Switchbacks and Tacks

We enjoyed a great little vacation in the Whites a few weeks ago to try to escape the heat wave. We froze in the frigid waterfalls of Cascade Brook and crawled through the claustrophobic caves at the Lost River Gorge. We were very successful in staying cool.

On Thursday Spartan Race emailed me a last minute code for a free Spartan Fit race in Boston this weekend so I signed up without really thinking about it. I have never done one of these before but I figured what do I have to lose? I hadn’t heard of half of these workouts before so I watched some YouTube videos and showed up early to spectate. Needless to say I ended up getting my ass kicked. The DEKA Fit is a 5k race split up by 10 training zones. A 500 meter run is required to be completed before entering each zone.

The zones in order:

30 55lb weighted reverse lunges
500 meter row
20 box jump/step over
25 20lb med ball sit-up throw
500 meter ski erg
100 meter 120lb farmers carry
25 calorie air bike
20 60lb dead ball 4 foot wall over
100 meter sled push/pull
20 44lb weighted burpees

I felt pretty humbled racing for the first time in the Age Group heat. This was really freaking hard and I really pushed myself and still got wrecked by the others but I met some cool people, had a great time, and would definitely do it again!

Spartan DEKA
Spartan

Had an incredible experience crushing back to back Spartan races at Carter and Stevens Farm Store last weekend. Brendon King and I ran the Spartan Super 10k like animals on Saturday, then Sunday morning we gritted our teeth through the Spartan Sprint 5k with our newest recruit to team Tusken Raiders, Tom Rhodes, for his first Spartan Race. Next up is the Spartan Beast half marathon in three months at Killington Resort. We’ve got lots of preparation to do!

It’s been too long since I was last aboard Sibelius! invited me out to crew on a delivery from South Bristol, Maine to Salem, Mass. On Friday we arrived at the boat yard to finish up some remaining winter projects, then Saturday morning we made a quick hop to Boothbay to pick up some crew where we had a great dinner . Sunday morning we left at first light and hammered all the way to Salem making 6.5kts average boat speed. Saw winds 10-17kts and seas 4-6ft with the occasional 7 footer. The rain began a few hours after our departure and kept up the rest of the trip. Pulled into Salem around 9pm with 17kts on our stern. Made an approach to the dock but it was too windy and choppy so we found a mooring and tied up for the night. After peeling off our wet gear we enjoyed some beers and hot chili. We managed a very respectable 100nm in 16 hours! Thanks to for the amazing shoreside support and Kyle for a great start to the season!

Switchback’s first sail of the season! ☀️⛵️

Spartan #2 in the books! This time we conquered Fenway Park! Thanks to and for absolutely tearing it up and making this super fun. Also many thanks to our support squad Sarah, Chris, , , and Steve! Can’t wait to do another, we’ve already got plans to kick it up a notch for the next one!