Your Resident Fitness Critic: FENWAY Spartan Race

Just over two weeks ago,  I participated in the Spartan Obstacle Race held in historic Fenway Park.  Here is a review of my personal thoughts on the experience.  What's cool thing about being involved in race events is that each person has their own unique story to share, this is a piece of mine.

My goal is to provide you, the reader and hopefully fellow-fitness-enthusiast, with some information on different experiences in exercise and healthy living.  By gaining a better understanding of what is "out there" in terms of fitness options - I hope to inspire others to Take Action.  Sometimes, we all need a swift kick in the pants to break out of our routine and try something new.  Stepping out of our exercise comfort-zone is part of changing things up from time to time.  It should be noted that having a fitness routine is critical in keeping one motivated, engaged on a consistent basis, and living a fit-lifestyle.  Intergrating exercise into our weekly routine is a "way of life" and not something we turn on and off depending on our mood, what's going on in our lives or what time of year it is -  is a key element in achieving an overall sound and healthy body.  So weight-training, stretching, and moving (cardio or walking) is something I strive to do on a consistent basis.  However, variety is the spice of life - so finding different things to look forward to, or new things to try and experience can be a fulfilling and exhilarating experience!

This past June was my first exposure to one of these "alternative" races that have, and are continuing to, grow in popularity.  I have not participated in any of the latest craze mud-runs, Beast Races, Warrior, Zombie, Urban Scavenger Hunts, Ruckus Runs, Tough Mudders, or the like.  In June I was lucky enough to be invited to do a "Warrior Dash" in CT with some friends who share an interest in fitness.  It was a sunny, 75-degree, fun-filled day that involved a 3 mile course outside, actually based at an auto-race track and field.  There was running in the woods, through a small river, with lots of mud, traversing walls, running up and down steep hills, back in and out of the woods, and obstacles like climbing over demolished cars and through a small field of tires, walking a tight rope over a pool of water and mud, over and under walls and hurdles, cargo nets, through tubes, finally jumping over flames of fire and crawling under barbed wire through mud to the finish.  Overall it was a lot of fun and exciting to finish - unscathed!  It felt like a grown-up's playground, an excuse to get dirty and be active.  The racers were "rewarded" with an optional free beer and a turkey leg to chomp on (visual: caveman/warrior-like turkey leg... a very "Paleo"- the "eat like a caveman" style of protein-based foods, sans processed carbohydrate/grain diet).  Most races reward participants with free food, whether it be bananas, bagels, protein bars - I've even seen hot dogs. ;-)  The more social-friendly races do include a free beer at the end - those crowds tend to be a little more "fun loving" than hard-core competitive, though each venue is different.

Disclaimer:  I consider myself athletic.

Following a successful collegiate field hockey career, I turned to running to fill my extra time, and fulfill my sports and energy fix.  I ran distances through my 20's and completed 4 Boston marathons.  Overuse, injuries, and a new career that demanded more time than I could give to my running habit brought me to begin seeking out and experimenting with new forms of fitness.  I began to pursue an interest in sprint-triathlons.  I enjoyed the cross-training aspect and the new endeavor of incorporating swimming and biking into my exercise repertoire.  With a handful of sprint-distance tri's under my belt, I've added 6 years of the annual 10K Falmouth Road Race, 2 Figure (bodybuilding) Competitions, Bikrahm, Baptiste, and Power Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga classes, Pilates, Barre Classes, Spinning Classes, a Jingle Bell Run, the Tufts 10K, numerous walks/5Ks for charity, last year even added a 1-mile "Santa Speedo" (yes, sprinting down Newbury Street in a bikini...in December)...and-a-partridge-in-a-pear-tree.  :-)

Sooo...what else is there to do? 
PLENTY!  After the Warrior Dash, I didn't really foresee myself doing another "Muddy" race.  It was fun, but I heard a lot about injuries too.  I feel obligated to inform readers that my competition exercise experience has given the confidence to give this a go.  I'd heard enough stories about sprained ankles, broken wrists from falls and other-alternative-race-related injuries that can occur.  I understand that these injuries are probably a small percentage of people who do participate in these races, but it's something to keep in mind for the "Weekend Fitness Warrior" out there who is not actually fit, nor athletic, but wants to do a race like this.  Being self-employed, a fear of injury lingers in my brain when it comes to putting myself at risk of injury - though, heck, nobody can predict when one might get hurt - one could just as likely trip and sprain an ankle walking down the street.
On the same token, I would not want to discourage someone interested in pushing their own envelop, but to encourage one to be sure they are well prepared physically for one of these races if they have set completing one as their goal!  I tend to heed on the side of caution when advising one to pursue a fitness challenge - so being informed is a key element in succeeding once you have chosen to participate.

It was early October I learned of this obstacle-course race that was taking place in Fenway Park.
My ears perked up!  Being a life-long fan of the Red Sox (in good times and bad) and an even bigger Finding out about the race late in the game, I was able to sign up for the last open time offered online - "Under the Lights" in the year Fenway Park celebrates it's 100th year!  Fine, this past Sox baseball season made a bit of its own history under somewhat dismal circumstances, but this opportunity was still pretty cool!  I registered for my first Spartan Obstacle Course Race!  This even took place all day Saturday, November 17th and Sunday, November 18th 2012.

OK - so, I do consider myself athletic, but I didn't exactly "train" at all for this...which is pretty much my MO the last few years for the events I sign up for. 
My exercise experience has evolved over the years, and my experience working at Cutting Edge Fitness Inc, in Newton MA has opened my eyes to the fact that I like my body...in tact.

I observe on a daily basis what overuse and over-training can do to the body.  I've witnessed many people do too much exercise and over time, they damage their body.
As we age, it's not pretty!  I value what Cutting Edge Fitness Inc has to offer, and truly believe in the optimal style of weight-training for a fit-strong body, a SAFE and EFFECTIVE exercise protocol getting the results the clients are looking for and all the while bringing them good health.

My muscles are strong from safe, slow-speed, high-intensity weight lifting.
I do still enjoy running.  Yes, I know that's not every one's story, for me running boosts my mood naturally, helps relieve anxiety, improves brain function, and keeps me fit.  I have throttled back from running 10-12 miles with ease in my twenties, to enjoying a shorter 2-3 mile run or longer walk (the walking is MUCH better for my joints!)
But these "athletic" events peak my interest based on my sports-and athletics history.  Much like the CrossFit trend of the past few years, which attracts the former (or new) athlete who gets the opportunity to feel they are competing again and doing something athletic - I figured, why not?

I dabbled into investigating these events by reading online blogs and reviews of these kind of races, and learned it was advised to wear tights/running pants (to protect against the cold and potential scraping) and some sort of gloves - thank God I read to wear gloves!  I read on the Spartan website that they do not disclose the race-course before the day of the event, so the surprise factor is part of the whole experience.  Interesting.  OK.  And, I read - there will "probably be burpees".  :-)   Now, I think I can count on two hands the number of burpees I've done in my life.  This may be something I should not admit as a Fitness Professional, but, to be honest, I'm typically the instructor at boot camp or in the gym, and never the recipient of the burpee-prescribed workouts.  I do know I've done my lifetime fair share of push-ups and a few "star-jumps" in the past at camps etc, so I figured I could handle it.

Bring it.

My Mom accompanied me as my "sponsored spectator" - yes, it cost for me to bring a guest or for a spectator to observe!  (that was another "first" for my race experiences). 
Mom has been my SuperFan and has been there supporting all my crazy adventures in fitness. 
She herself has dropped 45 lbs off her body and kept it off over the past 2 years with Cutting Edge Fitness 30-Minute workouts, walking regularly, and a re-vamp of her diet. 
It cost $30.00 for Mom to come watch me compete in this "Time Trial" event at Fenway Park - more than a bleacher seat to the Red Sox!  Considering I'd pay less to do actual races before! - but, it's Fenway - so we'll pay.  We found it entertaining that she had her own waiver form to print out and bring with her to the race-registration, and had her own "Spectator Registration" booth to attend and sign-in at.

After registering on Landsdown Street – and peeking through the gates, we could see people in the middle of their race -  we could see in a section doing calisthenics and race-organizers yelling out instructions to them – it reeked of boot camp!  We walked in through Gate D – I felt like I was about to see a baseball game.
We were sent off in groups of about 10 racers. 
I got my first taste of the “burpee-tests” ahead, as we were assigned 10 burpees before the start of the race.

We were off and running.  Up and down the ramps of Fenway, crawling under and jumping over ropes that zig-zagged endlessly.  There was running along corridors, and running up and down thousands of steps in what felt like every single section of the park.  We were challenged with obstacles along the way that tested fitness, endurance and mental stamina.  From lifting and moving 30 lb cement blocks, 5 gallon water jugs (the women 1 jug, the men 2 jugs) up and down stairs, throwing medicine balls up in the air and then smashing them down on the ground, “Spartan” push ups, to carrying 60 lb sandbags on our shoulder up and down the stadium stairs.  You name it, we did it.
There were many walls along the way to climb over, cargo nets to scale, even erg-rowing machines we had to pass a 2:00 minute challenge to continue on!  (who would have thought that 50 rowing machines would be set up in Fenway Park!)
Along they way, if a racer could not complete an obstacle or missed a target, they were faced with a set of 30 burpee push ups.  There was a challenge of hoisting a 30-40 lb cement block up to the ceiling by doing whatever it took to pull down a rope it was connected to (at this point in the race, after push-ups, the rowing challenge, and a vertical rope-climb challenge, my arms were shot) …but I did it with literally all my might!– anything to avoid the 30 burpee-punishment.  As this was a time-trial race, every time you had to do 30-burpees, that added probably 2:00 to ones time.  There was the challenge of throwing a spear into a straw target with 2 chances for it to stick - …I missed.  Twice.  30-burpees.
There was a “simple” baseball toss into a bucket, with one chance.  I prayed to hit the target.
I missed.  The race-volunteer nearby who was on staff to make sure nobody cheated – taunted me with another chance, at the risk of if I missed I would owe 60 burpees.  I did not take the chance.

We had hopping up about 7 flights of stairs with a resistance rubber band around our ankles – talk about a killer calf workout!
There was a heavy (30 lb?) weighted jumprope x 50 jumps, a horizontal wall climb (making it across without falling or the burpees awaited)…I held on for dear life – and made it!
After all that, we made our way out onto the ball field – and finished the race with, yes, more burpees, a dash in the outfield by the famous Green Monster, another cargo net pyramid to scale, 10 more box-jumps and a gladiator style alley to dodge guys with jousts trying to prevent you from finishing…yikes!

All in all, it took me just under an hour to complete (57:43).  My competitive nature wonders how much faster I would be able to do it in if I had been able to avoid the burpee-time-suck exercises.  The winning female competitor finished round 45:00:00.  Out of about 6000 participants I came in 553 overall, 73rd out of all the women, and 14th in my age division.   I was also very excited to have completed the race though, and in the venue that has such personal memories for me.  Fenway was where I saw my first Red Sox game with my Dad when I was about 8 years old.  Knowing that baseball greats like Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Carl Yastrzemski, heck – growing up in the 80’s I was a Roger Clemens fan (I am not ashamed to admit that!) – all played on that field was very inspirational and meaningful to me.  After receiving my medal I took a brief moment to step a little onto the field and take a deep breath, to soak it all in.  It was a cold night in November - reminiscent of the late fall days of post-season baseball, able to see my breath as I was catching it. 

I looked up and saw the blinking Citco Sign in the sky over left field, the Green Monster and famous Red Sox Scoreboard and stood there on that field of dreams and smiled...as one of mine had just come true.