Advice wanted: Spartan Sprint tomorrow and stomach bug

samhennings
samhennings Posts: 441 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,

At the risk of tmi, Ive got a bug and have been very regular the last few days. This I can handle, but Im also feeling extremely flat/washed out.

I have a Spartan Sprint tomorrow (5km obstacle race) and am just not sure how best to prepare for it at this point.

Do any of you have tips on how to quickly regain my energy?

Cheers!

Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Make sure you're well hydrated, lots of carbs & ease up on the fibre and get a good night's sleep tonight.

    If you've been sick don't count on a PB this time around, ease off on the pace a little and just have fun.
  • samhennings
    samhennings Posts: 441 Member
    Havent been sick at all. Been trying to eat as much as I can but feel like I havent slept in days Im so worn out.

    Its my first Spartan, so no idea what to expect, but obviously want to be feeling as "right" as possible!
  • gdyment
    gdyment Posts: 299 Member
    It's normal to feel flat before a race. You also shouldn't be stuffing your face for a 5k race it will not help. If there's a candy or chocolate bar you love, have a bit an hour or less before. I'm a bit of a jelly bean nut myself.

    Next time you can try taking a full day off 2 days out then do 20-30 mins of mod intensity running the day before.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Eat normally today. Sip on water mixed with electrolyte solution of some kind (or a ready made sports drink) periodically during the day. Alternatively a can of coke if you prefer.

    Have a banana an hour (or some kind of sugary goodness you like) before.

  • samhennings
    samhennings Posts: 441 Member
    Cheers guys
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    edited September 2015
    @samhennings how did it go? Did you race?

    Honestly the week before every race my body starts to freak out. I have it on a very strict nutrition plan, but I still notice my bathroom habits increase, especially the day before the race (drinking a bunch of extra water doesn't help lol). I also always feel "flat" and like I'm falling apart.....things will hurt and ache. My last intense workout before a race is always a major push. It's all in my head. Obviously there is a difference between pre-race jitters and actually being sick though.

    As for advice for taking on the race, I'd have asked myself if I could be away from a bathroom long enough (assuming it was a real stomach bug) and if I was going to mentally be okay with not turning in a good time. However, I would know what to expect with a Sprint race in NC....your fitness level and experience would play part in the decision as well.
  • samhennings
    samhennings Posts: 441 Member
    I did race - 2hrs 11minutes, so not setting any records! (The fastest guy was 40minutes :o )

    Its definitely a bug, but it seems to ebb and flow. Wednesday I was very bad, Thursday pretty fine, Friday bad again...

    Saturday I was ok in the toilet department. The race itself beat me up really bad, the Atlas stones was the second last obstacle and it took so much out of me I almost fainted! However, I wasnt going for time, just aiming to complete the thing so Im really pleased.

    Since then, Monday and Today my guts have been off again, although I feel a lot better generally.

    There is a bug going round at the moment and everyone seems to have bad downstairs or a bad cold!

    To be honest I think even if I was at my peak the race would have beaten me to a pulp anyway so I dont feel bad about doing it ill. Its shown me what work I need to do to be able to put in a respectable time!
  • samhennings
    samhennings Posts: 441 Member
    edited September 2015
    @esjones12 And thanks for asking!
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    @samhennings - That sucks that you were not feeling the greatest going into your first race. I can only imagine how I would have done if my first big OCR was done feeling under the weather. I honestly probably would have sworn them off forever LOL.

    If the Elite guy won in 40 minutes, 2:11 really isn't that bad of a time! I've been racing for awhile and am just now starting to get under double the Elite times on a good day lol. They are insane athletes!

    Sounds like you may have drank the koolaide and are already thinking about another race!! Hehe ;) Feel free to add me - I'm no Elite or pro, but I do talk constantly about my OCR and Spartan experiences, training, nutrition and weight loss.
  • samhennings
    samhennings Posts: 441 Member
    Insane is the word! I was stood by the last walls to get over, huffing and puffing and trying to find the will to get over and guys were just skipping past me and over the wall as if they just came off the start line! INSANE!

    Ill certainly have another go, really enjoyed the challenge, and it exposed my (lack of) fitness quite badly - so Id like to go again and see how I measure up.

    Even toying with the idea of going for the Spartan Trifecta (might just be a pipe dream for now though!)

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