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OBSTACLE RACE WITH HEART
Bravery isn’t about being the strongest, the fastest or the fittest – it’s about pushing through and
overcoming your fears, according to Canberra-based health and fitness expert, Lee Campbell, creator
of Canberra’s newest adventure event.
he celebrity trainer is the mastermind behind
a brand new obstacle adventure race, which
he has named The Bravest, set in Canberra’s
Stromlo Forest Park. Lee says he created The
Bravest for local residents to push their personal
fitness boundaries and tackle the ultimate of
obstacle courses – plus have fun while they’re at it.
“It’s about people overcoming their fears, being
brave and really focusing on pushing through a
challenge. With this obstacle event, it was created
for the community to get people involved, get
them active and it’s all going ahead on Saturday 14
March,” Lee says.
“I’ve trained people with Cerebral Palsy
and cancer survivors, and after seeing their
determination I’d thought they are braver than
so many of us and that’s where the name, The
Bravest, came from. I was so proud of my mate
who has Cerebral Palsy who went ahead and was
the first person in the world with his condition
that I know of to participate in and complete an
obstacle event. After that I thought let’s create
an event that everyone can be a part of. True,
it’s going to be a challenge, but you will find
confidence from doing it.”
Lee is renowned for his obstacle race expertise
and has designed The Bravest course to challenge
participants over the age of 16 with up to 30
natural and manmade obstacles spread over a
course of approximately 15km.
Using this knowledge, Lee has also invited
students from ACT schools to participate in a free
short-course version of the race, Circuit Obstacle
Race (COR), in the days preceding the big event.
COR will be underpinned by a lead-up training
program, which aims to develop and foster
teamwork, communication, confidence and healthy
habits with the school students.
“It’s fantastic to receive the support of the ACT
Government for the development of this event
and the course. The kids’ program is about anti-
bullying, establishing good communication skills,
involving local community leaders as mentors
and getting kids active again. Childhood obesity
is an issue, and it’s important in this day and age
of social media to stay active and keep engaging
with others, be socially aware and learn how to
properly communicate with people,” Lee says.
Local student and national long-jump
champion, Andrea Thompson, 16, is the junior
ambassador for the event and encourages young
people to step up and give sports a go.
“I think having other people support you and
encourage you to be active is a really good thing,
and I hope that I can set a good example for
other people my age. I encourage everyone to
do the obstacle event,” Andrea says. “I’ll be there
on the day to help people out with any questions
they have and I’ll also be going to schools and
speaking with people before the event.”
The Bravest event will support The Heart
Foundation ACT as its official charity partner with
a portion of all registration fees donated to assist in
funding the organisation’s vital work, while the ACT
Rural Fire Service (Rivers Brigade) will be collecting
gold coin donations for parking on the day.
Registration for The Bravest costs $150 (plus
booking and transaction fees) per person and
includes t-shirt, cap, water bottle and bag. You can
register as an individual, with friends to form a
team or as a corporate team (email info@thebravest.
com.au for group pricing). For more information, to
download a range of helpful training programs or
to register, please visit www.thebravest.com.au
- Madeline Power
The Bravest obstacle adventure race, Saturday 14
March, Stromlo Forest Park, Opperman Avenue,
Stromlo.
Mud is the new black: Health and fitness expert, Lee Campbell, creator of new obstacle race,
The Bravest, with Andrea Thompson (national long-jump champion) and Jordan Fulivai (Canberra
Brumbies Under 20 player). The event will be held on 14 March.
PhotoGarySchafer
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