Scott Campbell
CLARENDON – Spartan Races, a series of competitive obstacle races, have been attracting thousands worldwide since their origin in 2001. What motivated Carol Brunet to want to become a Spartan?
Scott Campbell
CLARENDON – Spartan Races, a series of competitive obstacle races, have been attracting thousands worldwide since their origin in 2001. What motivated Carol Brunet to want to become a Spartan?
“For the past couple of years I’ve been trying to become healthier by exercising and eating better,” she said from her home on Murray Hill. “There’s a history of heart disease in my family and with being overweight my chances of having heart disease are high. I figured it [Spartan Race] would be something to work towards and to see where I was at physically.”
Carol, along with her son, Dustin, and daughter, Michelle (photo), signed up for the Spartan Sprint at Edelweiss Ski Hill in Wakefield this past June. The event involved running up and down the slope for a total of 6.7kms plus the challenge of obstacles that included wading through cold waist-high water, crawling through mud under a wire, climbing ropes, jumping over a log on fire, and huffing it through a ‘gladiator’ pit. “There’s something about crawling through mud that brings you back to childhood,” continued Carol with a laugh, noting a few other people from the Pontiac at the Spartan Race.
While Dustin and Michelle both completed the race with times of around 2:55, Carol admitted, “Climbing up the ski hill for the third time, I knew it would be a challenge. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and even though I didn’t finish, it was so much fun!”
Carol has set a goal of completing the Spartan Race when it returns to the area next year. “Participating in the race, I realized I’ve come a long way.”