More VT UB updates

It looks like the participant listing has finally been posted for the Vermont Ultrabeast.  You can access this information by selecting 'bib info' on the ultrabeast registration page.  Though your bib numbers have not been listed, one may still confirm their registration and wave time.  Course cutoffs may not be known until the morning of the race, however.  

Seriously.

Norm said in a one-on-one message that this may very well be the case.  Right now his focus is finishing up the course design as well as running it himself so that he can gauge the cutoff time.  In addition, this event will be the first Ultrabeast founder's race.  What does that mean?  It means that not only Norm but Joe DeSena himself will have their fingerprints all over this course design.  Expect many of the obstacles to be replaced with old-tech 431b.c. design, such as an atlas carry with a gigantic log instead of a concrete ball.  Or farmers carries with two big logs.  The possibilities are endless!

Tahoe Ultra Beast map leaked

As much as we'd like to see Killington, a good proportion of folks who come here for UB info plan on going to Tahoe as well.  Enjoy:
 

The next T3 has officially been announced

This year's third installment of the Tough Training Trials has been announced!  This time, we're having four time team elite Nate as the main instructor for this course.  We're going back to our fabled stomping grounds at Anastasia State Park for some new lessons to be learned on the natural sandy beaches of Florida.  We've tempered our last T3 candidates in the fiery summer heat of July, now it's time we test a new set of candidates in the icy cold waters of the beach in December.  This new instructor has four T3's worth of pain to unleash upon everyone, are you prepared to see what he's capable of?

You can register for the T3 here.
Don't think you're ready?  You can follow the live updates here.

Tampa Training Events

Regiment elite Travis will be hosting some GRT events in the coming months.  Do you smile at the prospect of 2-4 hours of good livin' with local GORUCK/Regiment members?  Then head over to our Team Events page for more info that you may find to your liking.  

You may also have noticed that our next T3 is currently slated for St. Augustine in December.  More on this in the coming weeks...

Regiment Elite Ultrabeast Highlight - Daniel Cramer

It's time for another Team Regiment athlete highlight!  This guy made himself known in the T3 BUD/s edition back in December and plans to test himself at the upcoming Ultrabeast!
 

Hello! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Daniel Cramer, age 34 until August 21st, living in Orlando Florida, and single ready to mingle. I've been working for Publix over 18 years and I'm currently a manager. I do have a lot of hobbies and spend most of my time outdoors or training.

What made you want to sign up for this event in the first place?  

I've done many events and sports in my life. I ran track in college and placed 2nd in the TAAC division doing pole vault. I'm always up for challenging the mind, body, and soul. Once I saw this event, I told myself that this was a must so why not do it twice this year. Yes, I'm doing the Vermont and Lake Tahoe UB.

The stats for this event are grim. Only about 10% make it. What are you doing to ensure you fall in this rare percentile of finishers?

This rare percentile doesn't worry me. I moved up my training hardcore since March. I've added many interesting workouts and training since then with the additions of Crossfit, racing pretty much every weekend, and switching up my routines. Crossfit was a great addition for my strength and conditioning of the upper body 4-5 times a week including a couple 2 a days as well. I also have been racing around the U.S. With different Spartan races to do altitude and terrain into my mix bag of training......oh yeah multiple laps as well. Last month, I hiked Mt. Fujito see how rough the high altitude would affect me.

What is the biggest challenge you think you will face out on the course?

My biggest challenge that has me worried is the time hacks. I've heard how brutal they can be. I just rely on my training and hard work will pay off.

After this, what are your other goals?
After the Vermont UB I'm taking on yes that's right the Lake Tahoe UB too. Why, cause of my nickname CRAYCRAY. Then possibly MOAT ruck double marathon. I've already completed the ruck marathon already lol.

The 2015 Ultrabeast Medal

Here it is, the medal that an estimated 15% of participants will be coming home with:

A couple of cool observations.  For one, the medal is HUGE.  If it's like the similar Canadian design, it should glow in the dark!  Furthermore, the venue is stamped on the medal and the ribbon.  The medal you see on the right is the beast medal that was revealed last month.  

Thank you Gary Belanger for taking the pic!

New Ultrabeast Rules and Info?

The Hawaii Ultrabeast is underway this weekend, and the race info packet has been out for that for quite some time now.  Should we expect some parallels of this in VT?  It's all speculation for now, but it doesn't hurt to look at some of the information.  Let's look at some of the Hawaii UB info:
 

NEW THIS YEAR: You will receive a Spartan Bag for bag check at packet pick-up. All your gear MUST fit into this ONE bag. Your race number will be written on that bag. You must have your race number/ headband with you to claim your bag. No headband, no bag claim! Please do not come back to bag check and say you lost your headband because we cannot give out any bag to anyone. You can come and get your bag multiple times throughout the day for no extra charge.

OVERSIZED BAGS: If you cannot fit everything in the plastic bag provided to you by Spartan Race Hawaii, we will accept a very limited number of oversized bags to check for $10 per bag. These bags will be tagged with your race number.

So it appears that there are restrictions on the bags.  We may see this in VT, which would be more restrictive than last year.  Nevertheless, prepare to have to use a bag provided by Spartan.

AID STATIONS

There will be at least 1 aid station on the course. There will also be an aid station at the festival area. Come prepared, make sure you are properly hydrated. A hydration pack or water bottles are required to run the Beast and Ultra Beast courses.

It is highly doubtful that the VT ultra will have just one aid station.  in 2013, there were four.  In 2014 there were around six.  They know the dangers of this venue, so it is highly unlikely that the amount of aid stations will be reduced while still upholding these strict standards.  Regardless, you may want to bring a good camelbak pack that can store a lot of stuff just in case.

RACE RULES

1. Anyone caught littering on course will be disqualified. Please keep the ranch clean, we take this seriously.
2. The penalty for not completing an obstacle is 30 burpees. Full burpees include chest touching the ground at the bottom of the movement and feet leaving the ground at the top of the movement.
3. Cheating in any way will result in immediate disqualification from the race. The following is considered cheating:
a. Not following the specified route and cutting the course
b. Not completing the required burpees when failing an obstacle.
c. Using mechanical aids on the course including, but not limited to, trekking poles (unless otherwise approved by race director)
d. Leaving any gear or clothing you started with on the course and not taking all your belongings with you through the obstacles. Any items you start the race with must pass through the obstacles with you and must not be left on course.
e. “Skirting” (running alongside or around) mud pits, low crawls and any other obstacles.
4. All Beast and Ultra Beast racers must have specific mandatory gear with them or they will be pulled from the course and disqualified:
a. A hydration source which can include a water bottle, hydration bladder, fuel belt, or similar. (highly recommended for Sprint and Super participants!!!)
b. A headlamp and two glow-sticks, with means of attaching the glow- sticks to your pack/person, will be required gear to continue on the course past 6:00pm. Racers will be pulled who are not prepared!
5. This is a chip-timed event. If you lose your timing chip then you must let the timing team know immediately upon crossing the finish line. Participants that lose their timing chip are not guaranteed an official finishing time pending review by race staff.
6. Beast course only: Course cut-off times will be posted on the website and Facebook page once we get closer to race day. We will also include the information in an email to registered participants.
7. The Race Director reserves the right to introduce additional time cut-offs and modify current ones as needed.
8. Course Closing time will be posted on the website and Facebook once we get closer to race day.

These rules are pretty boilerplate and are the same as last year's VT rules.  Expect something very much like this.  On to the last piece.

RACE NOTES - ULTRA BEAST SPECIFIC

1. All the same rules listed in “Race Rules”.

2. Gear Drop Each Ultra Beast Participant will receive 1 additional Gear Bag to be used for Gear Drop. This bag is different from the Bag Check bag. Please use your Gear Drop bag for your Ultra Beast ESSENTIAL items only. (no cell phones, wallets, cash, etc) This is the only bag allowed in Gear Drop and must be marked with your race number. The Gear Drop Tent will be located on the Ultra Beast Course just outside of the Festival Area. Your bag must be dropped off at this tent 30 minutes BEFORE your wave starts. NO ACCESS TO THE TENT WILL BE ALLOWED AFTER THIS UNTIL AFTER THE ULTRA BEAST WAVE STARTS. NO EXCEPTIONS. ONLY RACERS CAN ACCESS THEIR BAGS. The tent is located at approximately your half-way point of your race in the Ultra Beast Transition Area. You can only access this bag at this point. Please make sure you have everything you’ll need in this bag for your race. Once the race is completed, you must pick your bag up by 10:30pm or we reserve the right to a) keep your gear or b) donate it.

3. Ultra Beast Course Cut-Offs will be announced on the website and on Facebook once we are closer to race day. We will also include the information in an email to registered participants.

4. The Race Director reserves the right to introduce additional time cut-offs and modify current ones as needed.

5. This is designed to be a “self-supported” course. There will not be enough fuel and water on the course to support racers who are not prepared with their own fuel and hydration source. You should carry calories and electrolytes with you on the course. The average racer will take 5-6 hours to complete the Beast course. Come prepared with water and fuel or you’ll have a miserable time and risk not finishing.

6. Water stations with limited supply will be located on the Beast course. Exact number will be posted closer to race week. BE PREPARED TO SELF SUPPORT!

7. Ultra Beast racers will have access to your Gear Bag at the Ultra Beast Transition area which is at the half way point. (Make sure you have water/fluids in your gear bag!)

Interesting.  This is pretty similar to what was experienced last year, save for the new bag restrictions.  Will we be facing the same restrictions out in VT?  It's too soon to tell.  Once that information is released, you can expect to find it here.

Ultrabeast 2015 updates

Our Ultrabeast guide has grown over the years, and continues to account for about half of the overall traffic to this site.  This living document has helped guide numerous Ultrabeasters take on the mountains of Killington, and has been constantly modified by other athletes as well.  As we rapidly approach our time on the mountain (43 days remaining!), expect this document to get some major updates.

One such update has now been applied.  A lot of repeat statements and formatting changes have been applied and some dead links have been removed.  Some new Norm (UB course designer) updates have been posted at the bottom of the article as well.  Keep your eyes peeled at all times, and enjoy!

Preparing for the Vermont Ultra Beast
My personal experience - 2013
My personal experience - 2014

Athlete Highlight - Heidi Williams

Regiment Elite Heidi Williams is among the list of Regiment Elite who will be taking on the Vermont Ultra Beast this year.  As is customary for this year's roster of brave attendants, it is how her turn to be in the spotlight!  

Hello! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Heidi Williams , age 56 , single , living in Punta gorda fl and saftey Harbor FL. I have 1 son ,Chandler 20 , pre-med at UF smile emoticon , love that kid!  I've been in the salon business for over 35 years , and I am currently the distributor for Turbosuper foods performance and recovery powder , gel shots and bars .. great product !!! I will bring some for all of us in the Ultra Beast :)   This product is imported from Aulstrailia and is wonderful , I am working on a discount for all of our T3s .
 

What made you want to sign up for this event in the first place?  

I've been an athlete most of my life.  Gymnastics , tennis, running, swimming, Gorucks and of course OCR's (and my favorite) T3s, to name a few.  The Ultra Beast was a challenge for me in the beginning, so why not try it, master it and come back for more?  Every race has its challenges, and this one is no different. I love Vermont and the mountains, the only downfall with this race is the mountains.  The obstacles are a breeze compared to the steep incline of the slopes.  Resistance training has helped me with this . The Ultra is just one more race to conquer!

The stats for this event are grim. Only about 10% make it. What are you doing to ensure you fall in this rare percentile of finishers?

I have stepped up my running to lots of Ultras from 50ks to over 50 milers to increase my endurance.  I have also stepped up my training at the gym (Prime_8 fitness in clearwater FL ) with Parrish McCade . He has increased my upper body strength so I can master the monkey bars , rings , pipes and most of all the tougher obstacles on the course.  The log carry , bucket carry and sandbag carries are a breeze now thanks to him :).  Throw in some heavy Rucking over bridges and in stairwells along with training with my son in the UF Swamp and doing the stadium stairs with the wreck bags.  That will get your ass in gear!

What is the biggest challenge you think you will face out on the course?

One of the biggest challenges for me was the Tarzan ropes under the bridge. I hope I do better on those this year and of course that stretch of the Mountain I named 'The Bitch'.  It's a never ending stretch of mountain that goes on forever and ever .... If you're with Neil, bring a trek pole and some extra food, this is where he gets really hungry :)

After this, what are your other goals?

I will be competing in the Ultimate Suck the weekend before the Ultra and from that on to The OCR World and World's Toughest Mudder.  After those races I'm gonna concentrate on the Peak 100 and of course sign up for a T3 and hopefully if I have time run the Boston Marathon again with my brother!

Please welcome our new and returning Regiment ELITES!

Please welcome our four new Regiment ELITES, and our six returning elites! This is the first summer T3 in which there were ZERO DNFs! No matter what was thrown at them, they kept getting back up for more. True determination like this is a rarity indeed. Our team's roster of elites has now gone up to 68!  If you'd like to see the timeline of their trials, head over to our T3 live updates page.

Welcome to the tribe. Now get some rest!