Team MBG 2013 Spartan Race Recap

MBG Ready to make our mark!

In 2012 Team MBG competed in its first Spartan race in Vernon, New Jersey. Sixteen members faced a very challenging course and all sixteen meet the challenge and completed it. It was a race that challenged you mentally and physically. I was hooked because Spartan racing gives you an opportunity to validate your training and the way you approach life. Will you commit to a race and push yourself further than you thought possible? I realized that we could use this race to set goals, put our method of training to the test and bring the gym closer while doing this. In January I attended a Spartan Group X certification to gain a better understanding of the philosophy of Spartan Racing. Immediately it was apparent that our training philosophies were very similar. The biggest thing I took from the certification was the mental approach to training and how to develop the fearlessness and grit in our members. I made a decision to attempt to elevate our performance and improve upon our 2012 showing. With the work ethic that already existed in the MBG family and my newly attained knowledge I felt that 2013 was going to be a good year for us.

Citifield
Our 2013 campaign began with the Citi Field Ballpark Spartan. This was part of the Ballpark series and took place in the stadium that the New York Mets play in. I wasn’t sure what to expect being that obstacles and terrain would be limited. We had 15 members participate in a race that was just around 3 miles. It was cool to be running around a major league stadium but I did not enjoy the race. It was cramped and lines for obstacles existed. This is a race that is geared to enjoying the location and not competing.

Tuxedo Tri-State Spartan
In June we had 20 members travel up to Tuxedo, New York. This was a sprint and it offered a challenging course and terrain. We did very well and finished 1st in the team standings. We also had a great barbecue afterwards thanks to Allison. The one thing we realized was that we had to come up with a training program that specifically addressed running. We also needed to duplicate obstacles in the gym so we could practice and become more proficient.

Pennsylvania Sprint
This race was in July and we had 9 members run this race. It was a great course with Spartan worthy terrain. We had another good performance and finished 2nd in the team category.

Tri-State Super
In early September we returned to the place where it began for us in Vernon, New Jersey. This time we were better prepared physically and mentally. Eugene had all our members on an 8-week training program to get our legs ready. We showed up with 26 members and had a fantastic day. Last year we finished just under 100 as a team and this year we rocked it and finished first! It was our triumphant return. The course was shorter than 2012 but we were ready either way. We also had a really good time with a post-race party at Burrito Bar.

THE BEAST!
This was a race that was worthy of its name. Team MBG had 8 members take on this race. Two members raced on Saturday and six on Sunday in the elite category. The members racing on Sunday had to deal with the fact that it rained the night before and were faced with a course made even more challenging by the mud. The obstacles were harder and longer than we have ever faced with multiple trips up the mountain carrying heavy loads. We also were faced with numerous water obstacles that required us to swim on a day that did not see 50 degrees. Many of us experienced severe cramping. It started around mile five for me and was so bad I couldn’t move until they subsided. Just when you got your body warmed up and working properly we were back in the water. In true MBG fashion we all finished. It took us between 5 and 7 hours to complete. We had our first podium finish with Kerry winning the elite female division. Chelsea just missed it with a fourth place finish. Eight members earned their Trifecta Medal by completing all three distances in one season. The course was brutal and in the wise words of Tommy it was “The toughest thing I’ve ever done!” We did have a lot of support that was desperately needed from Sal, Dianne and Lorraine. Without their words of encouragement we may not have gotten through the very difficult water obstacles.

In all we had 46 members compete in a Spartan race this year. They all finished. Two more worthy of mention are Dan and Jen. Dan signed up for the Super Spartan 3 days before the race and then jokingly asked Eugene for a condensed running plan. We all know how tough he is by the way he trains every day. He crushed the course coming in 1st in his age group. Jen broke the tip of her finger days before the race. She did not let this derail her and completed the Super. Both of them are examples of the grit and determination of the people who train at MBG. What will MBG do in our 2014 Spartan campaign? Time will tell but I can guarantee you that I will make sure we are ready and any areas that are weak will become strong!

Great Job!
Jimmy

How Do You See The End?

Uncle Sandy and Nelson Gravesite

   This may seem like a odd topic to write about and maybe even a little dark. It is undeniable that being we have been born into this world that one day we will have to leave it. That being said how do you envision the end for yourself? I brought my daughter to St. Peter's cemetery tonight to visit my Uncle's gravesite. She did not have the fortune of knowing either one so we talked about them. I explained to her how good they were to me and how much I loved them. It made me ponder my own end and to the possible means.

Baring any unfortunate accident this is how I envision my end. In my perfect world I will die a very old man in the comfort of my bed. Fully functional and active in the days leading up to my death. Absent of chronic disease or illness. This being said how do I get to this end? To accomplish this I believe I must focus on three areas in regards to my physical health. Each of equal importance. First, I must choose foods that will provide the greatest amount of nutrition and with it the power to maintain my health. This choice is simple for me and it is simply to consume whole foods that are plant-based. Second, I must maintain and improve upon my strength using exercises that train multiple muscle groups that focus on essential movements. Movements such as running, crawling, jumping and climbing. Lastly, I must maintain a high level of mobility. The ability for me to move actively through a wide range of motion with the various joints of my body. Look around at how difficult it is for many older people to get around. As a person looses their ability to move they move less, which makes it even more difficult to move and so on.

As weird as it may sound I have a goal. A long, productive, healthy life that allows me to leave this world as an old man in the comfort of my home. I also have a good idea as to what I need to do to accomplish this goal. It begins with taking responsibility for my destiny. If circumstances permit me to fulfill my goal I must not waste the opportunity.  This means I must stay committed to a healthy, active lifestyle. In doing so  I am maintaining some type of control for the future that awaits me. The only question left to ask is how do you see your end and what will you do to make it there?

Redefining Yourself

During my week of training I had a couple of experiences that I would like to share with you all. The first was a discussion with Eugene during a cool down after a workout. We were talking about the differences between ourselves at the present compared to when we were younger competing in college athletics. I believe we all can be guilty at times of making the mistake of judging ourselves against a more youthful version. Possibly feeling that if we cannot get back to the shape we were once in that we have failed. Maybe I am being slightly dramatic but it is necessary to prove this point. Let's make it a priority to redefine or rediscover who we are at the present. I am no longer 20 years old wrestling in college. Competing against that version of me is pointless. It would be more productive and healthy to redefine who we are right now. I am 43 with a family and career. I am going to be the best I can be today. So if you were a runner your not going to beat your personal bests from college. You can however set new personal bests for your current age even if it's the masters :).  It really comes back to the importance of living in the present and being happy of who and what you are today.
My second experience was during a training run on the trails with Tommy. We were doing an 8 mile run in High Rock. Midway through the run we decided to pick our pace up while we were heading up Moses mountain. We got to the top and took in the sites while we recovered. While we were recovering a lady was coming up the backside trail, which is pretty steep. She was walking with the aid of crutches while her husband walked behind her. It was one of those moments when you get to appreciate the human spirit. As she made it to the top Tommy and I congratulated her. I told her to never give in and she replied "I am still here." Watching her determination rubbed off on us as we crushed the last portion of our run. She was a reminder to me to not let the challenges of life prevent you from living. Inspiration can come from many things if we simply look for it!

Recovery Week

Rest and recovery week is upon us again and it's time to allow our bodies to recuperate from our recent training cycle. Recovery is an important aspect of training that is often overlooked and misunderstood. It has been my experience that those members who train consistently, with intensity appreciate this week.  In the gym we will focus primarily on alignment, flexibility and mobility. This is the perfect time to go for a massage or acupuncture to facilitate recovery. I have included a photo of an acupuncture session I did with Kerri K last week to set the tone for recovery week. Another good idea is to get outside for some light jogging or walking. Take the energy that you would throw into your workouts and direct them towards yourself in different ways. Eat strong foods and make sure you are sufficiently hydrated. Read something that will motivate you and set the stage for the next cycle. Think about what you want to accomplish and set goals on how you will achieve it. Recharge those batteries and get ready for the spring.

Obtaining Success

 

 Why are some people successful when others fail at the same task? Successful people have the ability to do the difficult things that others cannot. They win that first fight in the mind and see things through. We had a great training session this morning. Those that attended made the decision to leave the comfort of their warm home and take on the challenges that were presented. Any one of the people in attendance could have turned off the alarm and rolled over but they didn't. Many people make the incorrect assumption that it is simply easier for some people to do things. People who get things done and are successful have simply developed excellent habits that allow them to be productive. They focus on what they will do rather than what they can't do. They are able to smother any negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. In order to achieve success in any endeavor you are going to have to remove any poor, mediocre habits you have developed. I decided to post a picture of my daughter that I took in the fall. She is a successful dancer. She can make things look easy and natural. It only looks easy because she spends hours practicing outside of formal instruction. She does what many other girls her age will not and that is why she is successful. It does not come "naturally" to her. Waking up early to train isn't fun for anyone. Studying late at night is a sacrifice. Success comes at a price and you must be willing to pay for it!

Spartan Group X Certification

I completed my first Spartan Race in September of 2012 and thoroughly enjoyed it. As many of you know it was a challenging race filled with a lot of elevation change. It was a great experience made better by the fact I was able to do it with so many MBG'ers. When I finished this race I realized that it was worthy of all the attention it gets. The course challenged each competitor physically and mentally. In many ways it represented the challenges we all face in life. Unsure of what lays ahead you are left with one option to simply move forward towards the ultimate goal of finishing. I enjoyed this race so much that I began visiting the Spartan website on a regular basis. When I saw that they were offering a certification aimed at preparing people for this race I knew I had to sign up and absorb the information presented. I was initially supposed to attend the certification the weekend after Sandy hit but had to reschedule. Last weekend they gave another in Massachusetts and this time I was able to make it. In true Spartan fashion we performed at least 8 workouts in the course of the weekend. Many of you did the Spartan Fit Test last week and that was the first thing we did. In addition to great training we were also given information on training theories and applications. The area that really caught my attention and made a big impact was in regards to the mental aspect of training. The seven pillars of Spartan training is the foundation their program is built upon. These pillars are stamina, power, athleticism, readiness, tenacity, attitude and nutrition. Each pillar has a mental and physical application. It is the mental application that has captured my attention. My goal has always been to make individuals stronger to face the challenges of life head on. Building the confidence of my clients so they feel as though there is nothing that is to big for them to handle. Attending the Spartan Group X Certification has empowered me by giving me the tools needed to accomplish this task.