“We are Spartan”
Junior athlete competes in high intensity Spartan races
April 25, 2016
“Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” she repeats over and over again. Throughout five miles consisting of over 20 obstacles, this verse keeps her motivated and moving to the finish line.
Junior Natali Mosqueda has participated in four Spartan races – multiple mile-long races consisting of military-like obstacles. Out of three types – sprint, super, and beast – she has completed three sprints, which consists of five miles of obstacles and one super, which consists of ten miles of obstacles. Mosqueda said she started competing in Spartan races after her dad introduced her to them.
“I tried out for a lot of things here at the school, and I didn’t get into it, so I figured I’d try something outside of school,” Mosqueda said. “When I found my dad was doing that, I was like ‘I want to try it,’ and I ended up liking it a lot.”
Prior to the races, participants only know the signature obstacles and will face some unknown hardships. However, if they do not complete the obstacle, they must complete 30 burpees – a combination of a push up and a jumping jack – before moving on. Mosqueda said her favorite obstacle remains army crawling under barbed wire.
“I like it, because I really don’t have to get on the floor, because I’m really short, so I can just walk underneath it,” Mosqueda said.
Mosqueda’s mother, Lilly Mosqueda, said even though the race is hard, her dedication in training and faith is what gets her through these races.
“My emotions are everywhere when I see her,” Mosqueda said. “Especially, when I see her lift a 50-pound atlas ball, climb a 10-foot wall and crawl under a barbed wire fence. But most of all my heart rejoices when I see her take that final jump over the fire and she completes this long journey. It makes all the training worthwhile.”
Despite training for weeks before every race, she said she still feels the physical tolls the races take on her body for days afterwards.
“It leaves you very sore, but it’s really worth it,” Mosqueda said. “You’ll go to school with your leg cramping and your lower back hurting, but it’s all worth it.”
