FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – The Rakkasan Bulldogs tested their endurance and grit in a creative physical challenge, April 6, partaking in a 3-by-3-by-12 Endurathon while practicing social distancing in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
“This event is called the Bulldog Endurathon,” said Cpt. John P. Bergman, company commander, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “It’s a 3-mile run, every three hours for 12 hours. It’s pushing your mind past it’s limits, past where you think your physical limits are. It’s a small step toward endurance and grit building for my guys mentally, especially with the heat making it a little harder to get through the last iterations of the day.”
Bergman adapted the company challenge from David Goggins’ 4-by-4-by-48 challenge: A 4-mile run every four hours for 48 hours. Goggins is an American ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, motivational speaker and author, and retired U.S. Navy SEAL and former U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Control Party member.
“This is our first time doing it,” Bergman said. “This is a small step toward the 4-by-4-by-48. Based on how it goes and how everyone reacts to it, we are hoping to extend the concept to the longer duration including implementing different types of weightlifting or strength building events. We want to keep it endurance-focused where people have to challenge themselves to do something difficult over and over.”
Thirty-three Bulldogs participated in the Endurathon, 19 Bulldogs ran around the 3rd BCT cantonment area, while the rest participated from home via a mobile running app. The Endurathon began at 5 a.m. and the final iteration was completed at 5 p.m.
“Starting out, you come out of the gate feeling strong,” said Pvt. 2 Kendall Revis, 1-187th Inf. Regt. “I was trying for my best time early on. I think the run is great, it’s starting to wear on me, it’s tough, but it’s a good thing. You want challenges, you want to challenge yourself and expand your horizons.”
Revis said this challenge came at the perfect time to give himself and his fellow Bulldogs something to focus on.
“I think this has been a good thing for us all with everything going on,” he said. “Being kind of on lockdown, it weighs on you, and I think this was good for us to take on together.”
Maintaining mission readiness and endurance is the top priority for the Bulldogs.
“COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed the way we approach training readiness, however, we are evolving and adapting to the environment we are facing to maintain readiness,” said Lt. Col. James Stultz, commander of the 1-187th Inf. Regt. “The Bulldog Endurathon is an innovative way to maintain our physical fitness while, at the same time, strengthening our mental resiliency.”
Bergman’s idea to complete the Endurathon was well received by his battalion as they look for creative ways to maintain physical readiness while also practicing COVID-19 safety protocols.
“Our campaign is to remain on the offense, kill the virus, and do our part,” Stultz said. “I think by staying proactive and by maintaining the offensive mindset, it helps people take control of their response. I was really excited when Cpt. Bergman came up with this challenge, because we can still get after it while maintaining social distancing protocols despite some of the constraints of COVID-19. Soldiers are still staying ready, still training, just through different means.”
The competition and shared experience of tackling the Endurathon also boosted morale for the Soldiers, Stultz said.
“This event allowed leaders to maintain fitness accountability of their Soldiers, experience some interpersonal interactions within current social distancing guidance, and demonstrate the insatiable warrior spirit through competition,” Stultz said.
Bergman believes completing this challenge will set his Soldiers up for success and confidence as they face other personal challenges in the future.
“By getting past difficult things with your fellow battle buddies, you can always look back at this, and realize you’ve overcome hard things and are able to push through adversity,” he said. “I’m very proud of them, even with the warm temperatures, I’m impressed by how they’ve gotten through this. I think this is something they can look back on and be proud of, and it will carry you through when you face more hard things.”
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