Wintergreen Spartan Super

I completed the Sprint in March of this year.

This event was #2, my Super, heading for the Trifecta.

We chose this location because it was closest to us and the timing was right.

BIG MISTAKE!

This is the 2nd hardest event that Sparta does. Vermont is #1.  Both are set on ski resorts and the terrain is the primary obstacle overall.  I have NEVER competed in anything this grueling.  Had I known this beforehand, I definitely would have driven further to suffer less.  

Brutal.  

This word was repeated over and over by participants.  No other word fits as appropriately.

No.  This photograph is not Vietnam.  It is the barbed wire crawl (uphill) just before the Finish Line.

The fog was with us the entire race.  It rained also.  About 200 runners were given a shortcut around Mile 6 due to the weather.  Those of us just ahead of them stayed the course and EARNED our medals.  For most of us, there is no other time in our lives when we will persevere this hard, give this much and press beyond all comfort zones to Finish.  Without a doubt, this race is all about mental preparation moreso than physcial.  Very few will be physically prepared for the challenge, but anyone can Finish, if he or she CHOOSES to. Both of these courses (Wintergreen VA and Killington VT) have a high DNF rate and a high injury rate. The mandatory insurance is there for a reason.  Nearly 200 persons were treated by medical personnel on Saturday and the med crew will tell you blatantly "we don't do bandaids".  I know this because I asked... after falling multiple times and wishing I had something for my bloody hands.

I did complete.  Proud of myself.  Promised myself I'd never do it again, only to reconsider the following day at a friend's suggestion to "improve our finish times".  I'll debate it.  I'll contemplate it. I will only consider it if I'm 60 lbs lighter and in an improved upper body strength condition.

I did this race in running shoes. Nike Pegasus 29+ to be specific. 2nd mistake.  And a big mistake as well.  NO ONE should do this course in anything other than trail shoes or hiking boots. I actually completed most of Mile 7 backwards and downhill due to improper shoes. I watched runner after runner slide down the hillside, unable to stop, solely because their shoes could not grip the terrain.  The slopes were mud, rocks and overgrown grass/weeds.  It was the rain and grass that gave it a mega slide factor.  The mud... well it's just mud... you get what you get based on depth and liquidity.

Reebok came out with a shoe this year specifically for the Sparta races.  My running buddy was wearing a pair.  Amazing traction. Lots of participants bought the Reebok shoes to "test" them out and all sang the praises, even with the higher price tag.  As of today, there are two versions.  The All Terrain Sprint and the All Terrain Super. Multiple color choices.  The Super has a black and red version with the actual Spartan logo.  They retail for about $120.

 I bought the Sprints (post race) on sale for $80 less the welcome discount of 15% - so for $68 I am now the proud owner (belatedly, of course) of a pair of black / neon yellow Reebok All Terrain Sprint trail shoes.  I'm looking forward to suffering through the Beast in October, more prepared, and definitely on a less rigorous course. NOTE:  There are three significant differences between the Sprint shoe and the Super shoe; width (Sprint is very narrow), number of nobs on bottom (Sprint has less) and cushioning (Sprint has less).  I bought the men's to avoid the narrow but it was still a very trim fit.  Nobs and cushioning were more than fine.

This course finished out at about 8.3 miles.  The race planners list it as 8.1 because they do not measure the distance within the obstacles themselves. I will mention here, none of the obstacles are overwhelming, it is the terrain that is hardest. The atlas balls, inverse wall, monkey bars, log flip, log carry, all are doable.

You will read / hear warnings of the sixth mile (Black Diamond Slope).  It is a terror... the source of nightmares... and worthy of it's reputation. What you won't hear is that while this is the toughest mile on the course, that does NOT mean there are any easy miles on this course! 

There is no flat in Wintergreen.  None.  Nada. Deal with it.

You will cross the side of the mountain, more than once, climbing on rocks, hanging on to trees and plants.

You will struggle with altitude.  

You will walk amongst the mighty Spartans.

You will be certain of this when you reach a point in the terrain where your fellow warriors are all standing still, breathing, recuperating, before moving another 10-15 ft and repeating the process.  You will do this in absolute silence and you will feel at one with everyone around you.

This course levels the playing field for all. 

Love it. Hate it. But it takes a real Spartan to complete... REGARDLESS of finish time.

It's not about the battle, it's about the Victory.

Prepare for Glory!  Aroo!

OFFICIAL TIME:  8:29:08  

 (Elevation)

 (Mile 6)