Let’s rewind to the 2020 Alviera Race: I am gushing over the seasoned Spartans who make every obstacle seem so effortless. They would carry the Atlas Carry stone on their shoulders or breeze through the multi-rig like it was no big deal. As a newbie to the sport, it’s so inspiring to see all these strong individuals! Just imagine the hours they put into their training and the discipline it entailed. Hands down! I want to be like them. 

This is exactly why I had the personal commitment to do better and train harder. I was after a Trifecta, and I wanted to be proud of my strength. While the pandemic got in the way and our momentum for the races was affected, it all worked out for the best! 

This year definitely became my OCR year. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

From a curious racer to a multi-trifecta holder

A Spartan Race combines running and obstacles in one race, but there’s also the unpredictable terrain that is designed to push you deep into your discomfort zone! Name it, they’ll test it – your strength, endurance, and your will. You’ll come out a new person with an unbreakable spirit after the race. I swear! 

I joined my first race back in 2020 out of curiosity. I wanted to try what it was like since it looked interesting! It didn’t disappoint because I ended up loving it – perhaps a little too much! Haha. 

This year, we prepared for the series of obstacle races of varying distances and difficulty. The thing is – if you successfully complete 3 races, you’d earn a Trifecta medal, and it’s an achievement in itself.

Spartan Sprint® OR Spartan Stadion® — 5k, 20 obstacles
Spartan Super® — 10k, 25 obstacles
Spartan Beast® — 21k, 30 obstacles 

I remember that a few years back, I was just writing about how this could make you start a fitness tour. I mean, you can have enjoyable travels if you compete in several races. I got to try that this year and it was so fun! I’ve never felt so alive for a long time. I was just a curious racer before, and now I’ve made a lot of good friends in the community, got stronger, and finally earned not just a Trifecta Medal, but a Multi-Trifecta one! 

ALSO READ: 10 Things You Need to Know Before You Say NO to Joining a Spartan Race

How I trained for my races 

Putting in the work is necessary to achieve Trifecta so I made it a point to allot days for bodyweight training. This really helped me prep because there are no shortages of obstacles that require upper body strength. I just went about my regular Calisthenics sessions in Sparta (not affiliated with Spartan Race) to continually improve. With the beast coaches here, getting strong/er is only a matter of time! 

I’m also not such a fan of running (in fact, I absolutely hate this one hahaha) so I worked really hard to up my game. My friends and I would normally set “run days” and have varying distance or duration targets. I also sought the help of Coach Seannah Swift, our amazing coach who crafted a program to help me achieve my actual goals. I wanted to comfortably run and be able to handle the tough terrain even with tired legs, especially during Beast. Her guidance and learnings helped me a lot during my races! 

Lastly, Obstacle Central became our second home because they have Spartan-fit obstacles, as well as friendly, mamaw coaches that will demonstrate everything you need to master! If you’re after obstacle proficiency, this is the place to be! 

2022 will definitely go down as a memorable and fitness-heavy year for me

I originally planned to complete 3 races, but I got so hooked I couldn’t help but aim for a Multi-Trifecta. Indulge me for a moment as I look back on my 2022 races! 

Race 1: Sprint (Anda, Bohol)

Open, 13th Place Finish ✨

The beach race was my first race for the year, and I was just so excited! My friends and I flew to Bohol, casually squeezing in some touristy activities, before being tested against the sand, heat (thankfully it became pretty cool, lol), and intense explosive course set during the actual Spartan Race! 

There was nothing like racing along the scenic beach and being in the thick forestry. That’s how Anda earned the spot as my second favorite course. The race map for this one was released during April Fools, and I remember friends laughing and saying “Luh bakit umabot na sa dagat yung dadaanan? Prank to!” Then to our amusement, come race day, we really had to be in the Anda waters (shallow part, of course). 

We joined the Open Category at that time, so it was really fun and chill for us. I still tried to list down the learnings from the race: a) my stamina could use some improvements; b) ang arte may pa-knee pad. Volleyball yarn? The knee pads also made running much more challenging so my mental note halfway through the course was not to use pads for any future race, and c) I need to get used to running. 

Race 2: Stadion (Capas, Tarlac) 

Age Group, 9th Place Finish ✨

Let me just start by saying, Medyo shonga kami here. Hahaha. 

When Spartan Race PH teased about the very first Stadion, we just assumed that the venue, New Clark City Athletics Stadium, was in Clark, Pampanga. Odiba. Good thing we didn’t book an Airbnb yet and finally had the delayed realization to check it! 

Okay, so more about the race… this was when I finally dared to participate in the Age Group Category. I just thought it would be harder to be alone for a Super or Beast, so if I needed to determine my standing and limit, might as well do it here. It didn’t hurt that the gun start for AG was earlier than the Open Category. I’d be doing myself a favor by kinda avoiding the sun during the hottest time of the day! 

The venue was super nice given that it was a pro sports stadium. I also thought the race would be easier because some obstacles were familiar gym exercises. I just underestimated how hopping up several flights of stairs could drain my energy. Imagine: one second, you’re trying to ascend one section until you reach the top. The next thing you know, you’re trying to figure out why the track feels like it’s snaking its way to the whole stadium. Keyword: “feels.” The part after the Atlas Carry obstacle was grueling too mostly because of the intense heat. I had cramps during the final lap so I wasn’t able to Naruto sprint my way to the finish line. 

Race 3: Super (City de Mare, Cebu) 

Age Group, 15th Place Finish ✨

Another race-cation opportunity presented itself – YAY! Our team decided to complete the Super in Cebu, and it turned out to be harder than expected even though the course was flat. We were running on a slightly muddy course because it rained the night before, but there were also cemented parts here and there. Still, no one was safe from the intense heat which is probably why a lot of athletes got cramps. 

A Spartan Race core memory was unlocked when I experienced it right after the fire jump. Honestly, I was still able to keep it at bay when I was doing the Rope Climb and A-Frame Cargo obstacles, but of course, it had to make me suffer during the final moment! It was so painful I couldn’t get up for a few minutes (trust that I was feeling guilty about the racers who probably just wanted a good solo fire jump shot huhu!!), plus the smoke from behind was bringing me to tears. 

I was thankful for the two Spartan staff who approached me for assistance, especially to the racer who didn’t hesitate to help me up and walk with me to the finish line! I’ve always referred to this racer as my Cebu angel – Mommy Roxy!

The official photos from that race also captured our fire jump encounter, and it still warms my heart to this day! 

Race 4: Beast – SEA Regional Series (Vermosa, Cavite)

Age Group, 5th Place Finish ✨

Athletes can earn the Spartan Trifecta when they finish three obstacle races in a single season. To our team, this was the missing piece! I was definitely scared going into Beast because my training was only up to 15km, and there were no obstacles involved. Plus, all the teasers about Vermosa being #VerMUDsa were starting to surface, and I was just wishing my Merrell shoes won’t die on me. Well, it didn’t, but a few of my nails did. 

The #VerMUDsa experience is still clear as day. The organizers didn’t spare us from the mud because it was already their treat to us at the starting line. It was so slippery and I probably stumbled several times even before reaching the 1km mark. It’s so funny how the racers behind me voiced out their concern during the first few times and ended up laughing during my 5th++ slip. They were probably thinking: Ay clumsy pala talaga si ateng. Haha. I reminded myself of the model struggling on the runway. Anyway, it became okay when I got the hang of the slippery course.

I just didn’t expect that I’d be wading through mud (it proved to be a real pain) for the majority of the race! I was ready to offer my shoes to the trail or accept the fact that I’d be stuck there in the knee-deep mud ’til evening, but thankfully that didn’t happen!

Cargo Net Crawl was also challenging for me. It was like a game of Whac-a-Mole with my head poking out of the net every now and then! The realization to pike crawl my way out didn’t dawn on me until I was done with the obstacle. The other obstacles… hmm.. they were manageable. In fact, I finally nailed that spear throw for the first time! If we’re talking about the hardest one, that would probably be the Atlas Carry because it was too slippery for my liking.

I regret putting down that stone when I reached the flag because I wasn’t able to carry it again and I had to crab crawl back to the starting point! Well, at least I wasn’t alone! 

The race really tested my mental grit so the satisfaction after crossing the finish line was just indescribable! I know there were only a few of us, but finishing fifth in my age group made me so happy! 

Vermosa was supposed to be my last for the race season. We plotted Beast here specifically because we were trying to avoid Timberland, but you know how you can’t stop when you’re sooo hooked? Yep. That happened and I ended up purchasing tickets for Timberland! 

Race 5: Beast (Timberland Heights, Rizal) 

Age Group, 4th Place Finish ✨

Why stop at Trifecta when you can go Multi-Trifecta? That was my mantra for Timberland, and it fueled my desire to finish 2 more races! 

To say that this course was brutal is an understatement. I mean, we even had to hike to the registration area, so there’s that! Haha. In the actual course, racers had to brave the heat, run on occasional muddy terrain, hop on huge rocks, and survive the elevation all at the same time. Good thing there were a couple of river crossings for an extra boost! It was the ultimate race for sure, and it really humbles you.

Just when I thought I was already strong, there comes a race that will tell me that I can still surpass my limits. That’s Timberland! I also got my best Age Group result out of all the races from this one. 

Jerry Can Carry was the hardest obstacle for me during this race. I have some improvements when it comes to buhat but the last ahon here got me. Definitely need to do more trail runs and be smarter the next time around!

Timberland will always be the most unforgettable course for me. Plus nawala medal ko here so di ko talaga malilimutan chz 

Race 6: Super (Timberland Heights, Rizal) 

Age Group, 9th Place Finish ✨

Super fell on a Sunday. Thankfully, my body wasn’t too sore from yesterday’s Beast so I still had the energy to complete this. There were more racers during this day so it was also interesting.

The Slip Wall blindsided me! I didn’t expect that it would be that slippery. Normally, it didn’t require too much effort, and would just be a chill obstacle for everyone. Good thing I saw a friend who threw me his gloves. It was a big help!!

I expected that I’d be out of the course by lunchtime so I knew I wouldn’t be too starved like yesterday. This race marked my last race for 2022, and helped me earn my Multi-Trifecta medal! Picture me ecstatic because that was me in Timberland. Loved the Therabody massage after the race too because it helped with the recovery! 

What else can I say? That’s a wrap for 2022!

I’m incredibly blessed to complete the races injury-free and enjoy them with dear people. This year has been one hell of a ride and seeing personal and my friends’ improvements bring me great joy! I just know we’re capable of something bigger next year. 

I’m ending this article with the Spartan Paradox: self-improvement begins as soon as you pick a hard date on the calendar, so stop second-guessing and just commit! Spartan Race is not your ordinary race so it will be hard, but never impossible. 

Just remember: Your mind will quit a thousand times before your body will. Take this as the sign to be unbreakable!