Soon enough Diagnostic Nutritionist Hannah Richards and fellow Elite Trainer Kazz Azim were signed up.
THE MOVE THREE SIXTY EXPERTS
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| Hannah Richards Co-director and Diagnostic Nutritionist at Move Three Sixty Athletic Background: Competitive Hurdler |
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| Kaz Azim Elite Trainer at Move Three Sixty Athletic Background: Combat Athlete |
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| Yours Truly: Elite Trainer at Move Three Sixty and Luke Marshall Performance Athletic Background: Rugby Athlete |
I managed also to bully five clients to sign up, across the board we had a group of fairly experienced runners and gym goers though they didn't know what to expect and knew they had their work cut out for them.
THE BUILD UP
HIIT CLASSES
HIIT operates twice a week at the Move Three Sixty gym. Tuesday bright and early 6:45am and Saturday at 11am. HIIT workouts (High Intensity Interval Training) became an essential element of the conditioning program. People who attended regular sessions gathered amazing results in both fitness and strength using a diverse range of equipment such as battle ropes, kettle bells, club bells, TRX and body weight drills such as reptilian crawling, plyometrics and speed training.
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| Power Stepper (lots of stairs at Wembley). |
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| Harness Speed Work |
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| TRX Single leg work |
PRIVATE TRAINING
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| Solid Hip Extension and Stabilty (bring the Gluts)... |
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| Dead-lifting variations |
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| Man Makers (brutal total body exercise) |
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| TRX Muscle up to low Push Up |
Each individual religiously trained with a trainer twice a week building the required strength for race demands. Outside of the workouts they were advised to perform some run training which included Fartlek and hill sprints.
Obstacle races are mostly around 80% running so it is imperative to add these sessions to the planner.
THE RACE
Arriving at Wembley Stadium to be confronted by towering obstacles, water pools and hay bail hurdles the nerves inevitably kicked in.
The banter from the group was thrown generously in my direction for signing everybody up. You could see the very height of the infamous WALL OF FAME as we glared towards a finish line that seemed comparable to escaping Alcatraz as we discussed the mission ahead.
Fortunately Claud Serjeant (Co-Director and Rehabilitation Therapist at Move Three Sixty) joined to cheer us on, take photos (and act as physio). Claud had been working on my injured foot (from a fall I had in the summer) for a handful of sessions leading up to the race. Having him on site to tape it gave me a huge boost in confidence towards the race.
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| Claud Serjeant working some magic for a pain free race! |
Soon enough we were at the start gate staring down the line of hay bails that emerged in the distance... The grey and dull skyline suited the occasion as we bolted for the hay trying not to trip over the herds of people galloping around us, we eventually were able to stretch the legs out but it wasn't long before flights of stairs and weighted objects were thrown in our direction. There was no escaping now!
Once settling into the race we came across some less traditional obstacles but with some serious novelty value such as a giant slippery slide lubricated with wash up liquid, basketball hoops, bouncy castles and a rave room YES thats right a DOOF... DOOF... RAVE ROOM! (smoke machine, strobe lights and techno music blasting) to some less favourable obstacles such as a kilometre of stream water that ranged from knee to waist deep... it was super cold and yes a bit pungent in smell.
After the water struggle, a run though a grassy muddy field and a lengthy road run you could sense the finish line as Wembley Stadium came into sight again. The race however was far from over as some of the more physically demanding and challenging obstacles piled up ahead.
By now we were battle hardened and nothing was going to stop us, not even the 8 foot WALL OF FAME...
On the overground back to London everyone had a massive smile and were super high on endorphins. There were tweets and emails in the following weeks over which obstacle event to sign up to next.
These events are truly addictive but I will say put in an intensive preparation program as I saw a few people carried off on stretches. Look after that body "One Body One Chance"....
