Inaugural Chief’s Challenge brings community together

JACKSON, Tenn. — Around 100 brave souls battled their way through an obstacle course Saturday morning in support of our men and women in blue.

Two miles, 20 obstacles, and a lot of guts, Jackson Police Department Blake Lambert finished the Chief’s Challenge with his dad, Brent, in a little more than 20 minutes.

“It was a hoot being able to do it with my son it really was,” Brent Lambert said. “It was fun, we ran into some difficulties early on just with the race, but we adjusted and we both did, we got a workout out of it,” Blake said.

After finishing running through water, sawdust, and mud, Brent rested while cleaning his prosthetic leg.

“I run, and I bike, but this was totally different I’ve never done an obstacle course and it was great, it was extremely challenging,” Brent said.

The father and son duo say this isn’t their first race together.

“We participate in maybe a couple runs a year, we did one last year with the police department, and we got a group together and he went and did the Wounded Warrior 8-K in Nashville,” Blake said.

Competitors were racing through obstacles in support of the men and women in blue…showing they will do anything to stand up for law enforcement.

The Jackson Police Department said this inaugural race was designed to challenge the runners mentally and physically.

“We tried to set the course where the average person that runs that is in shape can do it, but it’s still challenging for those extreme people you know who are fitness gurus,” Chief Julian Wiser said.

This course allowed teams, like the Lamberts, to inspire and encourage each other.

“It’s just been three years since he has had a prosthetic and you know every time he gets out and does one of these t just makes me want to train that much harder and you know do that much more because it is, it is very inspirational,” Blake said of his dad.

All of the funds raised at today’s race will go towards the Jackson Police Department’s Community Fund at the West Tennessee Health Care Foundation.

The fund helps the department sponsor back to school programs and other community needs.