0401_BIZ BM_Can-Am Games- The 2024 Can-Am Games — a biennial event promoting physical fitness and camaraderie among emergency and protective services personnel, their agencies and families — will take place July 15-21 at 18 venues throughout the county.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Here’s a different way to spend a Saturday morning:

Complete a 5-kilometer run, do the shot put, run a 100-yard race, swim a 100-yard race, complete a 20-feet high rope climb, bench press as much as weight as possible, do as many pullups as possible, and then run an obstacle course.

And do it all in less than four hours.

Kate Galamiyeva competes in the rope climbing portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

That’s what 15 individuals, ranging in age from 25 to 64, did at Slippery Rock University in the Who’s the Toughest Competitor Alive event as part of the Can-Am Games. The field included five from Ontario, one each from North Carolina, Illinois and Indianapolis, the rest from Western Pennsylvania.

“Man, I’m really tired,” one man said after the bench press.

“I’m totally gassed,” another competitor said, before the event-closing obstacle course.

Karns City graduate Bryce Foreback, 33, was one of two competitors from Butler County among the field. Ken Wagner, 41, of Connoquenessing was the other.

Christopher Harper competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“I’ve never done any kind of competition like this before, but it was in the area and it looked like fun,” Foreback said. “I’ve kept in shape by running and lifting, but I had no idea how I would do overall.”

He began the day by winning the 5K, but Foreback wound up injuring his shoulder during the bench-press competition. Medical personnel put his arm in a sling and his day was apparently done.

Before the pullups (next event) were completed, however, Foreback had shed the sling and returned to the competition. He was able to complete 10 pullups.

“It sucks,” he said of hurting his shoulder. “I can’t imagine not finishing this.”

Kate Galamiyeva, 37, from Burlington, Ontario, was the lone female in the competition. A police officer, she did a similar event in 2016, along with others. She easily won her heat in the swimming portion on Saturday.

Bryce Foreback is the first runner to cross the finish line in the 5K portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

“I’m a Masters swimmer, so I thought I’d do well there,” she said. “I’ve always competed in female divisions before … This is the first time I’ve competed against all men, but I’m fine with it. We’re all trying to win.”

John McKenna, 64, from Niles, Ill., has been competing in grueling events such as this for years. Besides traveling to other states to do so, he’s done competitions in the Netherlands and Ireland.

“I like to stay in shape and I love to compete,” McKenna said. “I’ve met a lot of interesting people along the way. The running and swimming events will be toughest for me, but it’s always good to push yourself.”

Christopher Harper, 32, of Indianapolis, agreed.

“My dad and Uncle Todd competed in World Games and Police Games and I always watched them when I was a kid,” Harper said. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do.

“It’s good competition and we need that in life.”

The rope climb gave the competitors the most trouble. A few were unable to complete the climb as gloves were not permitted and climbers were not allowed to wrap their legs around the rope for support. They had to pull their bodies up by their arms only.

“That was the hardest thing here,” Galamiyeva said of the rope climb.

One competitor, Jack Rush, 32, from Ontario, decided to make the Can-Am Games a vacation.

“My sister lives in New Stanton, so our whole family came down to visit,” he said. “There’s also a Mud Run going on down here for our kids to do. It’s been a fun time for us.”

Kate Galamiyeva competes in the 100-meter swim during the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Dale Neil competes in the 100-meter swim during the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Bruce Dale competes in the 100-meter swim during the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Alex Daigle competes in the 100-meter swim during the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Kate Galamiyeva dives into the swimming pool during the 100-meter swim during the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Jack Rush competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Bryce Foreback competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Dale Neil competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Ken Wagner competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Christopher Harper competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Kate Galamiyeva competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

From left, Christopher Krouse and Christopher Harper race in the 100-meter sprint portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

From left, Bruce Dale, Ryan Victory and Mathew Rowan race in the 100-meter sprint portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Christopher Krouse, left, Christopher Harper and Dylan Pizzacalla race in the 100-meter sprint portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Matthew Rowan finishes the 5K portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

John McKenna makes the last lap in the 5K portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Christopher Dell runs in the 5K portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Kate Galamiyeva takes her mark ahead of the 100-meter sprint portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Kate Galamiyeva competes in the 5K portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Matthew Rowan competes in the rope climbing portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Christopher Krouse competes in the rope climbing portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Alex Daigle rings the bell during the rope climbing portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Matthew Rowan competes in the rope climbing portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Bryce Foreback competes in the rope climbing portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Christopher Krouse competes in the shot put portion of the Toughest Competitor Alive event in the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games at Morrow Fieldhouse at Slippery Rock University on Saturday, July 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle