The Buttery Bros are no strangers to suffering, but their latest challenge may have pushed them into entirely new territory.
In a recent YouTube video, Heber Cannon and Marston Sawyers traveled to Texas to compete in the inaugural World’s Toughest Mile event, a deceptively simple fitness challenge that combines four grueling movements across a single mile. Alongside friend Julian Marquez, the duo went head-to-head to see who could survive the workout fastest before watching elite athletes tackle the same test.
The challenge is straightforward on paper. Competitors complete 400 meters of burpee broad jumps, 400 meters of walking lunges, 400 meters of bear crawls, and finish with a 400-meter run. In practice, it proved anything but simple.
A Fast Start Turns Into a Tactical Battle
The race began aggressively as Cannon and Marquez immediately surged to the front during the burpee broad jump section. Drawing on his recent HYROX training, Cannon settled into a controlled rhythm while Marquez surprised everyone with his efficiency on the movement.
Sawyers, meanwhile, chose a more conservative approach, content to trail the leaders rather than burn out early.
The race shifted dramatically during the lunges. Marquez briefly moved into a strong position, but Cannon found another gear and accelerated past him, opening a sizeable lead.
“He was an animal on lunging,” Marquez joked as Cannon powered ahead.
By the end of the second section, Cannon appeared firmly in control.
Bear Crawls Change Everything
The third segment proved to be the defining moment of the race.
While Cannon entered the bear crawl first, Sawyers began steadily closing the gap. The movement exposed weaknesses across the field, with Marquez struggling to maintain pace as fatigue accumulated.
“This is brutal,” Marquez repeated throughout the challenge.
As the meters ticked away, Sawyers continued gaining ground until he finally caught Cannon near the final stretch of the crawl. The momentum swing was enough to decide the race.
Sawyers exited the bear crawl first and immediately attacked the final run, securing the victory.
Cannon crossed the line in second, while Marquez battled through the closing stages to complete the challenge.
More Than a Race
The second half of the video shifted focus from competition to the larger mission behind the World’s Toughest Mile.
Created by endurance athlete Eric Hinman and fitness entrepreneur Guido Trinidad, the event aims to bring people together through shared hardship. Hinman described the challenge as an opportunity for athletes of all levels to test themselves while building community.
“Anyone can do this,” Hinman explained.
The event featured recreational, team, and competitive divisions, reinforcing the idea that the workout is not reserved for elite athletes. While Hinman set the inaugural event record with a blistering 28:38 effort, the biggest takeaway was not the finishing times.
Like many of the Buttery Bros’ best projects, the World’s Toughest Mile ultimately became a celebration of resilience, camaraderie, and the simple value of doing hard things alongside other people.
About the Author
Jeremiah Oliva
Jeremiah Oliva is a writer passionate about fitness, sports, and active living. He has experience in songwriting and managing content and social media for online radio and magazine platforms.
He covers HYROX, CrossFit®, and competitive fitness, with a focus on performance, mindset, and athlete development.
Outside of writing, Jeremiah trains in boxing, cycles, explores the outdoors with his kids, and plays the guitar.
