5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Spartan Race
My first Spartan Race was in 2017. I know that doesn’t seem too long ago. But, when you add an additional nine races since that day, mixed in with a little amnesia due to post-traumatic stress, the details become a bit hazy.
For those of you who know me personally, I’m never one to shy away from a challenge. I did (and still do) consider myself to be a relatively fit individual and enjoy challenging myself both mentally and physically.
Because of this, and because I had already successfully completed a Tough Mudder less than a year prior, I thought I was some tough sh*t and could easily complete a Spartan Race.
But not just any Spartan Race, I thought I could start my Spartan journey by signing up for one of the HARDEST races offered. For my first race, I signed up for the Spartan World Championship Beast in Lake Tahoe.
In this post, I share with you all the things I wish I knew before signing up for a Spartan Race.
Summary
What’s a Spartan Race, Anyhow?
A Spartan Race is a mud obstacle course race. It’s become quite popular, with races being held all over the world.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, A “beast race” is one of the toughest Spartan obstacle course races you can participate in. Additionally, this race, held in Lake Tahoe, California, is considered a “World Championship Weekend” because it’s one of the toughest courses and terrains in the world.
This location also hosts the “Ultra,” which is essentially two beast courses back to back, and an added lap while carrying a 50lb sandbag.
Athletic, obstacle course enthusiasts from all over the world come to compete in this one specific race. If you can complete it, you’re put in the badassery hall of fame.
The race averages about 15 miles in total, including swimming in near-freezing temperatures, bucket brigades, sandbag carries, and an elevation gain to make even a seasoned hiker delirious.
My overconfidence in my athleticism led me to a rude awakening once I stepped onto the course that cold, September day.
The race started out with an immediate, steep uphill climb. And just when I thought I made it to the top, I turned the corner, and behold, another long hill.
You know the phrase, “what goes up must come down?” Well, for the Spartan Beast Race in Lake Tahoe, it was “what goes up must go up again. And again. And again.” Seriously, I still, to this day, don’t understand how basic physics all went out the window in that race.
I receive a lot of questions about these type of races, some include:
Are they hard?
How do you prepare?
What do you eat before, during, and after? Do you even eat?
But one of the biggest, most frequently asked questions is this:
Is a Spartan Race something I can do?
My answer is always yes. Despite its challenging design, with a little training and the right mindset, anyone can participate in a Spartan. After all, even after getting my ass absolutely handed to me after my first race, I still managed to come back around and compete in six more.
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There are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way, but there are definitely a few things I wish I had known before my very first Spartan Race.
If you want to know some helpful advice that may benefit you if you’re considering signing up (or already have), then this article is for you. Enjoy at my expense.
1. What you wear on race day is EXTREMELY important
No matter what kind of weather you’re anticipating, you need to be prepared. Weather, especially at high elevations, can change on a dime. So bring some layers.
Also, it’s helpful to wear tight clothing that won’t get caught on barbwire or walls. Wear sturdy, high-traction tennis shoes or hiking shoes that will not only keep your feet from throbbing after five miles but also have enough traction to keep you from sliding up and down all those steep hills.
As much as I love my Brooks tennis shoes, they were no friend of mine when it came to the steep hill climbs and steep descents. I was so unsteady that at one point, I was down on all fours crawling my way down so I couldn’t slip and fall on my face…again.
And above all else, do NOT for all that is good and holy wear cotton clothing. The cotton fabric holds up to 25 times its weight in water, the main ingredient in a Spartan race.
Nylon, wool, and other moisture-wicking materials are your best bet when participating in a muddy obstacle course race.
2. Trail running and hill climbs should be a significant part of your training.
I’ll admit, I trained pretty damn hard for my first Spartan Race. One thing I completely slacked on (and frankly, didn’t anticipate) was the hill climbs and uneven terrain.
As I mentioned earlier, what makes Spartan Races so challenging is all the uphill trekking you have to do.
Let’s face it. No matter how many buckets and sandbags you carry, how many walls you hop over, or how many burpees you complete, every single obstacle is separated by long stretches of running.
Sometimes these stretches are only a couple hundred feet, and sometimes these stretches can last as long as a couple of miles.
This is something I wish I knew before competing in my race. Had I trained for hill climbs (and at higher altitudes), I would have been much better prepared.
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3. Bring ALL THE THINGS.
This ain’t the Four Seasons, this is Sparta! Some first-timers (including myself) will come into a Spartan Race expecting catered aid stations stocked with energy gels, bananas, electrolyte tablets or beverages, and water.
This is a HUGE assumption to make. Especially when you’re on the course, miles away from any civilization.
In a Spartan, you’ll be lucky to get a small cup of water every couple of miles or so! Plan on being entirely self-sufficient by bringing your own water, electrolyte tablets and gels, and snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.
My friends and I made the mistake of only packing one protein bar each. By mile ten, the three of us were bitter and HANGRY.
Pack snacks. You’ll thank me later.
4. Your race-day buddies will get to know you a little too well
Between the ass grabbing to get each other over walls, to the screaming motivational speeches to get each other through icy cold water, to the grumpy attitude when you’ve all just about had enough, your racing friends will get to know you better than you even knew yourself.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I consider my Spartan Race buddies my best friends despite the good, the bad, and the ugly. There’s just something so rewarding about crossing that finish line together.
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5. You will be sore for DAYS
One thing I did not anticipate was how incredibly SORE I would be after the race!
Fair warning, post-race day, your arms and legs will be useless for about 48 hours while you recover. I wish I had known about this prior because I would have then made sure I wasn’t working the next day. Lesson learned.
In reading this, I hope the tips in this post will help you with your very own first Spartan Race! Make sure to follow me on Instagram and use the hashtag #messybuntraveler so I can see all your awesome post-race photos!
Reina Conboy
I am a full-time traveling registered nurse, fitness enthusiast, and plant-based nutrition expert. Every morning I wake up intending to bring awareness of the importance of health and spiritual wellness, especially to the traveling community. This blog is designed to bring you travel and health advice while sprinkling in some fun life stories.
