Atlanta Spartan Sprint

Arrroooo!!!

I ran the Atlanta Spartan Sprint yesterday!

This year had a much bigger turnout than last year, which is something I was absolutely expecting because Spartan Race has exploded in popularity. The festival area was much larger than last year's and it also featured a little information wall. I didn't take much time to look at this in detail, I really just took a picture to have for later. Spartan Race is all about surprises on the course so I figured I could just let it all be a surprise for me.

My goal for this race was to - beat last year's time and/or complete an obstacle I failed last year. I wore my old running watch so I could keep track of the time.

Spear Throw

The elites were finishing when I arrived so I got to watch a few of them go through the course before I had to start getting ready. It was about 50 degrees when my heat started at 9am, which is my ideal kind of weather. I wore a short sleeve shirt and capris that cover my knees - a lesson learned from last year's Spartan race! Once the opening speech and warcries were done, off we went! The first obstacles were some basic over/unders involving some small walls. Then it was into the woods. I love the trails at this venue - somewhat hilly, narrow, rocky, and like last year we ran through the creek a little bit. After a little while on the trails we met the first big obstacle - the inverted wall (example here). This is a new one, it's basically a wall that is slanted towards you at an angle. It was tough to get over but I did it with no problems. Right afterwards was the mile 1 aid station. I ate some food here just to stay ahead of my hypoglycemia. Then it was back onto the trails.

Rope Climb

Next up was the mud hills. 4 hills of mud - slide down the hill into a pit of muddy water about chest deep, wade across it, then pull yourself up the next mud hill using a rope. This water was cold! I kind of experienced that heart stopping feeling in my chest, but I just remembered to breathe slowly and not hyperventilate. Once I did that I calmed down instantly. The people next to me jumped right into the pits not realizing how cold the water would be. They paid for it dearly and immediately freaked out once the cold hit them! After that obstacle was behind me I could run again and get warmed up. Next up was the spear throw, and my first 30 burpees of the day. I need to start throwing the spears harder.

Traverse Wall

Next was the Hercules hoist - one of my strong points! A heavy sandbag attached to a pulley that you have to hoist to the top and then bring back down. That was followed by the obstacle that goes over the entrance - a ladder climb to the top of a platform, then you walk across the beams and make sure you don't fall through the cracks. I saw a girl's fear of heights get the better of her here. You just have to keep moving and not think about it too much. Right after this obstacle was the traverse wall. Here is where I am mad at myself. Last year I failed this, I got to the 2nd to last block and fell off. Well for some reason, this year I had a hard time getting a grip on the first set of blocks to even begin the obstacle. I fell off at the very beginning. Ouch :( Oh well... I just couldn't get it for some reason.

Barb wire crawl

After this were the walls. They changed the walls this year - no ledges to help you climb up except for on the 8 foot wall, and you weren't allowed to use the side supports like they let you do last year. I tried to get up the wall by myself the first time, fell down and bruised the hell out of my right arm, then eventually had to ask someone to help me get over the wall. My arms were like jelly by this stage, it was getting really hard to hoist myself over these walls. Once I was over the walls it was back into the woods for more trail running. I was still running, even up the hills which reduced most others to a walk. The next up I believe was the sandbag carry. Simple enough. But the following obstacle was brand new and BRUTAL. Instead of tire flipping, this year they had a tire attached to a rope which was staked into the ground. You drag the tire out so the rope is extended and completely straight, then walk back and pull the tire towards you using the rope. When I went to pick up my tire to carry it out, IT DID NOT MOVE. Oh god. I sat down on my ass and just started pulling, and inch by inch it was moving VERY SLOWLY. Did I mention that this tire is in the mud? I finally got it to the end, walked back, and started to pull my rope. NOPE. The volunteer felt bad for me I guess so she helped me out a little bit. It seemed to move much easier after that. After much pulling and grunting my tire was back home and I was done! That one was hard, and it wasn't just me - the girl next to me walked up to her tire, tried to pull it, and said "Yeah this thing is not moving, I'm doing burpees!" It was hard but I'm glad I did mine.

More wooded trails and hilly descents led us to something new for this year - The Gamble. Pick a trail. The left path led directly in front of us - a cargo net climb up a CLIFF. Here is the photo courtesy of Spartan Race's blog. The picture does not do this thing justice. The path to the right was unknown - you didn't have to face the cliff, but it was the longer route according to the volunteer. Many people took the right path. Oh no. I couldn't do it, I had to face the cliff. How could I not? I got to the far right side because I'm slow, and started climbin! At the top it was pretty much a 90 degree angle and it was getting harder to get my footing on the ropes. But I was moving steadily along, as a volunteer shouted "We got some Spartan Chicks killing this rope!" Yeah! Also, they said the way around was a big ass hill, so the people who took it over the cliff were not getting a break. I figured you had to get up the hill one way or another and I guess I was right.

Next up was the log hop around mile 4. Another failure for me. I'm just not a good balancer. But you know what, at least I tried it. Almost every other person was having people hold their hand as they crossed it. Even a volunteer held someone's hand! Yes, 30 more burpees, followed by 30 more at the rope climb. I just can't get that rope! Then we entered the infamous Georgia clay filled barb wire crawl. I was in a predicament here. I slid in on my belly, then rolled around to avoid sliding face first into the pool of mud at the bottom. But I realized there was some low hanging barb wire which threatened to cut my face. So in one perfect move I slid down, rolled on my side, and shielded my face. I passed through unscathed, and the guy next to me said "Nice save!" Next up, the muddy incline. Pull yourself up an incline with a rope. I did much better than last year, when I almost fell off and had to pull myself all the way up using only my arms. After this was the long crawl. Another thing I did much much better this time around. I have really learned alot about how to crawl, and got through this much faster and with zero stops. My calf did start to cramp at the end of it, but I got through it and over the fire pit - yes we had a fire pit this year! Over the fire, through the gladiators and across the finish line!

1:59 was my time. Not better than last year but this course was longer. I compared my stats to last year and I actually was faster per mile, so that's good at least. I also was not nearly as exhausted. My arms were completely gone, but endurance wise I was still good to run and move a little while longer. Last year I was totally spent at the finish line. I got my recovery food/beer/merch.

I had to get this!!!

The new medal style (2014) plus they attached the old one. I am not a fan of the new pie shaped medals, but there you go.

Spartan Race is definitely humbling. Even though I did it last year, I have definitely slacked on my strength training this year and I paid for it on that course. I absolutely have to revise my plan and dedicate more time for upper body work, since I am aiming to get my trifecta this year. Ahead of me lies the Super and the Beast. I have got to be ready!

Fun, challenging, harder than last year, and empowering. That pretty much sums up my experience. And I'll be back in 2 weeks for the Charlotte sprint!