NJ Spartan Beast

Not that I really had anything to prove but in 2012 I was not able to finish the NJ Super. This served as a motivator for me to pickup my training and eating game. I will always mentally go back to walking off the course that day. Since then I have conquered two NJ Supers and the Vermont Beast but today was another reminder of how I have progressed and overcome the set back of 3 years ago. Finishing the NJ Beast confirms that I own that mountain. 

Finishing Time of 5:45:05. This was good for 24.6% overall (611/2483), 29% of Males (529/1,833) and 31.6% of Men Age 40-44 (59/187) in the afternoon heat. Overall that gets reduced to 32% / 38% / 43%. These percentage results are better than Killington. Had I finished 35% Overall and 40% Male I would have come in at 6:16 (O) / 6:05 (M) / 6:03 (M40-44). Basically, 20-30 minute improvement. Not too bad. At the end of the day it doesn't matter, but, then again, it does. 

Major improvements have to come with upper body strength as I have to accomplish a rope climb this year, and VO2 Max so that I pause less in between obstacles, hill climbs and runs. Also leg strength as I had to rest several times on the last brutal ascent up the mountain. Lunges, tabata sprints and mountain running are in my future. An achievable goal is cracking the 20% mark for Killington. May not be impossible to do since 2015 won't be the World Championship and the field may be a little less competitive.

In hindsight I see how I run a race like this. I start slow and use that as my warm up. Once I am warmed up I find a comfortable race pace. When I smell the end coming I turn on my jets and use whatever I have left to finish. Starting up the mountain there were many people who ran and passed me. Toward the back half of the race I was probably pissing people off as I passed them. Not that they were pissed that I passed but in the way I was running around them since they were in my way. Probably the most glaring example was on the A Frame. Also through the mountain trails where entirely too many people were taking it like a nature trail hike. 

Over Walls - Early. Just as we are getting started. Good part of the warm up.

Hurdles - 2 approx 5 foot high beams that you have to get over. Jump, dip, over. No problem.

Rolling Snow - I am guessing large mounds of snow on the course. Didn't really notice since I thought that it was part of the run/hike up the hill.

** I am guessing that about right here we hit the summit. It was about 1 mile of straight incline to get things started.

Vertical Cargo Net - Up & over, no problem

** Long run down the mountain. This is where I made up time since I only hiked up the mountain. Surprised that more people don't do this. From here for the next approx 2 miles was relatively level trail running.

Memory Sign - Yankee 820-8555. I think that I was lucky since it felt to me that this was simple to memorize as opposed to what I had to remember in VT.

Log Hop - The balance posts to a beam to posts. Made 2 posts, lost my balance, 30 burpees

Over-Under-Through - Easy as always.

Multi-Bars - Upward overhead bar to get across to 3 ropes to another bar. I made it across the bar to the second rope and fell. Tried it twice. 30 burpees, 60 total

Hercules Hoist - Easy. Seemed light.

Spear Throw - had everything correct. Missed right. I missed right on every attempt in VT. Seems to be my problem. 30 burpees, 90 total

Monkey Bars - Took them one by one and had no problem. Do have to pat myself on the back since they were uneven with some considerably higher than others.

Z-Walls - could never get my feet placed well on this. Went 2 steps and slipped off. 30 burpees, 120 total

**Approx 1/2 mile descent

Hay Bale - Super simple to get over a hay bale.

Bucket Brigade - Heavy and long. Up & down the snowboard halfpipe. Took my time with several breaks. Did it.

Plate Drag - Different than a tire drag. The pulling was significantly easier but dragging it back was more taxing.

**Approx 1/2 mile ascent

7 Foot Wall - Used a side kick to climb up the wall and hook my left leg to pull me over. Proud of myself to get over this without help.

Barbed Wire Crawl #1 - Easy as far as barb wire crawls go. Rolled through it rather quickly.

Rolling Mud - 3 mud pits. Easy. Next.

Atlas Carry - Felt heavy but did it with no problems nonetheless.

Sandbag Carry - Instead of going up and down a hill, they made us go through a ling, muddy track. Not as challenging.

Memory Test - Easy to remember. Done.

Inverted Wall - Never have a problem with this.

Tyrolean Traverse - Disappointed with this since it was over land and the roped slouched down where my back could support me. 

The Bear!! - I saw it immediately following the Tyrolean Traverse. This Spartan Beast will be forever known as the one with the wild black bear roaming around the course.

Water Crossing - Not sure if this was a real obstacle but we had to walk through water.

Log Flip - Great to have this. Primal. The logs were extremely heavy and we had to flip them twice in 2 directions. This was a Beast of an obstacle. Did it. Loved it.

A-Frame Cargo - There was a  long line for this and people were going slowly. I made my own line and got over it quickly.

**Approx 1/2 mile descent back to base.

8 Foot Wall - Got up, got my knees under me, got my leg up on the top of the wall and pulled myself over. Leg started to twitch and cramp here. Walked it off.

Rope Climb - Tried twice and never got going. I need a lot of work here. More pull ups needed. 30 burpees, 150 total.

Dunk Wall - Under a wall in a pit of muddy water. Photographer on other side.

Angled Wall with Rope - Kept back on my heels. Tougher than expected at the top. Probably due to exhaustion.

Barb Wire Crawl #2 - Long and hard. Up a hill, in the snow, filled with rocks. A true grind it out obstacle.

**Insane march up the mountain one more time. A real grind and I needed to rest several times. Another grind. At this time I was also gasping for water and my hydration pack was dry. Once we got to the top of the mountain there was the descent and my mouth was sand dry the entire time. I don't think that lack of water hurt me on the way down but I would have been very beneficial on the way up and good to have. I don't know how long I could have made it without a refill. I was exhausted and almost in bad shape when I crossed the finish line.

Rope Swing - Started high and held on for dear life. Need to keep my feet up more in the future by practicing my hanging leg raises and any type of L-Sit.

Fire Jump Pit - Jump to glory with a muddy water pit after as a final obstacle to the finish line.

In conclusion, I am proud of my finish as I had a great race. I'll continue to work hard on my upper body strength and conditioning. The rest of the spring until mid summer will be cruise control and then I will ramp everything up for a push toward Killington.