25 YEARS | NEVER FORGET 
Frontline Athletic September 2026 Challenge

September 11, 2026 marks 25 years since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

This month, we remember through work.

25 weighted miles. 2,071 stairs. 25 years. Never Forget.

THE VIRTUAL SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE

To earn the commemorative 25 Years | Never Forget PVC patch, complete both parts of the virtual challenge during the month of September.

Ruck 25 total miles between September 1 and September 30.

Men must carry a minimum of 30 lb. Women must carry a minimum of 20 lb.

The 25 miles can be completed across multiple activities during the month.

Complete 2,071 upward stairs in one continuous weighted activity.

The stair challenge can be completed on any day in September. It does not need to be completed on September 11 or September 12.

The stairs must be real stairs. No StairMaster, stair stepper, or simulated stair machine.

The same RX weight applies to the stair effort. Men must carry at least 30 lb. Women must carry at least 20 lb.

The full 2,071-stair effort must be completed in one activity.

STRAVA TRACKING

All qualifying rucks and the stair challenge must be recorded on Strava as a Hike.

For regular rucks, use a title like:

FA 25 YEARS | RUCK | 30 LB

For the virtual stair challenge, use:

FA 25 YEARS | 2,071 STAIRS | 30 LB

We are asking participants to use these titles as a backstop for verification. Technology fails. Devices lose data. Syncs occasionally do not propagate correctly.

Using a consistent title gives us another way to identify qualifying activities if Strava, Garmin, or another tracking platform has an issue.

You should also make sure your tracker records steps during a Hike and that the step data is making it into Strava.

Garmin and many other devices can provide step data, but participants are responsible for checking their own device before attempting the stair challenge.

We recommend recording a short test Hike first.

Keep a screenshot or the original activity record from Garmin Connect, Apple Fitness, COROS, Fitbit, or your other tracking platform as a backup.

HOW THE 2,071 STAIRS ARE COUNTED

The official requirement is 2,071 upward stairs. Descending stairs does not count. Know how many stairs are in one ascent before you begin.

For example, if your staircase has 25 stairs, completing 83 ascents gives you 2,075 qualifying stairs.

Strava may display total steps taken during the activity, including descending and walking between staircases, so your upward stair count should be based on the actual staircase and number of ascents completed.

OPTION TWO: SEPTEMBER 12
FRONTLINE ATHLETIC 9/11 STAIR RUCK

Saturday, September 12, 2026 | Downtown Naperville

The September 12 event is a separate opportunity to earn the same commemorative patch. This is not a second patch design.

There is one 25 Years | Never Forget patch.

There are two separate ways to earn it. The first is completing the virtual September challenge. The second is completing the in-person Frontline Athletic 9/11 Stair Ruck on September 12 in downtown Naperville.

The in-person event will also be a weighted 2,071-stair memorial effort on real stairs. The same RX standards apply. Men must carry a minimum of 30 lb. Women must carry a minimum of 20 lb.

The event must be recorded on Strava as a Hike.

Suggested title:

FA 9/11 STAIR RUCK | 09.12.26 | 30 LB

TWO CHALLENGES. SAME PATCH.

Complete the Virtual September Challenge and earn one patch. Complete the September 12 in-person event and earn one patch. Complete both and earn two of the same 25 Years | Never Forget patches. The second patch is earned by completing the in-person September 12 event, not by completing an additional virtual stair session.

PATCH SHIPPING

The commemorative PVC patch is free for everyone who successfully completes the challenge. A nominal shipping charge will be collected after completion to help defray packaging and shipping costs.

United States: $10
Canada: $15
Europe: $25
Australia and Asia: $35

For all other countries or regions, contact Frontline Athletic for shipping.

At fulfillment, participants will also have the option to combine delivery with others in their area so multiple patches can ship together.

If you complete both challenges and earn two patches, both patches can ship together under one shipping charge.

25 Miles. 2,071 Stairs. 25 Years. Never Forget.