The Challenges

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The Challenges *

"Standard is the baseline. Excellence is the mission. Perfection is the goal."

The Base Commander’s Challenge

The Base Commander has issued a challenge to every athlete on the start line. This isn't just a race against your peers—it’s a race against the standard. The challenge is divided into two elite levels of achievement. Do you have the discipline to beat the base? Or the stealth to go undetected?

  • This is the operational benchmark. These times are aligned with the CAF Triathlon Nationals minimum qualifying standards. In military terms, this is your "Bronze" level—hitting the 50th percentile of fitness based on last year’s results:

    • Male Standard: Finish in under 1:25:00.

    • Female Standard: Finish in under 1:30:00.

    Those that achieve this result will receive a memento at the finish line.

  • To go "Undetected" is to move faster than the radar can track. In this live-action challenge, the standard is set on race morning by those leading the charge. Sgt Brendon Gogo (Timing Commander) and MCpl Sydney Tremblay (Bike Commander) will deploy in "Wave 0," facing the early morning chill and the exact course conditions you will encounter. To earn "Undetected" status, you must prove you are faster than the professionals setting the pace.

    Intelligence from last year shows that Sgt Gogo crossed the line at 1:18:39, while MCpl Tremblay delivered a strong 1:22:04. However, don't expect to get off that easy—both commanders have been training relentlessly to sharpen their times for this battle. If our intelligence is accurate and their current training results in a 3% improvement, they will be hunting for a 1:16:17 and 1:19:36 respectively. Your mission is simple: cross the finish line with a faster chip time than the Commanders. It’s a direct head-to-head pursuit—they set the mark, and you hunt it down. (Results to be posted at transition on race day).

Choose your target. Train your weakness. Beat the Base.

Sgt Brendon Gogo proving what it takes to go “undetected”

The Segment Challenges

Completing the course is only the beginning. To truly master the Edmonton Garrison, you must excel in the specific disciplines that define military excellence: speed, efficiency, and explosive power. Much like the Tour de France, where riders battle for specialized King of the Mountains or Green Sprint jerseys alongside the overall lead, our event features specific segments that reward specialized skill sets. While your overall time determines your standing in the Beat the Base rankings, these high-stakes challenges offer athletes the chance to claim victory in specialized "missions." Top performers in each category will receive specialized commemorative rewards—stay tuned for the full reveal of this year's prize kit.

  • The runway is clear, the winds are in your favor, and the tower has cleared you for departure. In Air Force operations, "Full Throttle" isn’t just a setting—it’s a commitment to maximum performance. This segment is designed for pure, unadulterated velocity.

    The Segment: Full Throttle Take-Off (South-East Runway) Stretching down the retired runway at CFB Edmonton, this segment traditionally benefits from a powerful Alberta tailwind. This is the "Departure End" of the course where you stop fighting the air and start using it. With the wind at your back and a flat, open tarmac ahead, this is your opportunity to "rotate" and find your top gear. There are no technical turns or obstacles—just you, your machine, and the pursuit of terminal velocity.

    The Challenge: Fastest Bike Split of the Day To win the Mach Speed Challenge, you must record the fastest individual time on this specific downwind runway segment. While the rest of the course tests your endurance and grit, this challenge is about raw power and aerodynamics. We are looking for the athlete who can "break the sound barrier" and set the pace for the entire Alberta racing season.

    Engage the afterburners. Open the throttle. Leave the turbulence behind. It’s time to see who is truly flight-certified.

  • The objective is in sight, the extraction point is clearing, and the mission is in its final phase. In Army doctrine, "Checking your Six" is the relentless discipline of rear security—ensuring that while you are driving toward the objective, no one is closing the gap behind you. This challenge is a high-intensity test of speed, situational awareness, and pure mental grit.

    The Segment: The Bayonet Charge (Final 400m) This isn't a jog to the finish; it is the Bayonet Charge. This is the final 400 meters where you go "all out." There is no more pacing, no more aerobic threshold, and no more tomorrow. This is your last chance to leave everything on the pavement. It is the moment you commit entirely to the sprint, moving with the explosive urgency required to seize the objective before the clock stops.

    The Challenge: Fastest Sprint Run of the Day To win the Check Six Challenge, you must record the fastest individual time on this 400m segment among all Sprint Triathlon competitors. This leaderboard isn't about who managed their energy best over the first 4.6 kilometers—it’s about who had the raw power to execute the most dominant finish of the day.

    Commit to the charge. Seize the objective. And whatever you do, check your six—because someone is always hunting that top spot.

  • In the Army, a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) must be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. When the call comes in, there is no room for fumbling gear or hesitation; speed and efficiency are the difference between success and failure. This challenge celebrates the "fourth discipline" of triathlon: the transition.

    The Segment: Transition 1 & 2 The clock doesn't stop when you exit the pool or rack your bike. The QRF Challenge measures your total time spent in transition. This is where the most disciplined athletes gain a tactical advantage. Whether you are stripping off a swim cap or lacing up for the Bayonet Charge, every second counts toward your "deployment" time.

    The Challenge: Fastest Combined Transition Time To win the QRF Challenge, you must record the fastest combined T1 and T2 times of the day among all Sprint Triathlon competitors. This isn't about how fast you can swim, bike, or run—it’s about how quickly you can shift gears and get back into the fight.

    Minimize your footprint. Master your kit. Be the first to deploy. In the QRF Challenge, speed is life.