Doing obstacle races has become somewhat of an addiction. I started off doing the Dirty Girl and have graduated to a Spartan Super. Let me add that it was the hardest Spartan Super to date. I never expected to be challenging myself this much, but after my first Spartan Sprint I wanted to earn the Trifecta as a goal since its been a little bit over a year since I had gastric bypass surgery. Nothing has challenged me more since being in the Air Force. When doing a Spartan Race you picture yourself trying to run the whole course and making it to the finish line in your best time possible. The Mid-Atlantic Super was a true adventure and memories were made to last a lifetime.
Prior to the race I did not have a chance to take a peek at the course map and Spartan never puts course information on their website. I had done the PA Sprint, where the venue was a ski resort and mountain climbing was expected. This race started as any other with everyone running past the starting line filled with energy. Running for a few minutes to the first set of obstacles was nothing major and other members of CFS waited to help other racers over the walls. Then all of a sudden the incline increased and it was straight up the mountain for what seemed like forever.
At each turn there was more of a hike up the mountain. Have you ever tried to run up or down a black diamond ski slope? It is not an easy task, but I saw a few people try and others just hiked. We past a few obstacles and made our way into what I call the forest for the trail part of the race. So many interesting experiences awaited us. You can always expect to slip and fall during this part of the race. I slipped and my forehead was hit with a cut branch. A few inches lower and I am sure I would have lost an eye. My one partner in crime Lawrence hurt his foot between some rocks, which we later found out he fractured his foot in two places, plus gained a nice cut. All along the course the leg cramps and back cramps set in. We started to see other racers suffering because they didn't bring any fuel or hydration. In true Corn Fed Spartan fashion we stopped to help as many people as we could. I am sure those people will remember the CFS team as they reflect on that days events.
The true pain started to set in after mile 5 where I heard many people dropped out of the race because it just wasn't fun anymore. What made this course hard was the numerous amount of times you had to go up and down the mountain. It made your legs beg for mercy. Still we reminded ourselves that we would finish this course regardless of how long it takes us. We came across Sasha who like Lawrence had participated in the Hurricane Heat at 5:30 am that day. All three of us where suffering. It was getting to the point where I could barely walk. With each mile you kept seeing more and more racers sitting or laying down along the side of the course trying to catch their breaths, but mainly gather the strength to continue on. From the slip n slide to the log carry it was a grand adventure that wasn't for the faint of heart. Lucky for me my cellphone worked on various parts of the mountain so that I could keep in contact with my partner who was waiting at the finish line. I vaguely remember her asking me what mile were we on and saying that I had no idea where we were. At one of the barb wire crawls I was rolling and all of a sudden felt dizzy. That has never happened to be before during barb wire crawl, but it was from the miles of mountain we had to travel that sucked the life out of our bodies. At one point I could be heard cussing and saying I just wasn't having fun anymore, but as I reflect I had an AWESOME time. I even stopped to play music from my phone to give me a boost of energy. So if you passed by a person playing "The Heist" by Macklemore trying to continue her small steps because her legs were giving out... Yeah that was me... This event taught each person something about themselves and who powerful the human spirits is. It also showed that people are still willing to help each other when in need. 10 hours later we made it to the bottom of the mountain where Sasha's husband was waiting with pizza in hand and my partner Lizzie was further up with an out stretched hand to help pull me toward the finish line. All this with Lawrence in tow with a broken foot. I cried when I saw Lizzie and at that moment I never wanted to do another OCR, but deep down I knew that wasn't true. The Mid-Atlantic Super at Wintergreen taught me that I am capable of so much more then I give myself credit for all in the name of fun. 
As the pictures and stories started rolling in we remember what took place at Wintergreen Resort. I even saw one racer running barefoot pass us on one of the trails. Other stories had people peeing in their pants because the only port-o-potty was located at mile 6, racers cheating by cutting across the course, and let us not forget the Corn Fed Texas Trio who had to spit in someone's eye to get the mud out due to lack of water. The course director Norm K. did an awesome job designing this course to truly test us. For all those people who told me this was their first Spartan Race please do not think all Spartan Races are created equal. If you made it to the finish line then your ready for anything Spartan Race can send your way. No matter how long it took you to finish this course remember you finished. There were many who couldn't finish for various reasons. Do not count those people out for at least they tried to accomplish the race when there are still so many people that would never dream of it. Never give up and continue to move forward when your out on the course. The only person your truly competing against is yourself unless your running in the Elite Heat then your out there for money.
At the end I limped away with my heart filled with pride because I pushed past all the pain to finish. I even gained a new nickname "Rock Steady Rivera". Given to me by Lawrence who said, "Seeing you face that f#cking mountain, hurting, never once did I hear I want to give up. After resting you got up, stood up tall, unshaken, balanced and determined...that is Rock Steady in my book! Elizabeth Rivera you've got this cold as ice stare, but one of the warmest hearts I know! Glad I was able to keep up, with you and Sasha! We learn from these holy gifts, was it pain..Yes was it survival ..Yes....was it me pushing you....No! Your heart and mind made that defined at the beginning! But it was Awesome to walk the miles and see the souls of Courage!"
I plan to return to Wintergreen for next years Mid-Atlantic more prepared to decrease my time on the course. Maybe next year I will knock it down to 9 hours or maybe even 6. Until then I wish everyone luck at the VT championships next month as I go on my way to train for the TX Beast in December for my Trifecta. AROO! Remember to listen for the sound of CORN FED when your at your next obstacle race event.
