“I wanted to create a great fitness challenge without the drama” says Doug Dorsey, owner of Fitathlon a new kind of challenge course for those wanting to experience the popular fitness trend of an outdoor/boot camp/team experience, but are intimidated by the intensity of typical courses that include “mud, fire, water, and electrocution”. In anticipation for his next Fitathlon scheduled for April 13, 2013, Dorsey displayed a mini version of his 5K course at the Hartford Health and Wellness Festival last weekend. On Sat. March 9 with a line of people eager to go through the course, Dorsey took a quick break to share on his challenge course concept.
“The Fitathlon was developed to provide the challenge course experience to people of all fitness levels. Participants are grouped into the following categories: Newbie, Beginner, Challenger, or Competitor, with start times staggered by group at 30 minute intervals so participants challenge themselves safely amongst others at similar fitness levels”. Compared to other obstacle courses that some may find too extreme and risky , or less intimidating courses that still include a battle of the elements, Dorsey’s 5K course provides the right fitness challenge without “mud, water, fire, or electrocution. All fitness components are incorporated: strength, endurance, flexibility, strength and agility. Your heart rate will get up and stay up the entire race. Your legs will feel like jello and you will be exhausted when you finish but you’ll be thrilled with your accomplishment”. The course includes such challenges as flipping tires, crawling through tunnels, wall climbs, chain pulls… just to name a few.
Doug Dorsey is the owner of Accelerated Fitness Solutions, with three Conn. locations: Glastonbury, Tolland and Cromwell. His desire to create a family friendly obstacle course that can offer a fitness challenge to a variety of fitness levels 'less the mess', has begun to gain momentum: “Our first Fitathlon had 85 participants, our second one had 1700. The April event has 2700 pre-enrolled (so far) with some of our morning groups already filled to capacity.” Dorsey credits the increase in growth to repeat participation “People come to one and then want to come back. They have so much fun they want to do it again!”
The Fitathlon on April 13, is the “first annual New England event with participants attending from throughout the entire northeast" says Dorsey. It will include the 5K challenge course, a separate Kids course, live music and a Health and Fitness Expo with activities for the entire family. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Channel 3 Kids Camp.
New England Fitathlon Challenge: April 13, 2013; 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT, 06118 fitathlonchallenge.com to enroll; $89 until Mar 31 then increases to $99. On-site only registration after April 7 per space availability.
Questions? Contact Doug Dorsey: by Email or visit the Fitathlon Facebook page
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