FIRST ANNUAL KONQER A MAJOR SUCCESS

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The first annual KONQER OCR (Obstacle Course Run) and Adventure Expo was a success Sunday afternoon at the Guam International Raceway grounds in Yigo. There were 600 racers who signed up for the unique inaugural event which included food vendors, rock climbing and zip lines for the children, an Adventure Expo and live music provided by EIF DJs.

KONQER was the island’s first taste of an off-road 4-mile course with 14 obstacles featuring hills, mud, mud-climbing and lots of fun. Teams composed of up to a maximum of 20 members with each team leaving no racer behind and finishing the course simultaneously.

The obstacles include: (according to the XTERRA Island website)
The Trench – 40-ft long, 3-4 ft deep (take a plunge into the Trench, helping your fellow teammates and fellow athletes over the slippery terrain)
The Flytrap – 9 ft tall (scaling up a web over a 9-foot wall)
Vertigo – 14 ft tall (scale a 12-foot wall and ring a bell to signal you have reached the top)
Pitfalls – 80 ft long (climb three hills 5-foot hill, in between are 3 foot deep mud pits)
Ankle Breakers – 25 yards long (test your foot speed going thru tires)
Side Winder – 40 ft long, 20 ft wide (shake your way over, under and around a scaffolding maze)
Belly Grinder – 80 ft long, 12 ft wide (crawl under the netting though mud, grit and grime)
Steps of Hell – 20 ft long, 6 ft high (use your leg strength to get over concrete poles)
Grease Monkey – 30 ft long, 10 ft wide (use whatever arm strength you have left to climb over poles to the other side)
Dirt Bike Alley – 1.5 miles long (run or jog up off road jumps, hills and berms)
Monster Doughnuts – 30-40 ft long path (roll a monster tire through a designated
The Constipator – 20 ft long, 3 ft din (squeeze through the tubes and avoid holding up the lines as you pass)
The Arm Shredder – 10 ft long, 10 ft high (jump and cross the poles hand over hand to get through)
Final Destination – 8 ft long, 10 ft wide (right before the finish line, participants must climb over a shipping container)

The Muddy Lions and Metgot Mudders gather for a group shot after their run. (photo by Daniel Paran)

There were no times taken and no first place trophies awarded for the top individual or team. Instead, everyone who competed the race received a medal and a KONQER thirst for completing the course.

Race coordinator Tom Akigami said the event was a success and he looks forward to expand the event next year.

“Great turnout for our first event, the weather was perfect today,” said Akigami.

Akigami said that this first event didn’t have individual awards, but their next event will have a competitive bracket.

“The planning stages are set for the next KONQER scheduled for September next year. Right after this event, we will open up registration for next year’s event so people will have almost a whole year to register,” said Akigami.

Akigami said they will likely keep the same venue and are hoping to expand the obstacles to make it bigger.

Jane Jones from Team Unified Alliance said she enjoyed the uniqueness of the course and how it promotes teamwork which made the event fun. It was a family affair with the Jones’ with Jane joining her friends along joined with her son Jonah and daughter Jasmine in a team of seven to take in he course.

“It was a fun challenging course with the Grease Monkey and the Trenches filled with water being the most difficult part of the course”, said Jonah Jones. “Climbing and jumping off the container was my hardest part for me because I have a fear of heights,” said Unified Alliance team member Terrance Lapitan.

Competitors take turns traversing through the monkey bars. (photo by Daniel Paran)

“It was kind of dirty but I enjoyed crossing through the trenches with my team. If definitely do this again next year with my team,” said Unified Alliance team member Jasmine Jones.

Billy Navarette, from team Kamikaze, said his team really enjoyed the race and activities afterwards as well.

“My whole team of eight is already planning on coming back to race again next year. It’s a lot more fun doing the race as a team because we can help each other out. We learn our strengths and weaknesses and help each other complete each obstacle. We each could do this individually, but it gets too serious when you are by yourself; I totally recommend doing this event as a team,” said Navarette.

Akigami said the event would not be possible without the help of sponsors. “We’d like to thank the volunteers and the many sponsors responsible for making this event a success,” said Akigami.

Akigami thanked United Airlines, Bank of Guam, Take Care, Docomo Pacific, the stations of KUAM, Shock Tops, Cherry Media Vision, Trivision, Guam Daily Post, Labtech, Coca Cola Essential Water, Guam Home Center, Smithbridge, Hawaiian Rock, Rocky Mountain Precast, Hafaloha, Black Construction, Eddie Cruz, and the Guam Visitors Bureau.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

(photo by Daniel Paran)

Members of Chamorri Crossfit embrace after having “konqer’d” the course. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Teamwork was essential to get through a few parts of the course. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Team RWB carefully walk across rocky terrain. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Despite the heat, runners powered through dirt and mud to finish. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Competitors take turns traversing through the monkey bars. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Team Nooners cheer each other on as they take on the rope climbing section of the course. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Teams stretch and await their turn to begin the obstacle course. (photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)

(photo by Daniel Paran)