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Tigers win D2-4A championship

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Hazleton Area off to state playoffs again

<p>&#8220;Cling-cling-clang-clang.&#8221;</p><p>It was the same noise I heard in Philadelphia last year after finishing <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/opinion/columns/592754/beyond-the-byline-conquering-a-spartan-race" target="_blank">my first Spartan Sprint</a> as a Trifecta medal clanged against a finisher medal.</p><p>It was a foggy Saturday morning as I hiked up to the festival area of the Spartan Beast, the first one I participated in. The event, held in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20, is the longest Spartan race of the Trifecta series.</p><p>As I made my way into the festival area to register, I could hear that noise echoing from those who already completed the course amid the sounds of spectators and music.</p><p>&#8220;Cling-cling-clang-clang.&#8221;</p><p>The race was the beginning of my journey to earn the Spartan Trifecta medal. To earn it, racers must complete the Spartan Sprint (3 to 5 miles, over 20 obstacles), the Spartan Super (8 to 10 miles, over 25 obstacles), and the Spartan Beast (12 to 14 miles, over 30 obstacles) within a calendar year.</p><p>Of course, I chose to earn the Trifecta in reverse order with the thinking that if I can finish the Beast, the other two races would be a piece of cake.</p><p>I can&#8217;t begin to count how many people looked at me funny when I told them my plan &#8212; it&#8217;s almost as if they were asking &#8220;are you out of your mind?&#8221;</p><p>The ground in the festival area was already muddy from a constant overnight rain, which made my race gear muddy before I even stepped foot on the course. I downed a Gatorade, did my stretch routine, and before I knew it, I climbed the small wall to make it into the starting area when my wave time came around.</p><p>And I instantly broke one of my own rules &#8212; I found myself at the front of the pack of about 250 racers.</p><p>Some things never change. Who needs rules, anyway?</p><p>The announcer gave a quick pep talk as some racers hopped or jogged in place in anticipation. I fully expected my adrenaline to be firing on all cylinders, but surprisingly, I kept my cool. I spent three months preparing and training, so confidence wasn&#8217;t something I was lacking.</p><p>That, and maybe I finally conquered the Jedi mind trick to keep my adrenaline under control.</p><p>My motto for the day was simple &#8212; &#8220;No retreat. No surrender. To victory.&#8221; With the announcer&#8217;s final &#8220;Aroo! Aroo! Aroo!&#8221;, it was time rock.</p><p>For the next five hours, I trudged along the 13-mile course that was, for the most part, ankle-deep mud from all the rain. The course went uphill, downhill, through the woods, and through various streams and puddles.</p><p>The obstacles started out reasonable enough, from smaller walls to climb and bales of hay to jump over. Soon enough, I was climbing over a 10-foot fall, Army-crawling through the mud under barbed wire, carrying a bucket full of rocks, and climbing upside down on a rope.</p><p>For each obstacle that racers can&#8217;t complete, it comes with a hefty 30-burpee penalty &#8212; by the end of the race, I did 155 burpees total.</p><p>As physical as the race was, it eventually became a mental challenge.</p><p>At one point, the course looped back to the festival area. The smell of food and the sound of music and spectators could be heard, which had me and a few others thinking the finish line wasn&#8217;t far off.</p><p>A woman who had one of those fancy fitness watches, however, crushed our hopes when she told us we had another 4 or 5 miles left. It was about that time the mud and hills finally took their toll, and my legs started to tense and cramp.</p><p>Most Spartans around me slowed to a walk or a jog, and several were also dealing with cramps. A few Spartans assisted me with some of the obstacles, and I returned the favor.</p><p>At that point, I was putting one foot in front of the other and helping anybody who needed it. I&#8217;d occasionally pick up the pace to a trot, but soon enough, my legs would cramp just enough to force me back to a quick walk.</p><p>What seemed like an eternity later, the finish line was in sight. After clearing the last few obstacles in my way, I mustered up the last bit of energy I had to sprint and jump over a pile of flaming logs and jog through the finish line.</p><p>Spartan volunteers gave me a banana and a protein bar, which I&#8217;m pretty sure I inhaled, and another volunteer draped my medal around my neck.</p><p>In hindsight, all of that was a blur. I was physically and mentally exhausted, I was starving, and I still had a two-hour trip to get back to my aunt&#8217;s house where I was staying. As luck would have it, the hose-down area also ran out of water, so I basically had to wipe what mud I could off me and ride home for a shower.</p><p>After inhaling a cheesesteak sandwich and almost leaving without grabbing my finisher&#8217;s shirt, I made my way back to the car. It was a short hike, but each step was painful.</p><p>I basically collapsed into the driver&#8217;s seat and threw my bag into the backseat when I heard the same noise that greeted me when I first arrived.</p><p>&#8220;Cling-cling-clang-clang.&#8221;</p><p>I looked down at my finisher&#8217;s medal. The green text of &#8220;2017 Beast&#8221; was right beside the Spartan helmet. It was more rugged-looking than my first medal, but no less awesome.</p><p>What started out as a chuckle turned into a laugh. Before I knew it, I was laughing myself to tears as I relished in my victory. I probably looked like a maniac to others leaving the venue, but it didn&#8217;t matter.</p><p>Once I regained my composure, I put my seat belt on, rolled down my windows, and cranked up Mot&#246;rhead as loud as I could without blowing the speakers.</p><p>One race down, two to go.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Reporter Travis Kellar carries a bag of sand as he navigates the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20. Photo provided by Spartan Race.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Spartan.jpg</photo0><caption0>Reporter Travis Kellar carries a bag of sand as he navigates the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20. Photo provided by Spartan Race.</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_FIRE.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Report Travis Kellar jumps over a pile of burning logs as he nears the finish line of the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20. Photo provided by Spartan Race.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_FIRE.jpg</photo1><caption1>Report Travis Kellar jumps over a pile of burning logs as he nears the finish line of the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20. Photo provided by Spartan Race.</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_18620503_10154402670426861_711048275957115491_o.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Report Travis Kellar reaches to ring a bell after climbing a rope during the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20. Photo provided by Spartan Race.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_18620503_10154402670426861_711048275957115491_o.jpg</photo2><caption2>Report Travis Kellar reaches to ring a bell after climbing a rope during the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio, on May 20. Photo provided by Spartan Race.</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_18619945_10158783123425066_2989247498978229272_n.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Report Travis Kellar poses with his medal after finishing the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio on May 20. Travis Kellar | Times Leader.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_18619945_10158783123425066_2989247498978229272_n.jpg</photo3><caption3>Report Travis Kellar poses with his medal after finishing the Spartan Beast in Chandlersville, Ohio on May 20. Travis Kellar | Times Leader.</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Beyond the Byline: Tackling the Spartan Beast