Nicki Fit: Spartan TX Beast Recap

Note: I started this blog in the Domincan on Dec 15th and I'm just finishing it now.

Where to start? Jon and I left from Texas to the Dominican Republic on Monday and I haven't really thought much about the race or analyzed it. I've just been living in the moment here in DR and focusing on relaxing, clearing my mind. (Even though I couldn't resist 2 days of hill repeats going up the mountain we're staying on). Today, Saturday, I've finally allowed myself to think about it.

And I still don't know what to think. I didn't meet my goal. My mantra going through my head during the entire race was simply, "10 percent." It got me through the pain. It got me up the hills. It got me across the Tyrolean Traverse. It's what I wanted, it was my goal. I was passing people the whole time. Yet, I fell short. Sure, there's reasons. My training slacked off after the Tough Mudder in October. I struggled with shin splints and a funky foot. I now realize it was my PureGrits which I will never wear again. The soles are too squishy. Anyone need a pair of shoes? Because of my shin splints I wasn't running as much. I think my longest run post TM may have been 8.5 miles. Prior to TM, I wanted to have a 20 miler in. Overall, my training slumped. I was still in great shape, just not where I wanted to be. Honestly, I was in better shape for the TM than I was for the Beast. Talking with Jon, my voice of reason, he reminded me that I did stop to help fellow racers, I did stop to quickly chat with TeamTX members, and I did all 30 burpees when I failed an obstacle. I also know that I attempted each and every obstacle and ran the course honestly. They said fill the bucket half way, I filled it half way. They said carry this cement block over there and do 10 burpees, I did 10 burpees. I know that I did not run the Elite Heat, but the Open heat. I understand that people are at different athletic levels, and this race dished out more than some could handle. I realize some people could not do 30 burpees and carry on. I realize this may have hurt my percentage. I also realize, I did more than I ever imagined. I can now put a 13.1 sticker on my car, although I would have to find a '+' sticker to put next to it (13.5 miles with physically demanding obstacles deserves a + sign).

Now for the actual recap. As with other races, I have can't remember all the obstacles. At the bottom of the post I shared 2 videos put together by a fellow TeamTX member, Rodrigo Ortiz, who wore a head cam. Keep in mind he just shared the obstacles and not all of the running between. Race day started with me getting up to the front of the packet pick up line and realizing, duh, I don't have my ID with me. I was redirected to a different volunteer who asked if I had any other type of ID or credit card with me. I said, "I have my husband who has the same address as me." She approved of my additional ID and I picked up my packet. We wandered around the festival grounds, and quickly learned that Hobie Call was approaching the finish line. We got there at about 9:15. The Elite Heat started at 8am. Holy cow, that man was fast. Hobie is the present day Leonidas, King of the Spartan Races. So, we hung around the finish line and waited for Hobie to finish. That was the perfect way to start race day. Watching a Spartan Champion cross the finish line and win the race. Very cool. Afterwards, I jumped into the 10am heat starting corral.

The Rusty Crown

Okay, so the race started. First, the terrain is completely different than anything I have ever seen in the Midwest. In the MW, we have soft, dark soil. In Texas where it never rains, the ground was very dry with loose soil and rocks. Oh, and there were cacti all over the course and cattle paddies. When I would pass someone, I would have to go off the trail and into the weeds and cacti, thus the cut up right shin. And I was constantly dodging poop. That was a first. When we left the starting line we immediately headed over to the Rusty Crown. The Rusty Crown is a Mesa in the middle of nowhere. Running towards it, I could see people with orange buckets and sandbags going up the mountain. But before actually getting to do that the directors decided to wear out our legs first. They had us run up and down, and up and down, and then up and down some more. It was awesome. My favorite part. Up and down hills. At first it was a little scary because of the ground being so loose and sliding and slipping happened. But as I got used to it and trusted my shoes and technique, my downhill speed increased. After doing this for I don't even how many times, they decided it was time for us to carry a sandbag up the steepest part yet. People were falling all over the place. There were racers sitting halfway up the hill. I grabbed a pink, 20lb pancake and headed uphill. One foot in front of the other. The incline was straight up, but it was the loose dirt that made the ascent difficult. I lost my footing a couple of times going up that hill. It was definitely challenging and one of my favorite parts of the race.

Once at the bottom I returned my pancake to the station. Now, for the highlight of my day. A girl approached the station to grab a pancake to go uphill.

Girl to Volunteer: "What happens if I get half way up and can't do it?"
Me who butted into the conversation and was pumped full of adrenaline after completing the obstacle: "You Spartan the F Up and get your ass up the other half of the hill."
Girl: Death stare

I did not apologize to that racer. I just got on my way. She signed up for a Beast, not her local 5k. I hope she completed the obstacle and is a stronger person for it. Spartan pushes athletes to their limits, and I really hope she found hers and pushed them farther. I also decided post race that I earned myself the STFU t-shirt after this little interaction on the course. I wear it proudly. :)

Right after the Pancake carry, we grabbed Home Depot buckets and filled them with gravel. Ladies halfway, men to the top. I started with a bear hug, but once I got passed a few people I heaved it up on my right shoulder. The ascent was much shorter, and I found this carry to be pretty easy. I think from carrying Log up the Stone Steps, and my sandbags around the neighborhood, and rocks at the park, I had perfected the art, if you will, of carrying random crap on my shoulder.

After conquering the Rusty Crown, we basically ran around doing obstacles until we got to the lake. They had us run along the "Beach" of the lake. Me to random racer, "Hi, my name's Nicki and I love long runs on the beach." Finally, we get to the lake crossing. Rumors were all over Facebook about this. It was between 100-150 yards. Doesn't seem like much, but with shoes, clothes, and CamelBak its tough. Into the really freaking cold water I went. There were ropes along the sides, so I basically pulled myself across while kicking. I passed one guy and witnessed a lot of struggling people hanging onto the sides of the boats or catching life preservers. There was lots of random chatter and I'm pretty sure some singing during the swim. My forearms were spent after that. But those Evil Geniuses, I mean, race directors decided to run us immediately into the Herculean Hoist. I first tried barehanded, but quickly realized I left my grip strength in the lake. So, I put on gloves and heaved that concrete block to the top. But wait, there's more.

Right after that, they had set up the Tyrolean Traverse. Touche, Directors, Touche. I knew I wasn't going to be able to pull myself across the top after the lake, so on the bottom it was. Luckily, there was a line, so I could watch other people do it and talk strategy with the chicks on either side of me. My strategy was to channel my inner Spider Monkey and go underneath the rope, hand over hand, leg over leg. My Spider Monkey was more like a Sloth. It took me forever to get across the damn thing. I was so slow that the Nuvision photographer got 6 photos of me. I cursed the whole way. Every muscle in my body burned. Between cuss words I tried to recollect some of the strategies I had read: tighten your core, don't drag your legs, blah, blah, blah. The only thing that really got me across was sheer determination. Just don't let go. Evil Nicki would tease me from time to time, "Its only 30 burpees if you fall off. Just drop. Who cares? You didn't think you could do it anyways." Beast Mode Nicki would scream, "STFU and ring that bell." I would tilt my head back every so often to see how far I had to go. Ugh. That was a mistake, the bell never seemed to get any closer. Just writing about it now, I'm thinking of how much that sucked. But I eventually looked back to see that the bell was close enough for me to stretch and ring it. Then I dropped. Best feeling in the world. I looked up to see Jon waiting for me on the other side. I gave him the big thumbs down as I waded through the lake because I hated it. I reached the shore and dug out a Gu. I was spent. I went a little further, and pulled over to dump rocks out of my shoes.

2nd Best moment of the Race

After this, there were a variety of more obstacles. We went out to do the tractor pull, Hobie Hop, and tire flip. I got the nick name 'Tex' from a group of guys on the course. I saw them after the race walking in the parking lot and we exchanged congratulations. We eventually made it back towards to the festival grounds for a cargo net climb and rope climb. Then back out. I nailed the Traverse Wall this time. All of the pegs were clean. I went the opposite direction since I'm a lefty, and made sure to only move one appendage at a time. Slow and steady, I made it across. Somewhere after this, I started to feel it. My hamstrings and butt hurt. I passed people on the ground with cramps. I was handing out salt tabs and Gu's like candy. I just pressed forward. "The only way out, is through." - Robert Frost. I knew I was finishing, it was just a matter of time. One leg in front of the other. The last 3 miles were actually pretty lonely. The racers really thinned out. It was at this time, the spectators really came through. At random spots on the course, there were people looking for their friends and family but cheering for everyone. I remember, one woman hooting and hollering for me as I chicked a guy. "Woo Hoo. You go girl." I just loved it. So, thanks to all the spectators who were cheering us all on, even though we were perfect strangers. Eventually, I could hear the music and MC. I was getting close. First, the spear throw. Fail. 30 burpees. I did all 30. Two guys next to me, they did 10. Wussies. Then under barbed wire to the slippery wall. My legs were done. I got about two steps in and that was it. 30 more burpees. Very slow burpees. Very painful burpees. I kept telling myself, "This is it. Get 'em done and jump the fire." Once to the fire, I was honestly, scared to death that I wouldn't clear it. At this point, I couldn't feel my legs. I just ran 13.5 miles in over 4 hours with back to back burpee penalties. I stood for a minute gathering strength and went for it. Ran at the Gladiators (Yay, they hit me!), and crossed the finished line. Time to get my Trifecta Medal.

Race Summary:
13.5 miles
Time: 4:18:26
Pace: 19:43/mile
Burpees: 180 - Log Hop #1, Rope Climb 1&2, Monkey Bars (Grrr...), Spear Throw, Slippery Wall
Overall: 775/2435; 32%
Gender: 89/485; 18%
Age: 28/135; 21%