Monterey Weekend

This weekend held a special place for me for several reasons. First, this venue was home to lasts years US National Series #2 race where I was hoping to do my very best, but instead, had my worst Super performance of the year battling a month long sickness. Second, it was the first race I did with friends! We roomed together, went out after together, sort of tried to carpool together so it was great being back there this weekend reflecting with those SAME friends and so many more. Thirdly, it is now the home of my first ever Elite race. What better way to seek redemption from last year’s falter than to come out and battle it out with the big boys!?

Saturday morning I ran the Elite Men’s heat for the Super. An 8.5+ mile course with roughly 2,100 ft of elevation gain covering Toro Park in Salinas, California. It was a perfect morning for running; mostly cloudy and heavy mist that looked like a light sprinkle. I made my way into the corral with Veejay Jones and Mark Batres; two of Spartans top male elites! When racing AG, I typically can be found in the front 2 rows at the start line, but I knew I would be trampled alive if I did that here, so I stayed about 75% of the way back and figured if I could, I would just work my way up as the race went on. We took off down a path towards a set of overwalls followed by 6ft wall at the half mile mark. Then we veered off to a smaller path, beginning the first of the two Super sections, about 3-4 people wide if needed for passing; which I didn’t do at this point. I was in a group of about 10 guy, and I was bringing up the rear, but the pace was comfortable and after glancing at my watch and seeing 7:30ish pace, I knew this was perfect for me after my 10mi run earlier that week. We cut up some small inclines as the path became thinner and thinner

We turned a sharp corner and began climbing up some more towards where last years “mile long” bucket carry happened. Right before getting there though was a back to back monkey bar and bender combo. Already, someone was doing burpees in the penalty box. “Sweet, I already passed someone!” I though very prematurely, but feeling confident in my grip. Our group of 10 or so all mounted the bars within 5-7 seconds but I was in the middle of the pack when then bells rung. Then it was up the bender and by the bottom, I was now LEADING the pack of males (I am far left in image). Passing 9 elite competitors in a matter of yards at the 1.5 mile mark was a huge confidence booster and already, I spotted my next rabbit rounding a corner to another small climb.

There was a good distance of pure trail running here so I simply had to be faster and stronger than anyone ahead of me to gain ground; no obstacle proficiency to help me yet. I crossed over 8ft wall with less charge and grace than usual, but I didn’t lose much (or any) time. I passed two new guys on Stairway to Sparta but neither of them were the target I already had set on the rabbit who passed them as well. I was only 2 seconds behind him (from say about 12 when I spotted him from the top of Bender) when we reached Z-wall and I chose a good wall while he did not and I was able to complete the obstacle as he headed for the penalty box!

A good stretch of trail running brought me back to the Sprint course section where I climbed up the A-frame cargo net with about 4 other guys; none of which did the flip move and I passed all of them on the way down. At this point, I started thinking about where I might be in the crowed. Granted, we were less than 1/3 of the way through the race, but I was curious. I thought back to overwalls where I counted about 40-45 ahead of me and mentally I figured I have already passed about 15-20, I could be in the top 25 at this point! This was my main goal for the race, so I smiled big and kept telling myself both mentally and verbally to hold on to it! (Looking at athlinks, I didn’t get a bucket carry read so I am not sure but I think I am about right)

Rope climb was shortly after and again there was a small batch working on it already but with my gloves and no leg technique, I made quick work and passed them all! However, it was short lived because immediately after was plate drag and my lane had far more sand than I realized plus I am just a smaller guy so all three of them passed me right back and headed into the barbwire crawl. This was followed up by the bucket carry which thanks to my training just days before was not very difficult despite the steep starting incline. I didn’t pass anyone here, but I also didn’t GET passed so that was a victory for me.

From there, it was a 0.9mi climb at about 13-18% grade where I just tried to keep up with those 3 guys ahead of me. I did end up catching one of them but the other two stayed just out of reach. At the summit of the hill, I was in 19th position and officially more than halfway done! Even more exciting, I was only 45min in which meant beating my last years’ time of 2:22 was extremely likely. The downhill was a blast to do with guys hauling down the hill at reckless speeds but it was stopped short by the sandbag carry. There were 11 guys on the loop when I arrived, but very spread out. I grabbed a bag and began to run with it to the pole we had to come around. A slight uphill grade was the turnaround point but I tried to continue jogging with the bag on my shoulders as long as I could. Strava would inform me later that I had the 10th fastest all-time carry here (second race in a row for sandbag carries!)

After dumping my bag off I followed the same guy through a single track section that lead to twister and 7ft wall. I crossed my fingers that they were not very good at twister, but no one was in the box and no one fell off while I was there. We then took a turn and headed down a single track section which would break into the second Super section of the course. This single trail lead for almost no passing opportunities but the guy that I was now breathing down the neck of was holding exactly how fast I needed/wanted/was comfortable with going so we made very small talk as we started the second and last long climb of the race. As we worked our way up, I spotted two new people up ahead. They were both walking though so I knew we were going to get to them before the crest, so I stayed with my pacer for a bit longer.

We got to a water station and I knew from the map that we were almost to the top and that we had less than 2 miles of race left. It was time to lose these guys! I asked the guy if I could pass and he did and wished me luck, and then I pick up my pace to get the walkers. I passed them both on the left and made it to the top of the mountain. There was no one in sight at first ahead of me, but as I began to descend, I saw 2 or 3 others, and 1 was walking. I picked him off first right after crossing the hurtles and tried to get the other two but they were actually getting away from me. I decided to go for it and went toes only down the hill. Only once was I brave enough to look at my Fitbit to see my pace: 4:57min/mi. I was basically doing a downhill sprint for my life and it felt absolutely terrifying. I was stopped suddenly by black ropes across the whole trail for the low crawl obstacle which I rolled through since it was downhill. Once upright and no longer dizzy, I began to run again, but I didn’t reach the speed as I did just before. Re-entering the sprint course, I headed for the final gauntlet. Olympus was first and I made easy work of it, not even knowing a camera man was there photographing me.

Then it was spear. 2 guys already in the box doing burpees; I just needed to stick this! Nope, I went way short and missed my mark. Upset, I threw my headband down and began to drop to my chest. 32 burpees counted and I was gone (Always do extra because every missed or improper one is a 30sec extra penalty; more on that later). Rounding a corner and charging up a 40ft hill we entered back into the festival area. We had rolling mud and dunk wall followed by slip wall (I was in 14th at this time.) Right after, was the tire flip. Undaunted, I picked a tire at the end of the row and dropped down to grab it.

Only problem was, nowhere to grab! I went to another tire… again, again, again. There were now 4 of us all side by side playing musical tires all over the place trying to find one that was try and manageable. Finally, one of them said “I think I am just going to burpee out” and walked away. It took 0.05sec for all 3 of us to follow his lead and do the same. We were spending way too much time on this. 32 more burpees and I headed for the rig. Still wet from the grass, people were falling off the rings, ropes, and bar so I took extra time to dry off and cross it successfully.

I climbed over the bridge obstacle and found a good bag on the hurc hoist. It was an easier lift for me and I had no problem finishing it. Last obstacle was invert wall and after dismounting I sprinted to my first ever Elite finisher medal!

The results would show that I finished in under 1h30m; almost an hour faster than the year previous. However, I would learn later that a 3 min penalty for burpee completion would be added (6 didnt count.) I did not review the footage, but honestly I didn’t care and it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I did drop from 22nd to 28th, but I still made a top 20% appearance since there were nearly 150 male athletes competing. I looked at the AG finishers times and found I would have taken 1st for my AG and 8th overall had I finished in the same time. Sunday I would take 2nd and 14th in the Sprint though and it was a fantastic neck and neck race between myself and the winner of both AG M25-29 heats, Orlando. We finished only 6 seconds apart and I nailed the spear that time. Still couldn’t get the tire over, but he couldn’t do the rig so that is how we stayed so close to the end.

Overall, it was a huge weekend filled with friends, fun, beers, and medals.

My friend Erin and her HelathIQ team completed their first Spartan races and caught the bug pretty bad. I got to go through ¾ of the course with them (missing the podium ceremony, oops) to coach and support them along the way.

I am still currently in 3rd place for the AG overall and I have Chicago coming up in two weeks!