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2020 was my first year competing in the Camp Gladiator Games. It was an an enlightening, challenging, and overall fantastic experience! I was invited to be on a team of 4 with 3 athletes who were CG Games veterans. Our team name - The Training Wheel Bandits - Don't forget it!
In previous years, the CG Games were an all day event held in person in a large sports stadium. This year, obviously due to Covid, it was held virtually. I think Camp Gladiator did a great job with their virtual event. It's never going to be as fun virtual, as in person, but definitely a great experience. Here's how they structured the CG Games.
First, there were 4 prelims events that were each held a week apart. That set up gave athletes time to do 2-3 attempts at each workout to try and get the best time possible. If you were in the top 50% after prelims, you would then qualify for finals a few weeks later. The Finals also consisted of 4 events, each with a 10 minute break in-between for rest/scoring. Also, each athlete was assigned a judge that would watch via Zoom for proper form and rep count. This was not a flawless system but it definitely added a higher level of accountability and fairness for a virtual event.
For me, these events were rough! I had spent the majority of 2020 focusing on the Hyrox competitions which require heavier weights, longer duration, and a steadier pace. The CG Games events were all out, high intensity, and lighter weight/higher reps. By the end of each event it felt like my lunges and muscles were going to explode! It knocked me way out of my comfort zone, and I loved it! It was also great to be on a team with such savage athletes! Since I was the "noob" in the group, I was able to learn a ton from my teammates' previous CG Games victories. They dissected each workout to ensure we worked as efficiently as possible. It also helped that each of us are very competitive and always want to win! And WIN we did! We took home the Gold for our division and finished within the top 5 teams in the nation!
-Keep reading to see all of the Prelims/Finals events so that you can try them for yourself!
Prelims Event #1 "The Contender"
0.25 mile run
50 yards - Forward Walking Lunges
0.25 mile run
50 yards - Forward Walking Lunges
50 yards - Forward Bear Crawls
0.25 mile run
50 yards - Forward Walking Lunges
50 yards - Forward Bear Crawls
50 yards - Forward Broad Jumps
0.25 mile run
50 yards - Forward Walking Lunges
50 yards - Forward Bear Crawls
50 yards - Forward Broad Jumps
50 yards - Forward Crab Walks
0.25 mile run
Prelims Event #2 "The Gladiator"
STRENGTH ROUND 1
SET 1 ● Alternating Plank Row ● 20 Squat to Press
SET 2 ● Forward Weighted Lunges ● 20 Weighted Burpees
SET 3 ● Push Press ● 20 Alternating Snatches
0.50 MILE RUN
STRENGTH ROUND 2
SET 1 ● Alternating Plank Row ● 10 Squat to Press
SET 2 ● Forward Weighted Lunges ● 10 Weighted Burpees
SET 3 ● Push Press ● 10 Alternating Snatches
TWO MINUTE REST [keep timer running]
AGILITY ROUND 1
REPS: 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 ● Ickey Shuffles ● Skaters ● Mat Hops ● Mat Shuffles
ONE MINUTE REST [keep timer running]
AGILITY ROUND 2
REPS: 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 ● Ickey Shuffles ● Skaters ● Mat Hops ● Mat Shuffles
Prelims Event #3 "The Challenger"
0.50 mile run
20 Hand Release Push-ups with Shoulder Taps
20 Squat Jacks
20 Butterfly Sit-ups
5 CG Games Thrusters
THREE MINUTE REST [keep timer running]
0.50 mile run
15 Hand Release Push-ups with Shoulder Taps
15 Squat Jacks
15 Butterfly Sit-ups
5 CG Games Thrusters
THREE MINUTE REST [keep timer running]
0.50 mile run
10 Hand Release Push-ups with Shoulder Taps
10 Squat Jacks
10 Butterfly Sit-ups
5 CG Games Thrusters
THREE MINUTE REST [keep timer running]
0.50 mile run
5 Hand Release Push-ups with Shoulder Taps
5 Squat Jacks
5 Butterfly Sit-ups
5 CG Games Thrusters
THREE MINUTE REST [keep timer running]
Prelims Event #4 "The Challenger"
While running three miles, complete the following exercises every THREE minutes:
During Mile One:
20 Plank Toe Taps
10 Squat Jacks
5 CG Games Thrusters
During Mile Two:
10 Squat Jacks
5 CG Games Thrusters
During Mile Three:
5 CG Games Thrusters
FINALS!
Finals Event #1
Teams were divided into pairs. While one athlete does 8 CG Games thrusters, the other does as many Squat Jacks as possible. They athletes alternate that way until all 180 are done and then you repeat that for the V Ups and Hand Release Pushups.
180 Squat Jacks
8 CG Games Thrusters
120 Alt V Ups
8 CG Games
60 Hand Release Push-ups
8 CG Games Thrusters
Finals Event #2
Teams were again divided into pairs in a you go I go format. One athlete does 10 CG Games Thrusters then the other athlete does the same until all 4 exercises are done. Finally, the pairs of athletes alternate doing 10 Devil's Presses until 100 reps are completed.
10 CG Games Thrusters
20 Alternating Forward Lunges
30 Butterfly Sit-ups
40 Plank Toe Taps
100 Reps of Devil's Press with 30lbs
Finals Event #3
This workout was also in pairs with a you go I go format. One athlete completes 20 reps of the entire circuit then the other athlete does the same 3x through with the descending reps.
20,16,12
Single Arm Squat + Press
Alternating Plank Rows
Alternating Dumbbell Snatch
Mat Shuffles
Finals Event #4
3 Rounds With 30lbs
This was a full team you go I go format. Each athlete was assigned their own exercise to do for all three rounds.
10 Devil’s Press
15 Hand Release Push-ups With Toe Tap
20 Alternating Snatches
15 CG Games Thrusters
As you can see, the Prelims and Finals were very high intensity/max out effort events! All in all, it was a fantastic experience with an awesome community of athletes! I definitely plan to compete in the Camp Gladiator Games again next year and would recommend for YOU to join in as well! Shout out to Camp Gladiator for helping people to stay healthy and engaged during Covid times because a lot of their workout sessions are either virtual or outdoors and don't require a lot of equipment.
Visit the Training Programs page in order to learn about the different custom programs we design for athletes in OCR.
