Thoughts on the Spartan World Championship

So I finally got to watch the Spartan Race World Championship! They aired it on NBC Sports last weekend but that's a channel I don't have. Luckily someone put it up on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c_8LeMOktQ

I highly recommend that you watch it. It's an hour long but SO worth it. Here's why

Spartan Races are hard. Challenging. But human beings need challenge in their lives. If you watch the video at one point they say "You wouldn't buy a Ferrari and just let it sit there collecting dust" So why would you do that with this amazing body you've been given? We're not being physically challenged anymore. Everything is done for us. This race is about getting back to what human beings were meant to do - run, sweat, swim, crawl, jump, climb - and get dirty! You will face your fears. Huge walls, heights, water, sharp things, fire, take your pick. But when you're out there, there's no room for fear. You realize you have to suck it up, take one step at a time, and literally pull yourself through it all. You can't let yourself think about it - you just have to do it. And it's not easy. You will hurt, you will bleed, you will shiver, you will sweat, you will curse and you will cry. But trust me when I say, the feeling of completing the hardest obstacles and crossing the finish line - is just unreal. It's worth all the suffering. Because these races TRULY show you what you are made of. You will discover that you are capable of things you never dreamed you could do. I truly believe Spartan Race can change your life.

This video was a great watch. It introduces you to the race - it's origins, what it's about, and the types of people who run it. They mostly focus on the elite heats, which makes sense since it is a world championship. But it also touches on the open heats and shares the stories of some of the racers. Some of these stories were incredible - people who were 500 and 700 pounds, a 14 year old girl who was racing for her father who passed away, a man who survived brain cancer, and even a man who rode his bike from Texas to Vermont just to be in the race! There are average joes out there doing this. There are people who have no legs out there doing this. And you'll see in the video that even these super fit elite athletes struggle on the course at times. Everyone is out there pushing the limits of their own bodies and fighting to finish. it is truly unifying.

It was interesting to watch the elite racers get through what is known as the hardest course in Spartan history. I had never seen them race before, and some of them make it look SO easy! The way they crawl up those ropes and just scramble through that barb wire is absolutely nuts. But every single elite had their own battle, whether it was the rope climb, tyrolean, barb wire pit, or just the freezing cold water - everyone's got a weak spot to overcome.

I think I will make the Vermont Beast a bucket list item for me. I've actually been to Killington as a kid on a ski trip (loved it) so I kind of feel like I have to go back ...
I cannot wait to get back to Conyers in March for the Georgia Sprint. One year will have been too long. But in 2014 I have alot to look forward to. I'm signed up for the Carolina Sprint, and have the Asheville Super and Carolina Beast in my sights as well. I really do love this sport. It's addictive, thrilling, and incredibly empowering. And I'd recommend it to anyone...