The Spirit of Super Spartan

Super Spartan is an obstacle race of 13km run with 30+ obstacles. This year, I led a team of 6 – Sam, Lisa, Anna, Nicolas and Skye.

The team of Super Six Fit & Fab!

The race started in a open field where most of the harder obstacles were held. And after, it was mostly trail runs, up and down slippery slopes, grass and dirt path and more obstacles. One of the starting obstacle was carrying a 30kg steel ball. That was tough. We teamed up to take this on. The tyre pull and push was hard work too. I also had my team member helping me through the horizontal rope crawl and monkey bars, which saved me from doing too many penalty burpees. There is a hydration station every 1-2km and that was a refreshing respite from the heat. There were obstacles to tackle every 3-4km run but what took us by surprise was the mental obstacle where we were ask to memorize a word and a string of numbers. Somehow most of the guys failed in this one… Hmm. Oddly, it didn’t feel like such a long race, but when I was told we only had 3 obstacles more to go, I was relieved.

The spirit of Spartan is team work and helping each other complete the race, and this believe is what has helped each one of us across the finish line. Besides being assisted by my team members, other Spartans have also extended their hand.

All about sweaty bodies helping each other!

I had intense calf cramps just 15m from the finish line but my team members helped eased the cramp and we then ran and jumped hand in hand across the fire pit. The sense of accomplishment and team spirit were just electrifying. We may be a bunch of bodies from various backgrounds, nationalities and genders, but we competed as one. We are veterans, most of us in our 40s, but we soldiered on, held up by painkillers, in some obstacles it was mind over matter and just the pure sense of wanting success and not disappointing our team. I overcame my fear of heights, letting go and trusting others, and surprised by the capacity of my own agility and potential.

Sam, who couldn’t compete in the last minute because of potential injuries still played a team role by volunteering to be our driver, photographer and waterboy. I reckon he had just as much of a workout capturing these spectacular shots in the tropical heat.

Couldn’t have done this without each one of you, spurring each other on with your enthusiasm and support. I stand in humility. I am not sure if I will do the Beast next but you guys rock!! Aroo Spartans!

Pure Hapiness!

How to get attention at sporting event… calf cramps!