A Blow To The Ego, But The Right Move - Today's Spartan Beast Race

If I'm going to be honest with you, I have a bit of pride.

This is probably most apparent when it comes to physical achievements.

I've accomplished quite a bit over the years.

I achieved a second-degree black belt in martial arts before going to college.

l was a top Varsity Cross Country Runner on my team, with my best race being finished in under 16 minutes.

My Varsity Lacrosse Coach in high school didn't care for my style of play, despite having been Team Captain of JV prior, so I did whatever I needed to get on an NCAA team and ended up as one of our top players.

However, most recently I have been focused on Spartan Races.

In 2019, I had my first race which was a required part of a certification I was working on, and I loved it.

It was an 8-mile Super race (They are shorter now), and I knew it was awesome!

I've been racing ever since!

I've completed multiple trifectas, as well as 2 Spartan Ultras (50k race with 60+ obstacles).

However, there was a big problem that occurred.

I injured myself at the end of last year, and I haven't recovered back to where I was.

Not being able to train at the same levels that I've been used to?

At the levels I've been pushing myself at for as many years as I can remember?

It has been a huge blow to my ego.

There are some exercises that I have had no problems with in the past that I am still having issues with now.

As someone who has always had a "go go go" mentality, this has felt like a nightmare at times.

Go slow?

Do less?

It's not something that I want to do!

It has been a huge lesson in patience and handling my emotions.

However, I was tested again getting ready for this weekend.

Ultras were becoming my "norm" between 2021 and 2022.

But was I ready to run another?

I wanted to run it with every fiber of my being.

The only other option was to move "back" to a Beast (21k race with 30 obstacles).

Move back?

I haven't moved back with my fitness like that ever!

I haven't run a Beast since 2020!

That was a virtual race (due to the pandemic) and I also ran a Sprint (5k) and Super (10k) the same weekend!

Would I really backtrack this far?

The honest truth was that even though my ego was saying go for the Ultra, I wasn't even sure I could complete the Beast.

I hated to admit that, but my body was saying that the Beast was the way to go.

I would at least still finish my Trifecta for the year, so it wouldn't be a total loss.

However, my tests were just beginning.

My wonderful spouse attends these events with me and is extremely supportive.

However, it's hard to tell where people are in the race.

So she asked me, very innocently, "How long do you think it'll take you?"

Reality hit me again.

I have usually finished in the lower 3.5-hour mark in the past.

However, I have never been injured while doing a Beast.

If my training was an indication, I would be closer to the 4.5 or 5-hour mark.

It was another blow.

However, I wanted to tell my spouse the truth so she was prepared.

Then, I got to the starting line.

It started.

I told myself from the beginning that I wasn't in the same shape.

My body wanted to dash faster.

But I kept saying no.

Don't tear yourself to shreds.

Don't make things worse.

It was another blow to the ego every time I told it to myself, but I needed to listen to my body.

Then came one of the obstacles.

It was one that I've never failed in 4 years of racing, called Olympus.

This year, they made a change that makes it significantly more difficult, in my opinion (I've been told it was due to safety, so I can't blame them).

However, I have done it successfully multiple times this year.

It was going well but I started to struggle around halfway through.

I was in the last 5% of the obstacle, and SLIP!

I lost my grip and fell to the ground.

Anger swelled in me.

How could I fail this obstacle?!

But you can't get caught up in the moment - you must keep going.

There was a second obstacle I missed as well, called the Ape Hanger.

In fairness, I've never done it before, and it requires something I'm notoriously weak at, arm strength.

So, I don't feel too bad about that one, my ego is ok.

There was one more struggle for me, though.

I hit mile marker 9, and the pain started.

I knew I was going to need to slow down.

By mile marker 10, I could only walk.

My brain was saying GO!

But I listened to my body.

So, I continued at that pace.

That horribly, slow pace.

But I didn't stop.

I got to the finish line.

My ego felt defeated, but I made it.

Then, I looked at my finish time.

3 hours and 43 minutes.

Under 4 hours, and honestly not far behind my "norm".

Had I managed to get so far ahead at the beginning that I was able to keep close to my previous results?

It seemed impossible, but the timer does not lie.

So, looking at everything now, I would say today was a success.

It may not have been an Ultra, I may have needed to walk, and I may have failed one of the obstacles for the first time in 4 years of racing.

However, in some ways, there were a lot of successes.

I still finished my Trifecta for the year.

I only missed 2 obstacles, one of which I've never attempted before, and I got all 28 other obstacles.

Plus, I must have been doing excellent at the first part of my race given the finish time!

Sometimes, you must let go of the ego and go a little slower to see things that are easy to miss.

Perhaps, even though I'm not fully recovered, I'm building a stronger base than I had before.

Maybe with a bit more time, I will be better than ever.