Spring 2025 Races

While I obsess over Hyrox training, I manage to do several events this spring: 

HUA HIN 10.5k RUN 

Another lovely sightseeing run that turns into interesting competitive challenge.  

I start out conservatively then settle into a pack on a long out and back stretch. 

You can see from my splits and map how I enjoyed long stretch on hard packed sandy beach around the 9th kilometer.  At this point I was confident I had age group victory wrapped up.

But then I spotted an old guy gaining on me (he turned out to be 59). I accelerate through the streets on the final stretch to hold onto my lead among over 50s, and finish 6th overall out of some 900 runners 

Spartan Super 

I regretted signing up for the Spartan obstacle race - paying $135,  then having most of my teammates decide not to join, then enduring the long train/bus journey, followed by long registration lines, the whole time dreading thought of  screwing up various obstacles I have no real opportunity to practice, having to do penalty burpees, and listening to my gerontologist warning me again about risk of traumatic  injury falling off obstacle.  

I decide this will be my last Spartan race. 

But it goes well.  I finally succeed on the dreaded Twister obstacle (which is thankfully the first obstacle) insert pix

The monkey bars and rings at end seem easy. 

I feel strong on the sandbag and barrel carries. 

I do struggle on Olympus and Stairway to Sparta, but only fail the spear throw

My net time is 1:35 – so most likely I would have finished a close 4th (out of 30 total) in my age group and suffered agony of being just off the podium, so I guess maybe it is better that I did the afternoon wave.