Spartan Training Notes

I thought I should look up the estimated weights for the carry and pull challenges so I know how heavy I need to train for:

• Bucket Carry – 50 to 80 pounds; 25 to 36kg
• Sandbag Carry – 20 pounds; 9kg
• Farmer’s Carry – 40 pounds each hand; 18kg
• Hoist – 66 pounds; 30kg (rain can add 10-15lbs (5-7kg). If there is mud, the bags will feel heavier to start moving). Should train to pull heavier to account for weather effects.
• Atlas – 75 pounds; 34kg
• Sled pull – 45 pounds; 20kg

I’ve also reviewed the past Spartan Events I’ve done to see which obstacles I’ve failed at so I know what to spend more time on:

• Semenyih 2018 – Sprint. This was my first race ever so some failures might also be due to inexperience.
  • Rope climb – this obstacle was placed immediately after the bucket carry and my forearms were too pumped to climb. I should practice climbing more when pumped.
  • Herculean Hoist – didn’t have enough practice with negotiating the ropes. I could pull the weight but had trouble moving my hands up the rope.
  • Spear throw – need more practice.
  • Olympus – need to practice traversing more with less leg assistance.
  • Monkey bars – this one was ridiculously hard. There was some egg beater section in the middle of the bars – apparently the first time they introduced this.
  • Multi-rig – I needed more practice to get the flow of the moves. Although, in this particular race, there was a horizontal pipe at the beginning.
• Semenyih 2019 – Super
  • Olympus – didn’t practice these moves since the last race so I deserved to fail it.
  • Twister – needed more practice but I feel it can be done.
  • Monkey bars – these monkey bars are fat bars and further apart than the usual monkey bars I am used to. I need to work on this.
  • Multi-rig – again not enough practice with the moves.
  • Spear throw – no practice.
• Tambun 2019 – Beast. I thought it was worth noting that I failed obstacles I might not have failed otherwise also because of the terrain. The distance and inclines were draining and some obstacles I can only do when I’m not tired. I should take this into consideration when training. Train heavier so the race obstacles will be manageable even when I’m tired.
  • Twister – I need more time with this one to get the moves.
  • Olympus – I was assisted although I didn’t ask for it. I know I can do this one.
  • Tyrolean traverse – I was assisted. My calves were cramping while I was on the rope. Didn’t train enough for the terrain.
  • Herculean Hoist – I was assisted.
  • Spear – no practice.
  • Atlas carry – affected by terrain.
  • Multi-rig – as above.
  • Monkey bars – fat bars and far apart problem again.
  • Rope climb – affected by the terrain.
• 2019 Kuching – Sprint
  • Hurdles – I was assisted. Couldn’t figure out how to get over the logs without a foot purchase to kick up.
  • Spear throw – no practice.
  • Rope climb – they used new nylon ropes that were too short to loop my leg and more slippery compared to the old hemp ropes.
  • Multi rig – needed more practice.
  • Hoist – the rope felt very slippery here too. It kept slipping through my hands. Not really sure what happened here.