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What does that mean?










In my Q1 update and retro, I mentioned that my team at work cajoled me into leading a them through a Spartan Race Super 10k at the end of October 2025. As part of the effort, I put together two physical training plans. One was for everyone else who signed up to do it with me. The other plan is for me specifically, based on what I have access to in the garage and enjoy doing. My plan runs for 25 weeks, starting on May 5th, 2025 and ends on the day of the race, October 25th.



To both keep myself accountable and share some thoughts on the training is going, I'm making a regular update to you. There's value in that experience and what lessons I'm learning along the way. Why is that? Well, 25 weeks would be the longest I've consistently run any single program. Usually I start changing things up every 8 to 16 weeks. Actually, in that regard, it would be 20 weeks because the last few leading up to the race do change things up a bit- I'll get to that in a minute.



Requirements for Success



I've never done a Spartan Race. The closest thing was a Tough Mudder 5k back in October 2023. I suspect the requirements are roughly the same, but given we're doing a 10k this time it will just take longer. I think obstacle course races present a nice all-around physical challenge in line with my thinking about tactical fitness. From that article years ago, one of the oldest on the site, I highlighted these qualities:




* Speed and Endurance – You need to be able to run, ruck, and sprint depending on the situation. You will continue doing this for hours to days if needed.



* Strength and Power – You need to be able to carry gear, drag or carry your buddy, pick yourself up over obstacles, or move things out of the way



* Flexibility and Mobility – You need to move over uneven terrain, without injury, drop into awkward or tight positions, and quickly get back out again to sprint to the next position



* Muscular Stamina – You’re going to have to exert muscular force again and again and again. Bad things don’t stop happening just because you’re tired. 




This list still seems extraordinarily relevant, especially for a Spartan Race.

























Now, in all honesty, I'm not trying to be competitive in this event. If it was just me doing it myself, I would probably be trying to get in the top 10% of my age bracket. But, in this case, there's a team of about six other people who signed up to do it with me- each have different levels of physical capability and training backgrounds. If they followed the plan that I wrote for them, they'd be very well prepared- but that's a big "if" and I'm aware that most people simply aren't like me and willing to commit up to an hour per day six times per week to training.



My plan, really, is to have fun and set a positive example to the group as a forty-something corporate mid-level manager.



That said, success in this race involves endurance to run the race,