Want a real hands-on experience honoring the military during San Diego’s Fleet Week? If you’ve ever wondered what a Marine endures during basic training, get down and dirty at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Saturday, September 27th, for the 13th Annual Bootcamp Challenge! A grueling three-mile obstacle course pushes its participants to their mental and physical limits, all in the name of giving back to our military community.

Bootcamp Challenge is one of the only times civilians are allowed on board Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Beginning at 9 a.m., racers will climb, crawl, run and jump through 40 training obstacles along the course, tackling cargo net walls, tunnel crawls, push-ups and hay jumps. More than 60 Marine Corps Drill Instructors are stationed at obstacles throughout the course and offer encouragement for racers as only the Marines Corps could… #loudly! In the official style of Marine Corp training, the drill instructors show no tolerance for weakness.

Racers cross the finish line covered in sweat and dirt, with a sense of accomplishment having completed the same course as Marine Corps recruits. Spectators are welcome to cheer on their friends and family through the course.

Whether running individually, or competing on a three- or five-person team, the course offers a real “in-your-face” experience during Fleet Week. Often times, teams are comprised of groups of friends, military spouses, military veterans, workout groups or families. Team members help each other through the treacherous course and must cross the finish line together, maintaining the “no soldier left behind” mindset. At the end of the race, a ceremony will recognize the top three winners from a variety of categories.

Registration is now open online for individual, 3-person teams, and 5-person teams for this year’s Bootcamp Challenge. Registration for the event is $39 per individual, $117 per 3-person team, and $195 per 5-person team. Registration is available online at www.bootcampchallenge.com. All participants will receive official race t-shirts. Proceeds from the event will go to the Quality of Life programs for Marines and sailors stationed aboard the MCRD San Diego. These programs assist Marines, sailors and their families with services such as community outreach projects, physical activities, social gatherings, personal and professional development, behavioral health and others.

The 2014 Bootcamp Challenge begins at 9 a.m. on September 27th. The race will begin in 5-minute waves, starting with the elite division, then individual men, individual women, 3-person teams and lastly, the 5-person teams. Day of race registration and t-shirt pickup begins at 6:30 a.m. The event will be followed by a post-race party, featuring music, food, and fun and beer.

Alt Strat was proud to help the Bootcamp Challenge take a foothold during this year’s Fleet Week!