TOLEDO, Ohio — In a display of athleticism and determination, members of the Super Fitness Weight Loss Challengers recently transformed into local superheroes at their March challenge held at the Owens Community College Center for Emergency Preparedness.
Hosted by Kelly Heidbreder, the event witnessed participants stepping into the shoes, or rather, sliding into the turn-out gear of firefighters, provided by the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department.
"This is the toughest challenge we have in our line-up," Heidbreder said. "Our challengers have been hitting the gym, doing cardio and lifting weights, but today, they faced a whole different kind of challenge. Pulling fire hoses, maneuvering life-size dummies, and running flights of stairs with extra weight on their backs. It's just a tiny peek at what our firefighters do every day. They truly are amazing, and we give them all the respect they deserve."
The challenge kicked off with participants donning turn-out coats and firefighter helmets before grabbing two fire extinguishers and racing around the perimeter of the building. From there, they tackled a series of grueling tasks including the dummy pull, sledgehammer slam, fire hose relay, and the dreaded stair climb with a stack of hose over their shoulders.
After an intense battle against the clock, Josh Carabelo emerged as the ultimate victor, completing the entire course in an impressive 2:46 finishing time. Nikki Orolowski trailed closely behind with a time of 2:47, securing second place. Jonathan Allan clinched third place with a time of 2:58, followed by Jen Desellums in fourth at 3:00, and Mary Billiard in fifth at 3:17.
"This is just the beginning of an exciting journey for our challengers," Heidbreder said. "And we couldn't have done it without the support of our local heroes at the Toledo Fire Department."
With the stage set for a thrilling finale, the Super Fitness Weight Loss Challengers continue to inspire and motivate as they strive towards their fitness goals, one challenge at a time.
Through the May finale, the Super Fitness Weight Loss Challenge participants weigh In once a month and have workout opportunities together every week.
For more information about the challenge and more tips for getting fit, check out our Super Fitness Weight Loss Challenge section.
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