Do you love dogs? Do you love to deadlift?

Warpath Strength Pull For Paws is a partner deadlift event where two athletes will deadlift a custom-made axle bar loaded with truck tires and weight plates for as many reps possible in one minute. Teams may be two male athletes, two female athletes or one male and one female athlete. This event is perfect for athletes who compete in strongman, powerlifting and CrossFit.

The different weight "classes" are aligned only with the weight of the bar and have nothing to do with the weight of the athletes. So, there will be no need for for any of the athletes to weigh in and "make weight." The bar weights will be set as follows:

Lightweight = 400#

Middleweight = 800#

Heavyweight = 1,200#

This is a fundraiser to support K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. For more information, please visit their website at: www.k9sforwarriors.org. 

I've set a target fundraising goal of $5,000 and I am asking that each athlete please help me raise $100 in donations from their family and friends by copying/pasting/sharing this link: https://donate.k9sforwarriors.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app20102b?team_id=7243&fr_id=1150&pg=team&NONCE_TOKEN=4AAF07AD05E4166E01A9BCF82052D4AD

This is an unsanctioned charity competition. It's just for fun. There are no qualifying spots for any national championships. If you love dogs and love to deadlift, this event is for you.

DIVISIONS

Mens Lightweight (400# bar)

Mens Middleweight (800# bar)

Mens Heavyweight (1,200# bar)

Womens Lightweight (400# bar)

Womens Middleweight (800# bar)

Coed Lightweight (400# bar)

Coed Middleweight (800# bar)

Coed Heavyweight (1,200# bar)

SIGN-UP INFO

Each team member needs to sign up individually for this competition. The first team member to sign up will enter a name for the team, and then the second team member will have to choose that same team name from a drop down menu when they register.

If you are the second team member to sign up and you have problems during your registration as you attempt to register, please contact the admins at Iron Podium. They will be able to help and make sure you end up on the right team.

RULES

1. Athletes will begin by positioning themselves side by side and take their grip on the bar.
2. The judge will give an "ATHLETES READY" command.
3. Once the athletes indicate their readiness, the judge will give a “LIFT” command and time will start.
4. When both team members lock out the bar with their shoulders back, hips through, legs and feet in line and under control, the judge will give a "DOWN" command.
5. Teams will continue to lift until time expires.
6. If an athlete does not completely lockout at the top/completion of the lift, the judge will give a warning.
7. After a warning, if any member of the team fails to continually lockout at the top/completion of the lift, reps will not be counted toward the total per the discretion of the judge.
8. No one is permitted to lift completely barefoot. A lifter does not have to wear shoes, but some type of sock or deadlift slipper must be worn. No barefoot lifting will be allowed because that's gross (in my opinion) and unsanitary.
9. Every athlete's shins must also be covered. Deadlift socks are permitted, but they are not required. Athletes may choose to wear tights or use knee sleeves to cover their shins.
10. Each team will have one minute to pull as many reps as possible on the bar.
11. The winning team in each division will be the pair of athletes that pulls the most reps in one minute.

EQUIPMENT ALLOWED

• Chalk (powder or liquid)
• Weight belt
• Lifting straps
• Elbow sleeves
• Knee sleeves
• Wrist wraps
• Deadlift suits

EQUIPMENT NOT ALLOWED

• Tacky
• Lifting hooks

HEIGHT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ATHLETES

Because of the height of the hub on the truck tires, the axle bar will be approximately 16-inches off the ground, which is higher than a standard 9-inch deadlift from the ground. It is recommended (not required) that each athlete on the two-person teams be close to the same height...ideally within 1-2 inches. However, we will have a few pieces of gym floor mats that can be stacked and will allow shorter athletes to pull at a similar height to their taller counterpart. We will have mats that will add 1-3 inches of extra height, if needed.

NO PARTNER? NO PROBLEM.

If you are not able to find a partner, that's totally fine. Please feel free to sign up as an individual athlete and come on out on the day of the competition. We'll find you a partner. In years past, several competitors have pulled two or three times with different partners. Please know, however, that you do need to sign up with a partner as a team prior to January 3 in order to be eligible to win an award.

INDIVIDUAL ATHLETE'S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

I have set up a campaign page through K9s For Warriors and set a fundraising goal of $5,000. I kindly ask each athlete commit to raising $100 for the organization. I will not touch these funds. The contributions of the athletes and/or their friends, family members, and co-workers will be directed straight to K9s For Warriors. Thank you for your support.

TIE-BREAKERS

In the event of a tie within any of the nine divisions, we will have a special tie-breaker activity that will not be announced until the day of the competition.

T-SHIRTS AND AWARDS

Every athlete will receive a competition t-shirt as part of their registration fee and I ask all competitors to wear the shirt for the duration of the event. In addition, there will be trophies for each first-place team.

ADDITIONAL ATTEMPTS

If any of the competitors would like to "mix and match" and pull a second or third time with a different partner, or attempt a solo pull, that will be permitted after all of the teams have made their attempts. These additional attempts can be made on any of the three bar weights (400#, 800# or 1,200#), but please know these lifts will be just for fun, photo ops, and bragging rights on social media. They will not be eligible for a trophy or a medal.

RAFFLE

We will be soliciting sponsors and collecting prizes that will be raffled off throughout the afternoon at the event. The plan is to have a raffle drawing every hour throughout the competition, with the more "high value" prizes being awarded later in the day.

Every competitor will receive a raffle ticket as part of their entry fee, but additional raffle tickets may be purchased by athletes or spectators on the day of the competition to increase the chances of winning a prize. Tickets will be sold for $2 each, three tickets for $5 and seven tickets for $10. You must be present in order to claim your prize if you win.

All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the charity.

WEIGH-INS

This is an unsanctioned event that is purely for fun. We will not be doing weigh-ins.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

There will be a $15 admission fee for all spectators ages 13 and older, and $5 for children ages 3-12 years old. Two-year-olds and infants will be admitted for free. There will NOT be any advanced ticket sales.

PARKING INFORMATION

There is a decent-sized parking lot across the street from Chicago Barbell Compound/CrossFit Park Ridge, but there is also plenty of street parking and another large parking lot located about 100 feet south of the building where the gym is located that has about 75-80 additional parking spaces.