"I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can." ~ Michel de Montaigne

“Boys will be boys…and so will a lot of middle-aged men." ~ Kin Hubbard

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle” ~ Ian Maclaren

“Everything in moderation, including moderation.” ~ Oscar Wilde

“Maybe you are seaching among the branches for what only appears in the roots.” ~ Rumi

“Men who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.” ~ Montesquieu

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." ~ Betty Reese

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." ~ CS Lewis

"Are you not ashamed of heaping up the greatest amount of money and honour and reputation, and caring so little about wisdom and truth and the greatest improvement of the soul?" ~ Socrates

“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” ~ Malcolm S. Forbes

"I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can." ~ Michel de Montaigne “Boys will be boys…and so will a lot of middle-aged men." ~ Kin Hubbard “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle” ~ Ian Maclaren “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” ~ Oscar Wilde “Maybe you are seaching among the branches for what only appears in the roots.” ~ Rumi “Men who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.” ~ Montesquieu "If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." ~ Betty Reese "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." ~ CS Lewis "Are you not ashamed of heaping up the greatest amount of money and honour and reputation, and caring so little about wisdom and truth and the greatest improvement of the soul?" ~ Socrates “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” ~ Malcolm S. Forbes

The Ultimate Grit Test: Slacklines, Ponds, Paintballs, and Concentration —an extreme challenge of grit, endurance, and brotherhood. 🌲💥 #AdventureRetreat #MasculinityAndBrotherhood #WildernessSurvival #GritAndGrowth
Brotherhood and grit around the campfire 🔥 Embrace teamwork, survival, and the challenge of the wild. #AdventureRetreat #ModernManhood #GritAndGrowth
Bubble balls, strategy, and laughs! 💥 A challenge of endurance, teamwork, and pure fun. #AdventureRace #BrotherhoodChallenge #GritAndGrowth #Men'sAdventure
Stand-up paddleboarding with surprise battles—strategy, grit, and camaraderie on the water! #AdventureRace #OutdoorSurvival #Men'sAdventure #BrotherhoodChallenge
A group of friends tackling puzzles in the wild—an adventure that tests their teamwork, mental toughness, and problem-solving skills. This challenge fosters camaraderie, pushing their limits as they work together to conquer obstacles and strengthen t
Solo walk by the massive bonfire—embracing the challenge, grit, and growth in the wilderness. #AdventureChallenge #Brotherhood #GritAndGrowth #ModernManhood #WildernessSurvival
"James Orlando may appear bat s$%^ f^%$*^$ crazy at times, but he is incredibly thoughtful, genuine, intentional, and has a unique ability to walk you right up to (and then nudge you over) your comfort line, wherever that line is for you." David, 43
"The rapid learning capabilities of a motivated middle-age man can't be understated. Especially with 3 man water balloon launchers. In the wild, with every challenge faced, they tap into new strengths, push past limits, and embrace growth—both physic
"Modern Adventure Decathlons are all about fun and checking off unexpected bucket list items. Experience the adventure, challenge, and brotherhood today!"
"Two men face off in a high-stakes chess battle under the night sky, their focus and strategy tested by unpredictable, stressful conditions."
"Unpredictable challenges await in MAD: fire, water, mud, and high-stakes action. It’s all in—physical, mental, and team-based battles!"
A group of guys bonding around the campfire, sharing stories and building camaraderie in the great outdoors. True brotherhood in nature!

What are MAD Decathlons?

MAD Decathlons are the ultimate proving ground for what it means to be a modern man. More than a test of endurance, strength, or skill, they challenge the "whole man" across ten unforgettable events spread over multiple days. These decathlons push boundaries, demanding strategy, problem-solving, and character, all while building unshakable bonds through teamwork and camaraderie.

Founded by two friends who believed manhood needed a fresh benchmark, MAD Decathlons celebrate adventure, connection, and self-discovery. They aren’t about competition but about facing adversity, seeing ourselves in the men beside us and getting beyond ourselves.

Ten Unique Events

Multi-day Experience

Self Assessment

Here’s where I was hoping for the circle of animals and traits

Natural Setting

Campfire Camaraderie

Reviews of MAD Decathlons

  • "MAD essentially ruined every weekend I will have for the rest of my life. Nothing will come close to the combined emotions of exhilaration, fear, joy, and discomfort, all wrapped up in 3 days of endless laughter. My life now feels empty by comparison, and I regret nothing."

    David, Climate Change Strategist, 43

  • "When that last paintball hit me, I fell from the slackline into waist-high mud. As I listened to the other guys hollerin' "nice shot" and "you got this", in that moment I knew three things for sure: (1) Dang! This is fun. (2) I am getting back up there cause they must be low on ammo by now, and (3) ... my inbox can wait."

    -Dr. Ryan, Pediatrician, 49

  • "Why are we racing through the woods at night? You want me to eat what? How was this event conceived? All that matters is your old comfort zone no longer exists and you’re all the better for it."

    - Paul K, Immigration Program Director, 52

  • "I’ve done endurance events, company leadership retreats, and bachelor parties. Sure they’re “fun”, but none of them stack up to the excitement, challenge, and story-telling-worthiness of MAD Decathlon. It’s weird for a man to talk about dreams. But in the days and weeks after MAD Decathlon, instead of having work dreams, I was having epic Viking-level dreams - like MAD awakened a part of me that doesn’t get touched in normal life."

    Adam, Wastewater Engineer, 45

  • “In our world, it’s easy to float through life in a semi-digital haze. One day can easily meld into another, fed by emails, content, and other responsibilities. Then all of a sudden, the days, weeks, months go by and we’re left wondering where did it go and was it time well spent. MAD Decathlons are a visceral experience that shake you out of that routine, challenges you, and helps foster fellowship and community. You’ll think to yourself: What am I doing? How did I get here?, and, Why is there nowhere else I’d rather be? Go get some!”

    Cameron B, Business Development Exec, 43

  • “Nothing builds teamwork like chasing a pig. You’ll fail, but you’ll learn about strategy and teamwork as you do.”

    - Tyler, Energy Specialist, 43

  • "One of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced. We were tested in ways I’ve never considered. Tested us athletically, mentally, emotionally and more …"

    - Paul S, Solar Technician, 54

  • "There is this period in the lead-up where I'm like, "What have I signed myself up for? Why am I trusting this beautiful madman? Well, that's exactly why I keep coming back."

     Jameel, Economist, 44

  • “Forget ordinary, and check your expectations at the door: This was an experience on a wholly different level. These few days were a gift of adventure, personal growth, challenge, and bonding - cannot wait for the next one.”

    Bryan, Senior Manager & former US Special Operations, 45

  • "As the only gay man who signed up for my MAD Decathlon, I was a bit nervous about "being man enough" for all of the challenges. What I realized is that I wasn't alone. I think we're at a critical time in society where almost every man, gay or straight, is questioning what it means to be a man. If you're looking to do an intensive deep dive into that conversation, the MAD is a good place to start. Besides that, it was just a ridiculous amount of fun."

    Brian R, Entrepreneur, 44

  • "Making guy friends, real guy friends, not just dudes you meet who are kinda cool, is insanely hard as we get older. Getting to make 18 new ones (ok, let's be realistic, let's say 6-7 real new friends who I'll actually stay in touch with) is such an amazing gift. Of course, the challenges were awesome and bring a smile to my face whenever I've thought about them (which is every 60-90 seconds), but meeting the other guys and getting to bond with them was the once in a lifetime part."

    Lee, Educator, 43

Top FAQs

Okay, so I read the above. Break it down again, what are these MAD Decathlons?

In short, they are multi-day gantlets of surprise challenges that push you beyond your comfort zone. Warning: these challenges aren’t your average tests. They span everything from physical endurance to mental grit, courage, gut tolerance, teamwork, and even brainpower in ways you’ve probably never seen.

But just as importantly, MADs are chance to bond through shared struggle—the kind of trial that sharpens iron and builds respect. True masculinity isn’t about posturing or bravado; it’s about showing up for yourself and those counting on you, giving your all, and finding humor even in the discomfort. It brings men together, testing our grit, problem-solving, and ability to rely on one another, but always closing the day around a campfire a . That’s where the magic happens—swapping laughs, stories, and moments of pride in what you’ve endured together.

So they are competitions….?

They are…. competitions, but the point is not to be overly competitive. The goal is to make some unforgettable memories while in the company of good men. Compete hard, push beyond your limits, but stop short of being a competitive jerk. We trust you will understand that and know where to draw the line.

Got it. What are the events?

Not telling. You’ll arrive at a MAD Decathlon knowing only that you’re in for a wild ride, armed solely with who you are and the men you’re paired with. Every MAD Decathlon brings new challenges, some wildly different, others slightly tweaked. Here’s what we can tell you: Nothing is for certain. Each event will feature a new combination of team members.

Wait, what? Why can’t you tell me the events?

It’s not that we can’t; it’s that we won’t. The unknown is part of the experience. Not knowing what’s next is a test in itself. Until the moment you compete, you won’t know the challenge or the rules. You won’t know if you’ll be going solo, with a team, or if the rules will suddenly change mid-game. We know it makes things harder to explain, but trust us—it’s worth it. (Check out our testimonials if you’re not convinced.)

Got more questions?

No doubt we’ve answered them on our complete Frequently Asked Questions page