Almost 26 minutes passed before our Race Director arrived on the scene, developed a solution and we were presented our options for how to proceed with the obstacle race of the year. The Ultra Beast left us with tough decisions to make and little time to evaluate. Our options were as follows: continue the race … Read More
Author: Tony Matesi
Super Ultra Beast – Part 1: Going Above and Beyond
After months of anticipating this race, it was finally here, The Spartan Race Ultra Beast. My father tagged along with me for this trip so we woke up at 4am on Friday morning, Sept 21st. We arrived in Boston around 10am and wasted an hour trying to get our rental car situation sorted out, and … Read More
The Ultimate Suck: A Endurance Race Worthy of the Title
Another weekend of adventure, this time I was traveling to an Endurance Race that has been given the title, The Ultimate Suck. Hosted by Joe Decker of Gut Check Fitness out of California, I knew this was an event I could not miss even if I wouldn’t be competing. It took about four hours and … Read More
Thoughts Before the First Marathon Distance Obstacle Race
A mountain out in the beautiful land of Vermont awaits. It’s exact location is at the Killington Ski Resort. This isn’t just any mountain, it’s known locally as the Beast. That’s where Spartan Race came up with the name for their half marathon obstacle race. This week marks a first for the sport of obstacle … Read More
News Update: Getting Back to the Obstacle Races
Since the Death Race I have been on a bit of an adventure/obstacle race hiatus with the exception of that pitiful excuse for a race in Downtown Chicago, Mud Wars, and a few visits to Dirt Runner to help them build and test run Illinois’ first permanent obstacle course training park. That all changes for the … Read More
Death Race Reflections – Gear: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Looking back on the Death Race isn’t hard to do. Nearly every morning I still have visions of being on that mountain back in Pittsfield, VT. The mornings that I don’t think about it are few and even when they do occur, at some point of the day my mind reminds me of all I … Read More
Cold Weather Racing in the Midwest is Spelled G-A-C*
*Gladiator Assault Challenge. An Obstacle Race you should get to know. March and early April are generally six weeks of terrible weather in Chicago. Say what you want about Midwest winters but spring? Hate. It’s rainy and cold and about a 50/50 chance that the snow from winter may or may not have melted. Worse … Read More
More Obstacle Race Training in the ATL
When you are staying with other Obstacle Racers, the obstacle race training never ends. Sunday morning we, Maureen, Andi and myself, headed over to Matt’s house to have breakfast together. After we all ate we were put to work. We helped Matt gather firewood from a neighbor’s house who was moving away. Even his lil’ … Read More
Ultra Beast Obstacle Race Training
At the spur of the moment, less than a week to prepare, fellow racer, Maureen, and myself, committed to driving out to Matt B. Davis’s Ultra Beast/Mudder training weekend in Atlanta, GA. The event was co-hosted by Andi Hardy, who frequents the podium at Spartan Races. Why would we drive from the Midwest, Chicago and … Read More
Motivation – How Bad Do You Want To Be Successful?
This video came out at the perfect time. We all need a little motivation every now and then. My shoulder is still causing me pain, but it doesn’t matter. I know what I want. I’m going after it. Have a watch and listen. How bad you YOU want to be successful? Will you sacrifice sleep? … Read More