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Available for: Life, Forward, Endure, Advanced 

CHALLENGE PURPOSE

The PATHFINDER Triathlon Challenge is a multi-discipline endurance effort designed to build cardiovascular capacity, expose movement gaps, and test physical and mental durability across three distinct domains: swimming, cycling, and rucking.

Each discipline brings unique demands:

• Swimming develops breath control, core engagement, and upper body endurance.

• Cycling reinforces cadence control, muscular endurance, and aerobic power.

• Rucking demands full-body coordination under load, sustained output, and mental stamina.

This Challenge reveals strengths and exposes weaknesses across a spectrum of movement, helping athletes refine their overall conditioning and adaptability.

RECOMMENDED PRE-REQUISITES

While not mandatory, athletes are strongly encouraged to complete both the Swim Challenge and Cycling Challenge before attempting the Triathlon Challenge. This ensures technical familiarity and improves safety and pacing across disciplines.

CHALLENGE PARAMETERS

SWIM

• Complete in a laned lap pool or a clearly measured 25-yard swim space

• Ocean swimming is not permitted

• A lifeguard must be present for the duration of the swim

• No rucks during this segment

• Swim aids (fins, kickboards, pull buoys) are permitted if needed

BIKE

• May be completed on road, trail, mountain bike, or stationary trainer

• Helmet required for all outdoor rides

• Obey all local traffic laws

• No rucks during this segment

RUCK

• Life, Forward, Endure: Wear your usual training weight

• Advanced:

  • 45 lbs dry if bodyweight is 150+ lbs

  • 30 lbs dry if under 150 lbs

• May be completed on sidewalk, road, or trail

CHALLENGE DISTANCE OPTIONS

You may mix and match difficulty levels across disciplines. For example, completing a Beginner swim, Intermediate bike, and Advanced ruck is permitted. Once you start a segment, you may not move down in level.

Beginner

• Swim - 20 minutes
• Bike - 8 mile bike
• Ruck - 3 miles

Intermediate

• Swim - 30 minutes
• Bike - 10 miles
• Ruck - 6 miles

Advanced

• Swim - 45 minutes
• Bike - 12 miles
• Ruck - 8 miles

CHALLENGE CONDITIONS

• Timeframe: All three disciplines must be completed within 8 hours, on the same calendar day

• Order: You may complete the disciplines in any order (Swim - Bike - Ruck, Ruck -Swim - Bike, etc.)

• Effort: This Challenge should be physically demanding but achievable based on your current training status. Make smart, honest selections about segment level.