Thirsting for a Challenge? Flip tires more than twice your weight. Trudge, sweat, and grunt your way to the finish line. Push you limits, test your strength and have a blast along the way with the 3rd annual Samson Challenge! This event is a unique obstacle course combining endurance, strongman, and adventure race activities all in one. Locally produced by the JCC of Greater Albuquerque, this heart pumping challenge is every adrenaline junkie's dream come true.
The Samson Challenge can be taken on competitively - or just for fun - at any fitness level. You can compete as a Warrior, Jock, Average Joe/Jane, or Masters (50+). All levels' winners will receive great prizes!
Events include: rowing, tire flips, sandbag carry, plyo jumps/step ups, hurdles, kettlebell carry, slosh tube lunges, army crawl, medicine ball toss and 25m swim (with optional dive).
This year we are bringing back our 2nd annual Truck Pull. Athlete will pull truck weighing half-ton for 25 meters and fastest time will win!
Our newest addition to this event is the Junior Samson. Special course is designed for young athletes 8-14 years of age. Kids course has more focus on agility, balance and endurance, than just pure strength, and it will be a blast!
Everyone can be Samson Strong!
Registration fees
Junior Samson Closed
Special course designed for young athletes 10-14 years of age.
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$25.00Jul 1 - Sep 23
Samson Challenge Prep Course Closed
Prepare yourself for the September 24th Samson challenge with the JCC Trainer, US Marine Corp Vet, Chris Blackwell. This 8-week course will whip you into shape and familiarize you with the challenge, setting you up with victory for the race day! Saturdays at 8am, July 29th-September 16th.
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$99.00Jul 1 - Sep 23
Warrior Closed
Online registration closed-
Advanced level of strength & cardiovascular fitness required. Warriors will compete with the heaviest equipment, for example flipping a 500lb tire.
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Male Jock Closed
Online registration closed-
Intermediate level of fitness is required for this level. Recreational athletes will do well on the course, although it will still be challenging.
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Average Joe/Jane Closed
Online registration closed-
Any level of fitness can enter this category and have fun in the course, although it will still be challenging.
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Masters (50+) Closed
Online registration closed-
Athletes need to be over 50 years of age to participate in the master's level of competition.
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Truck Pull Closed
Online registration closed-
Pull a truck weighing "half-ton" for 25 meters for time!
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Rockstar (65+) Closed
Online registration closed-
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Female Jock Closed
Online registration closed-
Jock level Samson Competition for females.
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$45.00Jul 1 – Aug 31
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$50.00Sep 1 – Sep 15
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$55.00Sep 16 – Sep 21
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ClosedSep 22 – Sep 23
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Samson Challenge Event Standards 2017
Event 1 – Concept 2 Rowing
Athletes will begin on the rower. Each athlete is permitted to set their damper to the desired setting. Each rower will be set to countdown from the appropriate distance for the athlete’s category. Row is completed when the meters read 0 (zero).
Warrior Men – 1000 meters Warrior Women – 1000 meters
Jock Men – 750 meters Jock Women – 750 meters
Ave. Joe Men – 500 meters Average Jane – 500 meters
Master’s Male – 500 meters Master’s Female – 500 meters
Rockstar Male – 400 meters Rockstar Female – 400 meters
Event 2 – Tire Flips
The athlete will advance to their prescribed tire. Ten total tire flips must be completed. Tire will be flipped 5 times forward. Then participant will switch to the other end of tire and flip it 5 times back. If tire is too heavy for the athlete to continue or complete all 10 flips, the athlete is allowed to take a penalty for advancement. A one minute penalty will be assessed for each uncompleted repetition. This will be added to the total time of the athlete at the completion of the course.
Example – 3 non completed repetitions = 3 minute penalty
Warrior Men – Red marked tire Warrior Women – Orange marked tire
Jock Men – Purple marked tire Jock Women – Green marked tire
Ave. Joe Men – Yellow marked tire Average Jane – Pink marked tire
Master’s Men – Yellow marked tire Master’s Women – Yellow marked tire
Rockstar Men – Yellow marked tire Rockstar Women – Blue marked tire
Event 3 – Sandbag Run
After the final tire flip is completed athlete will advance to the sandbag station and pick up their appropriately labeled sandbag. Run will then take place around the field; in a clearly marked off course. This run will be 2 total laps around the field (approximately 500m). Participants must go around the flags marking the field. Below are the specific weight requirements for the sandbag run:
Warrior Men – 50lb sandbag RED Warrior Women – 30lb Sandbag ORANGE
Jock Men – 30lb Sandbag PURPLE Jock Women – 20lb Sandbag GREEN
Average Joe Men – 20lb Sandbag YELLOW Average Jane – 10lb Sandbag PINK
Rockstar Men – 20lb Sandbag YELLOW Rockstar Women – 5lb Sandbag BLUE
Event 4 – Plyobox Jumps
After finishing two laps, athlete will return their sandbag to starting point and head over to the plyobox station. Athletes will complete 10 jumps/step ups to the plyo box of appropriate height for competition level. Then athlete will walk/jog/sprint to the next box and repeat the same task. Entire foot must land on box and hips must be fully extended at the top of each repetition. Three different boxes are to be completed before moving over to the next event.
Warrior Men – 24” RED Warrior Women – 20” ORANGE
Jock Men – 20” PURPLE Jock Women – 18” GREEN
Average Joe Men – 18” YELLOW Average Jane – 12” PINK
Rockstar Men – 18” YELLOW Rockstar Women – 12” BLUE
Event 5 – Double Overhead Carry/Double Racked Carry
After completing 3 x 10 box jumps/step ups, athlete will advance to the Double overhead carry for Warriors and Jocks and Double Racked Carry for Joes, Janes and Masters. Athlete will pick a pair of kettlebells, locked arms straight above head and walk arms extended to 25 meters, pass the line/cones and repeat the same movement on the way back. Average Joes/Janes and Masters will perform a double racked carry, where the kettlebells are carried at shoulder level with elbows down. Rockstar level will perform a farmer carry. Kettlebells can be lowered to rest, but athlete must stop in place. If athlete goes from overhead to rack carry, or from rack to farmer, they will receive a 1 minute penalty. Inability to complete the 50 meters will result in 5 minute penalty.
Warrior Men – 45lbs each hand RED Warrior Women – 30lbs each hand ORANGE
Jock Men – 35lbs each hand PURPLE Jock Women – 20lbs each hand GREEN
Average Joe/Master – 25lbs each hand YELLOW Avg Jane/Master – 15lbs each hand PINK
Rockstar Men – 25lbs each hand YELLOW Rockstar Women – 12lbs each hand BLUE
Event 6 - Hurdles
After completing farmer carry, athlete will jog/walk to the north end of the soccer field to begin hurdles. Then athlete will run over (or step over) 8 hurdles placed over 80 meter distance.
Warrior Male hurdle height: 40”
Jock Male/Female Warrior hurdle height: 34”
Average Joe/Female Jock/Master Male/Rockstar Male: 30”
Average Jane & Master female hurdle height: 26”
Rockstar Female hurdle height: 15”
Event 7 – Slosh Tube Lunge
After hurdles athlete will arrive at the Slosh Tube Lunge station. Athlete is to pick the slosh tube appropriate for their competition category. Athlete will carry to slosh tube on their shoulders or in a front rack position and lunge for 25 meters, turn around and lunge back. Athlete will lunge one leg forward at the time, back knee must touch ground at each repetition. Inability to complete the task will result in 5 min. penalty.
Warrior Men – 40lbs RED Warrior Women – 33lbs ORANGE
Jock Men – 33lbs PURPLE Jock Women – 28lbs GREEN
Average Joe/Master – 28lbs YELLOW Avg Jane/Master – 7lbs PINK
Rockstar Men – 28lbs YELLOW Rockstar Women – 7lbs BLUE
Event 8 – Army Crawl
After the lunges, athletes will army crawl in any method they choose, to the entire length of the netting laid out. Netting is approximately 25 meters. Athletes will then run ahead to reach the next event!
200m Sprint to Sand Volleyball Court
Athletes will follow the clearly marked path from the field to the #9 event at the sand volleyball court. This is an approximately 200 meter sprint.
Event 9 – Medicine Ball Toss
Athlete will receive their designated weighted medicine ball and will complete 10 repetitions. Each repetition will consist of a squat, thrust and toss, resulting in the medicine ball clearing the top of the volleyball net and landing on the opposite side. Athlete will then retrieve their ball and repeat, for 10 repetitions total. Inability to complete all repetitions will result in 5 min. penalty. Upon completion of all repetitions, athlete will advance through the gate closest to the volleyball court, into the pool area.
Warrior Men – 30lbs RED Warrior Women – 25lbs ORANGE
Jock Men – 20lbs PURPLE Jock Women – 14lbs GREEN
Average Joe/Master – 14lbs YELLOW Average Jane/Master – 6lbs PINK
Rockstar Men – 14lbs YELLOW Rockstar Women – 4lbs BLUE
Event 10 – 25m Swim to FINISH!
Athlete will remove shoes, and if they choose to, clothes as well (bathing suit required…) and jump FEET FIRST into shallow end of the pool into one of the Samson-dedicated lap lanes. Athlete will then swim the length of the pool. From here, athlete can choose to either proceed to FINISH the course and receive their final time, OR, they can dunk down to retrieve a diving brick, located at the bottom of their lap lane, before clocking in with their final time. Successful retrieval of a diving brick will be awarded 30 seconds off the athlete’s final time. Athlete will exit the pool and retreat to the finish line*.
*To finish the course and lock in a final time, athlete will sound the buzzer/bell, located several feet outside the pool.
Event schedule
- Sun, September 24, 2017 7:30 AM - Athlete Check In/Warm Up
- Sun, September 24, 2017 8:00 AM - National Anthem
- Sun, September 24, 2017 8:15 AM - Heat 1. Starts for Samson Challenge
- Sun, September 24, 2017 8:30 AM - Junior Samson Starts
- Sun, September 24, 2017 10:30 AM - Truck Pull
- Sun, September 24, 2017 11:00 AM - Award Ceremony
Contact information
- Event contact
- Susanna Pier
- susannap@jccabq.org
- Phone
- +1 505-348-4521
- Website
- Visit website
