Warrior Dash.....Needs tips and advice

JennS19
JennS19 Posts: 642 Member
edited September 23 in Fitness and Exercise
So I signed up to do the Warrior Dash in Michigan in July and I'm super pumped for it. I'm starting my training for it with the elliptical machine for 30 min 3x a week. I'll do that for about a month and then in the middle of February I'll start the C25K and probably P90X to build up muscle mass and stamina.

I know the P90X is time consuming but I'm not going to do it every day and I know it will take me longer than 90 days to do it but I think it will help the most.

So anyway....if you've done the dash before please fill me in on your experience. What did you do to prepare? What do you reccomend and what would you do differently?

Thanks in advance

Replies

  • kristinlough
    kristinlough Posts: 828 Member
    bump :smile:
  • xxjessikatxx
    xxjessikatxx Posts: 90
    bump
  • tuduis
    tuduis Posts: 67
    Good Question! I'm doing the AZ one. Tips puhleaseeee
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Viking men Nom Nom Nom Nom!
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Viking men Nom Nom Nom Nom!
  • pammilou
    pammilou Posts: 96 Member
    Bump too. I'm doing the NC one in late August.
  • MindyC7609
    MindyC7609 Posts: 33 Member
    I've not done that race before, but I'm assuming it's a 5K? If so, here's my advice for your first 5K: RELAX! Just go out and enjoy the run. You won't win, but that's not what you're there for. Start at a COMFORTABLE pace, don't get caught up in the excitement and make the mistake of trying to stick with the pack out front. Save something for the kick at the end. Don't worry about what your time is -- whatever it ends up being, plan to run a better time in your next 5K...because there WILL be another. LOL! 5Ks are addictive!

    BTW, all I did to prepare for my first 5K was make sure I was comfortable doing 3 miles. I had already been running for 6 months before my first 5K, but signing up for my first race was when I decided to take running more seriously. That was in the spring of 2009, and I worked my way up to my first half-marathon that fall.

    Relax, enjoy your race and get ready to sign up for another. :o) Have fun!

    ETA: OOPS! Didn't realize it's one of THOSE races, with the mud and all. Ignore my tips. LOL! Maybe they'll help someone doing a 5K in the future. :o)
  • edorice
    edorice Posts: 4,519 Member
    We have the Dash here in April. I was a spectator at a very similar race a few months ago. Along with your 5K training I would recommend that you work on P90X plyometrics every week. This will also help your stamina. And definitely do the weight days from P90X. You're going to be crawling through mud, so I would wear something light weight. Go back to the site and check out the obsticle course.
  • HeatherMN
    HeatherMN Posts: 3,821 Member
    I would love to see tips. I'm registered for the Minnesota one in July. My plan is to do lots of running and practice hoisting myself up onto playground equipment!
  • Mint_Berry_Crunch
    Mint_Berry_Crunch Posts: 27
    All you're going to need to prepare for really is your cardio vascular system. Run. A lot. If you have minimal upper body strength, try incorporating some upper body work in with your running. I like to use 5# hand weights and do various movements with them while doing intervals....sprint for 45 seconds full speed ahead, then cut back to 4mph or whatever is a brisk walking pace for you, and pull out the weights while doing the slower pace, for 90 seconds, put the weights down and crank it back up to full speed ahead. You do this for 20-30 minutes a day and you'll notice a nice increase in your upper body strength and youll develop more than enough cardio vascular endurance to get through the dash.

    Our's is in August and I can't freakin wait!
  • Mint_Berry_Crunch
    Mint_Berry_Crunch Posts: 27
    Bump too. I'm doing the NC one in late August.

    Oh ya?? Me too! Are you wearing a costume? I totally am. This is going to be a blast!
  • vals83
    vals83 Posts: 63 Member
    I'm doing one in August, in CO. I signed up for a boot camp that constantly test endurance lots of calethentics which is great for an event like that.
  • pammilou
    pammilou Posts: 96 Member
    I hadn't even thought about the costume yet...hmmm... that'd be fun! I'll def'ly need to look for ideas on something that won't get in the way (thinking about The Incredibles and the warning about capes ;) haha!)

    How about shoes? That's actually something that's puzzles me - with all of that mud, how do you keep your shoes on??

    Pam
  • Mint_Berry_Crunch
    Mint_Berry_Crunch Posts: 27
    You wear decent running/hiking shoes. I'm wearing my merrils probably. Expect them to be junked out by the end though. The cool thing is, they have this big pile at the end of the event where you can throw your shoes. They recycle them :)
  • Teemo
    Teemo Posts: 338
    Doing the New York one!
  • sbilyeu75
    sbilyeu75 Posts: 567 Member
    Any thoughts on wearing Vibrams for the dash? I just signed up for the one in Ohio. I'm nervous about the whole rappelling, does anyone have any insight into that?
  • Teemo
    Teemo Posts: 338
    Any thoughts on wearing Vibrams for the dash? I just signed up for the one in Ohio. I'm nervous about the whole rappelling, does anyone have any insight into that?

    I wouldn't only because I wouldn't want my Vibrams ruined by all the mud? I have an old pair of running shoes that I've been nursing along for this.
  • tdonlin
    tdonlin Posts: 934 Member
    I did one last September and am signed up for 2 more this year in July here in WA & September again in OR. Find a steep hill and start jogging up and down it. It was the hills that kicked my butt more than anything else. Some of the water obstacles can be a bit of a challenge but use the buddy system and it's no problem. Wear decent shoes. You can donate them or just rinse and wash them when you get home. It was an absolute blast.
  • sbilyeu75
    sbilyeu75 Posts: 567 Member
    Any thoughts on wearing Vibrams for the dash? I just signed up for the one in Ohio. I'm nervous about the whole rappelling, does anyone have any insight into that?

    I wouldn't only because I wouldn't want my Vibrams ruined by all the mud? I have an old pair of running shoes that I've been nursing along for this.

    I thought about the that, but I can't help but think they would be nice and light weight (in comparison) to regular shoes. What is involved in the rappelling?
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    June in Pennsylvania. I'm excited! My husband is terrified.
  • HeatherMN
    HeatherMN Posts: 3,821 Member
    June in Pennsylvania. I'm excited! My husband is terrified.

    Funny! I'm excited and my boyfriend is not looking forward to it. I kind of made him agree to do it in case I needed a boost over the military wall.

    As for shoes, I have a pair of running shoes that I don't really use anymore, but am SO glad now that I didn't throw them away yet! They're already terribly dirty, so won't look much worse after the Dash.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    My husband isn't participating. We're calling him "our photographer." Two of my brothers, my SIL, a niece, her fiance (he'll be a husband by then!), and some other friends are doing it. One brother and the SIL are EMTs, so I joke that I'm bringing my own medical professionals. :laugh:
  • mam734
    mam734 Posts: 21
    Hey Jenn, Me and some guys from work are going to do the Dash in MI also. Looks like a blast! I'm interested to see what some of the training tips are.
  • jen0619
    jen0619 Posts: 414
    I have completed two and they are not terrible difficult seeing as how they are designed for all ages, but they are super fun. Definitely strength train though along with being to run a 5k. If you are going to run make sure you do it outside and on different terrain than just pavement. I'm sure you will do WAYY better than you think, just be prepared to get DIRTY!
  • warriornervous
    warriornervous Posts: 1
    I am very nervous about the rappelling in the Warrior Dash. I have never rappelled before (I'm sure I'm not even sure I am spelling it right. lol). Do they already have the gear there and have the rope tied down? Anybody know how it works? I would hate to do all that running just to chicken out on the first obstacle.
  • MissTomGettingThin
    MissTomGettingThin Posts: 776 Member
    I'm in the UK
    Does anyone know of anything like this over here?
    Sounds a blast!
  • sbilyeu75
    sbilyeu75 Posts: 567 Member
    I am very nervous about the rappelling in the Warrior Dash. I have never rappelled before (I'm sure I'm not even sure I am spelling it right. lol). Do they already have the gear there and have the rope tied down? Anybody know how it works? I would hate to do all that running just to chicken out on the first obstacle.

    I think it may be just climbing with a rope. I was worried about it, but now I'm more concerned with getting my big butt over the walls.
  • Naynee
    Naynee Posts: 4 Member
    I ran the Warrier Dash in Florida in January and it was harder than I expected (I do 10Ks, halfs, and sprint tris so I'm in decent shape). If you run AT ALL, you will be fine. Our course had a lot of mud.....as in, knee deep mud. I don't know what can prepare you for running in knee deep mud....maybe incline running or running in the sand.

    There were people of all shapes, weights, and abilities and ANYONE can do any of the obstacles. There are people at every obstacle to help you along if you need it. Our course also had three different cargo nets-two horizontal and one vertical, a make-shift balance beam, an obstacle where you run over hale bails and one where you climb over cars. My least fav was crawling through a giant tent filled with mud in the dark. There were 2x4s supporting the tent so you had to crawl-if you stood up, you'd bang your head.

    Sign up for an early heat if you can. The later you go, the messier the course. This race is so much more about fun than time and I'd recommend it to anyone!
  • Naynee
    Naynee Posts: 4 Member
    I have done the WD. I climbed a cargo net, but there was no rappelling-you climb back down another cargo net on the other side. I can't imagine there would be any rappeling because it would take too long to get everyone rigged up. Our heat was 500 people so there would be no way.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    Any thoughts on wearing Vibrams for the dash? I just signed up for the one in Ohio. I'm nervous about the whole rappelling, does anyone have any insight into that?

    My brother and niece did one last year. They said at the end the organizers gathered muddy donated shoes to clean up for charity to send to a 3rd world country for shoes. He told me when I do it this year, wear old shoes and clothes that I will want to throw away when I'm done.
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