Photo by Firefighter Challenge Championship Series
You crank your neck back so your helmet doesn’t hit your air pack, heart pounding in your chest as you stare up at the five-story tower you’re about to climb — full PPE, on air, hose bundle in hand. Your mind is racing: How am I going to pick up this hose bundle? Should I skip stairs or not? What if I trip?
Then — tweeeeet! The whistle blows. And you’re off.
This is the start of the Firefighter Challenge.
Now that your heart rate is spiking, I want you to think of two words that come to mind when I say fire service: Brotherhood and Fitness.
The Brotherhood
One of these has been around for decades; the other is only now starting to take root. And when I say brotherhood, I also mean sisterhood — everyone in the fire service family.
Recently, I traveled with my two sons to Erie, Pa., to compete in the Firefighter Challenge. For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s an intense obstacle course involving real fireground tactics, full PPE, and breathing on air. Sounds crazy, right? But it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.
I’ve been competing for four years, but this was my first time participating in the tandem and relay races. These races brought the connection between fitness and brotherhood to life in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
Walk into almost any firehouse and you’ll hear it: “What’s up, brother?” or “How you doing, brother?” It’s more than a greeting — it’s a culture. We spend holidays together, birthdays together, and we see things most people will never have to. We also miss family events, milestones, and dinners — all because we’re here, together, doing the job.
I’m an only child, so my crew has always been my family. The brotherhood isn’t just about what happens on shift; it’s also the things we do for each other outside the station — helping someone move, showing up for a kid’s first birthday, lending a hand when life gets heavy. It’s about having each other’s backs, always.
The Rise of Fitness in the Fire Service
The second word, fitness, has been gaining momentum in recent years — and for good reason. No, I’m not talking about “fitting as much food in your mouth before the tones drop” (bad dad joke, I know).
Fitness in the fire service isn’t about six-pack abs or chiseled arms — although no one would complain about that, either. It’s about being physically prepared for the demands of the job: climbing stairs in full gear, pulling hose, carrying victims, and performing under extreme heat and stress.
The reality is sobering: cardiac-related line-of-duty deaths remain one of the leading causes of firefighter fatalities. That’s why fitness has become a priority.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re into CrossFit, yoga, running, cycling, or weightlifting — what matters is being ready to perform when it counts. Training as a crew is even better. Working out together builds connection, accountability, and another layer of that brotherhood bond. And when you’re ready, there’s no better test than competing in the Firefighter Challenge.
Becoming a Team
This year was special because I ran the tandem and relay events for the first time. I have to thank Nate Kean, a fellow Michigan firefighter who found my number and asked if I wanted to team up. I said yes, and he recruited another Michigan firefighter, Pete Ney, to join us.
Tandem races require two firefighters, but relays need three to five — and we were short two people.
By Friday morning, Nate introduced Pete and me to Nick Pieschel (from Florida) and Chris Brinkley (from Ohio). We had just met, and within hours we were about to take on one of the toughest firefighter obstacle courses out there — as a team.
We called ourselves the MI Firefighters because, at first, we thought it was just us three. There were seven teams in our bracket. The first race was just for seeding, but we ended up putting down the third-fastest time. Out of the next three races, we won two and finished the day in third place overall.
Five strangers, five hours, four races, and one unforgettable experience.
Mike Risk, Nate Kean, Pete Ney, Nick Pieschel and Chris Brinkley score
a victory at the Firefighter Challenge in Erie, Pa.
Fitness + Brotherhood in Action
This weekend showed me exactly how fitness and brotherhood work hand in hand. Nate brought us all together through connection. Our shared passion for fitness fueled our performance. And the bond we built competing as a team of five firefighters — from five departments and three states — is something I’ll never forget.
The relay felt like being back on the truck: each firefighter had a specific role, but together we formed one cohesive unit. That’s what the brotherhood is all about.
Next year, we’re going for gold.
Because the brotherhood is real.
