Video Surfaces: the Circle of Pain from the 2010 Sojourn Men’s Retreat

This past weekend, nearly 200 men took part in this year’s men’s retreat.  You’ll hear a lot of good things from this retreat in the weeks to come.  But for now, here’s a quick look at this year’s major physical “Man Challenge” — the Circle Of Pain obstacle course.  This was a team event that challenged men of all fitness levels (during this time, other men engaged in fishing, conversations, Frisbee and other activities).

Personally, I was unable to compete because I had to attend a previously scheduled meeting.  I will say, though, that I ran this obstacle course the night before in my sleep, so I know it was pretty tough:

How could it begin any other way than through some good, old-fashioned wrestling?

And then it was time for the teams to compete in the relay race

The race continues

Some people prefer to sit at tables and eat food. These guys like to crawl under tables ….

And then, the dreaded wall

This angle looks particularly tough

Now it’s Man against Log.

Throwing a football through a tire is harder than it sounds

Some old-fashioned chinups

Man against Log was one thing. But Man against Worm? I’d just let the worm go.

More running. And this time, some members of the team have to carry logs over their shoulders.

And so the event went down in the annals of history.  The warriors returned to barracks — scratched, scarred, winded, sore and yet, also jubilant.  For they had conquered their fears, they had completed their quest, they had battled the elements and each other.  And they had lived to tell the tale.