My first Spartan Ultra: 52 km, 68 obstacles, and over 3,000 meters of ascent.

Our plan was to walk up the hills, run on even ground, and run downhill. At the start, we were all smiling and had the energy to stick to the plan. After two big ascents and multiple obstacles, we began going downhill. It felt really nice until we reached the swimming section, where the water was freezing cold. It felt refreshing at first, but when I tried to get my legs back to normal, I got multiple cramps in my thighs and calves. It was unreal—I couldn’t even walk. I was stuck on the hill for a minute, struggling to move. I drank some magnesium, and it worked—I could walk again.

We completed the first stage of the run and took a quick break to drink water, eat some food, clean our shoes, and then carried on with the second round. It was the same lap with all the obstacles again. I had to skip a couple of obstacles, which most likely helped me avoid cramps after the cold water. Luckily, my energy came back, and I was able to keep going without any more stops. My friends experienced the same problem later on, so we decided to help each other with the obstacles. I wished I had more battery on my phone to record more footage, but I’m glad I have at least this to share a bit of the experience with you.

By the end of the second stage, we stopped for just 5 minutes because it got really dark. Fully wet from swimming in cold water again, we decided to join others to create a bigger group in case we had to face any animals; without any protection, it wouldn’t be fun. So, we tried to talk, whistle, and make noise during the last 6 km before the finish.

I’m glad we made it safely. It was an absolutely amazing feeling to share this experience with fantastic people. I highly recommend trying the Spartan Ultra. It is a challenge, but it’s absolutely worth it. The views and the memories you create will stay with you for life. I completed the run in 13 hours and 54 minutes. Next time, we will push harder to get a better time. See you at the next Spartan Ultra!