, he lost his legs. That didn't stop him from competing. Think about that. I don't know if I could do that.
Thanks to the
National Navy UDT/SEAL Museum for hosting this awesome event. A extra special thanks to the man who made this possible, my teammate Army ROTC candidate Shawn Zingler. I'm not joking when I say I wouldn't have made it without his help. From pulling me in to the raft, showing me how to paddle the raft, slinging the kettle bells around me, shooting the target on the spot unlike me, he was literally a life saver. I know America is in good hands with guys like him protecting us. Thanks ( future) Lt. Zingler!
