Trying out obstacle course racing?
Sure, it can be intimidating... especially with the 2025 Spartan APAC Championship happening from November 7-9 in Porac, Pampanga.
First, there's challenging terrain with river crossing, volcanic ashes, and hills with a total elevation of 300 meters.
There can also be a mix of rain and high temperatures, depending on the hour.
And of course, there's around 20 to 60 obstacles to overcome... including a new one that promises to be "monkey bars on steroids."
"You just have to keep going."
To get into the proper mindset, One Sports asked the experts, such as Sandi Menchi.
She's only the third place finisher at the Spartan Ultra World Championship that took place in France last July.
Certainly, she said there was a feeling of having to represent the Philippines.
"It's like a big mission for me to perform well or at my very best," she told One Sports.
But Menchi admitted there was actually one obstacle that really gave her a hard time.
"During the race, I know that I have thought of, 'I couldn't do it anymore' or 'this is so hard,'" she recounted.
"I had my trauma of one obstacle, it's the chain. It was so heavy and I think we had to do it for like, I don't know, eight times I think to carry it," she recalled. "That's after running, and then you have to go back to that obstacle again. And there's this another obstacle that you have to carry it, and you have to drag it with the chain."
Despite the struggle, Menchi pulled through. She didn't actually realize she was running third.
"Going back to that race, it's something that made me feel proud of myself that I was able to do those obstacles. Each of the obstacles, I was able to cross the finish line with all my might," she said.
"I didn't know that I was running third on the last five kilometers, I think, until I saw the media following me and was telling me in French that I was... I didn't understand but I was just like, I just heard that I was third."
"My legs were really done, they were really done with all the climbs," Menchi shared. "But I just kept telling myself that 'you came all the way here, rode the bike for how many hours, waited for how many hours, you trained for this race and I didn't want to disappoint myself, finish it.'"
"I was third. So, I didn't want anyone to reach me. So, I was really pushing myself until the finish line. And I think for those who would want to try obstacle racing, you should."
Mindset tips for OCR enthusiasts
Menchi acknowledged that obstacle course racing could get intimidating.
But the two-time SEA Games gold medalist (2019 and 2023) says people just have to start somewhere.
She herself started in trail running before embracing OCR.
"Feeling the kid inside me, Spartan Race is like being outside in a big playground," Menchi said during the APAC Championship press conference.
"You say, 'oh I, cannot do that. I cannot do pull-ups, I cannot do push-ups.' But I started there. I cannot really do pull-ups. I can only do like two pull-ups. Tapos half lang... And because I like the sport, I did not want to give up on myself," she said.
"So, parang 'yun 'yung motivation ko nila. Ano ba ito? Sila kasi kayang kaya nila. It was so easy for them to do the obstacles. So, yeah. I also challenged myself," Menchi shared.
"Okay, sige. I trained. I know that when I train, I will get there also. You just have to keep going."
Tip 1: Don't overthink
"Overthinking na, 'I cannot do that' or 'ang dami naman. I cannot do that. It's intimidating. They are so strong. I don't have that kind of strength,'" Menchi said. "Then, it will really push you down."
Tip 2: One step at a time
Menchi emphasizes that you really have to start somewhere when it comes to training.
It's not as easy as waking up and deciding to compete from the get-go.
"Hindi ka pwedeng mag-high school kung hindi ka nag-start sa grade one," Menchi quipped.
That includes training for proper push-ups and pull-ups.
"So, maybe start with your running and then you go with your push-ups. Maybe three push-ups a day. Going to five, then increasing it day by day or every week by week."
"And your pull-ups. Yes, you have to especially for women. We have really weak shoulders that we have to put an effort to strengthen. Men are like, yeah, they are naturally born with the shoulder strength or the upper strength."
"So, you guys, you are blessed. Women, we are always trying hard. Ang dami na namin pinagladaanan."
Menchi paused, "I'm just kidding."
Tip 3: Have fun
Spartan Race is absolutely a challenge, but you have to consider why you're doing it.
"Stop doing it if you are not having fun or maybe reset and ask yourself, 'why am I doing this? Why do I want to do this?'" She asked.
"Without fun, it's not fun."
Tip 4: Sign up
Menchi said signing up for a race gives you further motivation to prepare and train.
It definitely provides purpose in your workouts.
Tip 5: Believe in yourself
Does that sound very much like a shonen anime? Maybe so.
But remember, that mindset did help Menchi reach third place in the Ultra World Championship.
"You have to keep believing in yourself that you can do things that are impossible," she said.
2025 Porac Spartan APAC Championship
The 2025 Porac Spartan APAC Championship is the first time the country will be hosting an international delegation related to the Spartan Race.
There are five races from November 7-9, starting from the Sprint 5K (20 obstacles), the Super 10K (25 obstacles), the Beast 21K (30 obstacles), and the Ultra 50K (60 obstacles).
There's also a kids race ranging from 800 meters to 3.2K.
Intimidating? It may be so. But Menchi likes to encourage people to try it our for themselves.
"I want to inspire more people. It's like overcoming obstacles in our life."
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.