Rain? A blessing in disguise. Wind? Just a minor inconvenience. More than 1,800 fearless participants astounded us with their tenacity after the grueling Tribalion race held on Tara Mountain on Saturday. They crossed the finish line wet, muddy, bleeding, and triumphant.

The magical, unpredictable mountain provided a chilly picnic, but for these brave men, women, children, and even some seasoned veterans, winter was not an obstacle. Hearts raced with adrenaline, and some even stripped down to their undershirts.

The race included a challenging downhill run followed by a canyon course, where every step had to be carefully planned and then ascended again. The total distance was either 11 or 18 kilometers, depending on whether the participants chose the Green or Challenge routes.

However, the real adventure began with the obstacles. The main feature of OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) events are unfriendly barriers, but with a bit of effort, grimacing, strategizing, and pulling, all were conquered without much difficulty. The finish line had its own set of hurdles, including crawling under barbed wire and climbing slippery boards.

At the end, many had to jump over a large wall and carry heavy backpacks on their backs. In case of failure, they would perform push-ups, military style, with loud counting! Participants also mentioned falling into freezing water that reached up to their chests.

"I'm from Perućac, so this is my area," Anđela Đokić told us, the first woman to cross the Green route finish line.

What About the Bears?

"There are bears on Tara, and at one point, there was some noise, and I thought, 'I hope it's not a bear,' but we probably heard some barking. The course was more or less familiar to me; this is my eighth or ninth Tribalion race in a row," the young lady recounted, who was warmly welcomed at the finish line.

The event is very popular among advanced athletes who demand exceptional strength and endurance. You won't see them skipping workouts due to rain or snow. Just iron discipline!

"I'm from Arilje, and I take this sport more seriously. I train twice a day, morning and evening, with discipline and perseverance," Goran Crnković, who convincingly won the Challenge route, told us.

Participants emphasized that preparation can be found at centers with obstacles, often in larger gyms in Belgrade that cater to crossfitters.

"These are mostly gyms used by crossfitters; they have monkey bars, walls, and weights," Anđela explained.

Women are just as capable as men in these races!

"That’s a stereotype," Anđela added.

We also met a team from Vitez, who were not the only ones from the region.

"The weather has been fantastic so far. We've run in the sun, rain, and even snow, but we’ll get through it. It’s all about the memories," Ivana from Vitez told us.

"Every location is different, Mitrovac on Tara, Zlatibor, all amazing. I come back happily," Ana from Vitez added.