Tracy’s Spartan Quest

I joined CrossFit Freesol back in May 2021 partly because I’d signed up to do a crazy Spartan race and needed somewhere to practise climbing a rope and improve my upper body strength for other obstacles.

Last October (2021) I did the Spartan Sprint (5k & 20 obstacles), loved it so much that I decided to try the Super in May 2022 (10k & 25 obstacles). Some friends persuaded me to do this in the age group category rather than the open waves which resulted in me qualifying for the European Championships as I came 3rd in my age group!

Small issue though was that the European Championships is a Beast (21k+ & 30+ obstacles) so huge amount of extra running training required which is why I haven’t been at the box quite so often the last few months…

Athletes from 26 countries across Europe plus USA and S Africa took part. Fantastic hilly course at Pippingford Park in Sussex. They’d really upped the difficulty level of the obstacles and even included a 40m swim across a lake.

A short way in (having done very little hill training) I was regretting my life choices but 3 hours and 48 minutes from the start I’d made it! First ever half marathon distance, first ever Spartan Beast and I’m proud to have not just completed it but come 12th in my age group in a very competitive field.