Spartan Race brings runners, mud and guts to Littlefield, Arizona
On Saturday, the fittest of the CrossFit sect will gather in Littlefield, Arizona, for the Reebok Spartan Las Vegas Super.
It’s the first time the event will be in Littlefield, and organizers say more than 6,000 participants and spectators will be coming to the town of 308.
The middle distance obstacle race that has elite and open categories for women and men is designed to challenge competitors’ endurance and grit, and their tolerance for mud — lots of mud.
The Spartan Race series prides itself on challenging its racers and keeping the most seasoned athletes on their toes. Unlike marathon races that reveal their course maps so that runners can study and be prepared, Spartan racers have to train and be prepared for anything.
On the eight-plus-mile course, athletes will be jumping over fire, crawling or rolling under barbed wire and dragging tires. And there will be plenty of surprises.
If an athlete fails to complete an obstacle, they can stay in the race by doing a specified number of burpees. Failure to complete a required obstacle such as the barbed wire crawl means disqualification.
First-time racers are encouraged. In fact, 73 percent of people who participate in the race will be first-timers. Don’t leave the kids at home, because there are two age categories for kids, 4-8 and 9-13.
The kids’ courses are designed to create a fun and positive experience.
Spectators are encouraged to arrive about an hour before race time, which means 7:30 a.m. for the first race and 10:30 a.m. for the second heat. There also will be a series of festival challenges such as pull-up and rope climbing contests, along with a mini fitness expo.
For more information, visit www.spartan.com.
Hand cyclists make history
There was no shortage of action in last weekend’s Reaper Madness, the final event of the DVO Winter Gravity Series at Bootleg Canyon. The hand cyclist athletes carved a place for themselves in history as the first to compete in the event’s Hand Cycle Enduro Race Series.
The athletes who are paraplegics came from Las Vegas, California, Texas and Kansas, filling five of the 10 open spots and competing in three categories: downhill, dual slalom and super D. On the downhill, terrain had to be modified to accommodate the hand cycles, though other courses remained the same.
Each hand cyclist was assigned a volunteer chaser, a person on a bike who shadowed the hand cyclist down the course to flip them over if they rolled – and there were some rolls.
“It was inspiring to watch – the athletes never complained, and they didn’t seem afraid of anything,” said Jarrett Hunter, a local cyclist and volunteer chaser.
Hunter also said Bootleg Canyon is some of the gnarliest mountain biking terrain in the country. For some of the competitors, it was their fist time riding a hand cycle on the dirt.
“They were such fearless warriors and were just going for it,” Hunter said.
Bill Lasher of Las Vegas swept all three categories to become the overall winner. Lasher is the founder of Lasher Sport, a Las Vegas-based company that is the only manufacturer of full-suspension, off-road hand cycles in the United States. He turned heads on the mile-long downhill course that had its share of twists and turns.
“At one point, Bill was going over 40 mph; it was just crazy insane,” said Paul Capinas, Las Vegas’ Ride to Recovery/Project Hero representative who was an organizer of the event.
The course was approved for use by hand cycles in early March, making event promotion a challenge.
“The athletes and spectators loved the event,” said Capinas.
With more time for registration, organizers expect next year’s hand cyclist event to sell out quickly. To volunteer for Project HERO’s weekly rides or next year’s event, contact Capinas through the Porject HERO Facebook page.
St. Patrick’s Day races
On Saturday, about 900 runners will gather near Boulder City for the 16th annual Six Tunnels to Hoover Dam St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon, 12K and 5K races. Walkers are welcome to join the one-mile stroll.
Race time is 8 a.m., and all races start and finish at the Historic Railroad Trailhead. Courses take runners through the six historic tunnels.
In June, the Railroad Tunnel Trail at Lake Mead National Recreation Area was designated a National Historic Trail by the U.S Department of the Interior and the National Parks Service. The trail travels through six tunnels built in 1931 as part of 30 miles of railroad built to connect Boulder City with the Hoover Dam’s construction site.
Dismantled in 1961, today this popular running and biking trail offers great views of Lake Mead and the surrounding desert areas.
After the race, all competitors will be treated to green eggs and ham in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
Registration and more information can be found at www.bbscrun.com.
Calendar
Running
Saturday: Catch the Leprechaun 5k, Sunset Park, 8 a.m. http://bit.ly/21l9frp
Saturday: St. Patrick’s Day Marathon 12k, 5k & 1m, Historic Railroad Trailhead, 8 a.m. http://bit.ly/1pbf1zv
Saturday: Shade Tree Hero 5k Run/Walk, Downtown Las Vegas, 10 a.m. http://bit.ly/1QPSkrU
Saturday: Vegas Moonlight Ultra, Floyd Lamb State Park, 6 p.m. http://bit.ly/223Cwg3
Sunday: St. Paddy’s Day 5k, Bicentennial Park, 10 a.m. http://bit.ly/1R9Nzit
Mountain Biking
Friday: SW Bikes MTN Ride, Cottonwood Valley Trails, 9 a.m. http://bit.ly/1XP0wxl
