Ran this race last year
Capt_Apollo
Posts: 9,026 Member
hey all, so i'm going to register for this race next month after i know a few more things. I'd like to give a few people some tips and thoughts about last years race and how they should be training.
so the race is know as one of the hardest Spartan Races, and definitely the hardest Sprint race. The reason is because it is on a mother flipping ski slope. the uphills felt like they are going straight up! the downhills looked like a fall to the death!
it was four hilly miles, and it took me and my best friend two hours and five minutes to do. there were about 20 obstacles, some right after another. The great thing about the obstacles is that it actually gives you a chance to recover and catch your breath from the run.
The best kind of preparation is over-preparation. i don't want to intimidate anyone. this is something that is attainable to anyone that wants it, and is willing to train.
you should be able to run at least 5 miles continuously and effortlessly. Six is better. If you can run eight you'll be more then ready.
If you live in a hilly area i recommend you start running them. and not just effortless jogs up and down. sprint up them at top speed. walk back down. repeat 6-8 times.
some obstacles will be harder to prepare for. the rope climb for instance, will be hard to practice. but if you have the chance to do it once or twice, take it.
another obstacle that can throw a wrench in the gears is the sandbag carry. it is about a 150 yard uphill/downhill carrying a sandbag. there is no way to prepare for this, other then buying a 40lb sand bag (25 for girls) and do some running and stair climbs with it.
at one point you had a cinder block on the end of a 10-12 foot chain that you had to drag for about 40yards. just choke up on the chain and don't trip over someone elses.
you had to throw a spear at a stack of hay. i missed. i did burpees. you should be practicing burpees.
there were a lot of points that you had to crawl. this is where smaller people will have an advantage. you can practice by doing mobility work like belly crawls, bear crawls, crab walks, etc. matter of fact, it was either the sand bag carry, or the long barb wire crawl that was the worst obstacle.
at one point you had to flip a truck tire twice. it was easy for me for two reasons: because i had been doing dead lifts, and because i had good trail running shoes. but more on proper gear at another date.
monkey bars. start doing them. go to your local park. run a mile lap, ending at the park, and do the monkey bars, back and forth. drop and do some burpees. repeat 6-8 times.
when you get to rope ladders, stay to the outside edges. there is less slack, and that makes it easier to climb.
pull ups should go without saying. you are going to have to hoist yourself over some pretty gnarly walls. yes, you will have help, but you shouldn't be relying on the two people under you and the person straddling the wall to pull you across. so by the race day you should be able to do at least 100 pull ups in a row. ten is a good start.
i saw some people commenting about joining a parkour gym, but in my opinion, that isn't really necessary. if it's something that you want to do for fun, knock yourself out. but as far as preparing for the Spartan Sprint race, running, sprints, lifting, and body weight stuff will be more then enough.
so the race is know as one of the hardest Spartan Races, and definitely the hardest Sprint race. The reason is because it is on a mother flipping ski slope. the uphills felt like they are going straight up! the downhills looked like a fall to the death!
it was four hilly miles, and it took me and my best friend two hours and five minutes to do. there were about 20 obstacles, some right after another. The great thing about the obstacles is that it actually gives you a chance to recover and catch your breath from the run.
The best kind of preparation is over-preparation. i don't want to intimidate anyone. this is something that is attainable to anyone that wants it, and is willing to train.
you should be able to run at least 5 miles continuously and effortlessly. Six is better. If you can run eight you'll be more then ready.
If you live in a hilly area i recommend you start running them. and not just effortless jogs up and down. sprint up them at top speed. walk back down. repeat 6-8 times.
some obstacles will be harder to prepare for. the rope climb for instance, will be hard to practice. but if you have the chance to do it once or twice, take it.
another obstacle that can throw a wrench in the gears is the sandbag carry. it is about a 150 yard uphill/downhill carrying a sandbag. there is no way to prepare for this, other then buying a 40lb sand bag (25 for girls) and do some running and stair climbs with it.
at one point you had a cinder block on the end of a 10-12 foot chain that you had to drag for about 40yards. just choke up on the chain and don't trip over someone elses.
you had to throw a spear at a stack of hay. i missed. i did burpees. you should be practicing burpees.
there were a lot of points that you had to crawl. this is where smaller people will have an advantage. you can practice by doing mobility work like belly crawls, bear crawls, crab walks, etc. matter of fact, it was either the sand bag carry, or the long barb wire crawl that was the worst obstacle.
at one point you had to flip a truck tire twice. it was easy for me for two reasons: because i had been doing dead lifts, and because i had good trail running shoes. but more on proper gear at another date.
monkey bars. start doing them. go to your local park. run a mile lap, ending at the park, and do the monkey bars, back and forth. drop and do some burpees. repeat 6-8 times.
when you get to rope ladders, stay to the outside edges. there is less slack, and that makes it easier to climb.
pull ups should go without saying. you are going to have to hoist yourself over some pretty gnarly walls. yes, you will have help, but you shouldn't be relying on the two people under you and the person straddling the wall to pull you across. so by the race day you should be able to do at least 100 pull ups in a row. ten is a good start.
i saw some people commenting about joining a parkour gym, but in my opinion, that isn't really necessary. if it's something that you want to do for fun, knock yourself out. but as far as preparing for the Spartan Sprint race, running, sprints, lifting, and body weight stuff will be more then enough.
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please, i'm not telling you this to intimidate you in any way, i'm just stressing to be over prepared.
i can't even imagine how horrible it must feel to get injured in a race and not be able to complete it. and it must be even worse to have your body fail you just by being exhausted and unconditioned.0 -
Holy *kitten*...you all going to die or get eaten by a bear. That's intimidating.
Merely setting goals for realistic training, that's a good thing.0 -
Holy *kitten*...you all going to die or get eaten by a bear. That's intimidating.
Merely setting goals for realistic training, that's a good thing.
yes, goals are important, and being able to finish this race (or any race) with a smile on your face is a great goal, and achievable.
people have six months to train. some people need to start now with running and strength training programs.
i don't say anything to intimidate anyone.
if anyone wants some more detailed thoughts and work out plan help, i'll gladly give it.0 -
In the video that was posted I didn't see any real rope climbing. The video just showed the guy pulling himself up a plank on an angle with a rope. Is there actual rope climbing?0
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In the video that was posted I didn't see any real rope climbing. The video just showed the guy pulling himself up a plank on an angle with a rope. Is there actual rope climbing?
Yes there are other videos. I saw a 2012 tuxedo spartan sprint video that showed some knotted rope climbing0 -
yes. i had a video of it, but can't find it.0
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:grumble: Going to need to work on this. I always hated rope climbing in PE class.In the video that was posted I didn't see any real rope climbing. The video just showed the guy pulling himself up a plank on an angle with a rope. Is there actual rope climbing?
Yes there are other videos. I saw a 2012 tuxedo spartan sprint video that showed some knotted rope climbing0 -
:grumble: Going to need to work on this. I always hated rope climbing in PE class.In the video that was posted I didn't see any real rope climbing. The video just showed the guy pulling himself up a plank on an angle with a rope. Is there actual rope climbing?
Yes there are other videos. I saw a 2012 tuxedo spartan sprint video that showed some knotted rope climbing
you want to know how many times i had practiced a rope climb in the year before the race??
zero.
build your upper body strength, and you tube some videos on how to properly have the rope between your feet to climb.0 -
I'll take whatever I can get. I lift heavy. I do some cardio. I run to the end of my driveway. I have never trained for something like this before.Holy *kitten*...you all going to die or get eaten by a bear. That's intimidating.
Merely setting goals for realistic training, that's a good thing.
yes, goals are important, and being able to finish this race (or any race) with a smile on your face is a great goal, and achievable.
people have six months to train. some people need to start now with running and strength training programs.
i don't say anything to intimidate anyone.
if anyone wants some more detailed thoughts and work out plan help, i'll gladly give it.0 -
Same. I've never done anything remotely like this before, it's my first race. I primarily lift heavy. Last year I did c25k but decided running isn't for me and gave it up. Gotta start from square one with that again I think. Sometimes I do cardio, but I really only do it for the calorie burn, not for training. Am going to have to start looking at that differently. And clone myself because I work 3 jobs and have very little free time.I'll take whatever I can get. I lift heavy. I do some cardio. I run to the end of my driveway. I have never trained for something like this before.0 -
Thank god for bay ridge, owls head and sunset park hills. My hamstrings are about to go through a pretty rough six months. Not as rough as my arms though.0
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Yeah I live in a flat area... oh well, I will be prepared!0
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:indifferent:
Oh dear God.
Yeah I have nothing else to say at the moment....0 -
Am I the only one not scared and more challenged?
Lets do it !!! WE WILL NOT LOSE !!!0 -
Am I the only one not scared and more challenged?
Lets do it !!! WE WILL NOT LOSE !!!
Yeah I'm not scared at all, I know I have it in me to accomplish this!0 -
meep! *Runs to go do burpees....*0
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meep! *Runs to go do burpees....*
lol This...
I'm scared ****less cuz I have a long road ahead and I've never set out to accomplish such a goal..
But KI'll work my *kitten* off...and become the queen of burpees, just in case lol0 -
meep! *Runs to go do burpees....*
lol This...
I'm scared ****less cuz I have a long road ahead and I've never set out to accomplish such a goal..
But KI'll work my *kitten* off...and become the queen of burpees, just in case lol
You have it in you! I will train my *kitten* off for this so I hope to be able to help anyone that needs it!0 -
Am I the only one not scared and more challenged?
Lets do it !!! WE WILL NOT LOSE !!!
Lol no
Im relieved to be registered and finally have a name and date for my mission so now I can go for it without any mental holdbacks.0 -
im sorry...did you say 100 pull ups in a row?...with TEN being a good START?
hmmmmm methinks i have a lot of preparing (and crying) to do.
hold me?0 -
im sorry...did you say 100 pull ups in a row?...with TEN being a good START?
hmmmmm methinks i have a lot of preparing (and crying) to do.
hold me?
Don't worry darling...not only will I hold you...but I'll help you train and kick your *kitten*. :bigsmile: Course..you gotta do the same back to me...we're gonna be all over town Rocky-style in no time.0 -
im sorry...did you say 100 pull ups in a row?...with TEN being a good START?
hmmmmm methinks i have a lot of preparing (and crying) to do.
hold me?
i'm only slightly exaggerating about the 100 pull ups in a row.
in my opinion, if by the week before race day you can do ten pull ups in a row, you will be prepared.
nothing worse then seeing a guy struggling to make it over one of those walls.0 -
I WILL do this
I WILL do this
I WILL do this.0 -
I WILL do this
I WILL do this
I WILL do this.
YES! We WILL do this! xo0 -
I'm trying to think of the best way to get some monkey bars in my run route without looking like a pedophile,
I'm so excited about this thing! Were going to crush it!0 -
I'm in this boat, but as Crank said - I WILL DO THIS!!! We will all do it together! I seriously can't wait. OK, maybe I am glad it's 6 months away. But, honestly, it is going to be incredible!meep! *Runs to go do burpees....*
lol This...
I'm scared ****less cuz I have a long road ahead and I've never set out to accomplish such a goal..
But I'll work my *kitten* off...and become the queen of burpees, just in case lol0 -
Thank you for the insite into the run.
I did the WD in September and it was at a ski resort also and was all up hill and it was a killer on the legs. You gave me a lot of new ideas on who to train for this one.
I have a large hill up the street from me so will be doing runs up it and then will start carrying a 25 lbs up it. There is also a playground there so will use that also!!
:drinker:
WE CAN DO IT!!!!
Yes this challenged me more than scared me!!!0 -
lol All I can see in my mind is when I said "Oh ffs thank God..that hill was brutal!" and you looked at me with a "I'm so sorry" look on your face and said "There's another one around the corner" ....Thank you for the insite into the run.
I did the WD in September and it was at a ski resort also and was all up hill and it was a killer on the legs. You gave me a lot of new ideas on who to train for this one.
I have a large hill up the street from me so will be doing runs up it and then will start carrying a 25 lbs up it. There is also a playground there so will use that also!!
:drinker:
WE CAN DO IT!!!!
Yes this challenged me more than scared me!!!
Yep, I practiced burpees all weekend....just gotta get some of the spare belly out of the way and then they'd be simple. Ha.0 -
I dreamed about this race last night.
Im really excited.
I keep daydreaming about the ways that training for this is going to change my life. When I first starting switching into weights, I thought just my body was getting stronger - but my brain was taking leaps and bounds and developing my mental strength as well. I can't fraking wait to see what the next six months are going to do to my character.
AND MY BODY.
*flexes in mirror*
:smokin:0 -
I's scared boss.......
But this has been incredible insight - thanks, man!
I'm excited to do this and just having a fitness goal once again.
Back to practicing my army crawl.
YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!0
