SPARTAN RACE IN BOHOL REVIEW BY PAUL CATHERALL

Following fast on the heels of the Spartan Trail Race two weeks ago, I entered the Spartan Sprint Race in Bohol.

The Spartan Sprint is a 5k run, with 20 obstacles thrown in for good measure. The 20 obstacles consist of a myriad of events to test your mind, body, and soul. They range from the A-frame, and the Z-wall (no, not all obstacles are letter-related) to the Atlas carry, monkey bars, and the spear throw (not an actual spear, more like a javelin).

At this point, I feel I must point out that for any failed obstacles you have to do 30 burpees, chest to floor burpees…Yes, those ones.

My training for this race focused more on my grip strength and overall functionality, rather than just pure running. The training included Smith Machine pull-ups, back squats, Romanian Deadlifts, and, burpees, A LOT of burpees (Thanks Coach JoBo!).

The final 2-3 days before the race, the priority moved to stretch, making sure that I was in a good condition before the race.

The day of the race, April 2nd broke with a threat of rain, which, is not a bad thing for these types of races. The go-time was locked in at 9 am, and we arrived at the venue a good 1 hour before to soak in the atmosphere and get the pre-race work done.

I don’t know about you, but my preference, whether that golf, rugby, or a race, I want to get there early and get everything done. I hate the thought of rushing at the last minute before the gun goes!

8:45 am, “SPARTANS! WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION?” This is the chant that summons all the Spartans to the start line.

While it may sound a little cheesy, it certainly does get the blood boiling and gets you ready to attack the course, AND, what a course!!

2k run/swim on a picture-perfect postcard beach, which despite banging my head into an overhanging stone wall, could not dampen my spirits. After the first 2k, we get into the first “pack” of obstacles. We start with the sledge-pull, spear throw and Atlas Carry.

A real test of technique and brute strength (and I’m about as graceful as a giraffe on roller stakes, on an ice-rink), so, you can imagine how I fared with these!!

I don’t want to bore you with my experience of all the obstacles, of how everyone pulled everyone else through the course, how the feel of teamwork is unlike anything I have experienced before and, what a wonderful flat and fast course the team at Spartan had put together.

Want I do want to bore you with is the fact that this was the best Spartan Experience I have had, par none.

The course was perfect, the volunteers were and are amazing, the obstacles were tough and honest (as they should be) and, more importantly, whenever I took a minute to soak it all in all, I saw smiles, I saw teamwork and I saw people giving their 100%.

If that is not the definition of what Spartan Races are all about, I don’t know what is.

Spartan Race at Bohol - Well DONE!! Simply Well Effing DONE!!!

Thank you for reading this article!

I really hope that you enjoyed it! If you did, please hit the LIKE button and leave a feedback on the comment section below. Let me know your thoughts! Good or bad, it means so much to me. Also, feel free to SHARE this with you network!

If you are interested to collaborate with me, don't hesitate to ping me on my social media accounts, lets talk about it!

Instagram: paulcatherall_

Facebook: Paul Catherall

Linkedin: Paul Catherall

Email: [email protected]

Have a nice day everyone! Till my next article!

Some of the images are not mine, credits to the rightful owner.