Training for Spartan Race

[Deleted]

My BIL has talked me into signing up for a Spartan race in May.  I used to be very good about working out - weights and cardio but the last 3 months I have done almost nothing.  I did sign up for the gym again at the end of December and have been going and hopefully the race will give me the motivation I need to stay committed.   Any suggestions on what to do to train for this over the next 4 months?

[pixy0stix]

Have you looked at their website? They have training programs based upon your level of activity with suggested exercises.

[Deleted]

Jan 8, 2014 13:09:31 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Have you looked at their website? They have training programs based upon your level of activity with suggested exercises.

Yes I found nothing there.  Do you have a link ?

[pixy0stix]

Oh, I lied, I was thinking of Tough Mudder. Which is about the same thing - toughmudder.com/tough-mudder-boot-camp-training/

However, you can sign up for their workout of the day email - www.spartanrace.com/wod/

[emilyinchile]

What distance are you doing? For the Spartan Sprint, which is 5k, I'd just do whatever worked for you before rather than any special training. For a longer distance I'd probably follow a comparable training plan (like a beginner half marathon plan or whatever the distance is) and do your weights from before as well.

On another note, is there anything in your US-based (right?) race about the categories for men being called "Spartan Race" and "Spartan Race Elite" while the women are "Spartan Chicked" or "Spartan Chicked Elite"? Those are the categories for the one here in April, and I am not impressed. I'm usually not picky about every little gender difference, but I think it's BS that the whole event is called Spartan Race, and then women can't even be in that category. Plus the tagline for men says "you'll know at the finish line" whereas for women it's "we make mud look good." Ok, got it, I'm going to do the same course as the men, but I shouldn't forget I'm really just there to fulfill some mud wrestling fantasy.

[jamalynn]

There are 3 Spartan distances, so you need to figure out what the distance is and train for that distance. As far as weights, cross fit workouts are a good choice. Pull-ups and push-ups are important for upper body training and squats and burpees are good for the lower body.

[Deleted]

Mileage wise it is a sprint. The distance is posted as 4 miles so slighlty more than the 5K's I am used to, but it will be manageable as long as I can adjust to jogging in higher altitudes.

[Deleted]

Jan 8, 2014 13:47:59 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

What distance are you doing? For the Spartan Sprint, which is 5k, I'd just do whatever worked for you before rather than any special training. For a longer distance I'd probably follow a comparable training plan (like a beginner half marathon plan or whatever the distance is) and do your weights from before as well.

On another note, is there anything in your US-based (right?) race about the categories for men being called "Spartan Race" and "Spartan Race Elite" while the women are "Spartan Chicked" or "Spartan Chicked Elite"? Those are the categories for the one here in April, and I am not impressed. I'm usually not picky about every little gender difference, but I think it's BS that the whole event is called Spartan Race, and then women can't even be in that category. Plus the tagline for men says "you'll know at the finish line" whereas for women it's "we make mud look good." Ok, got it, I'm going to do the same course as the men, but I shouldn't forget I'm really just there to fulfill some mud wrestling fantasy.

Wow - no that is not in the descriptions at all.  

[Deleted]

Jan 8, 2014 13:47:59 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

On another note, is there anything in your US-based (right?) race about the categories for men being called "Spartan Race" and "Spartan Race Elite" while the women are "Spartan Chicked" or "Spartan Chicked Elite"? Those are the categories for the one here in April, and I am not impressed. I'm usually not picky about every little gender difference, but I think it's BS that the whole event is called Spartan Race, and then women can't even be in that category. Plus the tagline for men says "you'll know at the finish line" whereas for women it's "we make mud look good." Ok, got it, I'm going to do the same course as the men, but I shouldn't forget I'm really just there to fulfill some mud wrestling fantasy.

That would annoy me too. Oh cause girls only care about looking pretty? Eff that.

[emilyinchile]

I left a comment on the FB page, and some guy responded and said he thought the same terminology was used everywhere, but I pretended to sign up on the US site and did not get told that I'm just a silly little girl. Plus it's not like that would make it better anyway! And of course I feel like if a native English speaker came up with it, it would say Spartan Chick, not Chicked. WTF is Chicked? ETA: Apparently getting chicked is getting beat by a girl. And this is a whole movement that women created, with a website and everything. Which, ya know, girl power and all, but if it weren't assumed that guys are better, then there would be no term for this. I should go back to my normal stance of just letting things go instead of analyzing if they are somehow offensive, life is easier that way.

And sorry, I thought the Sprints were all 5k because the one here is...Chile is apparently just doing it wrong on this one. But for 4 miles I'd still just do some regular running, on trials/hills if you can, and then whatever weight training you like.