Stay on your feet - Time Change and more

So the team decided that they wanted a random bad perk removed for their Thanksgiving gift, and so they only have heavy burden remaining for their bad perks.  Good for them!  In buds, schedules deliberately change just to keep the recruits on their feet and locked in on every detail of the event.  In the spirit of having the class end at a reasonable time, lap 0 will begin at 8:30am instead of 9:30am.  That means that the class must be at the starting point with their rucks on (even those who are exempt from rucking the T3) no later than 8am for waivers, medical information and more.  Those who want to show up early can be at the starting point no earlier than 7:15am for something special.  Aside from that, please take note of the mandatory gear list:

• Headlamp
• Reflector belt
• Source of hydration
• Extra dry clothes (it will be cold)
• Rucksack with 15% bodyweight

Recommended gear

• Extra nutrition (we will provide some as well)
• Sunscreen
• Anti-chafe product

Also, if two people register in the next five days, the team will have 20 points added to their total score.  Current class size is at 17.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The T3 class has much to be thankful for.  Since Black Friday now falls on Thanksgiving, they have a special decision that they can make that is valid only until 11:59pm tonight:

• Randomly remove a bad perk, everyone lose 1 point.
• Everyone gain 1 point.
• Unlock one Stress Card perk.
• Randomly unlock one good perk, the team loses 25 points and two stress cards are permanently locked.
• Cadre Neil must join the class for Lap 1.
• Randomly re-open one bad perk, randomly unlock one good perk.
• Do absolutely nothing right now.  Eat lots of turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Let's see what gift the team decides to open!

Mandatory Reading - An introduction to one of your BUD/s instructors

In the spirit of this event being BattleFrog themed, it is highly recommended that the class watch the six part series documenting BUD/s.  In fact... if you watch the episode on hell week, you'll notice one of the instructors is absolutely tearing apart a team for a loose boot strap.  That chipper, happy instructor is instructor Mike.  That, my friends, is one of the two instructors that will be administering your lessons learned on your fateful day in December.  Have fun.

Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4  |  Part 5  |  Part 6

EDIT:  There is a shorter video summarizing BUD/s.  In it you get to hear more of your instructor, Mike G.
 

Challenge #6 - Media Challenge

This next challenge might seem a little unorthodox, but there is a method to its madness.  In major events such as the Spartan Death Race, contestants must go through a lot of pre-race prep.  One such task is to get their story placed on to some kind of media website, be it anywhere from a major news site (unlikely) to a team's website or runner's blog.  This challenge is important to do because it not only helps legitimize your journey to this event, but it also helps get the word out to any others who are lingering on the razor's edge between signing up for a super endurance event and watching it from the sidelines.  So, what exactly will your media challenge be?  Well, this one is a challenge that you get to go through on your own terms:
 

• Cannot be a simple social media post.  Sorry, gotta put some effort into this one.
• Be creative!  Tell your story leading up to this event.  How you're training for it, what this means to you, etc.  Videos are very nice.
• Story must link to the Regiment website so that those curious about the event can learn more
• Be sure to mention the BattleFrog series and their contribution to this event (You know, the two BUD/S instructors that will be administering your pain).
• Must complete your media challenge no later than 3:00pm Friday, November 28th.
• No penalty for not doing this challenge.  Some of you don't have the time/personality to tell the world about yourself.
• Once your media challenge is posted, be sure to alert instructor Neil or you can directly contact the team.
• If your story is posted, congrats!  You earn 4 (Four!!) burpee points.

First perk unlocked

The BattleFrog T3 class has spoken, and have chosen to unlock the easy cards perk. This is a wise investment on their part, considering that every lap of this event ends with the card game. What is the card game, you ask?  After every lap is complete, each person in the class draws a card.  Each card has its own set of punishment attached to it (ex: draw an ace and do 15 eight count bodybuilders) that can get very old, very fast. Making the card game PT easier will definitely ease up the stress of this event and will make the transition to a new lap much more comfortable. 

Only two bad perks remaining!

T3 BUD/S Class has successfully eliminated yet another bad perk at random.  Well done!

Challenge 5 - CRUSHED.

Well, it looks like the BUD/s T3 class can spell.  They managed to spell out a 13 letter word!  This means that another bad perk gets removed, and they all receive 1 point each.  Now that 16 people are in the class, a simple point per person nets the team 16 total points, which is huge when it comes to unlocking perks. This brings their total accumulated points to 57!  Speaking of which... They must now unlock a good perk in the next 24 hours. If they fail to choose a perk, they will have one good perk randomly locked out indefinitely. Let's hope they're keeping track to the T3 updates...

Impossibility!

Challenge #5 - Hooked on phonics

Challenge four proved that the T3 BUD/S class knows how to count, now it's time to see if they can spell. This challenge will require each teammate to run a recorded path.  Each path will form a letter that will spell out a word of their choice.  Fun, right?  Let's get to their rules:

1) like the last challenge, only one letter per person can be submitted.  Once you run your route, you're done.  

2) Each letter must be no less than three miles long

3) Plan your route well, because you have to complete your letter at 10:45/mi or less or it won't count! 

4) The final word must be submitted no later than 12:01pm November 17th.  

5) Somebody outside of the registered class may participate, but if they aren't paid and registered before the T3 begins one random bad perk will be re-enabled prior to the T3.

6) Failure to complete a word will result in -1 burpee point for each person on the team.  

7) if the word has 6 or more letters, no penalty.  

8) 8+ letters, +1 point for everyone

9) 11+ letters, one bad perk removed in addition to previous rewards. 

10) 15+ letters, one additional bad perk removed.  

Challenge 4 COMPLETE

They actually did it...

They actually got to 15 miles like it was nothing.  As promised, they have gotten two bad perks randomly removed!  Happy vets day!
 

Challenge #4 - How well can you count?

This challenge is going to be pretty tough to do.  We've seen our class conquer the last 3 challenges as a means of warming up, so let's consider this one the first real challenge that demands teamwork and performance.  The team currently consists of 15 registrants, each of which will have to count.... to 15.  Here are the rules.

• One person in the team must run one mile, log it via GPS or whatever method proves that you ran.
• The next person must run two miles in the same manner.  Then another must run three... up until the last person runs 15 miles.
• Once you have submitted your run, you're done.  You can't do another run.
• If anybody registers while this challenge is live, they can participate in this challenge without bumping the number of participants over 15.  Effectively exempting a person from this challenge.  If you haven't registered yet, your team will greatly appreciate you doing it now.
• Since we count in a sequence, these runs must be submitted in order.  You can count backwards or forwards, but it must be in order.
• Challenge is due 11:59pm on November 7th.
• Count 12/15 - one bad perk is removed.
• Count 15/15 - another bad perk is removed.
• Failure complete less than 10/15 results in -1 point for the entire team.
• For 10 points, the team can buy out one person's participation in the challenge.
• Complete 15/15 before 11:59pm on November 5th and the team earns 1 point in addition to everything else.

That is all.  Good luck.

Incentive

It's no secret that the Masters of all Terrain 50 mile run is a week before the T3.  Some of those currently enrolled in the class are doing this insane run in addition to the T3.  As is customary to the T3, those who do extra credit (extra events) close to or immediately before the event will get relief from certain hardships during the event.  So let's say you plan on doing 50 miles only one week before the T3.  Here are the rewards you can earn:

• Finish the 50 mile run:  Automatically start the T3 with a stress card
• Finish the 50 mile ruck:  Your T3 will be entirely ruckless!

Challenge 3 COMPLETE - First bad perk removed

It looks like the class of 15 are taking this event pretty seriously.  Challenge 3 has been completed with an entire day to spare.  Furthermore, they have completed the bonus 80 miles to have a bad perk removed at random.  A six sided dice rolled a four, meaning that the team will once again be able to earn points during the T3!  

Challenge 3 progress

The team has reached their 50 mile goal already!  This means the current 13 in the team have each earned 1 point, bringing their total to 40 points.  That is already enough to unlock a seriously good perk!  An extra 30 miles will allow them to randomly turn off one of six bad perks that threaten to make their T3 a living hell.

And yes, their first three challenges have been deliberately easy.

Challenge #3 has arrived!

Two updates in one day!  The good news is that the class has a chance to make some real progress with this challenge.  This time there isn't a fancy video to accompany it, just some instructions they must adhere to if they want credit for this challenge.  This time there is a penalty for failure!

Challenge 3 - Regiment Team Running

• The team as a whole must complete at least 50 miles of accumulated running before 11:59pm on Friday October 31 (Halloween!)
• Log your miles using a GPS tracking app.  Take a screenshot of your completed miles and either tag instructor Neil on Facebook or send an email to the team's email address if you aren't a fan of Facebook.
• Your average runspeed must be better than 10:45/mi.  So if you're making good time but you see your runspeed getting bad you may want to just stop the run and submit however many miles you completed to be added to the the team total.  Just be happy you don't have to do all 50 on your own!
• Only those who are registered can count towards the successful completion of this team challenge.  Sorry - but this one is exclusive to the class this time!
• You can submit multiple runs.
• Let's talk rewards...
  • Complete 50 miles and everybody on the team earns 1 burpee point.
  • Complete 80 miles and one bad perk at random is disabled forever!
  • Failure to complete 50 miles results in everybody who is registered to lose 1 point.

Bad perks unveiled

We've already seen the perks that the class will be able to unlock, but now we've got another first for this event - bad perks.  Here is some vital information that the class needs to know:

• Right now, ALL bad perks are currently active.
• If the class completes certain future challenges, a bad perk will be erased at random
• Whatever bad perks remain at the start of the T3 will go into effect
• Some good perks can offset bad perks (fixed dice and easy cards)
• If any bad perks remain at the start of the T3, the class can re-do the first lap to eliminate one perk of their choosing.

There are a total of six bad perks currently activated.  Let's hope that the class will work together to eliminate these 'perks'!

Perks unveiled!

The team has accrued 20 burpee points total, which means the next bit of information has been revealed - the perks!   The team will now have access to unlock eight kinds of perks, some of which can be unlocked multiple times.  The details of some are shrouded in mystery (poker chips, envelopes), so the team will have to gamble on the severity of these perks.  All a part of the game, no doubt.  

Challenge #2 is live!

You can either post your video on Facebook (Tagging Neil) or you can email it to the team.  You have until 11:59pm on October 26th to complete the challenge to earn your 1 point.  Individually that may not seem like much, but you're not here to be an individual.  Good luck.

Challenge 1 complete

Things are looking very well for the class. All but one have successfully completed their 30 ruck push-ups, earning the team a total of 18 points right off the bat!  Three people took advantage of the retroactive challenge credit and did the challenge, even though they have yet to register. The class is smart, but are they tough?  The seals who will be instructing this event are incredibly strict and intend on making this event a snippet of hell week. 

Challenge 2 will be issued sometime this week. The more people who continue to register, the more points will be made. Once the team reaches 20 points, the unlockable perks will then be revealed. 

15% bodyweight

The first challenge nears expiration, but the weight rule should be hinted enough by now. Those doing the upcoming T3 will need 15% of their body weight attached to their ruck or weight vest. You can have this weight in sand, bricks, plates or live lobsters for all that matters. Just hope that your weight is at least 15% when it is weighed in at the beginning of the event. 

14 hours until challenge 1 expires

The class has responded well to their challenge. Some who have not registered have done the challenge at the promise of having their points retroactively added to their name as soon as they're officially in. Those still hovering along the fence line will later discover that if they continue to hang on to indecision and procrastination, those precious points will begin to decay.  That is another concern for another time however.  Over half of the class so far have completed their challenge, which is a trend that will hopefully continue. There are about ten people who have yet to register, but have given their word that they will be at the T3.  We've seen it all before, though.  Actions speak louder than words. Anybody can say they're doing the T3. Hell, you can type it out in less than two seconds. 

Two seconds of typing is a lot easier than 12-14 hours of suffering, though. Nobody will remember the excuse posts that people will inevitably post prior to the event once the spotlight has shined on the finishers of this event.  You guys got this.