17th Annual Citadel Bulldog Challenge

On April 25, 2025, the Bulldog Challenge returns to The Citadel — and this isn’t your typical road race. This is 6.2 miles of grit, teamwork, and controlled chaos across campus and through Charleston.

Grab a team of 2 or 4 and move as a unit through ten demanding stations designed to test endurance, strength, and mental toughness. You’ll hit the obstacle course, climb stadium stairs, carry weight, flip tires, execute buddy carries, complete memory challenges under stress, and push through a final assault to the parade deck finish. You start together. You finish together.

No military experience is required. Civilians, service members, ROTC, students, weekend warriors — all are welcome. If you register solo, we’ll place you on a 4-person team. No one gets left behind.

Wear whatever you want — costumes and creative attire are encouraged, and there’s a prize for the most spirited team. Awards will be presented to top Civilian, Military, and ROTC teams in both 2-person and 4-person categories, along with participation prizes for all finishers.

More information at www.bulldogchallenge.org

Event Details
Sunday, April 25, 2025
Race Time: 0800–1200
Check-In: 0630–0750
Location: The Citadel, Charleston, SC
Competitor Ticket: $40

We run rain or shine. We’re amphibious by nature. Spectators are absolutely welcome.

Hosted by the Scarlet and Gold Foundation in partnership with the Semper Fi Society, the Bulldog Challenge supports the development of the next generation of Marine Corps and Naval officers. When you step onto the course, you’re not just racing — you’re part of something bigger.

Below is a sample of the 2026 stations. Station order and exact tasks may vary on race day, but every team will complete each challenge together.

1. Start & Orientation – Teams stage on the parade deck for warm‑up and a briefing. After the national anthem and a short welcome, groups are released at intervals for safety.
2. Obstacle Course – Navigate The Citadel’s Marine‑style O‑course with rope climbs, wall jumps, log walks and more. If a teammate can’t complete a section, everyone pays with a few burpees or air squats.
3. Trench & Carry – Lunge across Wilson Field, low‑crawl through trenches and haul weighted hoses. This section tests leg strength and grit.
4. Kim’s Game Memory Challenge – Memorize a set of numbers and gear at WLI Field before heading out. Miss a detail and your team owes penalty burpees, so sharpen your brain!
5. Stadium Stair Climb – Carry ammo cans up and down Johnson Hagood Stadium’s steep stands. Don’t drop the weight—or your teammates!
6. CASEVAC/MEDEVAC – Perform a buddy carry and stretcher drag behind the stadium. Teams rotate the casualty so everyone takes a turn under load.
7. Combat Fitness Test: Movement Under Fire – Sprint, zig‑zag under low barriers, throw ammo cans, and drag a buddy through a simulated casualty evacuation course. Think of it as a taste of Marine boot camp.
8. Ladder Drill & Field Stations – Knock out pull‑ups, then tackle a series of burpee broad jumps, bear crawls, lunges and inch worms across Wilson Field. It’s all about teamwork and keeping everyone moving.
9. Hampton Park Mile – Grab your ammo can and run the scenic loop around Hampton Park. The weight gets heavy, but the trees and downtown views make it worth it.
10. Tire Flips & MCMAP Finale – Perform push‑ups and sit‑ups before flipping a tractor tire back and forth across Freshman Field. Finish with Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques—jab, cross, sprawl, kick—and then bear crawl to the finish line on the parade deck.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Semper Fi Society / Scarlet and Gold Foundation