MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY -- After four days of grueling competition, 2nd Lt. Delaney T. Bourlakov, adjutant, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, completed the second annual High Intensity Tactical Training Athlete Championship aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, Aug. 18.
"I was pretty exhausted," Bourlakov said. "Lifting my arms to do my hair had become a struggle after the competition.”
Bourlakov described her competition as being "very intense."
"It was a nonstop pace that never ended," she added. "The competition was extremely competitive.”
One of the events she navigated through was an extended obstacle course.
“I had to breach a door, climb a rock wall into a cargo net, low crawl for 30m and sprint with ammunition cans before even starting the obstacle course,” she exclaimed. “After completing the rope climb at the end of the obstacle course, I had to grab my rifle and ammunition can and sprint to the finish line.”
According to Bourlakov, some of the female competitors have participated and trained for this sort of competition for years and it showed.
"Honestly, when I started to see how these girls were competing, I was really hoping not to be last," she continued. "However, with time and different events that I had more strength in, I was able to finish consistently middle/upper third of the pack."
Bourlakov, who had only a month of training, said she was pleased with her ranking in the competition. “I met my goal. I didn’t give up or become intimated by others’ experience. I took it one event at a time, and made sure I also had fun completing the events.”
She gives credits to her trainer, Harlon “Wayne” Jordan, HITT instructor, Marine Corps Community Services, MCLB Albany, and doing Aquatics Maximum Power Intense Training at the Base Pool that helped her complete the competition.
Looking back at the competition, and thankful it is over, Bourlakov said she has learned several lessons.
"The most important lessons I've learned is to never quit, even when the obstacle seems too high or too far away; just keep pushing."
Gunnery Sgt. Melvin Ashley, director, Semper Fit, Marine Corps Community Services, MCLB Albany, was on the HITT advisory committee officiating the event.
“Considering that she only had one month of training, Second Lieutenant Bourlakov did surprisingly well and hung in there with the other competitors,” Ashley said. “The top 10 was very close and any of them could have won the championship based on the last event. That’s how close it was in the female division.
“I told her she now has 12 months to train and prepare for next year,” he added. “I am sure with focus, my staff can get her placing within the top three next year.”
According to Ashley, the Marine Corps has chosen High Intensity Tactical Training as its preferred method of functional fitness and it’s been approved by the National Strength Conditioning Association.