Tuxedo Spartan Sprint Race Report - and life up to it

Third place is nothing to turn one's nose up at.  With so many great athletes that have come into the sport, only 3 of us cross the finish line in those coveted podium spots.   Forth place could have easily happened in this race.  If I knew that I had been at my peak fitness or that I had given all I was physically able to do, I would be thrilled.  But I've had a few set backs lately that have definitely had an impact on my training. 

My last race was 2 months ago in Las Vegas, and I had managed to snag the top of the podium.  Even though the competition was fierce I was able to push my body after getting off obstacles to a decent running pace.  Physically I was where I wanted to be - Mentally I was where I wanted to be. 

And then I ran into some bad luck. 

One week later, in the 2nd WOD of a Crossfit competition, I managed to get a minor case of Rhabdo in my quad (Vastus Lateralis).  Yes folks, here's TyAnn apparently pushing beyond her limits and getting herself in trouble - again.  I'm really hating to admit this because so many people already think I am crazy, insane, etc without this little nugget. 
But for me, pushing beyond my limit feels exactly like pushing up to my limit.  Honestly I can't tell the difference.  I didn't feel worse than a hard workout while performing it.  Afterwards it felt like I had ran a marathon on the one leg.


Sorry - I know it's gross

So a few weeks of decreased intensity and minimal running was enough to take me down a couple notches.  And then I managed to get a Staph infection in that same leg in a little spot that my fingernail had accidently cut while massaging.  Add in 2 rounds of antibiotics to kill my athletic performance while trying to come back.  With my immune system down I caught a cold the week of the race.``


As I stood at that starting line in New York, I was mentally ready to go, but really wondering how my body was going to respond.  I just didn't know.  But as always, I was going to give it what I had. 
The race had been preceded by interviews with the NBC crew and lots of pressure.  I was surprised (and happy) that I wasn't really affected by it.    I was just there to prove that I was still strong, still fast, and could still perform.

Tuxedo Park is a ski resort - So the course was as one would expect.  Straight up, then straight down.

The first running bit was uphill, and soon after the send off, I knew I was in trouble.  I was not bouncing up the hill like I normally do, I was fighting.  I was trying not to walk.   I knew this was going to be 4.5 miles of pure pain.

I tried to stay with Rose and Amelia, but my body just wasn't ready that day.  I was so out of breath already and I just couldn't go.  I was able to gain quite a bit of ground away from rest of the pack however, so that pressure wasn't really there for the first part.   

There were a few new obstacles including monkey bars that were different levels.  I had to get a good swing going to get to one of the high ones.  We also got to try out cargo net monkey bars - A lot more challenging then I expected!

About halfway into the course, I had somewhat caught Amelia as she had fallen off of the cargo monkey bars and had to burpee out.  We then had to do a "fun" combination of obstacles that started with the Hercules Hoist, right into the inverted wall, into one of the worst barbed wire sections I've ever suffer through..  It was uphill (dare I say 100 yds or so) and not very wet.  I never realized how much better mud felt.  Dry, rocky, and low - I was feeling pukey going through it.  I could see Amelia about 30 sec ahead on the barbed wire crawl. 

Nasty Barbed Wire Crawl

Brilliantly placed, the spear throw came right after that lovely bit.  Hands were muddy, and we were exhausted.  Both Rose and Amelia missed theirs, and I really wanted to snag that 2nd place away from Amelia.  The hay bales were smaller than normal, and it was uphill which was a new.  My spear went slightly to the right of the target.  CRAP!  I started on my 30 burpees.

April came in next, and thankfully missed hers.  I had 10 burpees left.  And Orla's spear goes in.  She ran off in 3rd place.

I didn't know how much race was left - a mile or so.  If there is one thing I've learned in obstacle racing, its that you can't ever give up in these races until you cross the finish line.  There just may be something that works out in your favor.  I ran down the next hill to the rope climb and tried to get through as fast as I could.  April was ready to go up as I was getting out and Orla was about 30 yds ahead.  But she was walking the hill.  This was my chance!

I knew this was the last of the race, so I tried to run that hill as fast as I could.  We reached the traverse wall together, and I risked falling off for a fast crossing.  It worked out and I ran up the last hill into the woods.  I couldn't see my competitors anymore and I gave it everything I had left to gain some more ground.  I crossed the finish line with plenty of time to spare!

For anyone that really knows me, this just fuels my competitive fire for the next race.  I'm hungry for more, and to get the gains I had back.  I decided to hire a running coach that can help me get there quickly.  I'm going to do the little things that make a difference - more sleep and a focus on recovery.

It was quite the experience to be a part of the beginning of the growth of the sport.  NBC did an amazing job and were all in.  There were cameras everywhere throughout the race.  The pre and post race interviews were extremely professional, and I can just see how it is all going to unfold to look amazing.  If the sport takes off, then I'll have been at the starting line of it all.  The experience was surreal and will be one I won't forget. 

 

Las Vegas Spartan Super - Overcoming obstacles

2007 World Champtionships

One of the reasons that I really love and admire Kara Goucher stems from an article that I once read about her.  For those of you in the dark - she is a Olympic athlete that has competed (and kicked butt!) in distances ranging from the 5000m to the marathon.  She came in 3rd place in her first marathon in New York, posting a time that had beaten the infamous Deena Castor the year before.  Here is the kicker.  Despite being arguably the best Female American Distance Runner of our decade, she constantly wrestles with self doubt.  When she steps up to a line, she still has negative chatter going on in her head.  Voices tell her that she isn't as good as the world class athletes that she races against. 

You can read the full article here - It's a good one!

Well here is my confession - I relate because I struggle with the same thing.  And I say currently struggle because I don't know that it will ever completely go away.  However, I have made HUGE strides in the last year, particularly in the last few months, and I think it's showing in my race results.  I started out the year with 2 x 4th place finishes, and moved up to a 3rd, then 2nd, then 2 x 1sts.  It seems as though the methods I use help me to shut out the chatter and be able to compete like I know I can. If she can conquer it, so can I. 

Spartan Family - Orla Walsh, Margaret Slatcher
TyAnn clark, +Amelia Boone

This year's Las Vegas Spartan ended up in my favor, and I'm thrilled with how my body performed.  Normally going into a race and knowing that I was going to have to compete with people like Amelia Boone and Rose Wetzel would leave me feeling completely nervous and nauseous all week.  Honestly it used to be that bad!  But I was actually relaxed and happy, not allowing the race to consume my thoughts.  Even Fri driving down, I was just looking forward to having a good time with the fam.  SO UNUSUAL!

I'm not gonna lie - I WANTED THIS WIN - BADLY!  Toquerville, UT is 2 hours away, so this was kind of my local race.   I had lots of friends, family, and support in the audience that day, and I wanted to do it for them. I was especially excited to see one of my trainees complete the course.  Click here for her story.
 Images of my kids watching influenced much of my performance!

After the ladies were sent off, a group of 10 or so pushed the pace and fought for running ground.  After the first mile, we were down to 4.  Rose Wetzel, Amelia, Boone, and KK Stewart were the other 3. 

One of the things that helped me in this race was experience in long distance running.  Having run more 10ks to marathons than I can count has helped me to know how much energy to expend in order to have some left at the end.  So when we hit things like the bucket carry, all 3 girls got ahead of me.  I tried to go strong, but not as though I'm finishing a workout for time.  I tried to evenly expend my energy.   Within the next half mile I caught back up.

The Painted Warrior loads his shoes with sand as he

 crushes it down the hill.

The course was actually a last minute change (not on Spartan's part -their last venue was cancelled for them) and I'm sure it won't be the one they use next year.  It was extremely rocky, and at many points we were jumping from rock pile to rock pile over small ditches.   My new Reeboks made specifically for obstacle courses performed amazingly, but nothing could keep out the sand that was dumping in from the top as you ran down hills.  Then we would reach a gravel/sand hill and have to climb.  Kudos to race designer Chad Brooks for managing to squeeze as many "hills" in as possible. 

At this point, we reached something called The Gamble.  We are told beforehand that the longer route is flatter and easier, and the shorter, harder.  I had already decided to go left (short) because it's served well in the past.   It seems I chose correctly because a mile later it was only Amelia, Kk, and I.  Rose unfortunately had gone right and we didn't see her for a while.  Amazingly she did catch back up to KK pretty quickly!


Amelia and I spent the next 6 miles trading off leads.  I would get slightly ahead of her on running, and she would catch back up in most of the obstacles.  I honestly had been hoping just for a place on the podium in this race.  I don't know if I ever believed that I would be on top of that podium.  So when Amelia and I were fighting for first and second, I decided I wasn't going to let her have it.  I was going to fight to the death!  My race mantras were "Be Epic, Inspire, and have Courage" and I kept repeating it.  If my pace on my garmin wasn't what I thought it should be I pushed harder.

We went through tire drags and pulls, tire flips, and a super gnarly barbed wire crawl.

Amelia throws first

At the heavy sandbag carry, Amelia gained some ground ahead of me as this is in her wheelhouse.  But I was right behind at the spear throw.  You can never be relaxed and confident that you've got it in the bag until you pass the final test (and I'm convinced that the spear throw is a mental challenge).  I may have been throwing some negative vibes Amelia's way because she missed it!  And gave us a few (understandably) choice words along with it.  I knew I was going to make it.  The hay bales seemed huge and practically right in from of me.  I delivered!

I seal my fate

One mile left, and I was pushing to the finish to leave no room for doubt.  One more sandbag carry, and Amelia had already finished her burpees when I finished the first lap.  Really??  I could see the finish line and see my friend Justin finishing up right in front of me.  I told him to help bring me in because my energy was failing and he pushed the pace for me. 

Last obstacle that could change my game - Traverse Wall.  You fall off - you get 30 burpees (and I would definitely lose first place).  I took it slow and steady, and made it to the end.

I couldn't suppress the grin on my face as I finished the last barbed wire crawl, water dunk and slippery wall.  I could hear my family cheering and tears came to my eyes.  This was a big win for me!  Amelia came in second and Rose with an impressive comeback in 3rd.

My rock and Love of my Life

Love my mom!

I got to spend the rest of my day watching all my peeps from my crossfit gym and obstacle training group come in.  So many first timers, and so many finding out what "You'll know at the finish line" feels like!

WANNA READ MORE RACE RECAPS?
Follow Amelia and I battling it out at the Atlas Race - Temecula, CA