This Friday marks the start of the David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Georgia’s Fort Benning — a grueling race that saw just 26 of the original 50 tw0-man teams make it to the final day last year.

The endurance tournament pits the duos against each other in back-to-back events, with the last one standing given the title of “Best Ranger”. Sponsored by the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, as of Monday, 51 teams have signed up to participate.

Often compared to competitions like the Ironman and Eco-Challenge, the Best Ranger Competition was founded in 1982, and only accepts participants that are graduates of Army Ranger School. Beyond demanding, its events are back-to-back and around the clock for 60 hours, with little time for any type of rest or even a decent meal.

More from Army Times:

In the past, events included weapons firing, extended road marches, day and night land navigation courses, Ranger skills and parachute jumps. All events are timed, and competitors score points for each completed event. Both team members must complete each task.

 

This year’s competition will begin at 6 a.m. on Friday; organizers estimate the competition will wrap up about 4 p.m. Sunday.

 

A formal awards ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 13 at McGinnis-Wickam Hall in Fort Benning’s Marshall Auditorium.

 

The competition is open to the public. A schedule of events will be released to the public on Wednesday on the Fort Benning Facebook page. Family, friends and spectators are encouraged to tweet updates on their teams during the competition using the hashtag #2015Best Ranger, @Fort Benning.