Run in Mud Obstacle Race Training-12/22/16

 I am returning to the gym after  a three week break. I haven't had a run since my Spartan Sprint on Dec 4th, but should pick up next week. I am continuing to watch my diet and get plenty of sleep, but continuing a recovery effort to prepare for the 2017 training season.

Run 400 meters

Stretch

Rotate

10 push ups

Single leg squats with weight

Do the following 5 times:

8 Dead lifts

40m walking lunges

8 push ups

18 jumping air squats (like a 1/2 burpee. Squat, then jump up.)

Run in Mud Obstacle Race Training 12/21/16

Go to indoor trampoline, ninja center or similar location and play. Incorporate monkey bars, cargo nets, poles, ropes, whatever...

Run in Mud Obstacle Race Training 12/20/16

 Row for 15 calories

10 wall ball shots

10 medicine ball cleans

10 medicine ball sit ups

10 overhead presses

100 jumpropes

7 x 1 squat cleans

7 x 3 hand stand push ups

Do the following as many times as possible in 12 minutes:

10 burpees

25 jum ropes

Monkey bar practice

My Son's First Obstacle Race Spartan Sprint Atlant

I've enjoyed all of my mud run races in the elite heats except the ones where I lost my band. But even so, there is something invigorating to running hard and attempting new obstacles. I've really enjoyed the times I got to the podium or the others where I've met personal goals. However, the most enjoyable to date is the Spartan Sprint open heat that I've recently ran with my son.

Patrick has attended many races with me and has always been satisfied as a spectator. However something has changed. He turned 14, and the past year he has gotten bigger and stronger than he used to be. He has really admired the OCR community and culture and this admiration culminated in the 2016 OCR World Championships. My wife suggested I bring him to Canada so that I will have someone to cheer for me, and that was a great suggestion. Together we attended dinners, met racers, and discussed race strategy; he provided more value and participated outside of the spectator role. Together we watched several heats of the short race where he asked lots of questions and observed sprinters struggle and succeed at the obstacles.

I think he really enjoyed the camaraderie and socializing that the athletes displayed. We met racers at dinner, bumped into familiar faces in new places, and met new people from different continents. Suddenly he was hooked. A few hours after my OCR WC 15k heat started, I saw my son waved as I approached the suspended climbing wall. He waved and snapped pics as I moved through the last few obstacles.

Later, we ate and attended the award ceremony.

"Dad, I want to do one soon," he said later.

Before he could change his mind, I signed us up for the Atlanta Spartan Sprint. It was just two months away with some time to train and condition before he could change his young mind.

At this point, I would like to thank my Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida obstacle racers for taking the time to invest in my son. Many of you displayed good sportsmanship and went out of your way to introduce yourselves, share your experiences, and encourage him to participate. I think he recognized that he wanted to be part of it all.

In the months prior to the race, we got up at 4:45 am to train, reviewed obstacles, talked about penalty burpees, and what to expect during a Spartan Sprint.

Talking is one thing, action is another.

The Spartan Sprint proved to be 4.8 miles of cold rain day, mixed with deep muck and freezing water; what an introduction to the sport for a first timer. We were dressed appropriately, but probably would have benefited from a wet-suit. We did wear SCUBA gloves and those were awesome.

The cold and wet proved an additional obstacle as we did 3 rounds of penalty burpees. Together we missed the spear throw and the rig and I did burpees when he failed the monkey bars. I admire the fact that he counted all of his burpees and did not even entertain the thought of skipping.

I had worried about the bucket brigade. We had practiced and never really went that far. On race day, quit didn’t even enter his mind. I was happy as I watched fellow racers encourage and offer to help. I also appreciate the Spartan who talked to him and encouraged him on the cargo net going up the side of the cliff. That was awesome.

Though I think I can speak for him that we were pretty much miserable in the cold and mud. We were so glad it was over. However he learned how to climb over a wall, pick up a heavy slippery Atlas stone, and he could do so in whatever the elements throw at him. He learned that the bucket brigade was something he could tough out, and carrying 50-75 pounds of sandbag through a creek would not kill him. He learned that even though he was miserable, he still had enough in him to realize everyone else was in the same boat and he was not alone. We finished well and Patrick earned 4th place in his age group for the open heat.

In the end, I learned the most. I saw something new in my son; a sense of pride and accomplishment. I hope to see much more in the future.