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Big Red Challenge 2022 Obstacle Info for Runners

Ranger Up (Salmon Ladder)

Technique:  Participants must begin hanging from the bar on the colored rungs.  They must then transition from a hang with their feet off the ground up each set of rungs until they reach the rung that is the same color as the one they started on.  This will be a 3-rung climb.  Different sides of the structure are to be used by different heights.  The athlete must reach the correct rung with both sides of the bar. Once the correct rung is reached the obstacle attendant will instruct them that they have completed the obstacle and can drop from the bar.

Coaching Points:

• Let go of the bar should you miss a rung. The rope will keep the bar from falling and hitting you on the ground. 

Berlin Wall/Marine Hurdles (8ft Wall/5ft Wall)

Technique:  Participants will begin facing the front of the wall and likely using a running start will jump to grab the top of the wall.  They must then pull themselves up and over the wall and drop down on the back side.  Once they reach the back side of the final wall in the group the obstacle is complete.

 Coaching Points:

• It is encouraged to assist each other and can use the a-frame structure if needed.

Elevated Bars (Single & Double)

Technique:  Athletes must find a way to traverse over the bar.  They can do this any way they seem fit so long as they travel over the highest bar on the obstacle.

Coaching Points:

• Athletes struggling should begin by jumping up to grab hold of the bottom most bar. 
• Athletes can then walk their feet up the support post to get their feet at the level of the bar.
• Athletes can then throw their farthest leg over the bar and press their body up with their arms. 
• At this point the athlete should be above the bar and needs to drop down the backside.
• More agile athletes can flip their legs up the backside and rotate backwards over the bar, the athlete must then rotate back forward to drop off of the bar.

Ammo Resupply (Ammo Can Carry)

Technique: Athletes must pick up 2 ammo cans and carry them to the designated point, then traverse around the designated point and return the cans back in an orderly fashion.

Fastmovers (Over & Unders)

Technique: Athletes must traverse over the high barricades and under the low ones.

Fast Rope (Rope Climb)

Technique: Athletes must climb up a single rope and ring the bell at the top with their hand.

Coaching Points:

• Using your feet is crucial to climbing a rope
• Athletes can wrap the rope around their leg then use their top foot to step on the rope which should rest on their bottom foot to keep from sliding down the rope
• Using feet is recommended but not required
• If struggling, take a break and rest your hands before re-attempting the rope climb.

• Athletes are encouraged to not attempt if they are unsure of their ability.
• The athlete is expected to maintain control on the descent.  

Brute Force

Description: Lunge first leg of the course, drag (with either hand or foot) second leg of the course, and run the last leg of the course. Athletes must traverse all obstacles with the bag. Athletes must lunge to the over and complete the over obstacle and the lunge to the under and complete the under obstacle. Then drag the bag to the 5ft wall, both the athlete and the bag must scale the wall. After the wall the athlete must continue to drag the bag until they reach the point where the volunteer tells them to start running with the bag. 

Lunge Technique:  Dropped knee should touch the ground or clearly be very near the ground. 

Bag Drag Technique:  Athletes must bear crawl while dragging the sandbag across the ground using either one hand or foot

Run Part:

• After the athlete has completed the Drag portion and is instructed by the volunteer they may pick the bag up and run with it.
• This part will bring the athlete back to the pick-up/bag-drop zone.  The bag must be placed back in the drop zone.

Under Siege

Technique:  Athletes must roll under the wall then climb up and over the back side sliding down the front and continuing on through the course.

Coaching Points:

• Athletes struggling to get over the top should focus on getting a leg over the top then use their hands to pull then push their upper body over.

Tarzan (Monkey Bars)

Technique: Athletes will swing from one bar to the other across the entire distance

Coaching Points:

• Struggling athletes should try to get both hands on the same bar before reaching for the next bar
• Athlete should try to engage their entire body in the swing to each bar to reduce strain on their hands and grip.
• Athletes should focus on maintaining 90 degree bends in their elbows
• Stopping and hanging just adds stress to the hands and increases the chances of failing.

Points of Contact (Alternating Crawls)

Technique: Athletes must traverse through the designated portions of the course maintaining the minimum assigned points of contact to the ground (4 or 2).

• 4 Points = Bear Crawl
• 2 Points = Run

Bales of Steel (Hay Bales)

Technique:  Athletes will traverse over the hay bales by any means necessary.

Coaching Points:

• Grabbing the edges of the bales is the easiest way up if you cannot make the jump.

Pull Your Weight (Cart Pull)

Technique:  Athletes must pull the cart up the hill until the entire cart crosses the painted line then lower the cart back down in a controlled fashion.

Coaching Points:

• • Brace yourself with your legs

• Use bodyweight to your advantage

• Using only your arms will wear them out faster. 

Save Your Buddy (Tire Carry)

Technique:  Athletes will pick up a tire from the start point and carry the tire to the turnaround point.  After the exercise is completed the athletes must return the tires to the drop point.

Under Fire/Storm the Beach (Medium & Low Crawl)

Technique:  Athletes must traverse underneath the grating by any means necessary.

Charlie Foxtrot (Parallel Bars)

Technique:  Athletes begin at the low side of the bars.  They must then boost themselves up onto the bars and shimmy across using their hands. Runners are allowed to put their feet/legs up on the bars as well.

Coaching Points:

• Keep moving, stopping on the bars only means staying on them longer
• Runners may use their feet/legs if needed.

Weaver

Technique:  Athlete traverses under white bars and over red bars and rings the bell at the end. Athlete can use any part of the structure to complete obstacle.

Coaching Points:

• Use momentum to traverse from bar to bar
• Athletes should use their momentum to get their legs up on the next bar then pull their body up with their arms.
• Athletes can touch the ground but are discouraged.

Tire Flip

Technique: Flip tire 4 times (2 down & 2 back)

Coaching Points:

• Use legs 
• Runners can assist each other 

The Stabilizer (Poles)

Description: Pole is placed on two platforms and is free to roll about the platform. It will be about 1 foot off of the ground.

Technique:  Obstacle requires the athlete to transition across a log that is free to roll and slightly elevated off the ground.  Quick and large even steps, keep hands out to your side for balance.  

Coaching Points:

• Roll pole to one side of the platform to help stabilize the pole