September 13, 2017 (Spartan Section) by Polly Lynn

The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 33

TABLE OF CONTENTS THE RACES

BE A SPECTATOR 36 FESTIVAL MAP 37 Q&A WITH TYLER WHITE 38 THE PERFECT BURPEE

SHALE HILL ADVENTURE FARM 2016 RESULTS

TIPS FROM A VETERAN TO A ROOKIE

GOT GEAR? 45 OLYMPIC SPARTANS 46

Photo ©Spartan Race, Inc.

34 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

SPARTAN RACE

The Spartan Race weekend is comprised of three different races happening at Killington Resort: the Sprint; the Beast; the Ultra Beast. Kids as young as age 4 can also participate in Junior Spartan races Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17.

Kids’ Races Commitment drives Spartans to complete the Trifecta If you’ve done one Spartan race and are considering another, chances are you’ve heard of the Spartan Trifecta. Conquer the Spartan Sprint, Super and Beast in one calendar year to complete your Trifecta. It’s a fact that commitment holds us accountable; accountable to train, eat and think like a Spartan. Commit to the Spartan Trifecta and push your mind, body and spirit to achieve the strongest, fastest and most resilient version of yourself. 5 reasons to join the Spartan Trifecta tribe You’ll do things you never thought you could do. You’ll earn respect. Because you don’t get Trifecta for “trying.” It will force you to get stronger and run faster. Instead of looking back on life and wishing you had the guts to do a Trifecta, you get to look at all your medals. You’ll travel and make tons of new friends.

Spartan Race isn’t just for adults. The Spartan Kids Race offers two distances for little Spartans. Based on age, the kids’ races have obstacles in them just like the grown up versions. Jr. Varsity Spartan | 1/2-mile | ages 4-8 Schedule: Saturday 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. Varsity Spartan | 1-mile | ages 9-13 Schedule: Saturday 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Courtesy of Spartan.com

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The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 35

SPARTAN RACE

Sprint 3-5 miles 20-23 obstacles 40 minutes fastest time The Sprint may be Spartan’s shortest distance race, but it’s still a favorite among both new and returning racers. It’s the perfect distance for those looking to start their Spartan journey. The Sprint also allows returning racers a manageable distance to see how far they fan push themselves. Delivering 20-23 obstacles over 3-5 miles, you’ll never run the same race twice. Once you complete the sprint you are one third of the way to your Spartan Trifecta — the ultimate Spartan achievement. Schedule: Sunday 10 a.m. Elite men and women 10:15 a.m. Competitive start time 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Open start times

The Beast

26+ miles 50+ obstacles 7 hours fastest time

12-14 miles 30-35 obstacles 3 hours fastest time If you’re looking to unleash your inner beast and go to places you never imaged, the Spartan Beast is perfect for you. With 12-14 miles and 30-35 obstacles between you and the finish line, the Spartan Beast will test everything you’re made of: your strength, your endurance, your resolve. The unpredictable terrain and Spartan Obstacles are masterfully designed to push you deep into your discomfort zone, and well past those self-imposed obstacles you once considered your limits. Schedule: Saturday 7:30 a.m. Elite men 7:45 a.m. Elite women 8-9 a.m. Competitive start times 9:15 a.m.-2 p.m. Open start times

Ultra Beast

Sunday (No Elite heats) 8-8:15 a.m. Competitive start times 8:30-9:30 a.m. Open start times

The Ultra Beast is the pinnacle Spartan event in the world. The standard Ultra Beast is held over 26-plus miles, and it’s not for the faint of heart — you’ll face epic terrain, punishing obstacles, and even some surprises thrown in. The Ultra Beast is the only Spartan event featuring strict time cutoffs that must be met. Please note that not everyone who signs up for an Ultra Beast will actually finish. Schedule: Saturday 6 a.m. Elite men and women 6:15 a.m. Competitive start time 6:30-6:45 a.m. Open start times

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36 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

SPARTAN RACE

Killington Spartan Race weekend: what to know before you go With hundreds of people either participating in, or cheering on a friend or family member in the Spartan Race, Killington is going to be a busy place Sept. 16-17. To help, we’ve assembled this handy guide to help you navigate the event and make the most of your time. Here are the basics:

Parking Parking costs $10 per car, $20 per van and $50 per bus or RV. Cash only.

Race schedule

Spectator information

The races will be held throughout the day Saturday and Sunday, with four types of races: Spartan Ultra Beast (two laps of the Spartan Beast), Spartan Beast, 12-14 miles with 30-35 obstacles; and Spartan Sprint, 3 miles with 20-23 obstacles. Each of these races features “elite,” “competitive” and “open” divisions with heats of up to 250 racers in each division taking off from the start line every 15 minutes. (See schedule on pages 34-35)

Friends and family are welcome to watch the races. Spectator tickets are $20 per person when bought online (available until Friday, Sept. 15) and are $25 thereafter. Spectator tickets can be purchased onsite the day of the event (cash only.) Friends and family of Spartan racers will be able to watch participants conquer obstacles, dominate the finish line and receive a medal! Cheering fans along the course help to motivate racers to get over yet another wall and move on to the finish line. Spectators will also enjoy music, raffles, entertainment, and festival challenges at the Snowshed and K-1 base areas. Most importantly, fans will receive a front row seat to watch racers from a safe, comfortable, and relatively mud-less (no promises) Spartan Race festival ground area. And, when it’s over, they receive muddy hugs from thrilled Spartan athletes.

DIAMOND EXPRESS SCHEDULE Daily, March 27 - November 23, 2016 | Operating from 7:15 a.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Buses arrive at all stops on the hour, however drivers will only stop to pick up riders wai ng at curbside. Rutland to Killington

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7:15 AM 7:17 AM 7:23 AM 7:24 AM 7:32 AM 7:36 AM 7:38 AM 7:41 AM 7:42 AM 7:43 AM 7:49 AM *** 7:58 AM 8:00 AM

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10:15 AM 10:17 AM 10:23 AM 10:24 AM 10:32 AM 10:36 AM 10:38 AM 10:41 AM 10:42 AM 10:43 AM 10:49 AM *** 10:58 AM 11:00 AM

11:15 AM 11:17 AM 11:23 AM 11:24 AM 11:32 AM 11:36 AM 11:38 AM 11:41 AM 11:42 AM 11:43 AM 11:49 AM *** 11:58 AM 12:00 PM

12:15 PM 12:17 PM 12:23 PM 12:24 PM 12:32 PM 12:36 PM 12:38 PM 12:41 PM 12:42 PM 12:43 PM 12:49 PM *** 12:58 PM 1:00 PM

1:15 PM 1:17 PM 1:23 PM 1:24 PM 1:32 PM 1:36 PM 1:38 PM 1:41 PM 1:42 PM 1:43 PM 1:49 PM *** 1:58 PM 2:00 PM

2:15 PM 2:17 PM 2:23 PM 2:24 PM 2:32 PM 2:36 PM 2:38 PM 2:41 PM 2:42 PM 2:43 PM 2:49 PM *** 2:58 PM 3:00 PM

3:15 PM 3:17 PM 3:23 PM 3:24 PM 3:32 PM 3:36 PM 3:38 PM 3:41 PM 3:42 PM 3:43 PM 3:49 PM *** 3:58 PM 4:00 PM

4:15 PM 4:17 PM 4:23 PM 4:24 PM 4:32 PM 4:36 PM 4:38 PM 4:41 PM 4:42 PM 4:43 PM 4:49 PM *** 4:58 PM 5:00 PM

5:15 PM 5:17 PM 5:23 PM 5:24 PM 5:32 PM 5:36 PM 5:38 PM 5:41 PM 5:42 PM 5:43 PM 5:49 PM *** 5:58 PM 6:00 PM

8:02 AM 8:05 AM *** 8:09 AM 8:12 AM 8:14 AM 8:15 AM 8:21 AM 8:23 AM 8:27AM 8:28 AM 8:30 AM 8:31 AM 8:32 AM 8:36 AM 8:45 AM R 8:59 AM 9:06 AM

9:02 AM 9:05 AM *** 9:09 AM 9:12 AM 9:14 AM 9:15 AM 9:21 AM 9:23 AM 9:27 AM 9:28 AM 9:30 AM 9:31 AM 9:32 AM 9:36 AM 9:45 AM R 9:59 AM 10:06 AM

10:02 AM 10:05 AM *** 10:09 AM 10:12 AM 10:14 AM 10:15 AM 10:21 AM 10:23 AM 10:27 AM 10:28 AM 10:30 AM 10:31 AM 10:32 AM 10:36 AM 10:45 AM R 10:59 AM 11:06 AM

11:02 AM 11:05 AM *** 11:09 AM 11:12 AM 11:14 AM 11:15 AM 11:21 AM 11:23 AM 11:27 AM 11:28 AM 11:30 AM 11:31 AM 11:32 AM 11:36 AM 11:45 AM R 11:59 AM 12:06 PM

12:02 PM 12:05 PM *** 12:09 PM 12:12 PM 12:14 PM 12:15 PM 12:21 PM 12:23 PM 12:27 PM 12:28 PM 12:30 PM 12:31 PM 12:32 PM 12:36 PM 12:45 PM R 12:59 PM 1:06 PM

1:02 PM 1:05 PM *** 1:09 PM 1:12 PM 1:14 PM 1:15 PM 1:21 PM 1:23 PM 1:27 PM 1:28 PM 1:30 PM 1:31 PM 1:32 PM 1:36 PM 1:45 PM R 1:59 PM 2:06 PM

2:02 PM 2:05 PM *** 2:09 PM 2:12 PM 2:14 PM 2:15 PM 2:21 PM 2:23 PM 2:27 PM 2:28 PM 2:30 PM 2:31 PM 2:32 PM 2:36 PM 2:45 PM R 2:59 PM 3:06 PM

3:02 PM 3:05 PM *** 3:09 PM 3:12 PM 3:14 PM 3:15 PM 3:21 PM 3:23 PM 3:27 PM 3:28 PM 3:30 PM 3:31 PM 3:32 PM 3:36 PM 3:45 PM R 3:59 PM 4:06 PM

4:02 PM 4:05 PM *** 4:09 PM 4:12 PM 4:14 PM 4:15 PM 4:21 PM 4:23 PM 4:27 PM 4:28 PM 4:30 PM 4:31 PM 4:32 PM 4:36 PM 4:45 PM R 4:59 PM 5:06 PM

5:02 PM 5:05 PM *** 5:09 PM 5:12 PM 5:14 PM 5:15 PM 5:21 PM 5:23 PM 5:27 PM 5:28 PM 5:30 PM 5:31 PM 5:32 PM 5:36 PM 5:45 PM R 5:59 PM 6:06 PM

6:02 PM 6:05 PM *** 6:09 PM 6:12 PM 6:14 PM 6:15 PM 6:21 PM 6:23 PM 6:27 PM 6:28 PM 6:30 PM 6:31 PM 6:32 PM 6:36 PM 6:45 PM R 6:59 PM 7:06 PM

*Rutland Mul Modal Transit Center ** indicates curb side pickup

***indicates designated stops on Killington road “R” indicates stop on request only

The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 37

SPARTAN RACE

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obstacle spartan tent rental tent sponsor tent dumpster Security

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10x10 6 marking station 20x160 7 registration 10x10 8 kids registration ARNOLD H. GLASOW 20x20 9 volunteer tent 20x20 10 medical 20x20 11 trifecta tent 20x40 12 finish line 10x10 13 stabil 10x10 14 ascent 10x10 15 solar city 16 clif bar and clif lounge 13x26 / 10x10 20x20 17 stage 10x10 18 sgx 20x20 19 shade 20x20 20 biggest team 10x10 21 darn tough 22 accu mobility 10x20 23 results 20x20 24 finisher t-shirts 10x20 25 fit four 10x10 26 merchandise 10x70 27 Chevy trucks and tent 10x10 / 19x7 28 gt’s kombucha 10x10 29 killington cvb 10x10 30 iceland banner 16x8

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38 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

SPARTAN RACE

with Tyler White

athletic trainer/reconditioning specialist at iSPORT Training By Polly Lynn Mikula

Inn at

factors to the recovery process. Amounts of sleep varies for each athlete. Eight hours is an average amount to aim for. Nutrition is a popular topic for recovery and that is because it is very important. Prior to activity be sure to have meals with healthy carbohydrates that you will be utilizing during activity. Directly after intense exercise your body is a sponge for calories, within the first 20 minutes be sure to a food high on the glycemic index, such as fruit or a granola bar. An hour or two after make sure to eat a well balanced meal that has a focus on meats, fish, and vegetables.

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MT: What common injury typically requires the longest rehabilitation? What’s the shortest? TW: Common injuries that athletes can return from relatively quickly are sprains like an ankle sprain that athletes can manage and compete with while doing rehab activates or more significant sprains that may take 2-4 weeks to recover from. Injuries that require longer periods of time are surgical repairs such as ACL reconstruction that will take 9-12 months for an athlete to return to competition.

ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. IT WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING PAST THE POINT OF TRAINING HARD AND INTO INJURY. MT: Any last minute advice for Spartans before this year’s race? TW: The advice that I give to any athlete in a last minute situation is, less is more at this stage. Continue to train, move, and be active, but do so below any threshold where you will illicit soreness in the muscles. Eat and drink the things that have worked for your body in your training. Most of all, have fun with the process.

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Training the entire body in a many different plans of motion is going to be the best way for athletes to improve their performance and hopefully reduce the chance of injury. MT: Are there warning signs before some injuries that athletes should not push past? TW: Always listen to your body. It will let you know when you are pushing past the point of training hard and into injury. The biggest warning sign is joint pain. Muscle pain is ok and part of building muscle. When you feel muscle pain, you need to allow some recovery time then stress the muscle again to allow it to grow. When an athlete experiences joint pain he or she should rest until it recovers as well. If the pain does not subside in a week they should consult a professional. Athletic trainer, physical therapists, and sports medicine doctors can help them with this. MT: What surprises athletes most about the rehabilitation process and what should they know going into it? TW: Most athletes that I work with are surprised with the amount they CAN do. The approach I take is based appreciating the athlete while respecting the healing injury/surgery. Athletes entering a rehab or reconditioning process should be aware that it is going to be a work-based process and not just a time line. Return to competition is a level of preparation and not a date on a calendar.

Mountain Times: Spartans, and other extreme athletes, often push their bodies further than they should, which leads to injuries over time. What are the most common injuries you see in extreme athletes? Tyler White: The most common injuries seen in extreme sports tend to be acute injuries. These are injuries that happen at a specific moment such as an ankle sprain, shoulder dislocation, or a fracture from falling. Chronic injuries or injuries that occur from over training or training something too much are common as well. The most common injuries of this type are medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints), patella femoral syndrome (front of the knee pain), as well as tendonosis (degenerative changes in tendons). Tendonosis is very common in Spartan racers, especially elbows from training for a lot of climbing events. MT: Are there proactive ways that these athletes could avoid the most common injuries the first time, or subsequent times? Specific ways to train, stretches, or foods/supplements that could help? TW: The best way to get ahead of these chronic injuries is to have a proper ramp up in training. Be sure to give yourself ample time to start training before an event. This process involves training hard then allowing the body proper time and rest to recover. Sleep and nutrition are key

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The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 39

SPARTAN RACE

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Illustrations by Maxx Steinmetz

The burpee is a full body exercise often used in strength training and as an aerobic exercise — it is also the classic “punishment” for not being able to complete an obstacle during an obstacle course race like the Spartan. The basic movement is performed in four steps: 1. From the standing position, drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground. 2. Kick your feet back, while keeping your arms extended forming a plank position.

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3. Immediately return your feet to the squat position.

4. Jump up from the squat position. The burpee push up (also known as a “bastardo” according to Wikipedia) is a popular variation and the one enforced at this weekend’s Spartan Beast competition. The burpee push up requires the athlete to perform one push-up after assuming the plank position (chest to ground). Although many athletes have only recently heard about burpees with the popularization of obstacle course racing, the exercise is not new. According to Oxford Dictionaries Online, the burpee exercise was named in the 1930s for American physiologist Royal H. Burpee, who developed the burpee test. He created the “burpee” exercise as part of his PhD thesis in applied physiology at Columbia University in 1940 as a quick and simple way to assess fitness. The exercise was popularized when the United States Armed Services adopted it as a way to assess the fitness level of recruits when the US entered WWII. Consisting of a series of the exercises performed in rapid succession, the test was meant to be a quick measure of agility, coordination and strength.

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40 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

32 • Summer Guide 2015

SEPTEMBER 16 & 17, 2017

The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 41

SPARTAN RACE

A PLAYGROUND FOR BIG KIDS WARPED WALL Run up the quarter pipe “Warped Wall” obstacle and grab the bar at the top. Then pull yourself over the bar and lower yourself down a rope from the platform at the top. It’s an intimidating obstacle as the bar seems impossibly high, but a confidence-boost once accomplished.

GREAT WALL TRAVERSE The 130-foot long traverse winds its way through the woods. The wall is broken up into 16-foot sections of blocks on a wall then balance beams or overhead beams.

PARALLEL BARS The parallel bars are angled uphill adding to the challenge. Half way, one set of bars ends and you have to lower yourself to the second set then continue hand-over-hand to the ropes at the end. This is a new obstacles sponsored by the New England Spahtens organization.

POND TRAVERSE Some pull themselves along ontop of the rope, but most choose the underneath route; hand over hand, heel over heel. Just like most obstacles, the faster you can get off the rope, the more effort you’ll save, but whatever you choose, just don’t let go!

WALL Walls typically 7-11 feet tall are a very common obstacles in OCR challenges. The objective is simple: get over the wall. This means running at it, jumping to get a grip on the top and then hoisting yourself over.

LOG TOPS Balance atop a series of logs over various heights. This is a test of balance and momentum. But it’s not over at the end. Rather than jumping off to level ground, the obstacle continues as you are asked to carefully step from the log onto the skinny side of a board and balance through a maze. After that? A slackline. This one definitely takes practice and a lot of focus!

TARZAN ROPES The Tarzan Ropes are among the most difficult obstacles at Shale Hill (and at most OCR races). The object here is to grasp a hold of the first rope and swing from rope to rope all the way to the end of this 60-foot long span. No touching the ground! At the end, you must hoist yourself over a wall to truly have accomplished this obstacle.

Where training is fun

By Melinda Noel

By Polly Lynn

Shale Hill Adventure Farm in Benson is a world-class training facility for obstacle course racing, but it may also remind you of your old elementary school playground (before all the coolest/most dangerous elements were removed). At Shale Hill athletes are encouraged to walk over the teeter-totter, climb to the top of that rope, then suspend yourself upside-down while you maneuver onto the platform. Climb the cargo nets, go up and down the firemen’s pole, swing across the monkey bars, traverse the Tarzan swings, belly crawl through the mud! The aim here is to play until you reach exhaustion — the same reason your parents brought you to the playground when you were young. Shale Hill encourages athletes of all abilities to play on the Benson course. “Some people get the wrong impression and think that Shale Hill is only for extreme

athletes,” said Rob Butler, owner and founder of Shale Hill. “The truth is it’s very accessible for almost everyone to come train, whatever their level and abilities and whatever their goals are.” “I was very intimidated the first time I came here,” admitted a female athlete in her 40s who wished to remain anonymous. She was training on the course Sept. 9, in preparation for the coming Spartan Race. “I had gone to the gym for weeks to workout in preparation for my first visit and was very nervous that I wouldn’t be able to do it. But when I got here, I soon realized that was unnecessary. Rob was so understanding and easy-going. He demonstrated the obstacles and helped me ... There was no pressure to perform at a high level,” she said. Everyone will be able to accomplish some of the obstacles and virtually no one can accomplish them all. Playing on them and seeing progress is the fun part,

Butler added. “At Shale Hill Adventure Farm we have a unique training philosophy: We think you should have fun! … Playing hard develops hard bodies,” he wrote on shalehilladventure.com. Rob Butler competed in his first Obstacle Course Race (OCR) in 2009. Inspired, he went home and designed and constructed a few of the first obstacle features that are now on his farm property so he’d be better prepared for his next race. Today, Shale Hill has two loops with 51 obstacles, according to the map. That is more than some of the most popular OCR races in half the distance. Butler’s course is 6.3 miles long (10K) and is rated among the hardest in the country by Obstacle Race Magazine, an accolade Butler says is warranted due to the frequency and intensity of the obstacles. Guided group runs are offered Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Visit shalehilladventure.com.

42 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

SPARTAN RACE

18:00

12:00

6:00

Sprint

Beast

Ultra

Shown are fastest, median and slowest finishing times for each open race division. In the ultra race, 12:59 is the latest possible time to finish before being pulled from the course.

Elite first place finishing times —women/men:

1:23:00

4:34:32

11:35:18

1:11:12

3:32:48

8:54:40

Best of Luck to all Competitors in the 2017 Spartan Race www.RRMC.org

The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 43

SPARTAN RACE

Dear Spartan Rookie, Congratulations! You’ve made it to the day you’ve been training for. (Hopefully, you have been training?) Regardless of whether you’re feeling ultra fit having stuck to a regimented training schedule, or not so much ... here you are. There isn’t anything more you can do physically, except perhaps get a good night’s sleep prior to race day. Whatever your fitness level and goal for the day and whatever Spartan Race you’ve decided to take on as your debut, start with a strong determination. Know you can do it! The biggest factor yet to be determined is your attitude. How you approach the course and how you sustain your spirit when you want to quit (and most will want to quit at some point) will play a big role — dare I say a bigger role than how much you prepared in the weeks and months before — in your experience as a Spartan. By way of summary, here are a few tips to keep in mind for your debut race: 1) Burpees cannot kill you. Yes, when you’ve done over 200 over the course of the day it can feel nearly impossible to fall to the ground and stand back up again (which is what burpees typically devolve to after you’ve passed a certain point of exhaustion), but you really can do it! Break the set of 30 required for not completing an obstacle into sets of 10 to make them more manageable without allowing yourself to dwell on the difficulty delaying the inevitable too long. 2) Force a smile. A smile is contagious and happiness begets happiness, even if it’s forced. Studies show that the good ol’ “fake it until you make it” saying actually does have a proven record for success when it comes to happiness. So put on that happy face! If you can’t fool yourself, try encouraging others along the course. You’re likely to see your optimism reflected back at you. 3) Stay present and simply tackle what’s in front of you, one obstacle at a time. The course is longer than you think. Don’t ever let yourself believe the

end is near. If you start preparing for the finish line mid-course, you’re setting yourself up for severe psychological disappointment. It’s common for the course to wind near the finish at about mile 15 in an 18-mile Beast race, and then send you crying straight to the top of Killington Peak — a 2,000-ish vertical foot death march. Exhausted and disappointed, unsuspecting Spartans can be seen lining both sides of the single track with heads in their hands laid out on the hillside. 4) Don’t think about quitting. If you’ve made a decision to finish there is no longer any reason to consider choices. Accomplishing a goal with grit

and determination begets self confidence that lasts much longer than the race itself. Conversely, pain and exhaustion are temporary. Believe it or not, one week from now you’ll likely recount your Spartan experience as “fun.” Good luck! Aroo! ~Polly Lynn Mikula Author’s note: I use the term “veteran” loosely. I’ve completed three Spartan Beasts at Killington with my husband and college friends, but in no way am I an expert. These observations are simply built from my experience. ©Spartan Race, Inc.

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44 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

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The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 45

SPARTAN RACE

By Evan Johnson

So you’re headed out on your first Spartan race and you’re (hopefully) feeling ready for it. But before tearing off through the mud, take a few of these essentials with you to keep yourself energized, focused, comfortable and safe. Here’s what you’ll find us carrying:

Performance/ compression gear Endure the course, don’t let it defeat you with this Spartan Race compression tight. Like a second skin it protects you from wetness, odor, and chafing. Pricing varies.

Race vest

When it comes to racing, hydration is key to a strong finish. Supplement the aid stations with the help of a hydration vest or pack. The Fluid Race Vest by Mountain Hardwear holds three liters in a stable, close-fitting vest that won’t get snagged on barbed wire and will also hold any other supplies. Plus it’ll hose off nicely when coated thick with mud. Price: $70

Non-slip gloves Get a grip with the Official Race Day Glove of the Spartan Race. Fit Four’s new line of Spartan gloves offer anti-slip grip and a great fit for training and race day. Price: $39.95

Icebug Zeal OLX While navigating knee-deep mud, soulcrushing hills and every imaginable kind of terrain, your average cross-country sneakers won’t cut it when it comes to climbing ropes, scaling walls and carrying heavy sandbags. Icebug shoes are designed with an advanced traction system that features carbide steel studs to keep you stable no matter the terrain. Price: $184

Petzl ACTIK CORE headlamp

Gu Energy Gels

While the races will be held during the daytime, the folks at Spartan encourage racers to carry a source of illumination with them in case they’re out on the course for longer than they anticipate. Petzl’s ACTIK CORE headlamp brings 350 lumens of power to five varieties of light mode including red for preserving night vision. It’s an ideal addition to a kit for hiking, camping or running. The battery is recharged using a standard USB port or with standard batteries. Oh, and it’s water resistant. Price: $59.99

For quick energy between obstacles, tear open some of the newest flavors from Gu Energy Labs. The newest flavors include Toasted Marshmallow, Campfire S’mores and Cola Me-Happy. They are quickly metabolized and they’re super packable, meaning minimal weight. Price: $12 for eight gels.

“WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, OR DREAM YOU CAN, BEGIN IT NOW, FOR BOLDNESS HAS GENIUS, POWER, AND MAGIC IN IT.” – JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

46 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

SPARTAN RACE

Olympic Spartans

By Evan Johnson

For elite-level athletes, the dream of Olympic gold is a long, hard-won pursuit that requires years of training and dedication. The nations of the world come together every four years for this annual festival of sport in pursuits that range from martial arts to swimming and from triathlons to dressage. It’s a storied tradition that hails back to the Greeks. But athletes and the viewing public are hungry to have new sports get the spotlight on the world’s biggest stage. In 1998, snowboarding made it’s debut

in the winter games. The 2020 Olympic Games in Ian Adamson, who currently holds world records in Tokyo will feature the debut of sport climbing. Could endurance kayaking and adventure racing. Together, obstacle racing be the next addition? they developed the International Obstacle Racing There’s no denying that obstacle races like the Federation (IORF). As the head of IORF, Adamson Spartan Race are popular, with thousands of rachas been working to check all the required boxes to ers lining up on the starting line at races all over the qualify. world. In the first documentary to study the subject, One of the biggest challenges facing OCR’s jour“Rise Of The Sufferfests” estimated some 5 million ney to Olympic status has to do with the number of people competed in obstacle course races (OCRs) national federations. By IOC regulations, an interin 2016. But even with so much energy in one of the national federation must be comprised of at least 50 biggest fitness trends of time, the road to having obnational federations, each of which must be recogstacle races included in the Olympic “programme” is nized by that country’s olympic committee. Earning a long and muddy one. recognition by a country’s Olympic committee is According to process that can take the International up to five years. Of the Olympic Committee current 59 national IN 1998, SNOWBOARDING MADE IT’S (IOC), a new sport federations around DEBUT IN THE WINTER GAMES. THE 2020 can be included in the world, only a the Olympic Games handful have earned OLYMPIC GAMES IN TOKYO WILL FEATURE after it becomes a recognition by their THE DEBUT OF SPORT CLIMBING. “recognized sport” governments and by the IOC. To receive Olympic committee. COULD OBSTACLE RACING BE THE NEXT that recognition, an Should the IORF’s ADDITION? international federa59 national federation representing that tions all get recognisport on a national tion by their respective level must conform to the Olympic Charter, a set committees and governments by 2019, they must of rules and guidelines for the organization of the hold congress for five years, making 2024 the earliest Olympic Games. Adopted by the IOC, these are the OCR could become recognized as an Olympic sport. fundamental principles, rules and by-laws of the Two Olympic cycles later— eight years — could earn games that all sports must follow. The IOC’s official it full medal status. evaluation also shows that a sport’s history and Faster options for adding OCR as a medal event tradition, universality, popularity, image and cost include adding it as a sport, discipline or event are also considered. The IOC also requires an interwithin another sport, such as modern pentathlon national federation to implement the World Antior athletics. A sport can also be added if the host Doping code. country of the games proposes it, an appealing idea Of course, Spartan isn’t the only OCR in town and as Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympic by IOC rule, an international federation cannot be a Games. for-profit entity, which Spartan currently is. So when will the world’s Spartans go for gold? For Starting in 2012, Spartan founder Joe De Sena now, they’re already training for their debut and began a collaboration with fellow elite-level athlete keeping their eyes on the next obstacle ahead.

TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES

START TIME: 9:30am at jax 1667 Killington road REGISTRATION & INFO: online at killingtonturkeytrot.com

ENTRANCE FEE: $20 • $25 on race day (at 9:00a.m.) QUESTIONS? kasiemunson@hotmail.com • 1-617-594-8473

Friday, November 24th

The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017 • 47

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48 • The Mountain Times • Sept. 13-19, 2017

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