The tagline for Spartan Race is “you’ll know at the finish line”. Even though yesterday was my third Spartan Race, I still didn’t know until the finish. I registered for this race right after I finished it last year, and completely forgot until about 6 weeks ago, when I realized I hadn’t done a thing to train (in my defense, last year it was in September instead of July). Then we promptly went to the shore for two weeks and instead of getting into better shape, I got worse. I didn’t know if I wanted to do it at all.
In case you haven’t encountered these crazies yet, there’s a new field of racing called obstacle course races. Similar to mud runs because, well, you get muddy, but way, way harder. The shortest race, a “sprint”, is 3+ miles and has over a dozen obstacles (like 6′ wooden walls, climbing nets, carrying a cinder block up a hill, spear throws, etc.) Check out SpartanRace.com for videos and Wikipedia for a description. The race I’d committed to was 5 miles straight up a mountain (a ski slope), through rocky trails and ravens and of course, climbing under barbed wire on rocky ground while being sprayed with a giant hose. My idea of a fun Saturday morning?
I didn’t know. I wavered the days leading up to the race, the night before, even as we loaded into the car. I wavered at the starting line and regularly throughout the course (when, I believe, it’s normal to wonder, why am I doing this?) It wasn’t until the finish line –or close to it– that I remembered how cool these races are. Because they kick your ass. They push your limits and scare the hell out of you (for example, having climbed up a slippery wet rope to find yourself now hanging 25′ in the air, exhausted; or having a gladiator run at you, intent to pound you with his pugil stick). Then you jump the fire, conquer, and feel so proud you might explode (at least your sore muscles).
I did know at the finish line. And maybe this time I’ll remember– because I’m going to register for next year’s race right now 
May 23, 2013 at 8:16 pm 
May 22, 2013 at 10:49 am 
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