2015 Montreal Spartan Race Experience part 2 - the Sprint and being volunteer medic

&&& we're back at it, folks.

Except maybe me. I personally chose not to run the Montreal Sprint. Why? In part, I strongly suspected it was a redux of last week's Super (turns out to be true), and this same thing happened last year, which I found none too pleasing. But since many of the girls are participating, I can't NOT be there.

One thing I hadn't done up until then was volunteer for a Spartan Race. I've said in previous posts about volunteers making the race a great experience, so having found out last year that volunteer medical team is an option and I have some qualifications to help out, I sign up and figure an adventure is going to happen.

The core medical team work several dates for Eastern Spartan Races and they are very, very cool and organized people (evident by the Costco-sized bag of Allan jujubes on the food table...yes those will come in handy later on) Turns out that we may be a bit short-staffed (ie cannot have staff running off to every phantom call) so the plan is to do a lot of dispatching and getting a set of eyes on situations before calling for backup. Honestly the way these people work, it didn't seem like team members were missing. A sigh of relief at the last minute when 4 guys who turn out to be firefighters show up.

I get paired with Gab, a physio, as part of the "MSK (musculo-skeletal) Team", and among our tasks is to help out with muscle cramps, ligament sprains, and whatever else may arise. We were patrolling the cluster of obstacles at the bottom of the hills, including the start line wall jump, the monkey bars & grip traverse, cargo nets, rope climb section.. I'm hoping no one lets go of the rope, it is measured at 25 feet.

Meanwhile, the elite wave has taken off and we're enjoying a bit of calm before the proverbial storm. The first elite racer to come flying into view is Jesse Bruce. He makes his way up the first cargo net and, like most of the elites, flips his feet over the top to quicken his descent. The crowd that has gathered  hasn't seen that maneuver before and a huge "OOOOOH" is heard. When Claude Godbout arrives as the emcee announces she's the frontrunner of the female elites, a large cheer erupts from the crowd as well. Girl power!

As the morning goes on, we get calls for things like calf cramps and rolled ankles. As I'm helping out a racer on the slopes of the sandbag carry, I spot Patrice coming up the hill. Situation resolved, a high-five later, back to patrolling and swinging by the CMQ tent set up on site; end up spending most of the day doing this.

Myself (in my volunteer hat), Patrice, Crystal, Tanya & Tracy

At around 11:30 myself, the head medic & dispatcher Jill - a smart cookie, totally cool under fire with a wicked sense of humour to boot - and head physio Caroline all go out for a trot. We go to the monkey bars to check a guy's ankle; further up is the tire carry where a guy asks for Band-Aids for blisters (because he isn't wearing socks), and I spot CMQ'S Caroline and Karine approaching. More hugs!

I also spot a friend, Emma, who's doing her very first Sprint. She's still smiling and I'm glad she invested in a hydration pack and is finding it tremendously useful. I end up helping her out with some burpees at the spear throw.

Jill had regaled me with tales of medical team escapades to stave off boredom, such as chasing after a racer only to have them do burpees. Initially I'm horrified as us athletic therapists can be so considerate and almost too goody two-shoes-ish to comically mess with people's heads. After the burpees with Emma, Jill and Caro have already made their way downhill, so I start running to join them. My fannypack is bouncing up and down on my waist (a reality of an athletic therapist), and I hear footsteps behind me. I keep going until I find the team and glance back...and there's no one. I lost whoever tried to follow me! Gee, this could be fun...

Of course, people trying a Spartan for the first time and who aren't used to the terrain or the efforts required, could sustain some serious physical injuries. We did deal with a bad knee injury and an ankle as well, and occasionally Gab & myself had to help out at the cuts and scrapes tent. I saw first hand at how the rope climb can shred hands & fingers. Ouch.

I really did enjoy this experience, and felt a real sense of teamwork. Of course it helps to have experienced personnel who have a grasp of everything, but also they were great to work with. I really wouldn't mind working with them again; in fact since I am on site on Sunday I tell them to give me a shout if they ever need a hand.

Sunday Sprint

Hooray for a season's pass! Free parking!

It had been a long enough day of driving and being outside so no surprise was a 9:30pm bedtime. When was the last time I did that while not being sick?

Today I get to chill in the Mudd Queen tent and watch the proceedings as a spectator, another first. Some girls who ran yesterday are at it again; Saturday while making one of my many stops in the tent, I got to say hi to Daniela who'd finished by then. When asked how her race went, I think she answered, "Well, it was alright..." Then without another word, she opened her palm to reveal what was inside - a Spartan coin! She'd qualified for the World Championships! Loud epiphany in the tent.

Again cheering on the male elites, Caroline and myself follow Jesse and Benjamin as they finish up their obstacles. A pair of ladies turn and curiously ask us if we know them personally! Ah, the small OCR family.

I also get to play photographer at the Platinum Rig and watch most of the elite wave go through. When 2nd place finisher Allison Tai makes her way through and practically inverts herself to kick the bell, she draws a loud cheer from the spectators.

Jen Milligan has also gotten her Spartan coin, so awesome. I'd love to get a coin...just equip me with a jetpack at the start and I'll be good to go.

Honestly, not racing was just as fun for me as for others who were racing. Great seeing everyone with their finisher medals or getting through the Platinum Rig, and as a plus no one from the medical team had to come and get me.

Next up is XMan Race Sutton! Can't wait to see the gang again and have a crack at the new obstacles.

2015 Montreal Spartan Race Experience - The Super

So, the first event I'd been dreading/anticipating has come to pass.

This year and last year the first warm-weather race of the east has been the Super Spartan; this year if anyone wanted they could have done Course Extrême the day before, on May 16.

I'd just been a little jittery in the days leading up to the Super because it's a smashing grand entrance - 15km of obstacles and rolling uphill terrain to kick things off. Where do I stand in my training? Did I slack off too much in the winter and not get on the ball quickly enough? I haven't run 15k yet in training! I've only run on trails a handful of times! The new shoes haven't been completely broken in yet! Blah, blah, blah.

May 16 I got to meet up with some Mudd Queens in Tremblant as we were staying the night. Some of their pre-race rituals are rubbing off on me, notably enjoying a beer with our superstar Jen Milligan (#jendurance); there's also bacon as part of my breakfast. By the way, this season marks the first that I'm doing everything as part of a team, a wonderful team at that, and much less lone wolf-ing.

I wasn't sure if I was going to get a season pass again but there are some perks involved, notably free parking. Sweet!

It is going to be a warm day, I can feel it. There's some excitement and tension in the air, everyone can't wait to start. Patrolling the start area with a giant Alpha Obstacle Training flag is none other than Jesse Bruce. I love saying hi to this guy at races, always get big bear hugs. OCR is an ever-growing family evidently, as Mudd Queens excitedly greet one another or say hi to new faces.

'Selfie King' Josh, Julie, myself, Genevieve, Patrice, and Linda happily photobombing

Off we go and the start is where last year's finish line was. The plan is to ease into the first hill climb as warm-up. We get to obstacles such as over-under-through walls, balance beam plus slackline (which I don't succeed and curse), a short tractor pull in spring snow..I like the way the tractor itself was set up, but way too much of a logjam and it wasn't even 10am. Were they hoping to get a lot done in an area that seemed to be the size of a postage stamp?

I figured I'd use the same hydration strategy as the Ottawa Beast - 500ml Platypus soft bottle with electrolytes, sip as I go, refill at water station and mix more electrolytes...&&& somehow lose the bottle (again! First Vermont, and now!?) and only realize it when I'm at the over-under-through walls. I'm not meant to have one of those bottles on me.......

I can't remember the order of the obstacles, but for the first little while I'm enjoying the trails. Sure there's some climbing but nothing too crazy yet, some wide flat trails going downhill, grassy slopes. The first major descent was pretty steep, surrounded by trees, and completely covered in fallen leaves. When it comes to that kind of setting I turn into a complete wimp - I'm so scared of where I put my foot! Not wanting to catch a tree root or hidden rock and bust an ankle.

Oldies but goodies for obstacles, including jerry can carry, tire pull (very short distance), barbed wire crawl -  for the first time had some pillow-y soft wet grass instead of sharp rocks hidden under a thin layer of dirt. Spear throw - even though I'd been getting practice at trying to throw the spear in a relatively straight line, I over-rotate and the shaft of the spear smacks the target. More burpees.

New obstacle - grip traverse - hand over hand traverse except there are these wooden handholds. Turns out Mudd Queen Becky is the volunteer here! She grabs me for a selfie before I attempt the traverse. So close, but lose momentum and brain fart for a split second, fall at 2nd to last set of handholds. From another perspective, the handholds aren't that far apart.

Thanks Becky! 

After more burpees the monkey bars are next, then the 2nd hill climb that leads into crawling under a net. At least there's no spring snow. The second descent was another tricky one; a guy in front of me slides on his bottom (understandably) at some steep parts, but does so while I'm behind him. Another obstacle to dodge.

At the bottom, Platinum Rig - which I don't get enough momentum at the start so I'm standing on the rope looking silly. A kind volunteer gives me a push, enough so I grab the next ring, I get in a mental block trying to figure out the traverse. More burpees. Then rope climb, Hercules Hoist, zigzag wall (that I fall off of), sandbag carry - uh-oh, feel a cramp in my quad. Slip ramp - uh-oh, cramp in my foot. Then uphill we go again..At this point I meet up with Patrice, recall I pretty much joined the Mudd Queens after I randomly started talking to her at the 2014 Ottawa Sprint.

At the start of the 3rd climb everyone's peeling off to the side with cramps. We dig out snacks from our packs, eat the most of the lot and start drinking water. The cramps subside for the most part as we zigzag our way up a dizzying, endless uphill. There are muttered curses everywhere, and a "Well played, Spartan..." from Patrice. Eventually we go downhill, and only find 1 obstacle (a light tire carry) on the way down, then finally to the fire jump and finish. Not a great ending, all that climbing for a photo finish..Also, the fire was on a slight downhill, so in many of the pictures racers weren't looking at the camera. Please don't let me faceplant!

There are other girls out there who are attempting their very first Super Spartan. I catch Kelly just as she's heading to the rope climb section. She's still in good spirits (as always), and knows what's transpiring: "We're going uphill again, aren't we?"

Waiting at the finish to hand a couple of medals to the girls makes me all antsy; I'm thinking of them on that 3rd hill and what kind of curse words they're uttering. When 3 of them (Kathy, Denise, JJ) are in view near the fire, I'm holding a medal and hollering at them: "Who wants this!??"

Because I'd promised her I'd be waiting at the finish, I also give Caroline her medal. Her reaction says it all - she hugs me and practically swings me in a circle. So proud of all the girls and their tenacity to see this race to the end!

They were smiling at the start...and still smiled at the end

Aftermath - the beauty with all these gadgets and technologies - FitBit, Nike Fuel, Garmins, Suuntos, apps, etc., we get a sense of how many calories we're possibly burning, as well as the elevation gains. The general consensus was 3000 calories burned post-race, so a series of posts highlighting what we've chowed down is staggering (chips, KitKats, chicken strips from DQ, pizza, bananas, poutine, lots of beer..) As for the elevations, I give credit to Tracy for posting this:

Yikes. Those running the Sprint for the first time are in for a nasty surprise..

The Minimalist Experience

Greetings to all in the blog-o-sphere!

I know it's been months since my last post, I never actually followed up on the Mudd Queen playdate at CoExiste Crossfit, but I promise I will soon.

The 2015 season is just around the corner and for most of us in the East it will be the Super Spartan in Montreal. Do I feel ready for this? NO. Is it all in my head? Yes. NO!

Rewind to the end of last season where I was dealing with annoying on and off pain around the left Achilles, so I decided to stop running for the month of November. Started slowly again in December with what's called a "light trainer" (aka a transition shoe towards minimalist), Merrell Mix Master Move Glide. Just so happened in January, myself and a work colleague did a course on running technique & injury prevention.

Basically, the folks who gave the course were very much for running in minimalist footwear (example Vibram 5 Fingers), of course having a transition program & strengthening exercises so the overzealous don't go flying out the door and pound out a 15km. The guys know the research that's yielded positive results, and were ready for a healthy debate on what each attendee already knew (or thought they knew; why do we say 'Align the knee with the 2nd toe' for squats? Hmmm)

Armed with this new knowledge and a glimmer of hope that maybe this switch to a new type of footwear could mean pain-free running, I spent all of the winter months following the transition program practically to a tee. (Although the suggestion is cross-country trails with very little inclines, I wasn't about to test my luck in the colder-than-usual winter we had this year).

For the first little while - it feels very, very awkward. I had been running 10+ years in maximalist (aka cushioned) shoes with skewed technique, doing a lot of heel striking and loading that already-compromised Achilles tendon, so changing patterns was not going to happen overnight. Also the way I had to retrain my hips and legs to move, it felt like my butt was jiggling. Do a little dance...

Anyway, I did venture outside on some booger-freezing days and I did realize that outside was better to figure out the technique versus a treadmill, but with work it was hard to dedicate a couple of hours for outdoor running, cooldown, cleanup, refuel etc.

Time flies, doesn't it? Next thing I knew I was pretty much getting in 5k runs (at a slow pace) on this minimalist technique and it was mid-March, with the Super date staring me in the face. Gak! Shouldn't I be getting in 10k's and perhaps more? Especially if diabolical course plotters go into the 15-16 kilometre range? So I started hustling a bit, trying to get in 8km, or running faster 5k's, all this on road.

I so, so wanted to believe I had possibly gotten the hang of this minimalist running pattern and therefore start increasing distance and practice nailing the biomechanics. FYI, the general time range to transition to minimalism is anywhere from 6 months to two years. But the pain is still there, on and off. I had to dig out my old maximalist Asics to run in a couple of times because every foot strike hurt, even if I was trying to run better.

Don't get me wrong, I totally respect the minimalist guys and what they're trying to say. I get what they're saying and it makes sense. They made it sound rosy and the answer to most pain-related running conditions. Are minimalist running shoes for everyone? Perhaps, but right now I don't know anymore. It is such a long transition that perhaps some don't want to bother with re-learning how to run. Even now I'm still a slowpoke with this new technique and am wondering if I ever will get faster. I don't know if zero drop, minimal cushion footwear will ever find its way into my shoe closet.

No, I won't trick myself into wearing zero drop shoes with 20mm cushioning thinking it's minimalism. Sales guy who told me Saucony Kinvara's were like my Mix Masters? Uh-uh.

Currently, I'm on my 2nd pair of Mix Masters, and I have some Inov-8 X-Talon 212's that passed the comfort test on a 13km trail run today, waiting for the ultimate baptism.

Minimalist experience to be continued..

More info, and an ever-changing list on what exactly are minimalist shoes, check out http://www.lacliniqueducoureur.ca/en/home/