Workout buddies take challenge of Spartan Race together

Spartan women. That’s what Bigfork’s Shirley Trent, 47, and Carole Hill, 57, now are.

The workout buddies decided to tackle last weekend’s Spartan Race in Bigfork, and came away with positive memories. Trent said she was “scared to death” and “pretty nervous” before the event. Afterward, however, was a different story. “It was awesome, way better than I could have expected,” she said. “It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.”

Trent said the 5-mile race was actually quite fun, including the 30 obstacles. “All of the distractions were fun,” she said. “You never got bored.” Fifty minutes into the race only felt like 20, she said.

Her favorite obstacle was crawling under barbed wire. “It was on my elbows and knees. It was pretty easy,” she said.

Hill said she was doing the Spartan race “just for the challenge. It sounded like it was going to be a blast. We wanted to do something new.”

Trent said there was really great camaraderie in the race. Trent and Hill participated as part of a team with Tara and Steve Harbin and Kyhl Pfankuch.

“We didn’t need the guys’ help a lot but sometimes they gave us a boost over the wall,” Trent said.

“What an incredible experience,” Hill said. “But I couldn’t have done it without my team.”

Prior to the race, Hill said she had no idea whether or not she would be able to finish.

Trent agreed. “My friends are praying for me to make it through,” she said Friday.

The race was spiritual for Hill. It was about, she said, “being grateful that I’m able to do it physically.”

Hill said she wanted to be able to share that gratefulness with others.

During the race she got her chance. The team came across a 20-something-year-old man at the top of one of the hills. He had fallen.

“Carole stayed with him for a while,” Trent said, noting that emergency medical service was called to help the man who Trent believes was dehydrated.

The women didn’t need a lot of new training for the event because they already are plenty active.

Hill and Trent have been working out together at Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork in the early morning for the past three years. They ride a stationary bicycle, lift weights and swim.

But anyone who is in decent shape can do the Spartan Race, Trent said.

“All our friends think we’re crazy,” she added.

Crazy or not, the women finished the 5-mile course in 2 hours, 8 minutes.