7.5km. 15 obstacles. Piece of cake. Or so we thought …
As it turns out, the Warrior Race is exactly what it’s marketed as – a new-generation obstacle race for the (very) brave.
The first of its kind to be hosted in South Africa, the Warrior Race phenomenon has local gym bunnies and boot-camp beauties hopping on the spot for a place to show their muscle.
And yes, Gauteng-based Flowstars are among them.
“I ran in both the Warrior Races that have been held here so far – the first one that kicked off in Midrand (in February), and the latest one that was held at Smuts House in Irene,” says Flow graphic designer and soccer nut Ryan Levenson.
“I much preferred the second one, only because it didn’t have the 5m drop into cold water. Heights aren’t my thing, hey,” he adds.
Fellow Flow designer George Xafis also took part: “It looked like a great challenge and I’m usually inclined to try something out of the ordinary.” George runs or cycles to work when he feels like something a little different. He lives about 10km from the Flow offices, so that’s 20km getting to work and back. Anyway …
“Missioning through streams, climbing walls and spider nets, and climbing through and over mud obstacles sounded like something just up my alley,” he says. He took it easy and finished the race in just over one hour and 15 minutes.
For me it was a chance to try something different and to see if I could physically do it. Turns out I could, and I did. I finished the race in a time of 1h36, along with my fellow team members from the group “That’s what she said”.
The Warrior Race series is, according to its website, “designed to get you off the couch and into the mud”, and that’s exactly what happens. There’s mud. And then more mud. And then some muddy water. And running in between.
“Its a fun thing to do with your mates; you get to run around in the mud like a kid again,” says Ryan.
Say what he might, the truth is Ryan’s team came in 13th overall, in a time of just over one hour. That’s out of 5 000 participants.
“Next time we’re going to enter the Black Ops race and really earn that beer at the end,” he adds with a laugh.
The Warrior Black Ops race is around 20km long, with nearly 30 obstacles. It’s certainly a goal in my mind. Perhaps I can convince all Flow staff to enter?
To find out more about the race, check out the Warrior Facebook page.