Our obstacle racing columnist Paul Hayward went along to Covent Garden, where Spartan Race announced the 2015 Reebok Spartan season
On September 10, 2014 Covent Garden in London played host to Reebok Spartan Race, one of Obstacle Course Racing’s (OCR) leading providers. For one day Spartan Race staged a “takeover” in order to announce the 2015 Reebok Spartan season in style and bring OCR to the masses in London.
Spartan staged a course through Covent Garden containing, amongst other things, a rope climb and a sand bag carry. Participants were treated to a warm up and master class by the highly motivational and emphatic Mr Richard Pringle, before being let loose on a timed lap of the course to get the best time.
The winner with the best time received a pair of the highly coveted Reebok Spartan All Terrain Series shoes and a Spartan pass for 2015. Everyone else took pleasure in climbing the ropes or hoisting the heavy weights, whilst passers by gawped or choked on their lunch.
Sadly I did not win the best timed lap, but what I did see were members of the public actively engaging in the Spartan phenomena by signing up and taking part. In a great move by Reebok and Spartan; London saw a brief glimpse of life and sport outside the capital and, judging by the faces, OCR was a hit wthe masses.
We will have some videos to follow but in the interim, here are a selection of pictures from the day:
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
Photos © Epic Action Imagery
For details of all Spartan Races visit: www.uk.spartanrace.com
Follow Spartan Race UK on Facebook at www.facebook.com/spartanrace.uk
Follow Spartan Race UK on Twitter: @spartanraceuk
Paul HaywardI am 33 years old and spend the majority of my life within an office environment. Whilst I played football, I never really took an interest in sport let alone athletics. In 2011 I joined a gym as I was slightly concerned about my weight. However I was, like an awful lot of my colleagues, coasting and I considered spinning three times a week a workout.
This changed when I took up a circuits class and found myself entering Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest London in November 2011. I was assured by my friends that this was a good idea and would be a “challenge”.
I had never entered any form of competitive event before and training for this run changed me. I listened to my personal trainer, who assured me that if I quit drink I could be dangerous, and sorted out my diet, stopped drinking so much and focussed my training. I completed the race in just over an hour and I was instantly bitten by the racing bug, I loved the challenge the event offered.
Nearly two years on I have completed a half marathon in 1hour 49 minutes, came 6
th in the Rat Race Horseplay 5k event and usually come within the top 30% at Obstacle Course races. I am also a part time triathlete and I am lucky to find myself in a running club where we have a great coach and the focus is on members. If I am honest - I came to running through these events and I am not alone.
My aim through Run 247 is to promote, discuss and publicise Obstacle Course racing. It is becoming huge and over the coming months we will cover all of the major races and the new competitors entering the scene.
