Monk Takes The Scott’s Firefighter Combat Challenge

Friday marked the first day of the Scott's Firefighter Combat Challenge in Tuscaloosa and members of the media were invited to try the course.

They call it "the toughest two minutes in sports". After what I experienced, it's true.

According to Wikipedia, The Scott's Firefighter Combat Challenge is "a demanding 5-event physical challenge that firefighters throughout the world participate in and try to complete with the fastest time. Competition events include a stair climb with a high-rise pack, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance, and a victim rescue. The primary purpose for the Firefighter Combat Challenge is to promote physical fitness, an essential part of structural firefighting."

That being said, I'm a radio D.J. I play country music and hang out with musicians. Yeah, I've been going to the gym twice a week but I don't think that puts me in the same category as a firefighter. I'm also adventurous to a point. I won't swim in the deep ocean but I'll take a firefighter challenge any day.

At first I'll admit I didn't think it was going to be nearly as hard as it was. Actually, I didn't know what to expect at all. I didn't watch any video of past challenges as I normally do before competing in anything. I honestly thought we'd be dressed in fire gear and putting out fires.

When I arrived, I saw a course set up with a red side and a blue side. No fire. No fire equipment. I also saw a tower with 6 flights of stairs. Had I overcome my fear of heights in all my years of flying and sitting by the window? I would soon find out.

I was joined on the course by CBS 42's Chris Womack. We had discussed that we wouldn't take the "corporate competition" as a competition but more as two people just trying to make it through an extremely grueling 2 or 3 minutes worth of obstacles. After a quick briefing, we were off.

First came the Stair Climb with High Rise Pack. We lugged a 42lb. hose up six flights of stairs. Once at the top we were to put the hose into a metal bin.

Second in line was the Hose Hoist. We had to lift up another 42lbs. of rolled hose using a hand-over-hand motion. Here's where it got tough for me. Standing high atop this tower, I leaned over to grab the rope holding the hose and started pulling that joker up. The worst part was leaning over and looking down 5 stories. I didn't know if I was going to tumble over or get sick and ruin everyone's day. My fear of heights I've learned is dormant until I have nothing to hold onto.

Nevertheless, I struggled on. Lifting each inch of that rope until it was safe with me inside the basket. Then I turned and headed down. All the while remembering the rules I had been told at the start. "You can skip steps going up if you want to but coming down you have to hit every step and keep your hands on the hand rails. If you fail to do this, you will be deducted time."

Once at the bottom I grabbed a sledge hammer and stepped up on a device called the Keiser Force Machine for the Forcible Entry Challenge. The object here was to take a 9lb. hammer and hit and move a 160lb. block of steel 5 feet. Once I figured out that I didn't need to move every time I hit it, this challenge was a piece of cake.

We then ran the length of the course to what is know as the Hose Advance. We basically grabbed a fire hose, ran back down the course, through a set of metal saloon doors and sprayed water onto a small target.

Now we enter the realm of where the big boys play. This is what it's all about. This is what separates the men from the boys right here. The fifth and final challenge is called Victim Rescue.

Now keep in mind, for the last two minutes or so, we've pushed our bodies to the breaking point. We have little energy left and we've now become our own worst enemy because now we're telling ourselves to quit.

The victim rescue is simulating the way a firefighter might remove a victim from danger as quickly as possible. Therefore our challenge is to move a 175 lb. mannequin backwards 100ft. At the point of complete exhaustion, we must pick up the body from the ground, and drag it to the finish line. This is where I realized I have stored power within my soul that I can unleash when I truly need it.

The hardest part was finding a way to get hold of the mannequin, also known as "Rescue Randy". I found it hard to move his arms out of the way in order to clasp my hands around his chest. Somehow, I managed and started the long road home.

About 30ft. in, I stopped. Cries from the crowd of "C'mon Monk, you got it" and "Don't stop, keep going, you're almost there" were heard and greatly appreciated. After a brief 5 second pause, my inner strength kicked in. I grabbed the body tightly, stood up straight and drag that heavy monster to the finish line. I did it! The next big challenge in my life, done!

I walk away with a new admiration for firefighters. The way they prepare and save lives and property is absolutely astonishing.

Here is CBS 42's coverage on the event.