If you’re ready to test your strength and endurance – just for fun – the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club is hosting “The Beast,” an obstacle course dash, on Saturday, June 11. Participants as young as 6 can be part of this event designed for all ages.
Kelly Anhalt, group fitness coordinator and personal trainer, is coordinating with Ashley Bianchi, a personal fitness trainer, on this first-time event. The obstacle course dash will be offered in two categories. Participants will be divided by age group and compete in separate start times between 8 a.m. and noon on an outdoor course on the grassy area at the back of the racquet club, 2920 W. 183 rd St. in Homewood.
Participants will need to be at the event 15 minutes beforehand to sign the necessary paperwork and do some warm-up exercises.
Participants in the 6-14 age group will go first in the event and complete five obstacles and a total of a one-mile run. Obstacles include a sandbag carry, balance beam, hay bale climb, spear throw and a tire run.
Participants 15 and older will compete in 10 obstacles and a total of a 2-mile run. Obstacles will include bucket carry, spear throw, tire drag and Army crawl.
“We’re doing it on a smaller scale than some of the other races out there, because it is the first time,” Anhalt said. She and Bianchi are bringing their personal equipment to add to the excitement.
“We’ll have the tire flip, the tire run, the tire drag. We’re creating these obstacles,” Anhalt said. “We’re doing an Army crawl. We’re doing a balance beam, a bucket carry, a hay bale climb. We’re just doing it for fun.
“We’re not timing it or anything, but it’s a great way for a family to work out together and be outside in the summer. Working out sometimes just seems daunting or boring but if you make it into something like the hay bale climb and the tire run and the Army crawl, it’s a lot more exciting, especially for the kids.”
Staff will award medals to participants.
The registration fee is $25 for racquet club members; $30 for H-F Park District residents; and $35 for non-residents. To register for this event, call the racquet club at 708-799-1323 or visit the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District website at hfparks.com.