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Spartan Race

I am brand new to the "fitbit" social world and would like to know if anyone has any good suggestions to prepare for the Spartan races. My friends got me into the sprint in September and I have no clue how to prepare mentally/physically and how to get through the race day of.

 

Thanks in advance for suggestions 😃

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A Spartan Race looks similar to an obstacle course in the military. I suggest simulating as many of the obstacles as you can and practicing them. The secret to the race is being quick on the obstacles. 

 

Mentally, I suggest learning to calm your mind so you don't stray into an anerobic sprint. Even 10 seconds of this can make the rest of the race miserable. Just because it's called a sprint doesn't mean you have to sprint. The race is likely too long for that.

 

You will likely have to climb a rope, jump a wall, swing across a water obstacle, crawl under something, dance through something like tires, etc. Learn how to make a step on the rope with your feet. Plant your foot on a wall at a run and use that as a pivot point to get to the top, and practice crawling under things like a rope tunnel you make in your backyard. You can likely find YouTube videos for all of these.

 

They look like lots of fun, so remember to have some both during the preparation and the race.

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thank you so much! I will take all of your suggestions. Been working on upper body strength more than anything else so hopefully that will not be such a downfall for me. 

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I've been in a couple - two suggestions:

1 - run/spring hills

2 - heavy carries (buy a bucket from Home Depot, fill it with gravel and carry it around)

 

Spartan's are a blast, don't burn yourself out at the start of the race, pace yourself and plan on finishing regardless of anything that happens (and something usually does happen).  When you're done - you'll feel like you've accomplished something...(it's true - not just good advertising).  Keep moving.  Good Luck!

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you can also try searching activity groups https://www.fitbit.com/groups to see if there is one dedicated to Spartan. I have friends who do it and they are addicted. have a blast!

Elena | Pennsylvania

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That's great, I'm sure it'll be a great experience @momlifefitlife. I've read so many great tips online, here are a couple of the ones that I've liked the most:

 

  • Warm up properly on race day

Everyone will be warming up with me prior to the race but make sure you warm up before hand on your own with a 8 – 10 min jog with stretches and strides. Keeping jogging on the spot when you come to the start line to keep the body warm. This lubricates the body and reduces any risk of injury.

 

  • Go at your own pace

Go at your own pace and gradually build up. The Beast will be at least 20km (12 miles) so you will be out for 2-4 hours. Avoid burning out too quickly and getting cramp later in the race by slowly building up.

Davide | Italian and English Community Moderator, Fitbit


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Props on signing up for a Spartan! AROO!

 

I'm doing a couple in sept too... Ft Bragg (NC) and then the Super at Wintergreen (VA).

 

If you've done other OCRs, you'll find that Spartans are by far most challenging and becuase of that, they are the are also the most redwarding OCRs to complete.

 

Working on BOTH strength and cardio are going to be key... with strength, i'd say that you'll use every muscle in your body, so there's not one thing to focus on, unless you know you're lacking in a given area.

 

On Spartan's website they have a few guides and lots of info on how to train for the different obstacles specifically. For me, grip strength is often an issue, so I'm working on that. I also picked up a bucket and filled it with gravel becuase I'm really bad at the bucket carry... my lower back can't carry the weight for very long. I train with that at least once a week.

 

If you can get your hands on a spear, practicing the spear toss is a good idea too... it's one of those obstacles that's theoretically easy, but has a high burpee rate none-the-less, which reminds me...burpees: do lots of burpees. If you 'fail' an obstacle, there's a 30 burpee penalty. The rope climb is another tough one - not having a place to practice, it wasn't until my fourth race (and 90 burpees) that I figured out the mechanics of it. Part of what makes the rope climb tough is that it's one of the few obstacles on the course that you can't really get help with if you're not good at it.

 

I'd also suggest pushing yourself beyond what you though you could do... In Mr. De Sena's book and on their podcast, there's a recurring theme that working outside of your comfort zone is where you'll actually grow/improve. IE: If you can run 3 miles easily, try going further or doing them faster.

 

And for running - if you can find hilly places to run, that would be great for training. The course itself in a Spartan race is usually the biggest obstacle you'll face - they find a way to make the terrain work against you from start to finish. If you're doing the Sprint at Wintergreen, I can't stress training by running hills enough, the steeper the better; The Wintergreen course is on the ski slope and for most of it you'r either ascending or descending. Very little of the course is across horizontal terrain. I had never run on inclines before the first time i did Wintergreen - it was humbling; I hadn't anticipated how steep the hills would be or how much running uphill saps energy.

 

 

Hope this helps!

 

PS: if you're looking for motiviation - I highly recommend Joe De Sena's book, Spartan UP! For me, it's was incredibly motivational and helped me get past hurdles that turned out to be mental more then they were physical...especially with respect to running, which I'm really bad at. The Spartan UP! Podcast is also awesome... I discovered it a few weeks ago and I now listen to it on my commute to and from work. The podcast specifically has been instrumental in helping me get back into fitness after the birth of my daughter and is largely responsible for why I'm going to go after a trifecta again this year, something I didn't think I'd be able to achieve. De Sena  also another book, this one about nutrition and training, coming out in August. (If you're wondering... I don't work for Spartan Race! :))

 

Good luck and have fun on the run!!

 

-C

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Wow, that's awesome @userzero, thanks for taking the time to share all that important information! Smiley Happy

Davide | Italian and English Community Moderator, Fitbit


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I am doing my first beast on Saturday and have done the sprint and the super.  I see the comments and they are dead on.  Do LOTS of hiking and I don't mean flat...climb a few hills, a few mountains.  Change your elevation by at least 1500 feet.  Do this every week.  I didn't take up fitness until late, and I am celebrating my 58th birthday at the Spartan race this Saturday.  You CAN do it.  Every time I go to the gym I do burpees...15 after every set of exercises (3 times).  I work on some monkey bars (although I always burpee them out) and a friend of mind made us a javeline (you can look online and see instructions how).  I also went to a class where the instructor built a 7 foot wall and gave us practice getting over it.  Do push ups...lots of body weight exercises....you CAN do this...there are lots of people on the course willing to help if you get stuck.  Don't be afraid...it's the best thing EVER.  I do plan to wrap and wear my fitbit on this one....

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@Tampabay_97 - Happy birthday! and props on being on your way to get your first trifecta! Especially if you're completing it with the beast @ killington - I understand it to be one of the most difficult courses.

 

Good advice with the burpees too... I was doing them very frequently until the last month... mixing them in with workouts... on leg day it would box-jump-burppees, on chest day it would be burpees with an extra push up, back day would be burpees-into-pullups. Unfortunately, that tapered off. I wore my Surge at the Ft Bragg Sprint and could see a significant difference in my pace after having to do my first set of 'em and again after my second set....darn multi-rig and traverse wall get me every time, thoug i will say, i made it further on each this time around. Hopefully I'll get through them in VA next week.

 

 

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Thanks!  Yes, of course you will!  We all have strengths.  I like the traverse wall.  Did a couple of times at the local Boulderdash Rock Climbing gym to get the hang of it.  The tri rig I just tap and head straight to burpee land.  No sense wasting energy.  A spartan racer I know said not to bother if you don't think you can achieve it.  You waste energy so just get your burpees done and move on. 

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Fantastic, that's impressive @Tampabay_97, thank for sharing your experience too, monkey bars have always been the hardest ones for me lol. You have a very inspiring story to tell. And happy birthday btw! Smiley Very Happy

Davide | Italian and English Community Moderator, Fitbit


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I hear ya... I did just that at the rig last year at both VA and SC. I'll usually try the traverse wall, since it's not a huge energy expense... i used to be able to do it no problem until they added the angles to it... i'm noticing that it's the outside corner that usually gets me. I actually just saw a video by Joe Di - he traversed the wall, while sipping on a coffee... made it look easy as walking.

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Just finished the SoCal Beast and did well.  100 degree heat was brutal and my start time of 12 noon didn't help, but we finished 'er up.  Loved the tyrolean traverse (upside down climb) and had no problem with the z wall where you walk around on the little blocks.  The inverted wall always scares me but I finished it.  I also managed the hercules hoist and sled pull unassisted this time, and didn't get critically injured (lots of bruises, a few blisters and some cuts and scrapes) so all in all a great day!

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That's awesome! My buddy just did the beast at Killington... Took him almost eight hours. Next week we're heading out to va for the super at wintergreen. I'm hoping this time I knock out the z wall... Getting tired of doing burpees. I was a bit sad from the Ft Bragg sprint a couple weeks ago... No scars 😞
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Ha!  Yes, the morning times were about an hour faster.  The 100 degrees was a killer.  Lots of people throwing up (not me thank god), getting heat exaustion, ambulence sounds in the air...fun fun.  My finish time was 6 hours and I don't think I could have done better.  90 burpees in all....monkey bars, tri rig and rope, so not bad.  Came in 4th in the afternoon heats for my division. 

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@Tampabay_97 ... Just knocked out the super at Virginia... Succeeded on the z-wall!! (first time in 5 races) made a bit further on the multi rig but didn't succeed there... Maybe SC will be a zero burpee race!
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@userzero how exciting and congratulations!  Finished the Beast last weekend in 100 degree heat with a noon start time (yeah....that was brutal beyond description).  Lots of people down from cramps, heat exhaustion/stroke, a number of broken ankles from the rock berm climbs and the rock strewn trails.  Crazy.  Z wall is a favorite of mine so was happy to see it at Mile 10.  This time my goal was to do the herc hoist unaided and I had no problem with it.  I always skip the multi-rig.  Hanging on to those baseballs just isn't my thing, so off to burpee land I went.  Finished 4th in the afternoon heats for my age division, 9th overall, so I'll take it. My goal is a top 3 and I think I can....I think I can....Did much better at the walls this time...far less bruised, so I'm getting it down. 🙂  AROOOOOOOO

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AROO!

4th in your division is awesome!!! (I'm happy to place in the top half... Not a very fast runner)

I've been wearing long/compression socks... No rope burn on my shin from the rope climb anymore and I was able to just drag my legs on the Tyrolean traverse with only minor bruising.
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Haha...well, the older you get the less people there are, and the more likely you get a top 10 finish 🙂  I don't mind the Tyrolean traverse.  Several of my group really struggled with it, but I have the one leg over the other one hand over the other pretty well down for that one.  I don't have the S or J hook for the rope, so have to work on that one.  Rope and Multi-rig and sometimes monkey bars are always my burpee zones.  I really need to learn to swing on the bars rather than facing forward and reaching for them.  That would help my multi rig as well.  Just not there yet...but someday.  

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