Tough Mudders take Army challenge

Photo By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Hawkins | A Tough Mudder participant climbs down a rope at the Balls to the Wall obstacle in the Tough Mudder course Saturday.  

ROCKFORD, IL, UNITED STATES

05.21.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Carolyn Hawkins 

318th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

Rockford, Ill - On a beautiful warm, sunny Saturday morning, hundreds of eager participants in the Tough Mudder competition prepared themselves and each other for an action-packed day. People wearing many different costumes, displayed pride for their teams, which included coworkers, families and couples. The 12 mile-obstacle course, filled with challenging hurdles to overcome, lied waiting for them.
Army Reserve recruiters hosted an Army Challenge competition station for anyone who was interested. Competitors had to push a large metal frame, do as many pull-ups as they could, low-crawl, knock out 20 push-ups, and pull a rope as fast as they could to win prizes.
As many as 20 people per hour have participated in the challenge, said Sergeant 1st Class Derek Melendez, an Army recruiter in the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion from Loves Park, Ill.
“We are here to support and facilitate recruiting efforts,” said Melendez.
“They seem to be enjoying the obstacles; they seem to be enjoying the challenge. Some of them have expressed interest, so they have an opportunity to fill out their level of interest on the digital sheet we have,” said Melendez.
Marcus Choppa, a Tough Mudder participant from the Mudsketeers team, crossed through the finish line with energy to spare. Choppa works as a sales representative for a contact lens company and is also a personal trainer from Rockford. For the past three and a half years, he has participated in eight Tough Mudder events.
“It’s all about teamwork, getting together and making it together. I like being able to do the obstacles with a team, seeing a bunch of first-timers coming through, helping them succeed. That’s what’s great about it,” said Choppa.
Choppa also volunteered for the Army Challenge. He usually participates in it after he’s completed the full Tough Mudder course.
“Oh, I’m definitely going to do that. I always do that,” added Choppa.
Jannsen P. Brown, an entrepreneur and consultant from Dallas, Texas, also volunteered for the Army Challenge. Brown is a first-time Tough Mudder participant. He has friends and family members who have been in the military.
“It’s a continuation of the Tough Mudder, a challenge for yourself,” said Brown describing the Army Challenge station.
The Tough Mudder is a two-day event and Sunday is the Tough Mudder Half, a five-mile obstacle course with more than 14 obstacles.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2016
• Date Posted: 06.01.2016 11:21
• Story ID: 198717
• Location: ROCKFORD, IL, US
• Hometown: DALLAS, TX, US
• Hometown: LOVES PARK, IL, US
• Hometown: ROCKFORD, IL, US