How to Prep for your Spartan Race?

The Spartan Race 2016 is coming up pretty soon and if this is your first race, I’m sure you’re excited yet nervous about what to expect. While we have no insider knowledge on what obstacles will turn up on that day, there are a few general tips to prepare yourselves in advance.

 

Note: We’ll be recommending products that are useful to prepare for the Spartan Race. We sell these items at our online and physical retail store. We are biased because we know more about our own products and how they can help you.

 

Tip 1: TrainUP!

The Spartan Race is no simple 5+km or 13+km run. It will feature tough obstacles designed to test your speed, endurance, and strength.

Naturally, you shouldn’t just train for the race by doing your usual evening runs. Yes, speed and stamina count but they won’t help you climb walls. It’ll be helpful to train your functional strength by targeting your core and upper body strength as well. We find that using a resistance band or resistive tubing can be a good way to train various muscle groups easily at home. If you fail to complete an obstacle, you will be required to pay a penalty by doing 30 burpees, which are actually a great way to train for the race too!

 

Tip 2: ArmourUP!

The Spartan Race has challenging obstacles set up to test your limits and injuries are a possibility when tackling them.

A common obstacle many Spartans will face is the rope climb. This will test your core strength, grip strength, and pain threshold if you get rope burns on the way down. Full gloves such as the RockTape Talons can improve your grip on bars and the rope, and protect you from abrasions. If full gloves aren’t your thing, you can consider JAW pullup gloves and grips or The Natural Grip which are fabric grips to protect your palms from tears and rips.

For wall climbs or obstacles with heavy lifting required, proper joint support is needed as the chances of injury is high if done improperly. Landing from the wall or lifting loads from the ground can be tough on the knees and wrists so Knee Caps and wrist support come highly recommended.

RockTape and RockSauce can also help to improve performance during the race and promote muscle recovery post-race.

 

Tip 3: DrinkUP!

You might think that hydrating is a given for running but a lot of racers underestimate the demands of the Spartan Race. A lot of sweating is expected. Make sure you get enough water or fluids leading up the race. There will be hydration stations located along the race route with Lucozade, coconut water, and regular water, so definitely make full use of them.

Hydration can also be for your hands! Dry skin on your hands are prone to ripping when put under stress and you should make sure your palms are sufficiently moisturised. Hands as RX Cream is great for hydrating skin so that it won’t tear as easily during the race. If it does tear anyway, try Solid Salve for faster recovery.

 

Tip 4: PrepUP!

Bad weather can really make the race seem much longer and harder than it actually is. If it’s too hot, your energy can get sapped pretty quickly and the chances of dehydration or heat injury increases. And I’m sure I don’t even have to remind you about how bad sunburns can feel (or look).

On the other hand, if it’s rainy, obstacles will become more slippery, more muddy (than it already is), and your muscles will not be as warmed up for activity. If there’s a lightning risk, the race might even be called off totally.

Thus, besides praying hard for good weather, you should gear up accordingly. Wearing compression wear can be helpful in wicking away sweat and keep muscles warm. It will also keep your body shaded to prevent sunburns. Some guys do prefer to go topless but that may not be the best idea as certain obstacles (rope climb, barbed wire crawl) can tear your skin easily if you’re not careful. As you’re likely to end the race both sweaty and muddy, ArmourUP is offering a free Singlet for minimum spend of $100 (walk-in or online purchase)! Simply state your desired size in the note when checking out and you’re good to go.

 

Tip 5: Live it UP!

No matter your results, just go enjoy yourself! If you’re part of a team, enjoy the chance to bond and have fun with your friends. If you’re racing alone, help others out at tough obstacles and make some new buddies! The important thing is that you stay happy and motivated to pursue fitness as a lifestyle!