Other than their war-fighting expertise and unique capabilities, special operations units are known for their extremely tough physical and mental requirements. These requirements apply both during the selection and assessment processes but continue through an operator’s time in a SOF unit. The job is tough, and the operators must be tough.

So, what happens when you draw inspiration from the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training and the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and combine them to create an obstacle course?

Pain.

BONEFROG and the Green Beret Challenge (GBC), two veteran-owned companies, have joined forces to create an unforgettable Obstacle Course Race (OCR) that will take place on November 16th in Dallas, Texas.

There will be a number of challenges depending on physical fitness (for instance, a Kid’s Race, the Sprint, the Challenge, the Tier-1, and the Endurance), varying from 8 to 50 obstacles inspired by Navy SEAL training, with various strength and endurance challenges inspired by Green Beret training. The different obstacles and events will be spread out on a course of between 3 and 11 miles (again, depending on which event you choose) aimed at testing participants’ endurance to the extreme. In particular, participants will have to be functionally fit to succeed in the event. For example, being able to run a sub-six-minute mile or having the ability to bench press 400 pounds will not insure completion of the event, given the fact each obstacle tests a different aspect of fitness. Muscular endurance is the key.

“We’re beyond excited to host this event with GBC and show what can be accomplished when two ‘Military Owned’ OCR companies come together for one common goal – to give the racers something never before seen in the OCR space,” said Brian Carney, the owner of BONEFROG, in a combined press release.

BONEFROG is the only SEAL-style obstacle course outside the military. The challenge was created by a group of former Navy SEALs who wanted to bring the military and civilian communities closer by challenging, building, and inspiring participants to become better athletes and citizens. The BONEFROG challenges attempt to foster comradeship and teamwork by pitting participants with extremely arduous physical and mental gutchecks.

Mark Ballas, the CEO of the GBC added, “Brian and I have discussed this several times over the past couple years. We are stoked to finally be at a point where we can both do what we love to do and to demonstrate to the rest of the OCR industry that companies can work together for the betterment of the sport and our athletes.” Ballas has 22 years of experience in the special operations community, including assignments with the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 7th Special Forces Group.

The event is still far away. More time to prepare!