The Backstory
about. The most memorable part about the race
though was around 8 miles in…with about a mile
In order to fully grasp the heartache of not
or so left. I had been trail running and seemingly
finishing the Ultra Beast (if you didn’t know, I
miles from the start line with no idea how much
was pulled off the course for missing a specific
time/distance was left until the finish line. Around
checkpoint by a certain amount of time after going
the 8 mile mark, I started to hear the roar of the
1 1/3 laps, or 18 miles, in right around 10 hours),
spectator crowd by the finish line. Without sounding
you have to understand where I began my Spartan
too soft or mushy, my eyes instantly teared up.
journey. Last November, I was just cruising around
Being a religious person, and someone who works
the internet when I came across a Spartan Race ad. I
in ministry, the moment I heard the crowd all I
had always loved the movie “300,” as cliché as that is,
could think about was Hebrews 12:1 which says,
so when I saw the helmet design, the red and black
colors…I kinda was already sold. I watched a promo
video and instantly was hooked before I ever ran a
race. I tried to convince some friends to run with me
in Miami…to do it as a group thing…but the closer
the race got the more people decided to back out,
whether for physical reasons, monetary, etc. I started
trying to get in “running” shape because although
I had always been an athlete, I had never been a
runner. I signed up for a Warrior Dash, just to get
my feet wet before the Spartan, finished 83rd out of
2700+ and thought I was prepared for my Spartan
Race…it was more miles but how much worse could
it be?
I showed up in Miami, nervous as can be. I didn’t
get very much sleep the night before (something
I’ve noticed is a common occurrence the night
before a race now, regardless of whether or not
I’m thinking about the run). I ran the race…not
the fastest as I was held up at a lot
of obstacles waiting on people
and finished 419th out of
5
3043, respectable but not
anything to write home