In 2016 I went to the doctor and I was told I am borderline diabetic. That comment changed my life. I knew I needed to start exercising, but I hate to run and self-disciplined enough to commit to an exercise plan. One day I saw an instagram post from my niece that she and her father did a Savage Race. I thought that was so cool and decided I wanted to do one. After that 6 miles in Florida I knew I was nowhere in shape to do this again, but I was addicted. This started my exercise regime.

I am overweight by about 25 pounds and knew this, but I was determined to succeed and improve in each obstacle course race I do. Since then I have done 5 Savage Races, 2 Tough Mudders, 2 Warrior Dash’es, 1 Rugged Maniac, and a number of smaller ones throughout Central Florida. I have yet to do THE RACE, though. The one that everyone fears and respects because each failed obstacle brings about 30 burpees. We are talking about The SPARTAN!!!!!!

I remember waiting for a race and a woman told me the Beast was easy if I could do a Savage Race, but that 12-14 miles with 200+ burpees scared the hell out of me. I will do a Sprint whenever I decide to take the plunge. A person I met on a Tough Mudder asked me if I wanted to do it for Dec. 2018. I said sure, then she said let’s do the Beast. Now my story.

I signed up for the Central Florida Beast on Dec 8th, 2018 in Mulberry, Florida. I studied the youtube videos and read the articles. I figured I would probably be doing 180 burpees at the most because of my lack of upper body strength. Was I ever wrong in that regard. Even though the hardest part of the whole venture was waiting to park, it was a great affair and I will be going for the trifecta next year.

The race started with the simple hay bales and 4 foot walls which were more of a confidence builder than anything else. The Bender was something I did not see and was unsure of and I hopped up and pulled myself up and WOW!!!  I got through it with no help!!!  I am on a roll!!!  and then came the Z Wall. Basically put, I am too big to hug myself that close and get around the corners, so I was consigned to my first 30 burpees (no sweat).

I needed help getting over a few others, but still on a roll. The barbed wire crawl was brutal though. Did the rolling method I saw and got through quickly. Here at mile 4 was my mistake though. I rolled on my camel back and sprung a leak. There goes my hydration for later in the race.

The Tyrolean Traverse was doable. I even got as close as 6 inches to the bell, and then some A-HOLE decided to jump on the rope at that moment and BOOM, hard fall on my back. I refused to do burpees for this because I knew I had it touched and not my fault I fell. I was surprised I had the strength for the various pulls and carried throughout the race. The sandbags and bucket brigade …. no problem.

Where my life started to get difficult was the monkey bars. I made it almost halfway, but my arms gave. Time for burpees. The rig was directly after that. Who the hell came up with that order, I mean it seemed like not even 50 yards. Of course the rig was a major fair for me.

As we got into the back end of the course it started to get obstacle heavy. I came upon the dunk wall and saw the finish line. This re-energized me and I was ready to go. Even though there was another 2 miles; WHO CARES!!!!!  I am near the finish line. After the dunk wall was another barbed wire crawl and this was the crawl from hell. Very muddy, very bumpy, with rocks and rocks, and more rocks scattered throughout this long arduous crawl. When I came up and saw the slippery wall ….. Who the hell can get up this being all this muddy. The rope did not help as I slid back and down hard on my ass!!!!!

It did not get any easier, the Twister killed my 3 rungs in with my tired muddy self. Arms already drained and the Hercules Hoist. DAMN that was heavy. Only got it 3/4 of the way up and got road blocked on my strength. Bucket Brigade no problem, but the rope climb next!!!!!!  No way in hell!!!!!  and my fail confirmed my thoughts. Right after that Olympus!!!!!  I admire all of those Spartans that made it through those 5 straight with no burpees.

The cargo climbs and fire jump proved to be easy as the night is approaching and my eyes see that finish line 100 yards away. I made that jump clean and finished and just realized …. I did 14 miles and completed a Spartan Beast and more burpees than I ever thought I would do in my life at my older and overweight self should do.

The Spartan is nothing to laugh at, and as they say …. “You Will Know At The End”   I KNEW AND I SURVIVED!!!!!!   Yes, I will be going back in 2019 and I will be gunning for the trifecta, and I will be in better shape as I do so. This is the next step in my adventure that started from a visit to the Dr. Since that visit I have gotten a waitress from a bar to join me on a run, and in early 2019 I am getting a friend’s 10 yr old son to go on a 5k OCR with me. I love being able to share this with my friends and love meeting the new friends on the course. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!

The Thrill Freak 

David “Thrills” is an avid enthusiast of thrill parks and entertainment activities in the Tampa Bay Area. Be sure to follow me on twitter @TheThrillfreak and instagram @thrillfreak, or email me at tampathrillme@gmail.com for any questions or concerns.