Spartan Super 2014 in Wintergreen VA

I am now 2/3 of the way to my 2014 TRIFECTA! Today, I conquered the difficult Spartan Super course at Wintergreen Resort in Virginia.

Overall:
I raced completely solo this time and I had a total blast! I was very nervous, this is notoriously the "2nd hardest Spartan Race they make" (the first obviously being anything in Killington, VT). The terrain was difficult, a have to say, I underestimated it, but I was still prepared. I ran the race completely unsupported (camelbak, gu, and nuun; check!), wore a perfect outfit (I was not too hot or cold), and had done the right amount of training. I definitely could have run the race much faster if I had better grip: most people were slipping all over the course, but I will do better next season when I invest in some better shoes.

The Weather:
The weather was less than pleasant. It was like 75 F, and FOGGY. When I say foggy, I mean, I couldn't see the next obstacle until I was pretty much AT it. It was nice for a number of reasons: it helped keep me cool, no sunburns, and I couldn't see how awful some of the distances/hills/climbs were. Temperature wise it was great, however the humidity and fog was a little crazy. The temperature was pretty perfect though. Also, it had been raining for a few days before the event so everything was SLICK. Many times I couldn't go any faster just due to slipping. All steep ups and downs (which happen to be MOST of the course) had to be done cautiously to avoid falling on your face or ass.

The Obstacles:

1. Wall to Start
• 10 foot tall slatted wall to hope over to get into the corral
• Easy way to get everyone corralled and pumped up, everyone seemed nervous. They also sent out us out small groups, I kept getting antsy! We definitely left late.
2. OUT (Over Under Through)
• Over, Under, and Through 3 different 6 foot walls
• Cake, as usual
3. Berlin Wall
• Climb over an 8 foot wall with no lips or edges
• This can be a little difficult if you race alone.
4. Vertical Cargo Net
• Net hung about 10 feet up a tree, climb up one side, down the other
• The net slumped lower on one side so many people went there, however, I found that going to the slightly higher section was less busy, and the tension on the net made the climb much easier
5. Berlin Wall (another)
6. Inverted Wall
• Wall angled 45 degrees towards you, had slats to help you up, and slats on the back
• Getting up was easy, and due to the slats on the back, lowering was easier too
7. Sandbag Carry
• Carry a 20 lb (for ladies) or 40 lb (for guys) sandbag up a hill and back down. There were two, 3 - 4 foot walls to go over, each way! (4 total walls). If your sandbag dropped you had to do the burpee penalty.
• I liked this, it wasn't as steep as the PA Sprint, and the walls were a fun way to break up your trip. This is also when I caught up to my SST lady friend Liz!
8. Tractor Pull
• Drag a cinder block on a chain up and down a slippery, muddy, awful steep slope, and back down to where you started.
• This obstacle is silly, to the outside world Spartans must look like crazy people: running around in the mud taking cinder blocks for a walk. This was steep and particularly difficult to keep momentum.
9. Hill Climb with rope

• Steep, muddy, rocky hill, with a rope to assist you up
• It was so slick, not using the rope would have been very difficult (or impossible)
10. Water Crossing
• Swim through a small water crossing under some tubes (used to be an "under" barrier), and over a slatted wall
• I look forward to any water crossing, they are always easy for me, they are cool and refreshing, and they give me a chance to rinse off some of the heavily caked mud
11. Atlas Carry
• Pick up a perfectly spherical, smooth boulder (60 lbs for ladies, 100lbs for men), and carry it about 30 feet, place it down, do 5 burpees and take it back
• I had never done this obstacle before, it was very hard to get a good way to pick up the atlas, it was slippery, getting off the ground is hard, and its an awkward shape/size. But i did it, and I liked it overall. This is where I said goodbye to my SST friend Liz. (good luck!)
12. Slatted Up and Over
• Big ladder style up, walk over slats, back down
• This obstacle was over top of a running path (I later found out was almost the end of the course), it was easy, fun, and a very cool view.
13. Monkey Bars

• Very large rung (like 2 inch diameter PVC pipes), randomly spaced and at different heights
• This was the hardest obstacle. I heard from my friend Ed (who works for Spartan) that 9/10 of the elite women failed. I was gonna give it a go but upon seeing them I decided to tag team with someone instead. We weren't allowed to use our legs, but we could sit on someone's shoulders. I found some random guy and helped him over on my shoulders first. He was helping me on his shoulders, then said "fuck it" and pushed me up by butt. I was being carried overhead, ass in hand. Hey, it worked. Thanks random guy. I high fived his team and carried on.
14. Hercules Hoist
• I was very confident about this one since I built it last week and was able to practice. I decided to not be cocky and do the women's one (even though I know I can do the men's!). I got it no problem and was excited to see some struggle from even some stronger men.
15. Bucket Brigade
• Fill and carry a Home Depot bucket full of rocks up the hill and back down. It had no handle.
• This hill was long. At the PA Sprint I was able to do the whole thing without any stops, this one was so long I had to stop 3 times. Oh well.. I did it.
16. Spear Throw
• Throw a spear about 20 feet into a bail of hay about as tall as you. It must stick to count.
• Only 9% of all people who do the spear throw make it. This was the one obstacle I was going to be totally "okay" with failing... and I did. AGAIN. UGH. 30 burpees for everyone!
17. 7 Foot Wall
18. Big Cargo
• A-frame cargo net that went up/down 30 feet.
• Liked this one, very easy for me, especially in my vibram five fingers (yay toes!). This was another cool spot where we went over the running path. 
19. Decent with Rope
• Down a muddy, steep, slippery hill, using a big rope to guide you
• This was one of the muddiest sections of the course, we all went slow and steady, and keeping the rope taught helped a ton.
20. Trail Section
• This large section was long and in the middle of the woods through a stream, it was very rocky, and required a lot of attention to maneuver. 
21. Log Flip
• Select a log (many sizes, shapes, etc) and flip it end-to-end twice (once one way, then back the way you found it), if it hit the fencing you had to do the burpee penalty.
• This wasn't too difficult, but I moved very slowly and carefully as to not have to do burpees
22. 7 Foot Wall
23. "Death March"
• 0.8 miles up the steepest trail there: 23% grade, for a 1,000 foot total elevation gain
• This is the one section I was grateful for the fog. This was STRAIGHT UP, but I couldn't see the end due to the weather, if I had, I probably would have gotten a little discouraged.
24. 8 Foot Wall
25. Tire Pull
• This time, the guys and girls tires were the SAME WEIGHT: I have no idea how much they weighed. You had to pull a tire up the hill along the ground via a rope and then grab the tire and drag it back to the end of the rope again. The guys ropes were longer than the girls.
• All of the girls (and some of the guys) were tag teaming this obstacle. I got asked many times if I wanted help with it, I was VERY stubborn and refused. It took a while to get it started, but once I had enough rope pulled in, it was much easier. 
26. 8 Foot Wall
• This wall had little blocks that the girls could use, with those it was MUCH easier to do.
27. Log Carry
• Grab a log (many sizes and shapes) and walk down and back up a long hilly path.
• This was long and logs are an awkward size/shape. I really wanted to do the whole thing without stopping, but I had to take a small break halfway back up: the logs make nice seats! 
28. Traverse Wall
• Climb across a 20-30 foot wall that has 1 inch blocks of wood for your hands and feet. Ring the bell at the end, don't fall off.
• I have been training at the rock wall for this, I was very careful this time as to not slip off. I nailed it! woo!
29. Barbed Wire/Dunk Wall
• This was the LONGEST, MUDDIEST, barbed wire crawl ever, probably almost 1/8 or 1/4 of a mile, then into water, under a wall (in the water), and a little more barbed wire.
• This section was so long that I poked my head up, and couldn't see the end. I had a hard time since it was so slippery and uphill I couldn't get a good grip and sometimes my pushes forward didn't do much. This took me a while but I made it, and Ed was there to watch me through to the finish line.
30. Rope Climb
• Climb up a 30 foot rope, ring the bell, and come down.
• I was getting a bit tired and a little shaky, but I totally nailed it! I paused near the top to regather my strength and I could hear Ed yelling at me to finish it. This was the most graceful ascend and descend I have even done on a rope climb.
31. Slip Wall
• A wall up/down at about 45 degrees, its super muddy and you have to climb up it, there is a rope provided.
• This was pretty slick, I was a little shaky, but I got it in no time.
32. Fire Jump
• Jump over a two foot wide fire.
• This was actually hard since they placed the fire in the middle of a bunch of gravel. The footing wasn't great to get a good push off, I saw many people almost face plant in it. Oh well, I was finished!
33. MEDAL! 
• Ed was there smiling at me and placed my medal on me! AROO!
• Time for snacks! Cliff Builders bars, bananas, Core Power, and Power Ade were all there.

How About a VIDEO?!

I don't take my own photos or videos on course, but there are some amazing people who do. Check out this guy's first person video of the whole race on YouTube HERE! He has all the obstacles, first person, penalty free. If some of my obstacle descriptions are confusing to you, take a look at the video.

Injury?!

There were TONS of injuries all along this course. It was slick, people were excited and medics had a difficult time getting around this venue. I ended up getting all my injuries (as minor as they were) on mile 2. I stubbed my toes, yes, all of them (I guess I kicked a boulder?), and I sliced my palm wide open on a rock as I slid down a hill on my butt. I just threw my glove over is and rinsed it at each water station. I went to see the medics at the finish, just to be sure: I am so glad I didn't need stitches.

Summary: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly:

The Good:

-AMAZING course

-SPARTANS!

-Got to hang out with awesome SST (Spartan Street Team) Members!

-Perfect temperature

-I finished, and I didn't feel totally beat at the end

-No major injuries

-2/3 Trifecta complete!

-My friend Ed met me at the finish and gave me my medal, awe!

-Free snacks!
-Only failed ONE obstacle!

-Another free shirt!

-I got my SUPER! 

-I got to stay in a slope side condo a mere few hundred feet from the start line!

The Bad:

-I cut my hand open on a rock when I fell down due to mud
-Failed Spear Throw... AGAIN

-I got very hungry about halfway through

-Apparently their was quite a shuttle problem so people had a very difficult time getting back to their cars

The Ugly:

-The FOG, made everything very difficult to see ANYTHING!

-Many people got injured on course

-The shuttle line backed up, people waited, got grumpy, and then it poured on them

How did everyone else enjoy the course? How did you all do?