Andover residents donned some camoflauge and tackled military-style exercises as part of a new event called the Troop Challenge last Friday.
A tie-in with the annual Run for the Troops in Andover, the event sought to raise money and awareness for the national Homes for Our Troops organization, which builds free homes for service members who were severely injured fighting the War on Terror in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to organizers.
The Troop Challenge was held for two hours at Yang’s Fitness Center, 5 Dundee Park, Andover.
People competed to see who could do the most push-ups, pull-ups or dead-arm hangs, or last the longest at timed wall sits, jump roping and carrying 45-pound backpacks while jogging on an inclined treadmill. Prizes were awarded to the top female and male in each event. This was the first year for the event.
Next up is the Run for the Troops 5K road race being held on Sunday, April 7 in downtown Andover this year. This will be the fourth year that Andover has hosted the race. Last year, Andover raised $30,000 for the national home-building organizer, according to race organizer Bill Pennington of Andover.
