the only obstacle you can't skip
Capt_Apollo
Posts: 9,026 Member
in the spartan race, you can walk around and skip any obstacle you want. if you don't feel comfortable climbing a rope, or carrying a sandbag, or scrambling across a wall, you can go right around it with out a problem. sure, they'll tell you to do 30 burpees, but even then, they're not their staring you down and tallying your burpee count. feel free to do 10 and just keep going afterwards.
but there is one obstacle you just can't skip. the trail.
four miles of running on a ski slope. that means steep up hills, downhills that feel like vertical drops, with only occasional flat lengths of ground that are too short to really recover and pick up speed on. let's not forget the sections where you are actually running through the trees and brush, jumping across boulders and fallen trees like Assassin's Creed 3.
Some of you will be thankful for the lines at obstacles that allow you to catch your breath and recover your heartbeat. But it's only fleeting. Yes, the trail even kicked my *kitten* last year. Not that i was in the best shape ever, but at one point i had to start walking the uphills.
Yet, i still get people messaging me asking me how i prepared for the monkey bars, the rope climb, and the spear throw. i know that most of these people aren't really preparing for the race as a whole. they're tying to pick it apart in an attempt to be less intimidated by it.
well, you should be intimidated. you should not want to have this race kick your *kitten*.
so, are you preparing for the only obstacle you can't skip??
but there is one obstacle you just can't skip. the trail.
four miles of running on a ski slope. that means steep up hills, downhills that feel like vertical drops, with only occasional flat lengths of ground that are too short to really recover and pick up speed on. let's not forget the sections where you are actually running through the trees and brush, jumping across boulders and fallen trees like Assassin's Creed 3.
Some of you will be thankful for the lines at obstacles that allow you to catch your breath and recover your heartbeat. But it's only fleeting. Yes, the trail even kicked my *kitten* last year. Not that i was in the best shape ever, but at one point i had to start walking the uphills.
Yet, i still get people messaging me asking me how i prepared for the monkey bars, the rope climb, and the spear throw. i know that most of these people aren't really preparing for the race as a whole. they're tying to pick it apart in an attempt to be less intimidated by it.
well, you should be intimidated. you should not want to have this race kick your *kitten*.
so, are you preparing for the only obstacle you can't skip??
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Replies
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let's not forget the sections where you are actually running through the trees and brush, jumping across boulders and fallen trees like Assassin's Creed 3.
This is how I picture myself doing it!
Bring it trail!0 -
It's my favorite obstacle. Trail running is the best.0
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100% agreed.
Bring it.0 -
Listen to the man, hills are a *****! Had to start my Run For Your Lives running straight up hill and that right there wiped me out for the rest of the race.
When I was (and when I start back in March) doing cardio I was setting the treadmill for a pretty damn steep incline. Even if I could barely run it I was getting used to the steep hills we'll be dealing with.0 -
Yes. In 15 degree weather. Its the part that I feel is going to be the most important for me because I let it go so badly. I have a building schedule that will lead up to me working on my 8 mi time by the end of March to Mid-April.
Yall might beat me on a few obstacles, but I hope to run past you between them.
TRAIN FOR ALL THE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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let's not forget the sections where you are actually running through the trees and brush, jumping across boulders and fallen trees like Assassin's Creed 3.
yeah... this part caught my attention too - Ive been over here trying to beat it in my head that Im not allowed to go near any of these things and to stay in the boring part NO MATTER WHAT I SEE THAT LOOKS CRAZY/FUN.0 -
How funny is it that I'm not at all intimidated by the hill? I have a PLAN for that. I live in a hilly area, and I'm going to run the SH~T outta hills the minute it gets above freezing here. The rest of the spartan is what scares the crap out of me. Parkour? What? I've got to figure out how to climb a wall without crying (I'm afraid of heights). THAT scares me. Running up a really, really big hill with 30 of my closest imaginary-made-real friends? Piece of cake.0
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it's all about how you cycle your legs going up hill. Smaller steps, small cycles with your legs.
Hill training in the spring folks, doit!0 -
it's all about how you cycle your legs going up hill. Smaller steps, small cycles with your legs.
Hill training in the spring folks, doit!
Running stairs helps also because you use similar muscles and HAVE to take smaller steps.0 -
the obstacles are the resting points.
the hills arent just hills...they are insane slopes with angles you never thought you'd have to tackle on shoes alone....slopes you have to literally lean into or you will fall backward...slopes so steep that if you hold your arms out slightly you can grab grass.
warrior dash at gunstock - i grossly underestimated the inclines
adventure 5k at macintyre - same as above.
i will not be fooled a 3rd time.
hit the slopes, and go UP!0 -
And now I'm scared lol0
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Listen to the man, hills are a *****! Had to start my Run For Your Lives running straight up hill and that right there wiped me out for the rest of the race.
When I was (and when I start back in March) doing cardio I was setting the treadmill for a pretty damn steep incline. Even if I could barely run it I was getting used to the steep hills we'll be dealing with.
this race starts on an up hill too.
this is going to be so much fun.0 -
the obstacles are the resting points.
the hills arent just hills...they are insane slopes with angles you never thought you'd have to tackle on shoes alone....slopes you have to literally lean into or you will fall backward...slopes so steep that if you hold your arms out slightly you can grab grass.
warrior dash at gunstock - i grossly underestimated the inclines
adventure 5k at macintyre - same as above.
i will not be fooled a 3rd time.
hit the slopes, and go UP!
*kitten*.. maybe I should have stuck with Mid-Atlantic races. We don't have that craziness.0 -
I eat ski slopes for breakfast! This is going to be my rallying cry. Truly. I will NOT underestimate the slope/hill/mountain.
One question for those that have done this, though... what shoes do you recommend???0 -
I eat ski slopes for breakfast! This is going to be my rallying cry. Truly. I will NOT underestimate the slope/hill/mountain.
One question for those that have done this, though... what shoes do you recommend???
new balance 4mm drop minimus trail running shoes.0 -
This is a great reason for me to go camping at my favorite hike-in/hike-out campsite as much as I can. The slopes I had to climb on those trails were nearly vertical.
And until they open for the season, stair running it will be. Oh. Joy.0 -
shoes with bottoms and good attitudes.0
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shoes with bottoms and good attitudes.
A smiling pair of shoes with a great *kitten*. Got it!0 -
oh boy.
:sick:0 -
I just started running hills for this reason. It's not fun but I am worried about the uphill. Up until now I have avoided hills when running.0
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And this is why I need to get my fat *kitten* on the Stairclimber !!!0
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it's all about how you cycle your legs going up hill. Smaller steps, small cycles with your legs.
Hill training in the spring folks, doit!
Running stairs helps also because you use similar muscles and HAVE to take smaller steps.
That's GREAT advice...I'll admit I'm kinda scared as well.0 -
I've avoided hills too. *kicks rocks*I just started running hills for this reason. It's not fun but I am worried about the uphill. Up until now I have avoided hills when running.0 -
Trust me. It's worth it. When I was training for my first half marathon, I avoided hills. When I arrived to the race, I found out the course was 70% hills. After that rather brutal experience, I look for hills to run on.That's GREAT advice...I'll admit I'm kinda scared as well.0 -
The run is the part that has me the most worried... I have been running twice a week once on a flat track, and once up and down the steps of the track stadium. Doing the Stairmaster in the gym once a week..
Once the spring gets here there is a trail not far from my house that I hiked in the fall, it is pretty steep and has quite a few rocks and obstacles around (probably more after Sandy hit) so I plan to run that each weekend....0
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