#SpartanRewind: 2017 US Championship Monterey Super

I was 10 years old when I decided I wanted to be the best runner in the world I don't know if you believe in destiny but I believe before this life I was gonna come down here and do that I spent my whole life literally my whole life trying to be the best athlete I can be I wasn't gonna make it I should've just quit but my heart was like no keep going [Applause] the southern world you can do what can be done and what they can do let's go a story of sacrifice dedication and the resolve to define the limits of physical achievement today the Spartan tribe gather in Monterey California to test themselves in the second race of the US Championship Series know as the Golden State Classic for Spartans elite racers the series has shifted into high gear with the top echelon of the sport battling for precious series points on a course defined by speed for OCR icon Hobie call it is one step closer to the finish line as he continues his relentless pursuit of greatness with the desire to conclude his legendary career at the absolute peak they saved winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit and today we burn with a desire that transcends fear pain and doubt this is the 2017 Golden State classic [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] it's just past dawn in Northern California it is here along the jagged coast and dusty mountain peaks where Spartan racers will gather to take part in the Golden State Classic the second of five races that make up the US Championship Series for elite racer and California local Raya Coble these hills are hallowed ground as she enters today's race hoping to exploit a year of hard work and a familiarity with the course last year this was my first elite race that I've ever done so it's exciting coming back here what I consider it as my home turf the trails are similar to what I run every day this year I'd better prepare them it's feels great to be here in the elite men's field today marks the return of Spartan wild child and third-place finisher in last year's US Championship Series Hunter McIntyre so fundraise world championships I just took a long time off to kind of ease the mind but as a professional athlete you have to stay at the grindstone I took a big chance like going after CrossFit it's really dynamic you always find your weak spots that kind of training gave me more appreciation for racing which I have in my body now I'm jazzed up it's been almost eight months since I raced but if you are a contender everybody recognizes that you're somebody that is always something to be dealt with everybody's pretty scared that the Balch ponies back in town through the brisk coastal California morning air Spartans elite men are summoned to the start line to get into the second race of the US Championship Series amongst the crowd has determined racers stands the Titans of the sport such as world champions Cody mote and Hopi call current USCS points leader Ryan and kiss and the man who finished one point shy of victory in last year's series Robert Killian who enters today's race with the hopes of avoiding the self-inflicted wounds that cost him a win in the first race of the series Seattle is just a tick in the face I had first place locked up but miss the spear I thought I had second place locked up I was frustrated not my day some reason that motivation this wasn't there definitely came in today but the goal is winning third and fourth place just has no appealing me anymore I want to be on top recording but I know the level of competition here is deep always no owner is gonna bring it hope he's gonna bring it all those guys are just foaming at the mouth and that just makes me push to that next level even more [Applause] runners are off out of the gates I am expecting to see some serious fast pace it's just gonna spread the racers out it's gonna open up this course for today's elite racers strategy plays a vital role while navigating the fine line between success and failure you understand this better if in Spartan protein member mat the bear Novakovich and course manager Steve Hammond we're here in beautiful Monterey California here with me is Matt no Vukovich aka the bear this is the second race in the US Championship Series look around this is just the most amazing scenery the terrain in and of itself is super challenging and I would say this grace is gonna be a race that has a lot of opportunities for change there's gonna be guys with early leads because it's flat and fast it might switch up again in the other positions when we get into some of the steeper climbing there are awesome steep downs and some steep ups those who are good at descending are gonna get those critical seconds it I think people are gonna be lap towards the end this is gonna be one heck of a race we're now two point seven miles in all of a sudden boom buckets amazing game-changer technique is golden what are the tight tapes put there in the bucket carrier first of all fill it fast but at the same time fill it high enough so that the rocks don't settle so you have enough rocks in and you do it properly you can't put it on your shoulder you have to have it right in front of you now you're holding with your fingers with your arms it's about to get tough so the temptation is to hold it with your hands just like this problem is I'm killing my grip strength so I always switched sometimes I've got one hand low put the other hand up high just like this also do this so I grab the wrist but I only hold a spot but maybe 20 seconds is the most just keep telling yourself I've got this samatha is 2,000 feet of elevation gain on this course you're a world-class mountain runner what do you think of it when I'm climbing mountains similar to this it's all about getting your feet in the right placement you don't want to be skidding you want sure footage you need slips is traction lost this course is littered with trails like this absolutely awesome descent this is where you're paying attention to safety but yes speed you go too fast you might fall and get hurt you fall and get hurt you might ruin your whole race we are 8.5 miles into the core twister this obstacle is no joke save your grip strength as much as you can every part of the course for this moment eight miles of effort and work in training the adrenaline the mental anguish it's all coming down to this moment so is there a method of doing this faster than slower or a bit more riskier if I'm trying to make up that extra five seconds I would rather take 20 seconds and get through it then take 10 seconds and have a chance of failing it what an epic battle and a finish that this is going to be to hit that final belt and cross the finishing line it's gonna be fun to watch now at the front of the elite men's pack hunter McIntyre is hell-bent on setting the tone for the fight ahead race started out fast man you look at the watch you're like dang this is a five minute flat mile and I know I'm not the best runner when I said to myself look you're a superstar doesn't matter what kind of shape you're in right now you run like that up in that lead pack you have owner McIntyre is a big boy runs with power [Applause] highly qualified candidates may earn a bonus of up to $40,000 with spartans delete men now in the midst of their race the elite women gather near the start line poised and focused on the battle ahead among the top echelon of the sport are newcomers Raya Coble and Nicole miracle 2016 USCS champion Lindsay Webster USCS runner-up face stemming and OCR icon Amelia Boone who returns after being sidelined by an injury last season after a shocking first place finish in the inaugural race of the series points leader Elissa Holly stands among the pack well aware of the target now placed firmly on her back it was very surreal being able to beat Fay and Lindsay Lindsay and fate dominated all last year coming into this race I was nervous because I didn't feel confident going into such a runners course to be the series champion I mean you really have to be good at every single race that they throw at you and I'm currently leading the series so for this if it's a lot of pressure just to be that one that everybody's gonna be hunting but at the same time I'm like come on like bring it on [Applause] now to the gates a coal miracle setting the tone early with face Denny Andrea Cobo right on her shoulder my strategy coming into this race was to take it out hard from the start and try to to run away from the Alyssa's who can carry faster than me [Applause] Alisa and Lindsay and Faye I think they already know that I'm a threat and they expect me to take it out really hard I think that they were expecting this they knew that it was coming I was happy with how I did in Seattle but there's not enough it definitely has something to prove this race comer Coe in control but anything could happen as the elite women begin their attack on today's course Spartans elite men will now have to quickly shift gears as they approach an exacting one-two punch of obstacles the brutal bucket brigade followed immediately by the spear throw I came in and I said to myself look the buckets where I make my move in the offseason I took something that weighed three times as much as a bucket and I carried it around I put in hard work so that when I had race work to be done it was easy work I just started hammering and got past Hobie was flying the bucket felt like a feather I searched as mark boxers that you see Robert Killian in the distance they used this like walk and his arms look all skinny and wheat it's like I'm so tired and I was like screw you dude I'm out race was on man it was high-intensity a new hunter was coming my goal was to let him do his thing I'm gonna stick with a nice steady carry oh my goodness kinda destroyed that bucket man as he looked fast and comfortable Wow that downhill right now no big deal I'm just going to not let this smoke my arms because I need to stick this fear [Music] [Music] first race of the season why one of those rookie mistakes what I thought was gonna be a great road turned into a disaster I had worked so hard to get that lead in that race so to have that literally blow up in front of your face I was completely furious so I definitely came me like hey I got a nail the spear took my time [Music] nailed it today so that allowed me to really go out and push [Applause] rivalries are the beating heart of most competitive sports and Spartan racing is no different it is through these struggles that athletes are forced to evolve and reach Heights they may not otherwise achieve on their own I see rivalries and competition as a way to truly bring out the best in yourself I had Amelia to go back and forth with it kept me very engaged and I didn't beat a million very often but the times that I did she made me work for it and I knew that that was something to be proud of that's not something to take lightly you know I think the cool thing you and I is that we're such different athletes and our strength isn't a rose is way faster than me and I've always excelled on the mountains and in Harry's and so I was forced to try and be faster I was forced to work on my weaknesses and she forced to work on her weak natoli I'm a much better athlete because I've raced against you it was a battle last year between Hunter Atkins and my so us three just wanted it so bad I know it's gonna be a similar battle this year that's what motivates me like I know Atkins is out there running hard I know Hunter's out there running I know Cody and Hobie are out there you know climbing mountains we just push each other last year competing so hard with Lindsey like probably the most exhausting summer I've ever had the thing about Lindsay is you kind of have in your mind some of her weaknesses in the next race all of a sudden those weaknesses are now her strengths when you have really good competitors going back and forth head-to-head it's interesting and it keeps people excited to watch now three miles into today's super course Hobie call his fallen far behind his two greatest threats in today's race Hunter McIntyre and Robert Killian and is determined to close the gap before it's too late at that point Robert and Hunter were a little farther ahead of me than I was hoping they would be so yeah I was thinking pies gonna kick it up a gear and catch these guys I raised hunter probably 1520 times a 200-pound guy that can run like him is just mind-boggling to me and Roberts fierce they'll take off hard and push so I still had a lot of work cut out for me for 40 year-old Hobie call the desire for greatness is fueled by a childhood dream and his unparalleled commitment to achieving it [Music] I was 10 years old when I decided I wanted to be the best runner in the world I didn't know how to go about it I just knew that's what I wanted to be I don't know if you believe in destiny or whatever you want to come but I believe before this life I was gonna come down here and do that it's just something that was ingrained in me from I think before I was even born we live here a nice quiet early Utah I've got five wonderful children my oldest son's 18 of my youngest son is eight you cold yeah I got a trampoline and a little zipline and obstacles just a big yard and yeah we just lived a quiet life out here I know Mike I wonderful why without her I wouldn't be here today there's no doubt about it oh very much mark thank you don't watch me I don't I've got about 20 years we've been married and spent a lot of sacrifices oh we know nobody sees the sacrifices they to see on race day having a good time I'm the one crossing the finish line getting the prize in the trophy you know what it's it's as much her race as it is mine she's probably sacrificed even more than I have to get us where we are growing up how is number six of ten kids just happened to pick up on running from the time I was super young and just loved it I tried my first marathon at nine and then I just ran all through school and then ran in college but just an injury or having to change jobs just never quite got there I was 33 years old I find that my wife down and says this is it I go I'm training one more winter we'll try a few marathons next summer if they go well they will keep going if they don't I'm done it's time to move on probably a week after I told her that she just gets this random message from one of her friends on Facebook saying look at this Spartan Race thing you should try it this might just be what you've been waiting for who knows we made our way down to Californian that's where it all started a very first race everything made sense I had so much fun I never had so much fun racing racing to lap and I just do it this is my world this is what I've been preparing for my whole life I kept winning race after races they couldn't find anybody get close to me that first year I've taken it seriously from day one and the whole time I was like I'm an obstacle racer that's what I do and then I train for obstacle racing you know I'm not a triathlete doing one of these I'm an obstacle racer doing one of these it's quite an honor to be the first you know I mean and I don't say this bragging Lee but I was the race in a Spartan Race for the first year so I think I saw the potential maybe before other people and I still see it and I still think we're just touching the tip of the iceberg [Music] anything can happen at this point today's Golden State Classic continues as Spartans elite women arrive at a set of obstacles cunningly designed to test their raw strength and critical precision the bucket brigade and the spear throw when we came into the bucket I was fifth place I was thinking you're behind them all but they're all scared of you and I was like let's give them something to be scared about it Lindsay and faith you were in my head all last year now it's my turn I got to be the one that they're watching out for and I'm just gonna own it when I see other people like putting on their knee I start running after that they're like a wounded deer and I'm like coming after them and I passed Fay and I passed Bria I was right on Lindsey Nicole's tail [Applause] [Music] going into the spirit I heard Lindsey miss hers I knew how critical that it was to make the spirit to set myself up for the rest of the race because I knew there was so much running and there all runners and I don't come from a running background it was like okay like this is my moment [Music] [Applause] [Music] while the elite women grind further into mile three of today's Golden State classic super coarse Spartan Macho Man Hunter McIntyre and 2015 world champ Robert Killian are deadlocked in a battle for first place Hunter's going out swinging as he said he would Robert Killian was right there and this is what we call a battle guys hunter is this again reckless man he just bombed that downhill I kept thinking when does this do gonna tire out because he looked tired he sounded tired and then somehow you just dig a little bit deeper Chilean past me just before the sandbag so right when we got there I decided to put that thing on my shoulder and sprint as far as I could until I passed up with no boys and felt literally like you know when you hit Lightspeed you know Star Wars I was in it maybe he was just saving himself for the sandbag know when it's coming all we know is that Roberts probably thinking this is the last thing I want hunter to have in his hands right now it's super exciting I mean locked in with somebody it's awesome to be a minute ahead of everyone but competition this makes you work that much harder a race is a mixture of ego and fitness sometimes if you try to show your ego in someplace that you're weak then it's gonna make your fitness crumble I'm not my ego comes out when it comes to carries Killian he played his ego every single time you saw a hill man it was just that bad Hunter McIntyre he is out in first place for the fifteenth second lead over Robert Killian zeg hope I'll be call in third place now descending and he looks very comfortable and I'd say he's be one of the best ascenders on this planet [Music] he's right there in sight [Applause] [Music] trained like a Spartan on daily burn visit daily burn comm slash Spartan to subscribe today on the course I'm a Spartan off the course I am a physician's assistant and I save lives every day on the course on a Spartan off the course I'm a father and a high school principal off the course I'm a retail manager on the course I'm a Spartan off the course I'm a personal trainer and trying to help people find their inner superheroes I balance my two lives by well pretty much meshing them together whenever I'm not working I'm lifting I'm practicing my muscle ups I'm doing everything I can so that I'm better on the course and in real life I have to set goals I have to reach results and I have to perform over there today's Golden State Classic is coming down to the wire as Hobie call continues to grind closer to race leaders Hunter McIntyre and Robert Killian no stranger to hard work Hobie has spent the past three decades juggling the demands of everyday life while pursuing the peak of athletic excellence you got me where I'm retiring when I just win a race they're like how could you possibly retire look how awesome this it was I'm like yeah today it's awesome come catch me next week in the middle of the week and see how awesome it looks then you know I'm busy they've been working my whole life heating and air-conditioning I installed ductwork and furnaces a lot of exciting stuff not really very not very exciting I mean I do enjoy because I like working I just like working I like getting dirty and working but my passion is certainly not in heating and air conditioning you see on the podium all the time it's easy to say oh I want to be him but if you look at his everyday real life not many people would want to be him we don't see very much he works full-time so he'll be used about 6:00 in the morning and then he gets home around 4:00 and then he'll usually rest for a half an hour and then he starts his workout he's not done with that till about 7:00 or 7:30 by 9:00 o'clock he's in bed and then that's the same thing the next day I trade 6 days a week I actually for how long these races are I'd rather far less mileage than most people approximately 18 19 maybe 20 miles a week at most I hit the bike just the right tires for the right reasons and lunges for the right time right reasons weight vest and and then I have my own dedicated upper body workout I'm trying to get through these obstacles I get into a zone when I'm training and don't talk to me don't look at me block out the world this is what I gotta do right now and I got a focus where I get the most out of myself the last year when we got the cops call on this because outside doing his morning breathing exercises and just walking around the driveway and one of our neighbors looked out the window and saw him and thought he was like checking out our house to try to rob it or something like that yeah I take my training very seriously you don't win races by messing around I wish I didn't need eight hours of sleep every night and so I wish there was more hours in a day it's not easy it's not and that's part of why I'm retiring this year maybe I could keep one in a couple years but my kids are growing up without me I just hope that my sacrifices and dedication and hard work is a good example for them for the time they're not getting with me at least they see you're the guy who's committed to something now he goes out and he makes it happen here he's just our dad and he's just the guy in the neighborhood who's running up and down the street shirtless every day as she is but then we go to these races and he's this Big Shot guy and he's he's just amazing like the legend Total Recall and everybody's freaking out whenever they see him yeah it's a lot of fun to see him as 40 years old still up there still killing it I spent my whole life literally my whole life trying to be the best athlete I can be and as soon as I retire that's not my day-to-day goal anymore what am I gonna do when my dad retires and he's done racing hopefully he can find something to put his energy into instead of making us do chores around the house where you know we're gonna be busy all summer we're not gonna have any time to do anything fun it's gonna be a hard adjustment I'm sure [Music] yes you were it's gonna be hard but it seems right it feels right it really does I do feel like I've fulfilled it my dream that I had when I was 10 years old and this this year is like a celebration every race isn't the challenge to see what I could do it's not a another trial to see what I can overcome every race from this point on is like a celebration of all the years of hard work I just feel like a 40 if I could still win a few races and just keep being my best to other world what you can do what can be done what they can do you know if I can do it you can do it that's my finish line as an athlete I'm ready to move on so it's ours it's gonna be there's more great days ahead I just need to instead of looking at the door I just closed I need to keep looking forward to the ones that are open waiting for me [Music] with only two miles left in today's Golden State Classic it's now or never for Hobie call as he sets his sights on race leader's Hobie calls 40 seconds back now from the lead there's always a little bit of adrenaline I'm Steven for myself there's a point of race where you can get excited and get that adrenaline out I was like this is the moment just go time I was pushing as hard as I could and I hear some footsteps coming I'm like man Hobie was right there where did this dude come from like he is just cruising right there at the halfway point oh he told me he was coming for me he made his little mark but I didn't think he was part of the match he was kind of like the tiger in the bush he just waited [Music] I want a sense it was Holger call Toby call oh wow Povey core is in first place the descender he just made was absolutely incredible he will be hunters right on his tail here he is [Applause] it truly was a Clash of the Titans right at the last moment this is gonna be an exciting finish [Applause] incredible for an epic finished [Applause] today's Golden State Classic continues to unfold as Nicole miracle holds a small lead over a pack of hungry elite women including Lindsay Webster who is now held bent on recovering from a recently missed spear throw we get to the sandbag I just start running as fast as I can downhill with it and I turn the corner and Lindsay grabbed her sandbag I thought I had it one in the spirit I realized actually gain Imani it's intimidating to be hunted by anyone definitely Lindsey because she's an amazing runner and she's an amazing downhill runner she was incredibly fast so I knew that I really had to go all out I come from the track background where I have a pretty good kick at the end of a race so I'm not used to running like this not far behind spartan newcomer Raya Coble is struggling to keep her podium dreams alive with USCS leader Alisa Holly now breathing down her neck the sandbag Harry I was third place and then Alisa came she flew past me I was able to start picking up ground in that uphill it's exactly what I trained for I feel like my heart rate slows down almost on the hill just kind of get in the rhythm of this like short steps which might not necessarily be always much faster than para hiking but it because it's like a very high cadence short steps I think it's actually a lot easier in my body I saw Lisa and she wasn't that far ahead of me and I felt like I really had a chance of the podium at that point so that was really exciting while the elite women begin their final descent Spartan icon Hopi call has wrestled the lead from Hunter McIntyre in Robert Killian and is now struggling to keep his grasp on the podiums top spot as they head into the final half mile of the race at the very top of that big long last client see that Robert Hunter were just pushing pushing thinking like you know we're all there and it was a fight just keep getting a little more on him because I got the Hercules hoist and then we got the tire flip but I know hunter is gonna be faster on those because he's a big tough guy Hunter has to be perfect Robert Killian himself back in the ring at the eighth mile of a race high intensity it was crazy just two obstacles left I was definitely thinking about my missteps in the last race all we just felt one minor detail and I can beat this place all of a sudden [Applause] Kilian are right behind him [Music] oh because put on it heroic performance Hobie call ran them all down again undoubtedly hope he is the best in the world he's everything I based my training on if he doesn't mess up on this particular obstacle he is gonna be your winner can you the person who taught me everything I know today I always know that I'm training to beat him first he's got to finish this obstacle safely Hobie is always doing what's necessary and he's always gonna do what it takes to win I think everybody needs to think about that when they eat their Wheaties in the morning [Music] [Applause] and he is gonna take first place in the Golden State Classic Hunter McIntyre with a second place finish Robert Killian finishing third place Racing's royalty out there today [Applause] [Music] Michael Jordan of our sport she wants to be on that podium she knows she is capable she just stole a podium position brought to you by Yokohama the official tire of the u.s. Spartan Race goes strong today's Golden State Classic is full-throttle as the elite women make their final descent toward the gauntlet of obstacles standing between them and the podium at the head of the pack Nicole miracle is doing her best to fend off last year's series champion Canadian Lindsay Webster I can hear Lindsey she's probably like 10 20 seconds behind me which is very close to this point I didn't push as hard as I probably could have there's this thing in the back of my head that's like you got to save something for your finishing kick you have to have something more at the end to get you through the twister and the rig [Applause] don't want the crowd get to you I know this is the finish everyone's excited it's hard to like be in that moment and take a step back and rest for a second the butterfl fest is on if Lindsey Webster wins this race today she's gonna move into first position of the US Championship Series coming into the twister Lindsay was just a couple seconds ahead of me she was maybe halfway through twister the obstacle that cost her the last race [Applause] at that point I knew I just had to stay calm and hope that I had enough grip strength left [Applause] this battle is still on she needs to move quickly because he that she fails is she can do faster burpees and win [Music] [Applause] I was waiting at the rig trying to rest a little bit if I fall there then Lindsey she can out Burpee me for sure I know that it's awesome with it she could make the rig and then I could follow and I look back and I didn't know where she wasn't her burpees maybe taking her time a little too much because let's just I wrap up those burpees there she go [Applause] [Music] and the comarca has finished the multi rig she is your champion today [Applause] after a furious battle Nicole miracle takes down the relentless Lindsay Webster and has crowned the golden state classic champion although the fight for the top two spots on the podium may be over in the USCS every point counts as Raya Coble and Alissa Holly are now brawling for the final podium spot I knew that if I could make it across the gauntlet then maybe I had a chance at third place you would have ran Colo she's stepping up she wants to be on that podium she knows that she is capable but they knew that ELISA was really close behind me here she is ELISA Holly she really hopes through that course there's no way that I'm letting her beat me nobody beats me at the end of the race on obstacles oh that competition just comes out of me at the very end it's just like okay like this is it this is the time till I finally like lay everything out there I was just excited to go and take her out I was trying to take just enough time to like catch my breath slow down my heart rate but not take too much time she is I am this really she wants to make it right now ELISA Holly Sam I'm coming right by I'm stealing this podium spot look at her skip and raise saying I don't fail obstacles [Music] [Applause] in position finishing in third fourth place finish for a a couple of you have quite a serious today today's elite women's race comes to an end with Dark Horse Nicole miracle taking first Lindsay Webster in second ELISA Holly in third Andrea Coble in fourth as today's Golden State classic begins to wind down Spartans elite gathered to celebrate their hard-earned victories and reflect on the desire and determination that continues to propel them to the top of the sport my goal was to be top three so I'm very happy with where I finished against some amazing competition the ladies in these field this year is just unreal the rest of the series is gonna go it's gonna be a bullet battle that's for sure [Music] [Applause] this is actually only my third win at any kind of Spartan ever so it was new to win that all much less one of the most competitive ones there's a three-way tie between me Lindsay and ELISA going into Palmerton and that's a really brutal race so I know I've got a lot to work on [Applause] I'm under this race it's so much more meaningful if you win a race when 10 guys who might be able to beat you are there I just enjoyed every second of it honestly I love racing I'm gonna do I love it I love doing events I love the people here my whole life from just the time I was young you know I wanted to inspire people [Applause] [Music] obstacle Racing's brought meaning to those years of hard work like now this is my moment and I can inspire people to not give up because I spent all those years not giving up I think I've reached a point where I can inspire people and that's a marvelous thing [Applause] I started as a spine then I don't think she liked it [Applause] you you

Channel: Spartan Race

Views: 8,714

Rating: 4.9574466 out of 5

Keywords: Spartan Race, Spartan, OCR, Obstacle Course Racing

Id: j1PAdgqtpmc

Length: 45min 14sec (2714 seconds)

Published: Tue May 19 2020