Spartan Race - 5k Obstacle Course Race

[inferno]

Anybody here planning on running this on June 24, 2012 ?

Ive never run any 5k before so thinking of signing up for this as a goal. That gives me 5 months to prepare with no running background. Anybody joining or can share some stories from past races?

Link to official race page and registration:
http://www.spartanrace.com/toronto-o...rint-2012.html

Its $60 to signup, which is a bit steep but currently there is a Groupbuy deal going on

$64 for 2 Entries
http://www.buytopia.ca/deal/746?a_ai...lsLmNvbQ%3D%3D

And some random info :

An article on the previous Toronto Race:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/articl...me-to-all-pain

All racers receive:
- Finishers Medal
- Free Spartan Race T-Shirt
- Scrapes and Bruises
- Stories, stories, and more stories

Map
402 Old Barrie Road, Oro, ON, L0L 2E0

[invictus43]

Some general running guidelines: start slow and short. Make sure you have the correct shoes for your running style/fitness level. Pay attention to pain when you start. You can easily injure yourself (not broken leg..but chronic, fatique issues) if you're not patient and aware. For instance, if you give yourself Plantar Fasciiitis (from poor style or shoes that have poor support) you could be off your feet for 6 months, killing your race obviously. You'll be using muscles and putting strain on joints that is abnormal and they need time to build up. Just listen to your body.

Having said that, I'm 30 lbs overweight and I can do 5k's, so just about anybody can I would say. Have fun!

[RockerGuy]

Some general running guidelines: start slow and short. Make sure you have the correct shoes for your running style/fitness level. Pay attention to pain when you start. You can easily injure yourself (not broken leg..but chronic, fatique issues) if you're not patient and aware. For instance, if you give yourself Plantar Fasciiitis (from poor style or shoes that have poor support) you could be off your feet for 6 months, killing your race obviously. You'll be using muscles and putting strain on joints that is abnormal and they need time to build up. Just listen to your body.

Having said that, I'm 30 lbs overweight and I can do 5k's, so just about anybody can I would say. Have fun!

Not every can!
Since it seems like you have prior knowledge of long distance. I am willing to bet you've done a bit of training in the past

[Amazon]

I did the Warrior dash last year, which is pretty much the exact same thing. It was brutal, try and run earlier during the day, the sun will kill you. The warrior dash was a lot of running up and down ski hills, which is killer. Oh, and don't wear runnign shoes you plan on keeping, there's no point, they get destroyed.

There's also the Tough Mudder for anyone who wants a greater challenge. http://toughmudder.com/events/toronto/ it's a 10-12 mile run up and around Mt.St. Louis Moonstone.

[invictus43]

Not every can!
Since it seems like you have prior knowledge of long distance. I am willing to bet you've done a bit of training in the past

I was really mostly a cyclist..road and mountain bike racing. The running thing came later. I started trying 10k's some time ago and got plantar fasciitis in a couple of months. Terrible thing..it can take months to go away. So I decided to stick to 5k's and trying to keep some fitness in running so I don't hurt my feet again. If I could just un-clip this 30lb bag of dogfood I'm carrying around... My last 5k was a 25:12..I figure if I lost 30lbs I could actually have a half-decent time!!

[rmemedic]

5K ain't too had to train up to. When I joined the military, I was definitely over weight, but due to having a very heavy job before that, I did have quite a bit of muscle mass.
In the 3 months of Basic training, I went from finding a km a bit of a breather, and at the end of it, we were doing 9-10 km jogs pretty much every morning.
Just take your time, and enjoy it. You'll find a "rhythm" that you like and then it seems like a breeze for a bit. I have nagging ankle, knee and hip issues from racing them thar dirtcycles, so once I hit about 8km it's nothing but joint pain for me, which I hate because I would really like to go and do a half marathon.

Shoes are important, don't be surprised to spend $150. I spend a few hundred a year on running shoes. When you use them every day, they are shot in a few months. The last pair I bought, I wasn't too keen on the way they fit me. I should have listened because the design of them didn't support my foot properly and I just about sprained my ankle because of it.

If you're doing this spartan race, you need to also train for some sprinting, core and upper body muscle. Cross fit would actually be a pretty good workout to help get you ready, plus it's one of my favourite work outs!

The race sounds like a blast, a few guys at work do them regularly. I would participate but I'm usually off at the track most weekends.

[sauga_rider]

my friends and i signed up back in november, it cost us $35 then

[psycho44]

Not every can!
Since it seems like you have prior knowledge of long distance. I am willing to bet you've done a bit of training in the past

Looks like fun! I've done competitve cross-country running that covers almost 10k through High Park, 3km and 1.5km tracks back oh 15 years ago in High School. I'm now old, never exercised since I graduated 10 years ago, got right knee problems that acts up if I sprint but man I'm seriously considering this. 3 months of training hmmm do I want to put myself through that pain again? yes!

[inferno]

Some general running guidelines: start slow and short. Make sure you have the correct shoes for your running style/fitness level. Pay attention to pain when you start. You can easily injure yourself (not broken leg..but chronic, fatique issues) if you're not patient and aware. For instance, if you give yourself Plantar Fasciiitis (from poor style or shoes that have poor support) you could be off your feet for 6 months, killing your race obviously. You'll be using muscles and putting strain on joints that is abnormal and they need time to build up. Just listen to your body.

Having said that, I'm 30 lbs overweight and I can do 5k's, so just about anybody can I would say. Have fun!

Thanks I'll keep that i'm mind. My feet hurts a bit when running on the treadmill but wasn't sure if it was my shoe our just me whining. I've done biking and martial arts before but was never a runner. Max id do would be a 10min mile. Couldn't turn my mind of and id be bored in no time.
Any shoe store recommendation? Running room or any other shoe store will sell me a$100 shoe without me being any wiser

[invictus43]

Thanks I'll keep that i'm mind. My feet hurts a bit when running on the treadmill but wasn't sure if it was my shoe our just me whining. I've done biking and martial arts before but was never a runner. Max id do would be a 10min mile. Couldn't turn my mind of and id be bored in no time.
Any shoe store recommendation? Running room or any other shoe store will sell me a$100 shoe without me being any wiser

If you get pain in the bottom of your heel, like bottom of the foot right where the little circle cushion thing is in the heel part of most insoles, that's a warning sign for plantar fasciitis. Be VERY careful with this! Don't treat it lightly. You need to adjust your style or your shoes. It's especially bad in the morning when you're getting out of bed. There are different worries with the little foot bones if you overstress them as well. Just ramp up your mileage slowly. You may feel like a loser for a few weeks, but it's worth it. I was a cyclist mostly then did more running..don't believe that because you're resting your fitness level isn't up. Just remind yourself you're preventing injury.

Running Room isn't bad..$100 for shoes is normal. Ask for their most experienced shoe fitter..they usually have one good guy at least. And just wait until he's in. In general, they classify their shoes as lightweight, support and cushion. It has a lot to do with how much you pronate while your run, or how heavy you are. They also have different shapes so try a few on. I have a wide heel so I need more space there. Other people have narrow heels..etc etc.

One other thing, treadmill is great but running on a normal surface is different. Do some trail runs, as Amazon says, they do uphill and downhill and those use different muscles...exercise them all.

[SunnY S]

For instance, if you give yourself Plantar Fasciiitis (from poor style or shoes that have poor support) you could be off your feet for 6 months, killing your race obviously. You'll be using muscles and putting strain on joints that is abnormal and they need time to build up. Just listen to your body.

Read this post the day you typed it and was in the back of my mind.

I've been doing some high intensity training in a gym 4-5 times a week for almost a year now, and starting about 4 weeks ago, starting jogging 4-5k on my treadmill starting once a week, and then moved to twice, and was targeting 3 times a week.

Then the pain started last week....

Didn't know what it was....but through the above post, and by playing internet detective, PF is what it is. My symptoms fit it to a T.

Talked to my trainer and others....looks like Im going to have to give it a break, and I'm going to buy a pair of better supportive running shoes. My left foot is resting on an ice pack as I type this...


.

[Kool]

I did the Warrior run last year what a blast....the mud never claimed my shoes but quite a few were digging them out. I've done alot of atving, so I'm pretty good at picking my way through. It was freakin hot around noon...morning would have been better. Those hills were the killer, the obstacles not bad...hills kill though...lol. Gotta check this Spartan thing out... Im no expert runner but I trained for it, just running around the neighbourhood most days.

[invictus43]

Read this post the day you typed it and was in the back of my mind.

I've been doing some high intensity training in a gym 4-5 times a week for almost a year now, and starting about 4 weeks ago, starting jogging 4-5k on my treadmill starting once a week, and then moved to twice, and was targeting 3 times a week.

Then the pain started last week....

Didn't know what it was....but through the above post, and by playing internet detective, PF is what it is. My symptoms fit it to a T.

Talked to my trainer and others....looks like Im going to have to give it a break, and I'm going to buy a pair of better supportive running shoes. My left foot is resting on an ice pack as I type this...


.

Ohhh..sorry to hear man. You can tell for sure when it hurts most getting up in the morning. That's a killer. The biggest thing for me was getting a pair of birkenstocks to wear whenever your feet are not in shoes. Never go barefoot if at all possible. And flip-flops don't count, birkenstocks or better. When you walk up stairs, don't use your forefoot only..put your whole foot on the step. You feel like a tard but it truly helps. Don't push off with your toes when you walk..kinda clomp..again, you feel like a tard but it fixed mine up after 5 months of pain. Took about a month of this to get back to normal. I'm very careful now..I wear birkenstocks whenever possible..buy supportive shoes (all my shoes..work shoes included..I check them all for bending in the mid-foot area..) and am careful with my running. Just as an example, I'm currently running in Brooks Beasts...

I hope you get well soon!

[Banger]

My paramedic students team and I are doing Tough Mudder this year. As said, it's the 10-12 mile. I am least looking forward to the electrocution part. I started training back in September but this month I have really stepped up my training. I got a work out designed by a friend of mine in an SF unit. He is the personal training for several of the other guys as well. My workouts tend to take anywhere from 1.5 hr to 2.5 hrs but I go 6 days a week and I haven't missed a beat yet.
To do something like this, hands down you need to be fit. We don't expect to win but we all want to finish. That's our goal. So long as you have a strong team dynamic it makes the challenge fun and enjoyable. You're only as strong as your weakest person but go at their level and you wont exhaust as easily. That's our plan at least. Plus, everyone is too finish so no one is getting left behind. Good luck and have fun!

For good running footwear to train in, check out the Running Room and get fitted well.
When the time comes to do the race, get something stronger. I suggest MEC and see their Merrell, North Face etc. Something with good tread for traction and a vibram sole will be helpful. I picked up a pair of North Face that I had in the desert with me. Great sturdy shoe and light enough to run with good support. Just my suggestions.

If you are going to be killing yourself at the gym, def revamp your nutrition. I don't eat red meat. I eat small meals every day and I try and eat as often as every 2 hours just to try and keep the protein up and my metabolism going fast. Go to your healthfood store and pick up a whey protein or something similar. I usually have about 2 shakes a day. Heals your muscles faster and promotes fat burning. If you over exert, you're more likely to do more harm to your body than good. So long as you are providing the muscles with what they need, you should be able to keep the intensity up.

[Dr.Manhattan]

I ran the Iron Man a year and a half ago, and you better believe I trained pretty hard for it. I was already in decent running shape, as I have always ran cross country and hit the gym since high school. Plantar Fasciatis is a real pain ( no pun intended ), I've never had it, however I did get tendonitis in my achilles tendon from doing too many hill runs, and wearing crap shoes. I really got sold on the barefoot running after reading a lot of stories on it, and how shoes really just baby our feet making them somewhat more prone to injury. Nike then came out with there Nike Free shoe line, which mimics running barefoot, and I swear by the shoes. They have strengthened my achilles, my ankles, and I have never had any injuries since using them.

I ran with a lot of hardcore people during my Iron Man competition, including an SAS operative from England and a Navy Seal. We swapped workout stories and I must say one of the best running regimes has been FARTLEK training. You can read about it, and studies have shown that doing that type of running can be far more beneficial then simple long term endurance running. I had always been an endurance running doing my cross country, however after doing a month of Fartlek training, doing my usual endurance long distance running felt much easier, and more comfortable.

[psycho44]

Having said that, I'm 30 lbs overweight and I can do 5k's, so just about anybody can I would say. Have fun!

I'm 30 lbs overweight too. Back when I was running competitively I weighed 90 lbs now I'm close to 125 lbs.

[Evol]

Anybody here planning on running this on June 24, 2012 ?

Ive never run any 5k before so thinking of signing up for this as a goal. That gives me 5 months to prepare with no running background. Anybody joining or can share some stories from past races?

Link to official race page and registration:
http://www.spartanrace.com/toronto-o...rint-2012.html

Its $60 to signup, which is a bit steep but currently there is a Groupbuy deal going on

$64 for 2 Entries
http://www.buytopia.ca/deal/746?a_ai...lsLmNvbQ%3D%3D

And some random info :

An article on the previous Toronto Race:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/articl...me-to-all-pain

All racers receive:
- Finishers Medal
- Free Spartan Race T-Shirt
- Scrapes and Bruises
- Stories, stories, and more stories

Map
402 Old Barrie Road, Oro, ON, L0L 2E0

A few of my riding buddies are doing it. I don't think I'll go for it though; $60 for 5KM doesn't seem worth it. The minimum I'll run in a race now and days is 10KM otherwise I'd do a half-marathon/full marathon for a few bucks more.

Good luck on your first 5KM though, I started off doing 5KM's. You got to start somewhere.

[itinkle]

I ran the toronto and ottawa spartan races last year. Get your cardio up, get your legs strong and have a strong upper body. You should be able to get yourself over a 6 foot wall without a rope and should be able to climb a rope up about 10-15 feet. And don't take advice from people who haven't done the actual race. Starting off slow is how you have a bad experience. Each wave of runners is 500 people. You wanna wait in line to do an obstacle because you didn't get out to a strong start? That's a good way to slow your heart rate right down. These races are not about who finishes first, but it's not about lolly gagging and not giving it 100%

[knowledge]

Hey guys what do you think about the spartan race vs tough mudder vs warrior dash?

What are the differences in the courses like? I'm really excited to sign up for at least 2 of them

[Kri$han]

Okay, so I signed up for this race, and haven't really done any training yet (aside from my weekly MTB rides, but I wouldn't call that training... more like 'routine').

How suitable is training via mountain biking and road riding for this race? I was planning on doing that more often to build my cardio, and maybe doing p90x or something for strength training - if I start this week, I'll be half way though at race-time, which should be sufficient.

I think I need shoes too; I was planning on wearing just old cross-trainers (which will get heavy once they're soaked through), or perhaps investing in the five-fingers... thoughts?

Background info: I'm only 150lbs, with about 6% body fat... skinny. I'm strong enough to easily throw myself around, but I lack in cardio (only thing that kills me on our weekly MTB rides)