It’s been one week since I’ve done Goliathon in Southern NJ and typically I rush right home and start writing my recap right after an event. However, this one I wanted to completely soak in before I started typing. Goliathon was such a unique and well thought out event that I needed to make sure that my review depicted exactly how amazing this was. First off, take note that I am calling this an event, not a race. There is no clock and no timing chips. This is solely a team (or individual) based obstacle challenge. It doesn’t matter how fast you get through the course, it’s about how many obstacles you successfully complete.
Each obstacle has three levels of difficulty called G1, G2, and G3. You get one attempt at each obstacle, so you have to choose which level you feel confident you can complete. Upon successfully completing an obstacle you will receive 1 point for a G1, 2 for a G2, and 5 for a G3. The total points you have accumulated at the end of the course will count toward your final score, with the top 3 females and top 3 males combined for your the team score. This presents an interesting dynamic in itself- the more people on your team, the better chance you have of winning. Also, do you risk it and go for the all G3 level obstacles? Or do you go for the G1 and G2 obstacle to get the easy (or easier) points? You have the ability to choose appropriately once you reach each set of obstacles.
Goliathon did an excellent job executing this event. Going through the course, it was obvious the amount of thought that was put into designing each obstacle. The G1’s were appropriate for people of all skill level. The G2’s were a good step up from the G1’s and did present a challenge, but most were able to be completed by the average OCR veteran. The G3 were definitely challenging ranging from difficult to ninja-warrior-impossibly-hard. Mother Nature also added to the challenge by giving us some freezing cold temperatures and rain showers, making it even more slippery than normal.
Being a competitive racer, Goliathon gave me the opportunity to compete with my friends as opposed to against them. It was refreshing to work together and help each other out with getting through each section. On top of that it was interesting to find that someone who may be good at obstacle racing, might not be as successful solely on obstacles. It was a humbling experience for myself and definitely exploited some of my weaknesses. I was able to complete a handful of the G3, but didn’t stand a chance at others. Some I definitely want to try again and seek redemption at the next event.
Team Mud and Adventure was able to secure a second place team finish, losing only to team PPK, which was comprised of parkour athletes. Team Mud and Adventure will be back for Goliathon’s May 16th event in Mullica Hill, NJ and is open to anyone who would like to join. For the November race we had participants of all age levels and abilities which greatly contributed towards our teams success. To register visit http://www.goliathon.com and join team “Mud and Adventure” when prompted, be sure to use code “MAA10” for a discount. When you register, keep in mind that Goliathon donates 100% of the event proceeds to charity. Through their past events they have been able to provide clean water to a 250 student school in Bangladesh!
Goliathon was such a unique and enjoyable experience. From the charitable cause to the well thought out obstacles, you couldn’t help but to have a great time. The course directors are some of the accommodating people I have ever met and make it a point to ensure everyone has an amazing experience. The fact that they do this all for charity speaks volumes about the people behind the event and provides a completely different experience from the larger corporate races. If you are within driving distance of Southern New Jersey, make it a point to get out to the May event!
