Even the most seasoned triathlete will falter in an
obstacle course as brutal as the Spartan Race without ample preparation.
Across rugged terrain stretching three to over 13
miles, the Spartan Race sends contenders plowing through a series of 20 to 30
grueling challenges including mud, fire, and barbed wire to push mind and body
past the limit. For every hardened Spartan, the race is no mere event; it is a
way of life.
Discipline on top of determination will be essential
to reach the finish line in one piece.With the brutal race which happens in
different parts of the globe, here are a few expert tips for Spartan hopefuls
who want to conquer one of the most formidable obstacle courses on the planet.
Be ready
for anything
Personal trainer Kristin Rooke of BuiltLean warns
Spartan Race newbies to get ready for anything since race coordinators don’t
release the course map until the event itself. With every race a surprise,
would-be participants must build endurance, speed, as well as upper and lower
body strength so they can prepare for any obstacle.
Some fitness clubs or gyms offer special Spartan
training to prepare you and your body on what you can expect on the course.
Trainings can vary from sprints and squats to lifts and lunges—to help you
anticipateany imaginable hurdle while improving physical performance.
Burpees,
burpees, burpees
Surviving each obstacle is one thing; surviving the
penalties for failure is another. Obstacle racing documentary Rise of the Sufferfests director Scott
Keneally recounts the pain of having to do 30 burpees for every failed
challenge, which made him quit the race midway.
Rooke reiterates the importance of the burpee and urges
Spartan Race contenders to include this much-maligned workout in training
routines, in case they fail or skip an obstacle.
Eating
right
Proper diet is fundamental to overcoming the Spartan
Race. Eating like a Spartan is an entire philosophy that prescribes
pH-balanced, primarily plant-based meals with whole ingredients that consider
seasonality, availability, sustainability, and affordability, along with nutrient
density, taste, and impact on the environment.
To succeed in an obstacle race where upper-body
strength is crucial, Torey Armul of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also
recommends plenty of carbohydrates that can fuel large muscle groups.
Similarly, dietician Natalie Rizzo suggests extra protein during strength
training, as well as chicken or chocolate milk after workouts to beef up the
upperbody.
Inspiration
for Spartan Hopefuls
Rigorous training and proper diet are only part of the
equation to a successful Spartan Race. For the resolve to take on and complete
the arduous run, inspiration is critical.
American sports competition series Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge
delivers motivation with Spartan Race-inspired obstacles that only the
strongest, fastest, and most united teams can surpass for the grand prize of
$250,000. It airs every Saturday at 9:35PM (8:35PM JKT/BKK), first and
exclusive on RTL CBS Extreme.
For more tips and updates, follow RTL CBS Extreme at https://www.facebook.com/RTLCBSExtreme and
@RTLCBSExtreme on Twitter and Instagram.
RTL CBS
Extreme
Your destination for extreme and action-packed content with a thrilling
combination of popular series Kingdom,
Hawaii Five-0 and NCIS: Los
Angeles; adrenaline-pumping stunts on The XtremeCollXtion; non-stop laughter with Fail Army and
World’s Funniest, mind-boggling illusions on Criss Angel: BeLIEve, Dynamo: Magician Impossible, Cosentino,
and Penn and Teller; and
adventure-reality series Bear Grylls:
Mission Survive and Speed with
Guy Martin.
Tags
ENTERTAINMENT