I was signed up for a medium-distance, approximately 8 mile obstacle course race here in the Nor Cal Bay Area.
Having completed several of the events previously, I am the first to admit that I didn't take the training that seriously. I figured my regular workouts would be adequate, and that I could show up and rely on my "general physical preparedness" to get me thru.
I was SO wrong.
To start, conditions were rough. It was the end of June, around 90 degrees, and our start time of 11am put us right in the heat of the day.
There was little shade.
We expected a few hills, but the way the course ended up being set up, there were FAR more than we thought there would be.
I didn't bring ANYTHING in terms of water or snacks / fuel, thinking there would be plenty on the course (there were a total of 4 stations with warm water only, no snacks or fuel of any kind).
I didn't practice as much as I should have for some of the obstacles, which resulted, if I remember correctly, in me doing a total of 270 penalty burpees on the day.
The end result? I DID finish. But it took just under 5 hours (to get 8 miles!). And I was TOASTED. Totally dehydrated, sick, and with various small injuries.