Spartan Super Morzine 2016
It's race day number two and today the sun is shining. 9am Start for the Super Elite wave, we arrive for around 8am, the events village is buzzing with excitement. Registration and bag drop was quick and staff were super friendly and helpful.
Today John decided to run around at my pace as he was not wanting to risk any further injury. We both headed to the start line, I was super nervous, the girl I had helped in the water at the sprint passed with one of her friends, they both came and said hello and her friend said it was nice to meet me. I noticed a few other Elite women that had placed the day before on the start line, they were all looking sharp and ready go.
This was going to be a hot one, not that I am complaining, I race better in the heat. We are also before climbing at 1000 meters above sea level, so racing at that altitude over the weekend will also make it tough.
Music blaring, the commentator starts the count down, smoke in the colours of the French Flag are set off and then after the count down we are off. The pace from the start was noticeably slower than the Sprint the day before but by no means slow, the course to start with was exactly the same as the Sprint, a trail run into the river, trail into walls, trail onto Muddy Slack lines, fail again for me and many others, my first set of 30 burpees.
Then it was the memory board, side climb wall, cold water crawl, Spear Throw with a bent and knotted rope that was a fail again. We then ran onto the Atlas Stone carry, at this point I am just behind the lead lady Myriam, she won the Beast the previous day. We ran onto the wire crawl then the rope climb, this was extra hard today, the ropes were extra muddy and slippy but I did it.
More trail running lead us into the 5 foot overs, with Myriam still in my sight I flew over these.
Next up was the first river crossing with the log, the first section was easier due to a barrier in place to stop us and our logs being washed away down stream. Myriam was much quicker and stronger than me in the water sections, it was here she cleared her lead from me.
It's race day number two and today the sun is shining. 9am Start for the Super Elite wave, we arrive for around 8am, the events village is buzzing with excitement. Registration and bag drop was quick and staff were super friendly and helpful.
Today John decided to run around at my pace as he was not wanting to risk any further injury. We both headed to the start line, I was super nervous, the girl I had helped in the water at the sprint passed with one of her friends, they both came and said hello and her friend said it was nice to meet me. I noticed a few other Elite women that had placed the day before on the start line, they were all looking sharp and ready go.
This was going to be a hot one, not that I am complaining, I race better in the heat. We are also before climbing at 1000 meters above sea level, so racing at that altitude over the weekend will also make it tough.
Music blaring, the commentator starts the count down, smoke in the colours of the French Flag are set off and then after the count down we are off. The pace from the start was noticeably slower than the Sprint the day before but by no means slow, the course to start with was exactly the same as the Sprint, a trail run into the river, trail into walls, trail onto Muddy Slack lines, fail again for me and many others, my first set of 30 burpees.
Then it was the memory board, side climb wall, cold water crawl, Spear Throw with a bent and knotted rope that was a fail again. We then ran onto the Atlas Stone carry, at this point I am just behind the lead lady Myriam, she won the Beast the previous day. We ran onto the wire crawl then the rope climb, this was extra hard today, the ropes were extra muddy and slippy but I did it.
More trail running lead us into the 5 foot overs, with Myriam still in my sight I flew over these.
Next up was the first river crossing with the log, the first section was easier due to a barrier in place to stop us and our logs being washed away down stream. Myriam was much quicker and stronger than me in the water sections, it was here she cleared her lead from me.
Out of the river and back onto the trails and then to my dread the river crossing that was closed in the Sprint due to safety was open again today. I made it over the first crossing and then headed further up stream, then we had to cross back over the section that had caused so many others trouble the day before, the two guys in front of me were struggling helping each other over, I had no chance, the water took my feet away from me, I was in trouble, John grabbed my arm I got my feet again and I was safe, I have never been so glad to get my feet back on dry land.
Next up was the huge 7 foot wall and Apex structure, my legs were burning after the water section but some how I had enough in me to make it up again at the guys section of the wall and then climb over and down, I loved this obstacle.
Next up was the huge 7 foot wall and Apex structure, my legs were burning after the water section but some how I had enough in me to make it up again at the guys section of the wall and then climb over and down, I loved this obstacle.
I then headed into the town centre, we had to climb down into the river, make our way back up the river then use ropes to climb out, we had a rope to help us up this section so it was still hard work but safer.
At this point I headed out the town and started the 800m climb that was to make the Super awesomely tough. The first obstacle on this section was a section of walls. Then more climbing up trailed forest to the waterfall cargo net crawl, I had never seen anything like it, you had to jump into a pool of water at the bottom of a water fall swim across then climb up to the top of the waterfall via a cargo net. At this point another women was catching me, I let her take the lead into the water and watched her to see how she got on, the water was fast moving and I was scared it would take me away with it, she managed but not with ease, others were struggling too. This obstacle had also been closed the day before due to safety, I decided to take the risk and jumped into the pool of water, I managed to swim to the net and then climb out, yippee, I am still alive.
At this point I headed out the town and started the 800m climb that was to make the Super awesomely tough. The first obstacle on this section was a section of walls. Then more climbing up trailed forest to the waterfall cargo net crawl, I had never seen anything like it, you had to jump into a pool of water at the bottom of a water fall swim across then climb up to the top of the waterfall via a cargo net. At this point another women was catching me, I let her take the lead into the water and watched her to see how she got on, the water was fast moving and I was scared it would take me away with it, she managed but not with ease, others were struggling too. This obstacle had also been closed the day before due to safety, I decided to take the risk and jumped into the pool of water, I managed to swim to the net and then climb out, yippee, I am still alive.
Next we had more climbing up trails, I was deep in thought about what I had overcome and got lazy with my feet, the next thing I knew I was eating dirt, yes I fell flat on my face, the two guys behind me got a huge fright, I got up, felt a bit stupid sore and bloody and a bit like crying but I didn't and kept running. The next obstacle was a huge 10 foot Overhanging Wall, it had bars to use to help you get up and over but at only 5 foot and 2 inches it wasn't enough for me to reach. I had to get onto the bars feet on the lower bars, hands in the upper bars squat down then leap up and catch the top, I did, just and it was into some more climbing.
The next climb turned into a near vertical muddy crawl under a chair lift, another girl had caught me by the wall but I was able to keep pushing and kept my lead on her up the climbs.
I then ran up some more steep trail onto a crisp net, up and over and onto more steep trail running before we came to the longest sandbag carry I have done to date, I am fussing around 1.5 kilometres up hill, then down hill then back up to the start of the carry. I got clear of the girl that was behind me in this section, I was super proud of my climbing with this 30lbs, mega tough but I did it.
After this the course started taking us back down hill on steep muddy trails, I was working extra hard to keep my footing after my fall earlier.
The next obstacle we had to complete was tyre flips, 6 in total, I complete that's with ease, then we had a tyre drag then pull, this was much more testing weight wise for me but I did it.
I ran further down steep slopes onto the chain carry, this was awesomely tough, I felt like a total beast carrying that chain along, up a steep slope over a bridge then back down to the start, got a couple of awesome pictures taken too.
The next climb turned into a near vertical muddy crawl under a chair lift, another girl had caught me by the wall but I was able to keep pushing and kept my lead on her up the climbs.
I then ran up some more steep trail onto a crisp net, up and over and onto more steep trail running before we came to the longest sandbag carry I have done to date, I am fussing around 1.5 kilometres up hill, then down hill then back up to the start of the carry. I got clear of the girl that was behind me in this section, I was super proud of my climbing with this 30lbs, mega tough but I did it.
After this the course started taking us back down hill on steep muddy trails, I was working extra hard to keep my footing after my fall earlier.
The next obstacle we had to complete was tyre flips, 6 in total, I complete that's with ease, then we had a tyre drag then pull, this was much more testing weight wise for me but I did it.
I ran further down steep slopes onto the chain carry, this was awesomely tough, I felt like a total beast carrying that chain along, up a steep slope over a bridge then back down to the start, got a couple of awesome pictures taken too.
Some more trail running down hill took us onto the 8 foot wall, it looked huge to me, I stupidly tried to use the women's side to climb up and came off, 30 burpees, I should of just gave the guys side a go as that is what I am used to.
As I am running I can now start to see and hear the town, the end is getting near, I fly down into the town to be great by the Hercules Hoist, I found this easier than the sprint until my calf cramped half way but I still managed. I ran through the town down some steps then back up the huge cargo net. I then ran onto the massive Spartan Cargo Net Extravaganza, this was high and looked awesome and was manageable for all.
I ran on and I knew what was coming next, the memory test, I gave what I thought was my code but guess what? Fail, another 30 Burpees.
I was still in third position as I climbed up the rope of the Slippery A Frame. Then ran down towards the river for the final river crossing and then the final obstacle, the Rig.
I climbed down the cargo net and into the river, I crossed using the safety rope and then I was at the rig, wet and tired I made it about half way then fell, 30 more burpess, as I was doing my burpess I could see the girl behind me on the rig, I was getting screamed at to stop looking and get my head down and get my burpees done, I couldn't help but look every time I jumped up, I was half way through my burpees, I couldn't go any faster, if she made the rig I was losing my podium place and yet again losing my place due to my memory. It was so tense, loads of screaming and shouting going on, I kept working away at my burpess that where getting counted and monitored by not one but two officials, the girl fell of the rig, this was the same girl I had helped in the water the previous day, I felt gutted for her. I was on my final few burpess as she came across to do hers, I finished mines with delight, high fived the officials joined John who had smashed the rig and we sprinted on and Jumped the fire jump together, I did it, another podium, I was over the moon and greeted with hugs and congratulations from the other girls, we waited and also congratulated the girl that came in behind me too.
As I am running I can now start to see and hear the town, the end is getting near, I fly down into the town to be great by the Hercules Hoist, I found this easier than the sprint until my calf cramped half way but I still managed. I ran through the town down some steps then back up the huge cargo net. I then ran onto the massive Spartan Cargo Net Extravaganza, this was high and looked awesome and was manageable for all.
I ran on and I knew what was coming next, the memory test, I gave what I thought was my code but guess what? Fail, another 30 Burpees.
I was still in third position as I climbed up the rope of the Slippery A Frame. Then ran down towards the river for the final river crossing and then the final obstacle, the Rig.
I climbed down the cargo net and into the river, I crossed using the safety rope and then I was at the rig, wet and tired I made it about half way then fell, 30 more burpess, as I was doing my burpess I could see the girl behind me on the rig, I was getting screamed at to stop looking and get my head down and get my burpees done, I couldn't help but look every time I jumped up, I was half way through my burpees, I couldn't go any faster, if she made the rig I was losing my podium place and yet again losing my place due to my memory. It was so tense, loads of screaming and shouting going on, I kept working away at my burpess that where getting counted and monitored by not one but two officials, the girl fell of the rig, this was the same girl I had helped in the water the previous day, I felt gutted for her. I was on my final few burpess as she came across to do hers, I finished mines with delight, high fived the officials joined John who had smashed the rig and we sprinted on and Jumped the fire jump together, I did it, another podium, I was over the moon and greeted with hugs and congratulations from the other girls, we waited and also congratulated the girl that came in behind me too.
John and I got a quick wash then it was time for the podium presentation. I was first up on stage and was presented with another awesome bit of wood along with a Rebook voucher and goodie bag.
I later got contacted by Spartan to say that I would receive along with my free Reebok trainers some more awesome Reebok gear and a free race entry per podium.
John and I had a fantastically challenging time racing in Morzine, a huge well done to all involved with Spartan in putting on a fantastic weekend of racing, I think I experienced every emotion possible from start to finish.
Women's Super Podium
1st Myriam Essalki
2nd Amélie Tobar
3rd Joda Quigley
I later got contacted by Spartan to say that I would receive along with my free Reebok trainers some more awesome Reebok gear and a free race entry per podium.
John and I had a fantastically challenging time racing in Morzine, a huge well done to all involved with Spartan in putting on a fantastic weekend of racing, I think I experienced every emotion possible from start to finish.
Women's Super Podium
1st Myriam Essalki
2nd Amélie Tobar
3rd Joda Quigley
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