My Spartan Pizza!
Finally! The last piece of Spartan Pizza earned and completed! Please excuse me for the excitement as this is my first ever Spartan Trifecta ( I still prefer to call it Pizza).
We were taking our own sweet time walking to finish on last Spartan Super, thats why we got trap with the human traffic. So, I decided to go for Competitive for Spartan Beast,
1) To challenge myself (must have a nice good reason)
2) Avoid human traffic
3) Start early. Spartan Beast is 21km, no joke!!! Imagine you start at 12pm, I think I become BBQ-ed before I even able to finish the course.
It is quite lucky for me that they announce to have Competitive group, which is in between of Elite and Open heat. I know myself is not ready for Elite, my arms still like jelly and toothpick. So Competitive is the best option for me as I quite confidence I'm able to cover the distance and obstacles other than multi-rig.
Even my brother also encourage me to go for Competitive... ok la, he actually kinda "force" me too!
Pre-race
Honestly, I have been training more on running rather than strength, especially arm strength. Running did improved my stamina and my endurance level. My plan for Beast is, i rather prepare myself for endurance to survive the whole course even though might get burpees penalty. The plan sound kinda pessimistic, but it works for me as i know i couldn't improve my arms strength drastically in short period.
Shwuni heard my plan and she is on board to Competitive with me! Lol~
So, at the end, my bro go for Elite, and the rest of the team go for open heat.
The close to the day, I'm getting nervous and feel insecure as usual. My nerves keep ticking and i was like crazy buying kind of gears for it. Some of it prove to be useful during the course and i never regret buying it and brought to Spartan Beast.
Race Day
Early morning we drove to Putrajaya Nexus Internation School, the venue of Spartan Beast. I feel that this is the best venue compare to previous Sprint and Super. Most important thing is - NOT CONSTRUCTION SITE!!! Finally, it is back to nature, the real nature!
Race guide stated registration counter start at 6am, and asked spartan to be there atleast 1.5hrs earlier. Since Elite is starting at 7.30am, 6am is the recommended time to register right? BUT! We were told the counter not ready yet, it only open at 6.30am. We were like "OMG! It going to delay It going to delay just like the last 2 spartans!" Not that we so look bad on them, it is actually we all had bad experiences for the 2 spartan race before. Agree? If you joined the Sprint and Super, bet you will have tons of complaints too. At that moment, we don't really have high hope on this Beast and was thinking for the sake of complete the trifecta series.
After registration, we divert into the race festival area. Met with some other Spartans, chit-chating and get to know that course is gonna be killer from those who finished Sprint the day before. Start with hills and end with hills, how sweet that could be! Maybe we are sadist because we were worry for the hills yet we were looking forward to face it!
Clean face before the race. [Photo credit: Fahmie AKA NoobRunner]
Bag check-in, warmed up, and Elites are ready to go! It start punctually!! Lol~ we were really surprised that they flag off on time and the checking point at entrance is strict. Kudos for it!! My start time is 8.15am, 45mins after my bro flag off. The flag off for each wave was on time and smooth (or should i say pumped?), very soon it is our time to get ready to be release! Starting with mini-wall into starting zone, and it should be the OUT (over-under-thru) at first KM mark, but the O is at start line, and the U and T was at around 100m after startline.
Damn nervous b4 starting! [Photo credit: Fahmie AKA NoobRunner]
I don't really remember the sequence of obstacles I did, but I do remember all of them. I kena 4 penalties in this course. Wondering which obstacles i failed? One of it is the one that I couldn't practice - spear throw. Another 2 would be easy to guess - Uneven bars and multi-rig. For the 4th, Z-wall!!! O.M.G!!! I always have trouble with Z-walls especially the angle transition. My grips are weak and I couldn't hold myself as close as possible to the wall. The Marshall was kind enough helping me by telling me the next block is just near where I put my hand cross the wall but before I could get it, I slipped!!!! Urgh!! So, 30 burpees!
As for other obstacles, some I did having difficult time to overcome it. I take some time before I can do it, for example: atlas carry, inclined wall, and tyrolean traverse. I was worry about atlas carry actually, for previous Sprint and Super, I do get help from others to carry it up, then only I hold it to go over other side. However, just before the Beast, Joe DI shared a tip for it. It is so useful and proven to work by myself! Lol~
When I trying to conquer the tyrolean traverse, I can feel that marshall was beside me and keep reminding all Spartans "Please do not let go your hand first. Slowly drop your feet if you couldn't continue. Do not risk yourself and get concussion." I'm guessing he see my arms shaking and struggling to move forward, that's to remind me to give up. Why should i? I able to did it for Super so die die I also hold on it and hit the cowbell! There was another female spartan beside me passing by with lightning speed and she keep motivate me. The last few inches feels like forever and finally I hit the cowbell proudly and loudly!
I did get help from fellow Spartan on Stairway to Sparta and Phoenician Pass. I get boost from them to climb up the wall and platform. Other than these two, I am surprise that I could get over those walls. Even the walls were not that tall and I did it in a kinda ugly way. This time, all the marshals and volunteers are cheerful (not like last time, they were dying under hot sun) and strict on rules. They watched you and politely show you the way to Burpees Zone if you failed and will keep reminds the rules for each obstacles. All of them were well trained and high spirit!! Bravo! They did push me to run and keep my Spartan spirit burning all the time. Although sometimes the info they gave us not to motivating, like "here is KM8 marks, you still got 12km to go".
There were a few new obstacles such as the Memorize Test. The passcode is still in my mind now!!! I heard that the Recall Tent was close for some period, some Spartan don't get to go thru the passcode repeat. Some even took photo or wrote it down, so whats the point the obstacle name as "Memorize Test"?! What a shame!! I am so bad, wanted to see others suffer penalty! Lol~ I was so confidence (like 101% confidence), repeat the passcode with "lansi face" while eating my energy gel. The tent was located near the end of the course, I was worry as I going through the course after the passcode banner, thought that I might missed the Recall Tent. Mana tau it hidden inside and have us to go through hill just to reach there like some kind of mystery treasure hidden place.
The distance mark showed in course map is around 19-20km, but if add in the Tractor Pull, Sandbag Carry, and Bucket Bridge walking distance, I feel like it can easily make up to the 21km!!!
Lastly, the end of course is hilly trail running for almost 4-6km!! I think that can count as one obstacle!! Since I'm running on my own, this is something new for me as I get to engage with other Spartans. Motivating each others, cursing together when going uphill, cheering for the flat trail! If I'm running with my team, we would be doing the same but when you do it with strangers, the feeling kinda different. You don't know each other but yet we going thru together and this is what Spartan Spirit about too.
The Slip Wall, last obstacle to conquer before fire-jump (I think fire-jump is a victory sign not an obstacle), nailed it although I really slipped at the top and almost lost my grip too. My bro was at the finishing line waiting for me and recording the precious moment - I jump over the fire pit and run towards the finishing arch!
Hard-earned Spartan Beast Finisher Medal - The last piece for the Trifecta
Post Race
Proudly wore the finisher medal and went to take photo at the photo booth, no Q at all! Lol~ syok!
Victory wall [Official photo by Spartan Race MY]
Immediately down the whole can of coconut water before walking to claim my bag. This time, the bag drop station arrangement was very efficient and professional, this is the way it suppose to be!!
Another benefit of coming back earlier, no Q for wash down too! They have this board stating 3mins shower time for each person only... but... less people so I don't think they following the rules.
After cleaning myself, comfortably stretching cool down at the empty school area while waiting for other teammate to come back.
Wyekit and YongYao started at 9.30am and they able to catch up with Shwuni and her friend - Thomas. They were back at the finish line together!! Well done!! We waited at the audience seat and cheers for Szuemay!
Real Steel in action! We beat the Beast!
Thomas - Me - Shwuni - Vkey - Szuemay - Wyekit - Yongyao
My crazy buddy - Shwuni, who always beside me in all crazy events!
After photo session, went home with high spirit but low battery. Lol~ This time i think my body was too damage even FitAid can't do magic. Take a good rest and we will be back! Till next Spartan!! Aroo!
PS: Do not underestimate the heat and humidity, hydration bag is my savior and it helps a lot physically and mentally when I wanna run or pushing myself over obstacles. Previously I was always worry I get hypoglycemia la, dehydrated la, bla bla bla. XD
I would say that Spartan Beast is 10/10 or 100%! So far for me is 0 complaint! Complain that no jungle, they don't just give u jungle, but hills too! Complain cheaters, they count your burpees (for Elite)! I wanted to give the Spartan Team big round applause and two thumbs up!! Good job, well done!! Thank you marshals and volunteers for cheering for us and making sure that we have water to drink and abide the rules for obstacles too.
I have changed my mind from "let's see how" for the next coming Spartan because of bad experience on Super to "let's go"! Lol~ *money burning soon*
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5 comments
Write commentsHi Jan,
ReplyThat was a very through and vivid review of The Beast! Congratulations on completing it! I found your post really interesting to read as I am going to do the Super in 3 weeks time but it's at the Nexus School (where you did your Beast) which I think means lots of hill training in the next 21 days for me!!
However I did want to ask you 2 questions:
1) what did you do with your spectacles during the water obstacles like the dunk? I don't wear contacts and don't feel comfortable running an obstacle race without them.
2) can you really still remember your passcode from the memory test?!? I'm just curious! 😅
Hi Dezy!
Reply1) Same case here as I have problems with contact lens. So, I have an old specs which i use for sports and OCR. Sometimes I use specs strap to hold it (http://hides.com/products/hides-sportgrip/item/hides-sportgrip.html) or I will be wearing a bandana, the side of it cover up to my ear and it will hold the specs in place.
2) It has been deleted from my temporary memory during my last "disk fragmentation" Lol!
Do you plan to bring along hydration pack or food? Last Spartan Sprint suppose to be 5km++ instead it become 9km+. Perhaps bring along some light snacks/energy bar/energy gel would be a good option.
All the best to your Spartan Super!! Aroo!!
Thanks for the advice. Today my calves are killing me but I can now wear my newly acquired Spartan t-shirt with pride! 😊
ReplyIt was a fun morning but it was seriously brutally hard. We were lucky as there was no Memory Wall for us but the organizers happily put 3 arm obstacles 400m from the end of the finish line for us! It was burpee city for most of us at that stage!!
I also wore my glasses and they caused me no trouble (they usually don't when I run). My main concern was how would I keep them dry/clean after the Dunk Wall and I decided to carry a sandwich bag with me so I put them in there before my dive underwater! It didn't work 100% but my glasses were mainly dry so I'll consider it a success.
I'll write a post-race blog post as you did to share more of my experiences of the day.
Oh I didn't carry a hydration pack with me but took 2 gels which were happily consumed. What I regret not taking though were salt tablets/mustard because I had calf cramp halfway through the race!
ReplyHi Dezy! Congratulation for your accomplishment! Well done! I can so relate to the pride when wearing the finisher T.
ReplyI saw the post from Spartan Race MY about the brutal ending, it really burn your arms and squeeze every bit of strength that you have. Marshall must be busy on that few stations, it obviously was burpees creating machine!
Carry ziplock bag with you to store glasses for dunk wall is brilliant idea! Maybe I can try that next Spartan Beast. I used to just wipe it after dunk wall, and ofcourse it will have some stains on it. Perhaps next time you could bring another ziplock bag for salt tablets!
Looking forward to you blog post!! Aroo!
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