MOORE’S toughest GTK CrossFit warriors crawled through mud, waded across creeks and hauled 30kg sandbags in a bid to come out on top at the Inverell Toughen Up Challenge.
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“It was definitely a challenging course,” said competitor and GTK CrossFit owner Heidi Dell.
Stacey Hart, Adrian Brown, Cameron Rogers, Alex Valeontis, Ashleigh Burger, Alyce Rigby, Jamie Peachey, Troy Jamieson, Daniel Heffernan, Trent Loder, Katrina Clark and Heidi Dell made up the three teams that represented Moree at the 10km course last weekend.
The back-breaking challenge tested competitor’s strength, endurance and fitness levels, pitting them against will-breaking obstacles.
“It’s kind of like a local Tough Mudder course,” said Heidi.
Heidi’s team placed first in the mixed division and scored the third fastest time. It’s the second time the fitness guru has taken out top spot at the course. Though that doesn’t mean she’s going to rest on her laurels.
“If I win next year, it’ll be a trifecta,” she laughed.
Though getting through the course was no easy task, she admitted.
“We didn’t train specifically for the course, but everything we do at the local CrossFit can be carried over to the challenge, and we do those kinds of exercises on a daily basis.”
Regular sets of burpies, pullups and weight-lifting built up the team’s strength, preparing them for the sandbag challenge.
“For one of the obstacles, you and a partner had to lift a 30kg sandbag over a one metre tall hay bale. And there were three of them,” said Heidi.
Work on the bikes and cardio sessions improved the teams’ fitness levels, so they were ready for the endurance stages—Heidi’s least favourite of the obstacles.
“I’m more of a sprinter. I never understood how people could run for long periods of time,” she said.
While the challenge was demanding, Heidi said the greatest strength was shown in the team work.
“When you’re racing as a team, there are more people sharing the responsibility to get over the finish line. We were always encouraging each other along, so there was never that feeling of giving up.”
Heidi has been running the local CrossFit gym for four years —long enough to be called a dedicated disciple to the demanding style of workout.
She said she is drawn to the sport for its variety.
“There are elements of speed and power mixed with endurance and strength. You’re not just a sprinter or a weight lifter, but everything in one,” she said.
Heidi frequently competes in courses similar to the one at Inverell, and is only too ready for the next challenge.
“The obstacles were challenging, but I’ve faced more difficult ones,” she laughed.