2018 November: Thailand Age Group Beast

“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honour.”

Quote from Aristotle: ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. 384 to 322 BCE.

My Race

The first Spartan Beast in Thailand took place on the 3rd November 2018 at the Thai Army Non-Commissioned Officer School at Fort Yothin Suksa Mahamongkut, Hua Hin, Thailand.

At 15 years of age, this was also my first Spartan Beast. At 21 km, the Beast is three times the distance of a Spartan Sprint, which was my only other experience with Spartan events. I knew that physical strength on its own would not be enough to complete the course and as the event progressed beyond the halfway point, I discovered that mental strength and resilience would play an increasingly more significant role in achieving a successful outcome.

The race location was excellent. I was bib number 935. My start time was 08:15 am. At this time in the morning, the air was still fresh but by 11:00 am the temperature had already reached 31 ºC. As usual, there were ample hydration points planned at intervals throughout the course.

All was going well for me up to the 11 km mark. At this point I was hit with severe cramps in my lower legs and, being unable to stand let alone move forward, I needed medical attention. The medical personnel used ice packs and aerosol sprays on my calf muscles in an attempt to free-up the tensed muscles. Seeing me down and in pain, fellow Spartans checked on my condition as they passed by. One fellow Spartan stayed with me until I was back on my feet, his friend giving me some water and an energy gel to help boost my recovery. The medical staff asked if I was done with the race.

Was I done? Had the course defeated me?

I had visualized myself completing the race in my preparations leading up to the event. I knew that it would take courage in addition to physical strength to turn my visualization into a reality. Right here and right now my courage was being tested. I was presented with a choice: to continue with the race or give-up. This was an important moment. It would define my participation in the Spartan Race on this occasion and for all future events. By crossing the starting line earlier in the day, I had already shown that I had the courage to start. But now, 11 km into the race and in pain, I needed to prove to myself that I had the commitment to finish. Giving-up would’ve been the easy option.

“Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.”

Quote from Miyamoto Musashi: Japanese swordsman, philosopher, writer, and ronin (master-less samurai). Author of ‘The Book of Five Rings’ and ‘The Path of Aloneness’. 1584 to 1645 CE.

Strength would be required to continue the race but not only the physical strength of arms, legs, and back. Strength of character and mental resilience would now play a prominent role if I was to succeed. In other words, it would need courage.

I didn’t have to think about my choice. Giving up was never an option for me. I told the medical staff that I wasn’t done and pushed on with the event.

Unfortunately I could only manage intermittent running from the 11 km mark, so my average pace over the whole course began to slow down. If I could run, I did. If I couldn’t run, I walked. I crossed the finish line at just over 5 hours.

I had mixed emotions at the finish. For me, this race had many dimensions. There was the obvious physical dimension of competing in an athletic event. However there were also mental and emotional dimensions.

When I was down and in pain with the cramps, I needed to dig deep into my mental resolve to find the courage in order to push my body onwards. I was no longer competing with other Spartans at this point. I was competing against my inner self and conquering feelings of negativity that could lead to self-doubt and possibly even to giving-up if not controlled and defeated.

“Self conquest is the greatest of victories.”

Quote from Plato: ancient Greek philosopher and founder of the Academy, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. 428 to 348 BCE.

The concern and support of fellow Spartans was very much appreciated and provided an emotional context for the event.

I was elated that I made it through to the finish line, especially as the last half of the course was completed in some discomfort. But despite the elation of finishing, I still had a feeling of disappointment that suffering from the cramps had slowed down my final time and that I would be out of an Age Group medal position. But at this point, having come so far, I considered a medal a bonus compared to the personal meaning the race held for me because the reward for completing the Spartan Hua Hin Beast was in the many valuable life-lessons I learned along the way to the finish line.

“A gem can’t be polished without friction, nor a person perfected without trials.”

Quote from Seneca: A Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist. 4 BCE to 65 CE.

Race Statistics

21 km and 30 obstacles.

Table - 3 November Hua Hin