The Thunder Fitness second place winner

2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division
Story by Staff Sgt. Carlos Davis

Date: 11.04.2013
Posted: 11.04.2013 00:11
News ID: 116226
210th Fires Brigade hosts Thunder Fitness Challenge

CAMP CASEY, South Korea – Soldiers from the 210th Fires Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division competed in the first ever Thunder Fitness Challenge Oct. 30, 2013 on Camp Casey. Of the 104 soldiers who competed, only 14 soldiers achieved the standard of the challenge. To qualify for the competition the soldiers must have scored 270 or above on the Army physical fitness test prior to the competition. During the event the soldiers completed five events that tested them both physically and mentally. The fitness challenge included the push-up event for two minutes, the sit-up event for two minutes, the pull-up event for 10 repetitions, the dip event for 20 repetitions, and a three-mile run in 22 minutes or less.

The second place winner:

The second place finisher for the Thunder Fitness Competition is Capt. Shaohong Lu, from Atlanta, Ga., the fire direction officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Fires Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

Here is what he thinks about the competition:

How does it feel to finish in the top three?

It’s always good to have a friendly competition. We used this competition to push ourselves.

How did you prepare for competition?

I do mixture of weight lifting and mountain climbing.

What would you say to soldiers who are thinking about competing in this competition in the future?

My advice to other soldiers who are looking to come out and try for the next competition is to just come out and try. You will never know how well you will perform if you never give it a chance. All you have to do is put your best effort into it.

Why is it important for Soldiers to be good physical condition?

Soldiers who are in assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division are under a high amount of stress, so going to the gym and working out is the best way to relieve stress.