LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The hot summer sun beat down on the field as the official blew the whistle. The young man took off like a flash of lightning as he sprinted down the 100-yard stretch of track, chased by the cheers of encouragement from his teammates. When he reached the end, covered in sweat, he handed the 17-pound pipe he held high above his head to his teammate who dashed the opposite direction with equal speed.
This is how it went until each teammate ran the 100-yard dash twice, while holding the pipe in the air, and this was only the first of seven events the team ran in hopes to earn the top place at the Squadron Challenge.
"The challenge is a good blend of strength, cardio, core exercises, plyometrics and ballistic action," said John Hickok, the Shellbank Fitness Center director. "It's a great way to test your fitness."
The fourth annual Squadron Challenge was hosted by the Shellbank Fitness Center in coordination with Tidewater Fitness, as one of the many activities held for May Fitness Month. More than 20 teams, of at least five members, from squadrons around Langley Air Force Base, Va., competed against each other.
The challenge's events were based on the circuit and sports training that Tidewater Fitness offers, but the events change yearly to ensure that the teams cannot prepare ahead of time, and also to offer a wide variety of challenges.
This year's events included a canoe pull, a flexed-arm hang and even a tire flip. For this challenge, two members of each team took turns flipping a 300-pound tire, nicknamed "Big Bertha," for a total of 160 yards. These types of challenges were designed to challenge teams' overall fitness in different way that Hickok considered a nice change of pace from standard Air Force physical training.
"Regular P.T. can get monotonous," said Hickok. "The Squadron Challenge is not only better physically, but it's mentally stimulating."
Not only does the challenge offer a great opportunity to break the monotony of everyday P.T., but it also gives the participants a chance to test themselves.
"It's important for Service members to test their limits," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Baah, Shellbank Fitness Center facility manager. "Service members need to test their strength and fitness to see if they are fit to fight."
In addition to fitness, the challenge also tested their camaraderie and teamwork, and served as a morale booster, said Hickok.
The 633rd Contracting Squadron came out on top at the end of the challenge, winning the bragging rights and pride that come with the title.
"Events like this help us celebrate our daily commitment to fitness excellence and it's a great way to get together with other squadrons and have fun," said Senior Airman Graham Stoudt, 633rd Contracting Squadron contracting specialist.
Baah urges Air Force personnel not only to work toward fitness excellence in May, but every month of the year.
"Service members shouldn't look at P.T. and dieting as something they have to do," he said. "With all of the benefits that they provide, it's something that Service members should want to do."