Big Bear Beast Weekend

Every year, the North American Championship Series hosts a race that is longer than the rest. Back when it was primarily Sprints, it held a Super. Now that it is Super-length dominated, it hosts one Beast race. Big Bear Mountain hosted the session median race and it was the Beast for 2018. At a minimum of 12 miles, the Beast hosts at least 30 obstacles, some of which are unique ONLY to the Beast. I was very much looking forward to this “home town” race and the mountains are what I had been practicing for quite some time. And not only was I racing for the series on Saturday, but I was going to do it all over again on Sunday, just for practice!

Friday night, Glenn and I took an hour or so checking out the festival area obstacles that were open for practice such as the rig, rope climb, and twister. I even met up with some friends like Andrew and Erin whom I met at the San Jose race back in March.

Together we worked on spear throws and swinging until my hands were just raw enough to be able to handle the race tomorrow. We also got a chance to meet up with our old training buddy Chris Bednar (Elite racer on IR) and catch up on his life down in SD! At that time, I switched out of my jeans and tennis shoes into thread climbers and shorts. Glenn and I took off up one of the steeper sections of the mountains and into the dense woods of Snow Summit to scout out some more technical obstacles. I will say training with a Spartan Pro team member has its perk; never questioned actions!

We made our way to Z-wall, about mile 5 in tomorrow’s race and had a few interesting and helpful discoveries. We continued up and spotted plate drag and hurtles (mile 11) across the ski slope. Continuing on up, we made it to our destination… the second sandbag carry. There, also scouting the area, was San Jose champion Ryan Woods. Of course, I knew of him quite well but being able to shake his hand in person was very cool. He gave a quick report of what he had found on the carry and he and

Glenn spoke while I went to feel the material and weight of the bags. Dreading the possibly inevitable, I practiced lifting two of them off the ground simultaneously and it was tough. Looking up at the hill, it was steep. At almost 1/5th a mile in length and averaging over 25% grade on the incline, it was going to be a battle of man vs nature tomorrow for EVERY competitor. We made our way back down the mountain, completing our 2 mile climb slash acclimation scouting run and headed to dinner with friends and then to our house for some shut eye. Morning was coming faster than we could imagine.

The morning began a 5:45 with a shower and quick breakfast smoothie before Glenn and I headed to the venue for warm up (mostly for him since I had about 3 hours before my start time at 9am.) Nearing start time, I ran into my usual friends/competitors Nono, Daniel, and Tory. Chris Lee even showed up with seconds to spare and suprised us all with his presents! Welcome back to the start line buddy! We made small talk about the weather and what we had ahead of us but really, we were all focused on one thing. As we headed into the corral, the talking stopped and the speech began. Seconds away now, we had our hands on our watches, our eyes on the first turn into the woods, and our ears wide open listening for those last 2 words: “LETS RACE.”

I took off about 2 or 3 rows back and let the usual excited few sprint off ahead. We had less than 200 yards before the terrain started vertical. We had an immediate 400ft climb at approx. 28% grade (19-37 min/max) before hitting over-walls and heading to a downturn into a valley that turned right around into a slightly more massive and intense climb. Another 450ft up reaching a max grade of 45%. O.U.T awaited us at the top of the third hill after another turn around from the bottom of one short run and then once again, RIGHT back up a hands-on-the-knees hike worthy hill of 30% grade or more for 300ft. We were now at mile 1…

The second beast addition section was a memorable one from me from last year. This is where the sandbag carry had been in 2017.

A black diamond run when it was snowing, this hill had no visible peak from the bottom; it just continued up. We had to jump over 6ft wall to begin the climb though this year. Here is a view of it from the top looking down. By this point, the pack leaders were starting to make a gap from the rest of the field, I was with the top 20 or so of the 14-29 year olds and I was neck and neck with an 18 year old named Stetson who was a pretty aggressive climber. I knew I should try and stick with him as long as I could. After finally reaching the top, we made our way up a barbwire crawl that bragged 25% grade as we dug into the sand. Upon exiting the barbs, we still had to continue up the remainder of the hill, another 180 ft. At mile 2, we had already reached over 1,000 vertical feet of gain. Up next was a very gradual hill section that was home to the 7tf wall and atlas carry.

Making quick work of both, we had a slight climb to final peak the mountain (the first time). Over 1,500 ft in under 3 miles was a heck of a start for this 12+ mile race, and with only 5 obstacles completed, we had a lot of stuff still to come.

Right at the peak was monkey bars followed by the only flat section of the race. We looped around two water reserves on a scenic style run that was mostly filled with the panting of runners who began almost an hour or so ahead of me. I left good being able to still run reasonably quick past them after those intense climbs. No matter how much I practice at home on the local trails, nothing can match what I just completed; and I knew there was still more to come.

The first of 2 sandbag carries was next and it was relatively short and flat so I jogged much of it and dumped it off into the bin before continuing on. Next up was Hurc Hoist and I was curious if it would be the lighter version or more like Fort Carson. I was pleased to find it relatively easy to pull up using my usual technique and with 4 full length body pulls, I was up and back down. This was the point of our first of two major dissents. Barreling down the full length of the mountain (1,100ft in 1mile) in basically a straight line with only 3 obstacles to tackle along the way: A-Frame cargo, barbwire crawl #2 (downhill this time) and Z-wall that I practiced the night before. At the bottom waiting for me was Twister and Bender. 2017’s introduction obstacles that so far have given me little trouble this year, but prove a game changer for less proficient runners. Bam-Bam I was done and still feeling really solid heading into the TRULY beast section of the race.

Another huge climb (600ft at 25%) we come up to Stairway to Sparta which offered a beautiful view of the hill we just came up. Then it was back down and up, and down, and up again. Zig-zagging around the trees we came to it: the dreaded double sandbag carry. I struggled for a few minutes to get them even loaded onto my back, and then within the first minute of the carry, I was dead and had to drop them off my back. At 45lbs each, these were nearly 70% of my body weight pressing down on me as I tried to climb this hill. People were scattered all over the hill, bags dropped and mouths wide open gasping for breath. It was on this hill that I finally (and unhappily) saw my two frenemies Troy and Nono. Nono passed me with ease first and Troy only minutes after. Every gain I had made in the first 7 miles was now gone. This one area has now doomed me for a top 3 finish. I had ground to make up now. I started using the “throw” technique to the peak of the hill; carry a bag and then throw it ahead of you. Pick up the second bag, walk it to the first, then throw it. Pick up the first bag and continue. This got me to the top and then I “suitcase” carried one bag and had the other on my shoulder as I made my way down the steep hill to drop of these hell bags at the pallets. I was able to catch up to Troy on the immediate hill following as we headed into mile 8. We stayed close together for about half a mile before I saw Nono coming up a section we first had to go down. I knew he was a bit ahead of us now and catching him would require a lot of speed, skill, and a little luck! I left Tory behind and I worked up the strength to climb harder and faster. We rounded the crest and began to work down the furthest East side of the whole mountain. There we had a new obstacle for 2018, armer. It was a giant stone similar to atlas carry with a chain that needed to be lifted and walked to a set of flags and back. Then we began the final climb. 800ft at a nice doable 15-20% grade through the woods made for shade and peace. So peaceful in fact that I saw a deer as I ran. Switch backing through the woods we came to the top of the mountain again and tyro-traverse. A long rope tied to two points that we needed to “ninja climb” across either dangling under or inch-worm across to a bell. It was all downhill from there!

Under A-Frame this time, we ran down an incline to Olympus. A little tougher for me than usual (10 miles of running) but I made it across without falling. Down slightly steeper now I hit the hurtles and plate drag. The drag was tough but since I was there relatively early to most of the competitors, I was able to find an easy smooth path and get it done. Getting even steeper now, we headed into the final gauntlet.

Bucket carry was the first of the 8 final challenges. I had to take a few breaks but never had to drop the bucket on the ground. Next was invert wall and then spear throw. I missed wide left and had to crank out 30 burpees. I lost count around 17 so went to 15 and counted from there. It is better to do a few extra than to skip any and get DQ’ed after 3 hours of running a mountain!

Tire flip and rope climb proved no match for my adrenaline and rolling mud and dunk wall were a refreshing change of pace and temperature.

Slip wall had shorter ropes which required some momentum and jump to grab onto but I got it my first try. But we were still wet at this point and the rig was the only thing standing between me and completion. I ran and tried to dry my hands before I reached the rig. It worked. The rig was 4 rings, 2 ropes and a pole and I was able to skip 2 rings and hit only 1 rope.

Crossing the finish line was a huge relief and I was curious as to how I did.

I finished 6th for my age group which wasn’t what I wanted, but I also wasn’t devastated. I had a good effort and I had another chance tomorrow; but NOT if it had that double sandbag carry… I met with the course designer before leaving and was able to confirm that it would NOT be happening tomorrow, so, I kept my registration active and decided to do it all over again!

Sunday, I was able to start at 7:30am with all AG competitors at the same time: no elites and no Ag waves; just all for one and one for all! The course was nearly identical so I will only cover a few high and lowlights. Up the first hill, I quickly found myself in the top 5 and by overwalls I was in 3rd. I held this position until the second decline where I passed someone who clearly knew my results from Fort Carson earlier this month because as I passed him, he congratulated me on my double podium. I thanked him as we made our way down the hill and I spotted the only man in front of me. I didn’t recognize him at all so I had no idea what age he was or if he raced yesterday, but I had a target on him.

We remained between 3 and 5 min apart through the climbs, lake circles up top and to sandbag carry #1. He was already finished when I arrived but only just so. I picked up my bag and ran like hell. The bag felt super light (maybe it was, maybe it was my energy) but I later found out that I set the 5th fastest segment time on the course for the weekend, surrounded by Pro Team athletes and TM Hammond himself! As I pulled up to Hurc Hoist, we was already climbing over the A-Frame cargo net. Looking back though, I only saw one person within view of me and it was a female athlete. “If I have as much lead on 3rd as he does on me, then I just need to maintain” I told myself. I breezed through the barbwire crawl and z-wall and when I arrived at Twister, the volunteer shouted “hes only 1:32 ahead of you! You got this!” I made it through twister and sure enough, starting up the hill after Bender was #1. I had gained some ground on the downhill.

Continuing up the back side of the mountain again, I kept pushing hard with the hikes. There was a LONG straightaways ending at Stairway to Sparta and from the top I looked back and again could see no one on my trail. I had a substantial lead on 3rd place it appeared. Working my way through a few zig-zag, I could hear #1 stepping hard on a decline. I was within earshot of his steps still! When I arrived at the double sandbag carry, he was just setting his SINGLE bag down to start another climb. YES! Only one bag today! I grabbed it with excitement that didn’t last long because 25% up the hill I began to fade… and hard. To make matters worse, 2 competitors were now grabbing bags themselves! “Where did THEY come from!?” My instant thought was that they cheated and cut a few sections of the zig-zag out by just going straight through… it IS possible, but I have no way of knowing. All I knew was they were on my tail now and I needed to get moving. I still finished my carry first and started up the last BIG hill of the race. About 75% of the way up, I was passed. I was losing mental toughness and sharpness at an alarming rate. My body still felts ok but my energy was draining. Not sure if I didn’t eat enough or if my brain was finally saying “ok I have had enough of this” but as I reached the mile 8 sign, I was no longer running, but power walking as fast as I could. I was passed by the girl about 1.5 miles later. She would go on to take 2nd overall (amazing) but I did learn that she only raced Sunday (freshy). About another mile in, I was passed by guy #3 and 0.5miles after that my new friend Cameron. I was now sitting 5th male and 6th overall. At the peak of the mountain, I got passed one more time by 3 or 4 guys guys running together. I just couldn’t mentally move any faster. I was sitting in 10th place now.

With the final downhill in sight and the final gauntlet still to come, I decided I would rely on obstacle proficiency to get me through the rest of the course. At Olympus, I passed someone doing burpess and went on my way. I was able to survive the bucket carry with the HUGE support of my friend Erin who followed me the rest of the course and provided a lot of the photos in this post. THANK YOU!

I nailed the spear and headed to tire flip more nervous and exhausted I had ever been on this obstacle. But, there was a guy doing his first flip and struggling bad… I might be able to pass him too! Sure enough, the tire collapsed on his leg on the second flip. I immediately went to help him but the referee said I could not. Instead, he helped him out of the tire trap and made him go do burpees.

I took this opportunity to rest since I knew I had time now. I finally bent down and gripped the tread and flipped it once and twice. PUMPED with adrenaline now I let out a huge yell and some trash talking to no one in particular for some reason (lol) and finished the course clean. I ended up 8th overall and 4th for my age group, missing the podium just barely. But, over 25 mile and nearly 10K of elevation gain in less than 24 hours was a huge accomplishment. I am very proud and I accomplished my main goal which was to complete a back to back beast effort. I had never done this before and this course was the hardest I have done, and I did it twice!

Ranking update: I am back up to #2 for the age group M25-29 and I am 18th of all AG Males.

If that wasn't enough for one weekend, I then joined my coworker Ezra for his Sprint race lap. He had done a race several years before but Glenn and I were getting him back in the saddle again. As we finished the first climb and headed into the monkey bars, we met two other first timers Kyle and Norman. Impressed with the speed and ease of my skills on the bars, we started running together the rest of the race and made great memories tackling the course together. I was so proud of all of them ESPECIALLY at the spear throw. Erza nailed his first time, Kyle got it to the bail but it fell out, but on a second attempt he had a beautiful stick! We took a moment (despite injured Ezra from the rope climb) to capture a photo together! Great job guys again if you read this! I couldn't be ha happier "coach" and I look forward to another race together soon!