This is going to be a breeze as we pull in and grab our registration numbers, or so I thought. We were late to the starting gate, so we struggled to catch up with the rest of the pack and ran full speed ahead. We climbed the mountain rage and came in contact with the rear of the pack, only to come to a sudden crawl as we bottle necked on the ridge line. As the terrain opened up, people moved aside to allow us to pass and we pushed on for what seemed like forever before the first obstacle.
The day seemed to go on like this forever as we climbed hill after hill in search of the challenging obstacles to be confronted with wall after wall. The hills never let up and the dust filled your lungs to the point of pain as your mouth became parched from a lack of water. We descended down the last mountain range to the flats and came across the best obstacles of the day. The only things that stood between us and victory were a couple mud pits, a leap of faith over a six foot gap of muddy water, and a never ending crawl under the razor sharp barbed wire. The thought of jumping over a 2 foot bed of fire means you’re almost done and provides the energy to push on. We ran and climbed over the last wall and crossed the finish line with a time of three hours and plenty of pride and sore muscles to show for it.
Victory was ours and I wait to be congratulated and given my medal of completion, only to find I have to go grab it myself and place it over my own head. It only gets better, as I have gone an hour with no water and I am congratulated with a bowl of salty pretzels. This was their first run of 2012 and I don’t understand what happened. There was very little water on the course, the obstacles were limited in creativity and the finish line was lacking encouragement to say the least. The course through the hills was great but lacked the Spartan challenge I was expecting and hoping for.
I had a blast with my team and I always enjoy watch my comrades overcome person battles. My team mate Adam tacked wall after wall and Jonnie trudged on hill after hill with a massive blister the size of Texas on his foot, and Jose held up as we pushed our lungs to the point of pain. Great job to my team and I will go into battle any time with you guys.
Xtreme Scale: 2 Fun Scale: 3
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Story by Jamie Leibert
Pictures by Sandra Zinovyev
