I find it amazing how quickly an event comes around, when you initially sign up you are thinking that you will do more of this and that and then all of sudden D day is here, and you are not as prepared as what you hoped you would be.  Today I was actually glad that I hadn't signed up for the 42km Ultra Beast, and after the days events I am actually glad I didn't.  Incredibly these events can play havoc with you mentally, and if you are not prepared, can and will affect your overall performance on the day, as I discovered just during the Beast.

I have always loved Spartan races, as these ones truly challenge you both physically and mentally, and you can also pin point your overall goals and achievements over a period of time.  Knowing the areas that you failed and then conquered are great milestones, however you need to remember WHY you do these things.  I started doing OCR racers because of how much fun it was and the people around me, and somewhere along the way I lost sight of that and started to put more and more pressure on my overall performance, with this time round challenging me more mentally rather then physcially.  I failed obstacles that I have never failed before and some took more out of me then anything else I could think of, the emotions started building and I completely lost my way, with inevitability causing me to breakdown on the course, more than once.

The great thing about doing these events, is seeing the familiar faces that share your overall goals, and whilst running or walking along people are there encouraging you every step of the way.  Probably if it wasn't for this I wouldn't have completed the course, as I was an emotional wreck, which when you tend to be  positive person, can take you by surprise.

Spartan Beast comprises of 20+ km with 25+ obstacles and the Sprint 7+ km with 15+ obstacles.  Having done both, there were of course a few adjustments to the course, with the Beast going further out with some additional obstacles thrown in, the course was truly spectacular with some amazing views of the Valleys within Lake Dewar.

The Beast included some additional obstacles including an additional spear throw, kettle bell carry, skipping rope and additional  hills.  Thanks to Anthony Bailey recap video, which helped remind me of the order of the obstacles. 

Even if you're no good at obstacles on the course, a lot of obstacle races are trial running specific, this is one area that I need to improve upon, just getting out there and doing trials will help with a lot of things from increasing speed and endurance. The trials had a variety of terrains from hill runs, valleys, fields and rock river crossing.  In true me style, I managed to twist my ankle as well as fall into the water during the river crossing. This happened quite early on, so was  not leading well into a good course.

Usually I can scamper straight through the multitude of cargo nets they seemed to have course, but this time I didn't take into consideration the hydration pack that consistently kept get caught in the net.  Only a little bit frustrating, next time, either throw it to the side or put in your front, or just drag it in your hand.  

There were a few climbs/or jumps, I still need to build up confidence just to run and jump over.  There seems to be a variety of techniques that ppl use, instead of my way of run, stop, jump and then over (really not the most efficient way).

The hole in the wall is an interesting one, as basically you can't really jump up and over, but jump up and threw.  I found some techniques to make this transition a little cleaner.  Click here to view.

This was part of the Beast wave only and wasn't part of the Sprint run.  Having practised this, and being taught by Richard Williams as part of the Highlander Project, I embraced the new way of actually holding the kettle bells, which did assist in the carry.  You carried the kettle bells downhill then uphill on the way back (always the way).

After this was another Cargo Net, with the same thing happening with the hydration pack, really should have learnt from the first one.

I don't think I have actually ever completed the spear throw, and went in with the wrong attitude.  Basically you need to throw a spear into the centre of a tyre thats dressed as a spartan enemy.  The funny thing is, I know I can do it, but I set myself up to fail, which is not the correct mindset to be in.  The good news was that the throw was actually not too bad, however I threw it too far to the right and missed completely.  At least I knew that I can get it, I just need to adjust the position.

It was also good to the spear throw so early on, as usually its towards the end of the course.  This was also not part of the Sprint run.

This was of course part of the Sprint, the main difference was that those doing the Beast you had to start at the button of a stupidly long hill, make your way to the top, pick up the sandbag, make your way back down, collect a washer and then make your way back up.  The Sprint missed out on the first hill, and started at the top.  This was definitely a calf killer, working your legs to the max.

Then it was a scurry to the first Toberalone,  up and over another wall and then a set of 4 Toberalones.

By this stage my head space was just not in it, I am not even sure how much time had passed, so I had to refocus a few times in order to complete the rope climb.  I know that I can do, so just trying to focus was key.  It also helped that Richard Williams had caught up with me from a different wave and was cheering me on.  All I wanted to do was get through it, my mind was all over the place, and I can feel myself diminishing and getting even more emotional.

This is another one that was only on the Beast course and not the Sprint.  Trust me this sounds easier than it actually was.  Not your normal skipping rope, but a thick short rope that you couldn't quite manoeuvre round, so it was literally taking it one skip at a time.

Again probably sounds easier than what it actually is, basically you a pulling a cubed shaped rock, so when your pulling it, it starts moving all around, and doesn't run smoothly and bumps along the path.  Of course the path isn't smooth either, so makes it a little more unstable.

Next up was another water crossing and time to get cold again.  Another Wall Climb and then it was over the Fire Pit  back over some more Toberalones.

I am little bit more comfortable with this obstacle, the only issue was actually trying to get my legs up onto the rope.  Its amazing how quickly mentally and physically you start to drain, and doing such simple tasks such as getting your legs up onto the rope seemed to be a difficult task. 

My usual technique went out the window, as I clambered across the rope.  They also usually have a ribbon so you know when you are at the end, so you just continued going until you pretty much hit your head on the next container, resulting in slipping off the end of the landing.  Things were definitely not boding well for me at this stage.

This was on the Sprint course too, was a little bit busier than the Beast throw.  Again I missed, can't even remember if I got close, and by the stage I felt I had the world on my shoulders and I just wanted it to be over.  So back over to do the 30 burpee penalty.  On the Sprint lap, still missed, but as no-one was around took this opportunity to actually spend some time practicing.  Of course practicing I managed to get 3 in a row (typical), but again I knew I could do it, I just needed to relax and not beat myself up about it, and then it was onto another Wall Climb.

At least this one you didnt have to think about, all you need to do is pick up a tyre and drag it around the course. Simples...

This one I used to struggle even to pick it up, but with some handy tips from some amazing people, I can easily pick up and carry a 35kg deadball, to be fair, its not that far to carry, but still I should be proud that I can actually do this now.

It was at this stage when Dave and Michael came back to meet me and support me through the rest of the course, to have the support through the rest of the course, is just what I needed, I was pretty much feeling at my lowest point, and was slowly getting through each of the obstacles without much thought or feeling.  It was hard not to break down after seeing them, but having them there really did help me get through to the end.
 
After this it was another freezing Water Crossing and then it was onto another Wall Climb and through another Hole in the Wall.

Yep another burpee penalty for me, more frustratingly I practice with a heavier weight and I still just bottled it.  All I had to do was get the ball over the wall onto the other side, should have been easier enough.  Even the second time round, there was a wobble at the top and luckily it went over.  Then it was back through some more Toberalones

Yep another burpee penalty was acquired here, and it was also the point when I just lost it mentally, it was such a horrible feeling, that I couldn't actually control my emotions.  I just wanted to finish and never see another obstacle course again, everything that has been happening at work and at home, just came flooding over me.  It was not a great place to be, especially when you just want to be positive and happy about everything.  Luckily for me it was one of the last obstacles before the end.

Another burpee penalty acquired I got cramp at the top and fell off.  I wasn't allowed to attempt it again.  I would have had climb up and over the top then across a cargo net and down the other side.  The second time round, it was just too busy, so we opted for the burpee penalty instead.

Oh wow, was not expecting just to break down right at the end, all the emotions of everything came rushing over me again, and poor Adrienne just hugged me until I stopped crying.  I lost everything on that course including my own confidence, spirit and positivity, I lost why I loved the sport and everything about it, but was reinforced when your  friends that you have made along the way, just come together and remind you why you do love this sport, because of the people.  

I was not ready to go and do it all again, and was really ready just to stay behind and support everyone else.  With some much needed persuasion from Dave, I did go out and do it again, but this time I took my time and enjoyed the journey.  Reminding me of why I do love this sport and will continue to love this sport, even when you have to fight through your own inner demons.  I know that things will get better, one step at a time. 

What better way than to get over being on holiday and taking a few weeks off sick than to get back into it with a 3 hour WOD courtesy of Spartan Australia in partnership of The Unite Project, a charity that raises funds to help homeless youths get back on track. 

It was another early start, setting off at 5am to do some errands and pick up Dave (he was working until 5.30am) and then driving to Geelong.  Having never actually stopped in Geelong before and only driven through it, the foreshore where Spartan WOD was taking place was just stunning, which was also enhanced with the dolphins playing in the bay (very distracting whilst you are trying to do a workout).  Will have to think about coming back for a tourist visit :)

What better place to start than the sandbags, there was a little trick at the start when they suggested that we choose a sandbag between two, automatically you think that we would be sharing this sandbag throughout this station, so naturally you go for a weight that you are comfortable with, nothing too crazy.  Then we had to get into a group and pass the bags around, one person using an overhand grip the other person using an underhand grip, by passing around the group, we of course then lost the original sandbag that we had chosen.

After this we then had to choose another person to partner with, I think I had the tallest and strongest person possible. She was definitely a lot fitter especially as half the time my legs didnt want to work.  We started of with some sandbags drills, including sprints runs, swapping sandbags at each end, we then did a variety of different drills which ranged from:

• Walking lunges (with sandbags)
  
• Sprint drills
  
• Overhead throws
  
• Sandbag burpee with push press
  

The boxing station was probably not my best efforts, but I still gave it a good go with a little distraction from the dolphins.  A combination of boxing drills were included with some body weight exercises included between sets. 

Lesson 2:
Do a burpee: You can get stronger and more efficient by doing a burpee the correct way and not just flopping.  Staying in control of all of the movements involved.  Tucking in and exploding upwards, being in control during the pushup and when kicking out with your legs, thinking about the plank position.  Also practice as much as you can, and there is no shame if you need to go onto your knees.

Lesson 3:
Smile - smiling can make such a big difference to your whole mind and body set, so doing a race with a smile will help.   This is the great thing, when you love actually competing in obstacle races, that the majority of the time, you can't actually help but smile, especially when you complete something you couldn't do before.

Lesson 4:
Dead ball carry, apart from the weight and the overall shape of the dead ball carry its probably not the easiest to pick up and get on your shoulder.  Starting in a squat position over the ball, put your hands underneath the ball, with straight arms and bracing your core - you lift.  From here you should be able to use momentum to get it on your shoulder.  Sadly the session was just finishing, so we could not practice, however I still got a lot out of the information. 

This station just gave me so much, it also reminded me that even the greats had to start somewhere and over time build a more efficient way of doing things.  Everyone has to start somewhere, and to remember that where they are today took a lot of courage, determination and discipline.

For me, this session would probably one of the hardest especially when your legs were feeling like lead weights anyway.  ZUU incorporates primal movements into your workout, so in this session we were doing a lot of frog squats, gorilla and bear crawls and many other types of exercises that I have no idea the name of.  #ZUU training is really full on, working all facets of your body, so there was no surprise that you soon started to hurt during this session.  The good thing was that at least we had music to try and drown out the pain of the exercises.

Having been trained by Kate Barsby #noexcusesbootcamp before during a Gut Check training session, I knew that she wouldn't be making this easy for us, plus we had already been  training for 2 hours so fatigue was setting in.  Paired up in twos, one person was on the rope whilst the other person did somebody weight.  

There were 4 sets of each (20 secs on 10 secs off)  exercises which included:
Double handed waves - burpee with star jumps
Alternate arms - push ups
Inner arm circles - burpees
Figure of 8 - holding the rope with both hands, using the ropes to create a figure of 8 - commando roll burpee
 
After each set, we then had to run around the section back to the start again.  At the end, Kate also through in the run up and down the hill, once back, holding the plank until everyone in the group was back.

Ropes are always a hard workout, regardless if you are doing it for 5 minutes of 50 minutes, it takes a lot of energy very quickly, your body and arms fatigue. 

Knowing full well that this station was located right next to a hill, I had no doubt that Richard Williams #endurancebootcamps would be sending us up and down it on quite  a few occasions.  However, this session was a little bit more fun, using the nets, sandbags, benches and hills as a mini obstacle course.

Starting off with the net, everyone held on tight, whilst we are holding on, someone would then crawl over the net.  There was a lot of instability involved as you tried to get yourself across the net, so you had to distribute yourself evenly.  Trying to stabilise and ground yourself whilst someone else scrambled across the net, of course there was no way of knowing weights, so you just had to keep yourself continually engaged.

Richard was not going to let us off that easy so we had 70 knee crunches that we had to complete (luckily not all in one go, but in intervals), then we had to run up the hill and bear crawl down it again, back to the crunches.  Next up would have been the sea turtles x 70.

The mini obstacle course, had you use the wall as a balance beam, pick up a sand bag and head around the cones, up and over the benches (twice) and then up and back down the hill.

This weekend is just what I need to give me that motivation to get me out of my sickness slump.  The day was a fantastic day, well organised and for a fantastic cause.  Having a variety of different stations kept the whole sessions interesting and motivating.  These events are not only a great workout session, but so many people are their to help you progress with each of the obstacles.  

Each of the stations offered something new that you could learn from, building a foundation of skills that you could take out onto the course.