2017 Chicago Spartan Super

 Race: 2017 Chicago Spartan Super

Date: June 10th, 2017

Time: 1:27:20

Place:  68/209

Pre-Race Conditions:

I didn’t think I would have seen the course map before writing this but I did. Someone had shared it and I got a good look and decent plan. Hopefully my training works well in this race. I have been focused so much on cardio and running I still haven’t done a ton of strength. I did spend some time the last couple weeks doing the normal push up and pull up routines as well as more of the PT exercises for my legs. Hopefully it will be enough. This race is going to rely on cardio to get me through it. It looks like a runner friendly course that’s incredibly back loaded. I think as long as I keep control and don’t red line too early I have a good shot at a top finish. I want that coin. Knowing my weaknesses in this race I am going to use it as a gauge to see where I need to be in September. Also, made it back to The Edge Sunday for a bit of ninja training. My grip strength is definitely a concern on this course. I will need to spend more time there going into Michigan to get rid of this nervousness. Should get back to the rock wall too! 

I Ran the Ohio Beast and Sprint a few weeks ago. The Beast was fun and got to try the new obstacles Twister is hell. Grip, focus and strength. I was doing burpees there both days. I figured out Olympus the second day so should have that nailed. I hit my last 4 for 4 spear throws so there is no better adrenaline rush as that to get me going.  Beast and sprint course only had 3 penalties combined. Thanks Twister. It was a good confidence boost that has me thinking about training Asheville in prep for Michigan. I’m confident I can complete all the obstacles but stringing them all together will be the ultimate test. 

I’ll just have to gauge the pace of the pack and stay where I want to be most likely up towards the front then drop back and keep in control leading up to my guess at a long heavy carry the crush mile 8. If I stay in control a penalty late may not hurt me as bad and still may keep me placed well. 

 

Race Recap:

Another HOT Spartan in Chicago like the last 2 years. I was not feeling this run this weekend. Even during my warmup on Saturday morning my heart rate just felt high and I struggled to get moving. Something was just off with me. 

Getting onto the course the Elite pack was bunched up a lot more than normal as we got through the first few obstacles. I probably started faster than I should have but was trying to maintain some decent position and not get caught in the pack. I didn’t feel bad that first few miles moving at 7:30/7:20 pace. I did get a bit held up at Herc but still managed to get it completed before the guy next to me even got his bag to the top. Same with the plate drag, got held up but got mine done and moving before the rest of the pack. Crushed the early obstacles and did most of my passing there. That got me into mile 2 moving good, trying to save some in the tank for what I know was a hard grip gauntlet at the last ¾ mile of the race. That Twister was up there and and I was worrying about my grip lasting. The next few miles flew by but I was still unable to find that top gear and really get moving. My legs felt fine, breathing was ok but my chest just wasn’t letting me get to a good speed I know I’m capable of. I tried to push a couple times but just couldn’t. 

After those nice few miles we finally got to the end run gauntlet. A ¼ mile 80 pound sandbag carry. I was so relieved when I got here that it wasn’t buckets. Still knowing those were ahead I grabbed my bag and got a good walk going keeping a decent pace but not running up my heart rate. I lost one position here to someone jogging by by completely blew by him after I dropped my bag and headed toward the 8’ wall. Then Olympus, a short Bucket Brigade with the heavier pea gravel that destroyed my forearms, and the longest barbed wire crawl any of us had ever seen. I had it about 400 feet long and it was low. I blew up trying to crawl, roll, slide, do whatever I could do to keep moving forward stopping time to time trying to figure out what part of me wouldn’t let me go. I didn’t feel like I should be struggling as much as I was.  Finally after a few minutes of battling I got to the end and hit the quick jog up through the woods to emerge right at twister. A couple guys ahead of me were just getting going so I stopped to catch my breath and watched them both fall. I jumped up one last breath and slowly made my way through. First section done, second, got half way through the third made 2 moves and hit the bell to move on. No burpees. 

Next in the gauntlet was the spear that I grabbed, aimed and threw dead center. Took off at a good pace aimed at the A-frame, up and over and rolled down the net to the bottom. Next to the rope where I took 10 seconds to catch my breath; hit the bell easily. Off to the all ring rig that I did at a leisurely pace making sure not to make mistakes. After that it was a dead sprint up the slip wall over the fire and across the finish mat to a 68th/209 finish. 

Not the race I wanted to run. I should have placed higher but want to focus on the positive that it was a clean race, didn’t get hurt and was able to run a decently fast race on Sunday in the competitive heat. 

The Bad:

I’m not sure why I couldn’t find that top gear. I have held faster miles during training and know I am faster than I was out there on the course. Something wasn’t clicking and it’s something to figure out. If I can figure out the formula to feel as good as I did at Glass City I will be able to kill Michigan. 

 

The Good:

2 PENALTY FREE LOOPS!!! 6/6 this year on the spear throw. Running the Super on Saturday and Sprint on Sunday I managed to not have to do any burpees. I learned that even with the Gauntlet of obstacles at the end if I think though what I’m doing I can complete everything. I learned more of what I need to focus on and had fun out on the course with team Spartan 4-0. 

Moral of the Story:

I need to keep running and figure out my recipe to feel great on race day. When I get one of those days I have no issues redlining. I found some grip strength and barbed wire crawl issues to work on. More strength / pull ups and a bucket full of gravel to carry around the block in the near future.