CHALLENGER STORY
A CHAT WITH SOME GREATS
# 4: ALBERTICUS SPARTICUS THE FIRST
Alberto Riccardi is famous for being related to the most people in the SBBU. He has accomplished all SBBUs to date. This year, before he sets off to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela between Portugal and Spain, we asked him a few questions about his previous SBBU experience
Q: AS A VETERAN SBBU RUNNER, DID YOU FIND THE 2024 RACE EASIER THAN THE PREVIOUS ONES? 2022 was the first SBBU and when one does any difficult task for the first time, it is daunting and scary. 2023 was easier as I was already an experienced SBBU’ er. 2024 was a piece of cake especially because I found out that there was no shame in walking all the hills
Q: LAST YEAR SIENNA RAN AND MADE IT HALF WAY. THIS YEAR SABRINA IS DOING HER FIRST ATTEMPT. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SABRINA FOR HER FIRST SBBU? Last year, a very experienced uncle of Sienna told her that she should train for 3 months leading up to the race slowly increasing her mileage by not more than 10 % per week. That definitely did not happen as she never trained. No surprise that she made it half way only. That was already large for the amount she trained.
This year I suggested to Sabrina that she train more than her sister did last year. So far so good! She should definitely make more than half way.
Q: WHAT IS THE BEST AND WORST PART OF THE SBBU? Best part of SBBU is the last 3 laps. The whole of Bedfordview country club joins in and runs the last few laps with you. As you finish the last 400m you feel and get treated like a rock star. The worst part of SBBU is tasting a gulp of Johnny Cobra’ s Carolina reapered whiskey! Q: WHAT IS HARDER: THE SBBU OR TWO OCEANS? SBBU is harder by far. At Two Oceans there is light and sea for the 6 hour maximum time limit. At SBBU there is darkness for 11 hours and at a certain time in the early morning when it is pitch black and chilly, where you have not had much sleep you do imagine seeing the light.
# 62: EAGLE BOY
Eagle Boy was the fastest runner at the 2024 Spartan Baby Badass Ultra. He shares his thoughts on his first SBBU.
As I entered the event, I couldn’ t quite come to terms with what was required. It seemed easy enough yet undeniably daunting. But as you do, you lace up and give it a bash. Looking back- it was an unbelievable experience. It wasn’ t just the accomplishment of finishing, but more the journey itself and the people I met along the way.
Truth is, you meet people at their most raw during such events. Stripped of pretense, often struggling and far from concerned with their physical appearance, everyone is united by one common goal: to go through this thing together.
The cause is powerful and the people we met transformed into friends and family along the journey.
I ended up being the quickest, but the reasons changed. It started because I absolutely love to win( can’ t deny that). It changed to something far more practical – the need to shower and rest between runs. Ultimately, it evolved into a desire to see everyone else come in and to be the first person to offer encouragement. In fact, that act of support fueled me more than any nutrition, any massage. It was the pure power of servant leadership – standing alongside like-minded individuals and pulling them in the same direction as yours.
If I were to offer advice to a newbie, it would be this: make it about someone other than yourself. Focus on the cause, a person close to your heart, an acquaintance that looks like they need a friendly face to pull them persevere. That purpose drives yours- it’ s more powerful than a snack in between runs or a carbon plated super shoe. It’ s an intangible force you can’ t describe but so heavily and profoundly powerful.
There is no“ worst” part to the SBBU, there are only different shades of“ best”. So, show up! Embrace the day! Be special, and in doing so allow others to do the same.
Simply go and be a bumble bee.
( Those little guys should not be flying. Their wings are too small for their bodies- but they do- because they can- and because they undoubtedly have enormous self-belief.)
Awoo!
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