Four Withings team members decided to enter a Spartan race because they wanted a challenge—and they got plus the moisturizing benefits of a full body mud mask. They also brought their Steel HR Sport hybrid smartwatches along. Here’s what happened.
Sandra, Marc, Yoni, and Vincent survived their first Spartan race, supported by their Steel HR Sport smartwatches. It took place about an hour east of Paris in Jablines, France, and it was an eventful day, to say the least.
“I had already participated in Mud Day and the Parisian women’s race,” explains Sandra, an Android developer. “The Spartan race was another story. When Yoni asked us to participate, I said ‘yes’ without a second thought.”
Not that she thinks it was a bad decision: “I don’t regret it at all, but if I had known what I was getting into, I would have better prepared myself! Signing up for a race is the only way I can force myself to do any sport. It gives me a goal, and I train toward it. Running for the sake of running just doesn’t motivate me.”
Vincent, also an Android developer, feels the same way. “Standing there at the start of the race, I wondered why I signed up! It was intense, but I’m glad I made it to the finish line. I even intend to participate in the Spartan race next year.”
What do the numbers say?
Like Mud Day, the Spartan race takes place in a field of compressed dirt and mud, which the participants don’t hesitate to liberally cover themselves in. See below for how long Sandra’s session lasted, how far she went, and how many calories she burned.
The figures are impressive: more than 1,800 calories burned, nearly three hours of exercise, and about 10 kilometers covered! Sandra attributes this standout performance to her choice of equipment, among other factors: “You really shouldn’t come in a t-shirt and shorts. There are sections where you have to crawl on stones, there’s water… It’s very important to have some protection against the cold, and to prevent any risk of injury.”
Some of the obstacles can seem insurmountable. “Normally, when you feel that you can’t complete a stage, the organizers make you do push-ups or the like to make up for it,” says Vincent.
“But you can also try to sneak around it. It’s all about helping each other out,” adds Sandra. “They put you in a kind of a military situation. You think it might be every man for himself, but actually, everyone helps each other to continue. It really was a great experience.”
This should inspire everyone to push themselves just a little bit further. But remember: everyone has to start somewhere! If you want to be more physically active, start slowly, don’t overdo it, and look for long-term improvement.
A big thank-you to our team. See you next year for new challenges!
