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The Training

Mental Toughness Part 1: Excellence is a habit

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Most of the focus during the lead up to the Endeavor Team Challenge is on getting physically fit and acquiring or fine-tuning the necessary skills that will be tested during the event. Most training regimens, however, are lacking in one area – preparing mentally for such a long and demanding event. Mental toughness is an individual’s resilience against, and ability

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Refer Friends and Earn $$

We think competing is awesome. But even better is competing alongside your friends. Although technically the Endeavor Team Challenge is for teams of 2, there are portions of the event (Crucible, Competitor Field, Battle Drill) where teams can move together or cheer for each other. As long as teams stay within the rules of completing each portion, this camaraderie is encouraged and motivating each other to get over the finish line will really bring you

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Less Talk, More Action

According to anecdotal evidence, the completion rate of New Year’s resolutions is close to 0%. New Year’s resolutions are made with the best intentions, but often fall victim to a lack of follow through. Setting a New Year’s resolution let’s a person feel the positive emotions as if they accomplished the goal, without actually doing any of the work or actually fulfilling their resolution. This New Year, forego on making a New Year’s resolution. The

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Navigating with Terrain Features

Many competitors find orienteering to be the most challenging part of the Endeavor Team Challenge. Those that find it challenging likely have the least amount of experience reading a map or using a compass. Unlike running or trekking, which competitors have done all their lives, orienteering while competing in the Endeavor Team Challenge might be their first time encountering this skill. Navigating with a map and compass has a learning curve that is best overcome

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Improve your chances of finishing

It should be obvious that not everyone finishes the Endeavor Team Challenge. After all, it’s the Endeavor Team Challenge, not the Endeavor Team Picnic. At the 2017 Endeavor Team Challenge, 42% of teams didn’t finish. Historically, two areas in particular result in the most dropouts. If you want to improve your chances of finishing the event, make sure you’re adequately prepared for both of these portions. The Crucible March: 15-20 mile (undisclosed distance) movement with

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Through the Eyes – Gregg and Beau Martino, the Battle Drill

Gregg and Beau Martino competed in and finished the 2015 Endeavor Team Challenge. How would you describe the Battle Drill? Beau: The Battle Drill was stuck about a third of the way through the Crucible March. It was a series of 5 mini fitness challenges: a heavy rock lift, a sled pull, a sled push, a medicine ball toss, and a sandbag carry. Gregg: Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of high intensity fitness events,

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Through the Eyes – Geoff Rapoport, Night Orienteering

Geoff Rapoport competed in and finished the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Endeavor Team Challenge. He and teammate Jared Janowiak won the 2013 Endeavor Team Challenge. How would you describe Night Orienteering? Night orienteering is the stage that separates those who have come to compete from those who have come to complete. Until this point, you’ve been able to choose to go faster or slower, but you haven’t had the opportunity to choose how much you want

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Remembering Fallen Soldiers

Memorial Day is a time to remember the heroes we have lost.  Traditionally this means those who died while serving in this country’s armed forces. These fallen men and women deserve our thoughts and appreciation for the sacrifice they have made. At Endeavor, today we are thinking of a hero of ours who passed away last year, Dave Edney.  Dave served his country.  He spent 10 years in the Coast Guard before moving up to

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Through the Eyes – Jaala Thibault, Night Orienteering

Jaala Thibault competed in and finished the 2013 and 2015 Endeavor Team Challenge. How would you describe Night Orienteering? In 2015, there were a couple of large forest fires burning within 100 miles of Bear Valley, and the night of ETC there was a new moon. There was zero illumination and it was quite dry out in the forest, so with the light of our headlamps refracting off of dust particles kicked up from our

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Answer the Call

It takes a special kind of person to compete in the Endeavor Team Challenge. This is not a casual race to be completed in an afternoon, and we don’t call it a monumental fitness challenge for nothing. The ETC is more than a race. It’s validation that you and a teammate can surmount challenges out in the wilderness requiring self-reliance, physical resilience and psychological fortitude. It taps into the inner primal instinct that has been

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