In Be Strong and Courageous I wrote about my first Spartan Obstacle Course Race (OCR). I pondered why I “enjoy” these type of endurance events. What makes some people attempt them and other people write them off as completely crazy?
I’m not quite sure what I’m thinking or how my husband talked me into it but on October 1st we’re doing it again. We will be joining a whole bunch of badass athletes at the Spartan World Championships at Lake Tahoe. The cool thing about Spartan is that the elite competitors go out on the course first but then they are followed by amateurs (still badasses) on the same course. Somehow I’ll be included in that group. Clearly they didn’t check credentials when they let me register.
I’m not following a formal training program, just trying to get as much time on my feet as possible, pushing through uncomfortable hill workouts and tackling as many different types of obstacles as I can.
I’m going to need all the encouragement and motivation I can get this month so I’ve decided to focus on more than my own challenges. I’ve decided to partner with Bravo Co to raise money and awareness for the work they do providing financial support to military veterans to help get them into various events like Spartan that build confidence, purpose and camaraderie. I will donate to Bravo Co with every sale I make of nutrition and fitness programs through my Beachbody business this whole month.
Why Spartan? I keep asking myself the same thing.
In honor of Spartan September where I’m talking all month about grit, endurance and general badassery, I wanted to do something called “Spotlight on a Spartan” to just let you into the worlds of some of the amazing people I have met who do these events. I wanted to find out more about what makes a Spartan.
First up? Anna Solano.
Anna is a 47-year-old single mother of 2 boys (24 years old and 4 years old). She’s a professional woman by day, with a VP title, and a Supermom 24/7.
Anna did her first Spartan race in Temecula in January of 2015. Since then she has completed 2 Trifectas (a trifecta is completing a Sprint, Super and Beast distance Spartan race in one calendar year) and is shooting to have completed four total trifectas by the end of this year! She completed one of her trifectas over the course of one weekend in Hawaii last month. You outside the Spartan world may have no idea how utterly fantastic that is. She completed the Beast on Saturday then went out Sunday and completed two separate races, one a Super and one a Sprint. INCREDIBLE!
When I asked Anna why she keeps signing up she said she loves the personal physical challenge and the community of friends. She also enjoys meeting new people and creating new/true friendships, earning another medal for her BLING wall, the personal satisfaction of accomplishment, happiness and bragging rights!! Well-earned I’d say.
Anna started “officially” registering and running events back in the 90’s, but didn’t keep any of her medals or start her BLING wall until 2000. Her first FULL marathon was in 2007. Since then, she has run multiple 5Ks, 10Ks, completed 12 HALF marathons, 5 FULL marathons, one Olympic Triathlon, which consisted of 1500 meters of Ocean swim, 40K bike ride & 10K run. She has completed one Battle Frog OCR and multiple Spartan OCRs to date! She has no plans to stop anytime soon.
Anna’s advice for someone who has never done a Spartan? It can be scary, but overall it is very exciting! She says you’ve got to at LEAST try the Sprint!! And, as Spartan’s slogan goes, “You’ll know at the finish line!”
Anna, you are a Spartan! Aroo!
For more info on the Tahoe Spartan Beast go here: Tahoe Spartan Beast
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