Just to update you on a great weekends racing with Spartan Race and my first top ten finish.
We had a double header this weekend, an 8 mile Spartan Super on Saturday, and 4 mile Spartan Sprint on Sunday. The super was two laps of the same course, but carrying a house brick for the second lap! Amazing the challenges that presented in getting over the obstacles!
I struggled to find my rhythm on the first lap of the Super, slipping to the late twenties by the end of the first lap, but once I picked up the brick I felt my energy kick in and started to make up some good ground and take back some places. Coming back into the stadium area I could see the 3 competitors ahead, and really pushed to catch them for the finish.
One missed the spear throw, so I passed him as mine hit its mark and I saw the other two struggling on the weighted hoist as I threw myself over the cargo net. My technique was spot on and I hoisted the block to get ahead of one then entered into a sprint finish with the other, over the fire jump - I was chuffed to take 16th in heat at the line (ending 21st overall) but better was to come on Sunday. I knew it was my last chance till the November half marathon to try for a top ten so really focused myself on pushing hard through the 4 miles. The pace was electric but at the half way point I could see I was in 7th and holding my own. Despite a gladiator sending me to my feet near the finish I came home in 7th and my first top ten - in sight of the podium :)
I then ran the course again with wife Becky just for fun, and she smashed her PB by over 30 minutes! Top result for us both
We had a double header this weekend, an 8 mile Spartan Super on Saturday, and 4 mile Spartan Sprint on Sunday. The super was two laps of the same course, but carrying a house brick for the second lap! Amazing the challenges that presented in getting over the obstacles!
I struggled to find my rhythm on the first lap of the Super, slipping to the late twenties by the end of the first lap, but once I picked up the brick I felt my energy kick in and started to make up some good ground and take back some places. Coming back into the stadium area I could see the 3 competitors ahead, and really pushed to catch them for the finish.
One missed the spear throw, so I passed him as mine hit its mark and I saw the other two struggling on the weighted hoist as I threw myself over the cargo net. My technique was spot on and I hoisted the block to get ahead of one then entered into a sprint finish with the other, over the fire jump - I was chuffed to take 16th in heat at the line (ending 21st overall) but better was to come on Sunday. I knew it was my last chance till the November half marathon to try for a top ten so really focused myself on pushing hard through the 4 miles. The pace was electric but at the half way point I could see I was in 7th and holding my own. Despite a gladiator sending me to my feet near the finish I came home in 7th and my first top ten - in sight of the podium :)
I then ran the course again with wife Becky just for fun, and she smashed her PB by over 30 minutes! Top result for us both