Who Am I?

I am an avid runner and have been running since I was 15 years old. I began running low to medium distances while on my high school track team, running the 800 meter and 1600 meter races (I was a sub 5 miler and a 2 minute 800 runner). In addition to the track team, I also joined the cross country team. After high school I still wanted to run and decided to start doing road races. I have probably ran a couple hundred 5k races (16.29 PR)along with many 10k's as well. In 2009 I decided to step up my game and try to tackle my first marathon. I will be honest; the only reason I did this was because my father ran a few and I wanted to show him that I could do what he did. I trained poorly for my first one and regret it. If you are going to run a race, train like you want to win. I still continue to run marathons and other distances as well, and every race is a chance for me to better myself.
I started this blog to hopefully communicate with other runners and to shed any knowledge I may have about the sport that can help other runners. I believe running is the best sport and can be a great stress reliever. I encourage all runners to spread the word of our sport and show people why running is so good and why the community of runners has such great people. You can follow me on twitter @byrne1324 or find me on facebook- Shaun Byrne

Sunday, August 9, 2015

A Slice Of Humble Pie

Normally every Sunday I would break down my training for the past week, well this week there was very little training. I did not run once, and most of the training was just some light stretching done at the house. I had the Battle Frog race on Saturday August 8th and I wanted to make sure my body was completely rested fro the grueling course. So this post will act as my training for the week and also act as a review for what was the hardest course I have ever ran in my life....The BattleFrog!!!!

I arrived at race sight around 7:00 am to check in, and was informed that they had me registered for the wrong race. I originally was signed up for the BattleFrog Xtreme race, a race in which the participants must complete the course no less than 3 times. I however was registered for the first open wave. I decided to just run the open race and get a refund, instead of trying to find someone to switch everything. Xtreme runners had to be at a briefing at 8:00 am and I don't think I would of made it after finding the right person to take care of registration. I was a little upset but as you will see it was a blessing in disguise.
At 8:15 they called all Xtreme runners and 8:30 open wave runners to the starting line. Like that start of every heat Coach Pain came out and got us fired up and then we were off. The race started out by 3 mud mound in which you had to jump in water then climb over dirt mounds before entering into the woods. Once in the woods you started an uphill ascent. The hill was steep and every time you thought you got to the top you had another hill to go up. The last part was so steep you had to use a rope to climb up the 30 foot cliff. I was out of breathe and already gassed and we were less than a mile into the 8K course. Once at the top of the hill you picked up a wreck bag and threw it on your shoulders and headed up more hills. The bag probably weighed around 50 lbs. but it felt like a 100 at that point. At one point you had to climb over a 4 foot wall with your bag and the bag can not touch the ground. After you dropped your bag you headed down in the hills and made your way out of the woods were there was an inverted wall to climb followed by the dreaded platinum rig. This rig was the killer of the course. If you are an elite athlete you must complete the course twice and do every obstacle. If you aren't elite you can take a penalty and do 10 eight count body builders. The rig was responsible for disqualifying more than half of the elites that day. It had rings, bars and small poles to grab and make your way across without touching the ground. To make it worst right before you got to that obstacle you had just crawled through chest high mud and your hands were slippery.  I tried twice before taking the penalty. After the rig it was back into the woods for more hills and more walls to climb over. Pittsburgh is known for the mine shaft and this year the shaft didn't disappoint. Once in the shaft you were handed 2 noodles and told get in the water and follow the lights. The shaft itself is 50 something degrees, so the water is probably just above freezing. It was breathe taking, and people were having lots of problems. I have never been so happy to get out of the mine and see the hot sun. After the shaft you were back on the trails for more hills and more obstacles. Cargo nets, delta walls, and monkey bars were just some of the obstacles before you got to the Jerry Can carry. 2 cans filled that weighed probably 40 lbs. that you had to carry for about 200 yards up and down hills. Once done with the Jerry Cans you started to head down the trails and make your way to the finish. I met up with a runner from Florida who twisted his ankle at some point on the course while running through the creek bed on the uneven rocks. I stayed with him until we exited the trails and saw the finish. First though we had to climb the 16 foot rope and then make our way across 3 walls that had ropes, a small hand grip and more rope without letting our feet touch the ground before crossing the finish line.
It took me just over 2 hours to complete 1 lap. I don't think I could of made it 3 times to be honest. It was very humbling and I really underestimated the course.  My hat goes off to anyone that completed the Elite race and Xtreme race. I was a muddy mess when I finished and when I got home I was able to see all the bruises and scars that were left on my body. At one point in the race while climbing a hill me and a lady went off course in order to get up the one hill and it was the wrong move. We found ourselves in a thorn bush and I ended up being this girls ladder basically. I told her to step on me and use me to shoot herself to the top. I on the other hand was stuck in the thorns until one of the men got to the top and was able to reach over and pull me up.
The race was intense and I got to meet some awesome people on the course.  If you asked me would I do it all over again.  HELL YA!!!!!!

They have already released a promo code for next years race.....MINE50 will get you into any race for 50 percent off the cost. This code expires on Tuesday Aug. 11th at midnight.   MAN UP and run the course with me!!!!!!

6 comments:

  1. Holy crap, what a ride! When I first started reading you mentioned your registration being screwed up I thought, "man I'd be so pissed". But after reading all you went through on ONE lap?? Damn... I'd be lucky to get that much. That does sound intense (yet strangely alluring), and I truly give you credit for doing it. Wow! Congrats!

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    1. Thanks Nichole, for as hard and intense as it is, there is such a rewarding feeling when you finish. The other people on the course go in with the mind set that we are all in this together and there is so much helping each other out. It's an experience I tell everyone to try at least once

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  2. Congratulations, it seems very hard and physically demanding!

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    1. Thank you, and yes it is very physically demanding.

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  3. Yeah, that's crazy that all that was just one lap. I think I'll just be happy to experience this race vicariously though you, ha ha. Congrats!

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    1. Come on don't you want to live a little and do the race with me next year :)

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