Spartan Sprint "San Jose" - Race Report

Location, Location, Location

First things first, let's get one thing out of the way: Spartan Sprint "San Jose" is not actually in San Jose. It's technically in the city of Patterson, California, which is 100 miles away from San Jose. But just like your friends who say to others when they travel that they're from "San Francisco", when they live all the way in Sacramento, I understand how Spartan uses San Jose as a marketing scheme to make it easy for those to somewhat relate to where the race is, especially if they're out of state (or even from another country).

Having said that, I thought that Diablo Grande was a great location for the Spartan Sprint. They had a vast open area with monster hills, great views, and a big enough area to host the start, finish, as well as the all important parking lot for the parade of cars traveling from all over the Bay Area and beyond.

Pre-Race

I decided to sign up for my very first Spartan race to try out new things. I turned 40 in 2018, so I wanted a lot of new experiences, as much as possible. I've already checked off a lot of bucket list items when it comes to running and other endurance events: my first marathon, my first ultra marathon (50K and 50 miler), my first triathlon (sprint and olympic), my first century (100M) bike ride, and my first endurance bike ride (SF to LA, 545M). 

It's taken me a long time to sign up for Spartan because while I have the enviable quads and calves of an ultra runner, I still had the upper body of a couch potato. It wasn't planned at all leading up to Spartan, but I happened to participate in a 6 week weight loss challenge at P2P Transformation Center in Brentwood. It involved working out an average of 5 days a week with "boot camp" style workouts. So even though I didn't sign up for the 6 week challenge to prepare for Spartan, it worked out perfectly that it somewhat prepared me for the race.

I say somewhat because even though my upper body was now much better than a couch potato, I had never really practiced any obstacles prior to my very first Spartan. Zero. Zilch. Nada. And so, of course, this gave me pause and concern leading to race day, where I somewhat debated whether I should even cross the starting line, but having already paid my money for the race way back in 2017, I opted to show up and just see what happens.

Race Day

Most first timers for the race seem to be teams of participants. While I knew a few friends doing the Spartan Sprint on race day, our start times were not the same. Most of them had started in the morning, while I had a late afternoon (12:45 PM) start. I chose the late afternoon time slot when I signed up because it seemed the most inexpensive option at the time (I think I paid a total of $80, discounts, taxes and fees included). 

I'm glad I followed the instructions to aim to arrive an hour and a half earlier than my race start, as there was already a big line of cars going into the parking lot by the time I got near the start/finish. One can pay for VIP Parking ($40) to park near the start/finish, but I'm not sure if there would have been a way to circumvent the line going towards both parking areas. VIP does save you quite a bit of walking, as it felt like I walked about half a mile to a mile just to get to the entrance from where I parked my car.

Upon getting to the entrance, they scan your bar code (it's almost a must to print your bar code on paper, as cell service was non existent for me, and I'm guessing most others, being in the middle of nowhere, and being with T-mobile, which has stronger reception in urban areas). I was given an envelope with my headband, which contains my race number (the equivalent of a bib for runners). I was also given a chip and something to tie it around one of my wrists, a wristband for a beer (which I opted out of, given I'm still on my weight loss challenge), and a wristband with my starting time (which they check when you're at the finish, but they let the 12:45ers start at 12:30 because there was still enough room at the start).

Start

After checking your wrist for your start time, you are allowed through to the start corral, but you already encounter your first obstacle. We had to climb over what seemed like a 5 foot wall to actually be with the starting Spartan racers. I was flummoxed! What if I can't even get over that damn wall? Is my race over before it even started. Once I was in line to climb the wall, I hesitated. One of the runners, Pete (his shirt said so), asked if I needed help or a boost. I wasn't sure so I let him go first and then surprisingly was able to hoist myself with ease over the wall afterwards! I wonder if a certain president built this course, because it seemed to have so many damn walls! 

Note: I could have grabbed pictures from the Interwebs in order to describe these obstacles easily, but I'll just leave it to you to google them, so that I don't infringe on any copyrights. Once I get my own pictures of certain obstacles, I'll be happy to update this page (Note to self: Use a Go Pro next time, perhaps?).

Obstacle 1: Overwalls - PASS

After running for about half a mile from the start line, we encounter our first obstacle. Surprise, surprise, it's a wall! Luckily, my confidence was boosted by the previous wall climb, so I was able to climb this one with ease.

Obstacle 2: Mud Misery 

After climbing over the wall, we had to trudge through what seemed like a swimming pool of mud, which grew thicker and nastier as we trudged more into it. Quite a few racers were going towards the left and towards higher ground. Some were brave enough to forge through, but were screaming as they felt their legs and feet sinking (and worse, maybe lose their shoes!). I was one of those who chose the higher ground, thinking that was it for the mud, but boy was I mistaken, just a few "Spartan miles" later!

Obstacle 3: Monkey Bars

I don't think I ever played Monkey Bars as a kid. Even though I have bigger biceps than I had when started 2018, I didn't feel confident enough about it. I got from one rung to another before I quickly dropped. Instead of burpees, those who didn't complete this task were made to roll and/or crawl beneath barbed wires on dirt. Most of the times we rolled over through the course, but at times we had to crawl as there were rocks which would surely hurt anyone who rolled over them. So much for trying to stay neat and tidy throughout the course. I was already covered in dirt three obstacles in!

Obstacle 4: Hurdles

Hurdles weren't a wall, but were beams supported on both ends and the height seemed like my entire height, which was 66 inches. I think they were doable if I were in a team, or at least in a duo, but I just had me, myself and I so opted out and moved along the course.

Obstacle 5: Sandbag Carry - PASS

At the base of a small slope (maybe 100 meters up and 100 meters down), we had to place a sandbag on our shoulders. I'm not quite sure how heavy it was, but it felt like it was at least 20-30 pounds, if not more. It was not a big deal given the weights I've been lifting lately, but you do have to watch your footing going downhill and with that weight. I thought to myself that I've been 30 pounds overweight at the start of the year, so technically I just temporarily became overweight again for that entire time.

Obstacle 6: Barbed Wire Crawl - PASS

Having done this already as the "Plan B" for Monkey Bars, it wasn't a tough obstacle. It does seem like real barbed wire though (I wasn't planning to find out otherwise), so I really dropped on all fours. I was glad that I didn't carry a hydration pack with me that might have given the possibility of a snag on one of the wires. I seemed to be slower than the other racers, but I thought to myself that I wanted to play safe, and that I would usually gain back time during the running parts of the course (which I did so, anyways).

Obstacle 7: Bucket 2.0 - PASS

This was WAY WORSE than the sand bags. We had to carry up and down a bucket full of rocks which seemed to weigh 40-50 pounds. I placed them across my upper body and thankfully I have gloves, but the weight of the bucket caused me to shift my right leg up to plod it along. This didn't seem to be the form of the elites doing the race, but I was improvising at this point. I also had to stop several times and put down the bucket to recharge my arms as they were on fire the entire time! 

It was also one of the first times for the free official photos of the race. I just hoped I looked cool enough on this one, if not, the other pictures on later obstacles!

Obstacle 8: 6 Foot Wall - PASS

There was no way that I was going to be able to do this. I tried to run and jump once but after almost deciding to skip it, a hot shirtless Spartan racer came to my rescue and gave me a boost! (Thanks hot shirtless Spartan racer!). When I got to the other side, I wondered if I should go back and help him, but in hindsight, he probably already climbed over without me noticing and already sped up to get his hot finishing time!

Obstacle 9: Yokohama Tire Flip

You basically had to lift and flip this gargantuan tire that I don't know what vehicle even uses (if any). I tried to get a sense of the weight and then just opted for burpees at this point. I didn't want to hurt my back. Maybe if I can practice this safely and conveniently in an obstacle course training gym, I would attempt it again.

Obstacle 10: Plate Drag - PASS

At the opposite end is a container with heavy plates. You have a rope and are supposed to drag it to you, then pull it back to its original position. I was able to do this quite successfully, although I did have to pry the container loose a couple of times because it was stuck in the dirt (probably due to the rain the day before). 

Obstacle 11: Atlas Carry

Nope. A big ball of stone which seemed like 70-100 pounds, and we are supposed to carry it from one end of a 20 meter spot to another and do 5 burpees in between. A whole can of nope after trying to lift that damn ball. I opted out, climbed a short but super steep incline and moved on to the next obstacle.

Obstacle 12: Olympus

I saw this in one of the preview videos and it is a wall at a 45 degree angle with holes and chains to prop you as you "climb" your way sideways towards the end to ring the bell. I was able to hold a chain and a hole before promptly falling and doing towards the burpee zones to do my 30 burpees as penalty.

Obstacle 13: Herc Hoist - PASS

I was surprisingly able to do this one, although I'm not sure if I chose the bag that was meant for women instead of men. It was a square station with lots of ropes and you're supposed to hoist up a sandbag which seemed to weight to me to be about 30-40 pounds. I had to brace myself on the surrounding metal fence, but I was able to use my almighty biceps to power through this one!

Obstacle 14: Spear Throw

I pointed my spear in the general direction and if I just gave it enough force, it might have actually made it all the way to the hay. Anyway, 30 burpees it is!

Obstacle 15: 7 Foot Wall

Given I was competing individually, I skipped this wall again as there was no hot shirtless runner to rescue me this time!

Obstacle 16: Rope Climb

Carry my 165 pound frame all the way to the top? I made one attempt and quickly dropped down to do more burpees (so many burpees...)

Obstacle 17: A Frame - PASS

I was able to surprisingly climb this despite my fear of heights. I did wonder at times if the bands would break, or if the structure would somehow topple with all the racers going up and down it. The hardest part was climbing over and positioning yourself to the other side. Once that's done though, it's nothing but going down from there!

Obstacle 18: Rolling Mud Dunk - PASS

I think some racers opted out of this for fear of getting too dirty, but this was I think one of the most fun parts of the race. You pretty much really have to get mud all over you as you slide towards a 3 to 4 feet deep mud pit and wade across, and climb up (photographer on course, so smile!). 

Obstacle 19: Slip Wall - PASS

I feared this one but was surprisingly able to hoist myself up with rope as my body was at the perfect angle and my foot was planted firmly on the wall. The hardest part was the last bit where I had to pull myself up to the top. I think I banged my left knee in the process as it's still a bit bruised, but we do have our battle scars, right?

Obstacle 20: Inverted Wall

Another wall which required a team, so I opted out.

Obstacle 21: Multi Rig

It's pretty much like Monkey Bars, so this was a fail for me. I did burpees for what seemed like an eternity, but then ran across the finish line with a smile!

So there you go. I think I completed 10 of the obstacles in a successful manner, in a way that didn't involve having to pay for it by doing burpees. Could I have done better? Sure, I can with more practice and maybe being part of a team next time. But I think I did way better than I expected, and I am proud to have completed this monstrous race!

Even if you remove all the 21 obstacles, this would already have been a tough 5 mile race, by the way. It totaled almost 1000+ feet of elevation, based on other racers' data and it had some pretty ridiculously steep hills (and I know steep, given my trail running experience!).

Aroo!!!