Tidbit Tales: A Spartan Racer’s Journey to Montana and Beyond
Montana with its unblemished raw beauty is an idyllic place to bring people together to conquer obstacles. Obstacle courses, that is. During the first weekend in May, Bigfork is home to the Montana Spartan Race, a challenging race through the forest where obstacles are to be overcome and fear is conquered. Professional and amateur athletes alike converge upon Flathead Valley for camaraderie and competition in a series of races that vary in distance and difficulty.
Held around the world, Spartan racers will often travel to many destinations to compete. And here at Flathead Lake Resort, we are honored that we get to host many of them for the Montana Spartan Race. But there’s one competitor that has stolen our hearts and replaced it with a medal. This is his story.
So as to not to toot our horns too much, we asked our guests to do a little tooting for us, instead. Welcome to Tidbit Tales, stories from our guests.
Meet Rob, the Spartan Racer
Since 2014, Rob has raced in a total of 80 races, with many of them being completed three in a weekend, a Trifecta. All three races must be completed in a calendar year, but many Spartans often complete a Trifecta in one weekend. And Rob was one of those Spartans.
In his mid 60s he decided that retirement for him wasn’t going to be dull. Instead, it would be full of Spartan Races as he traveled across the country to participate in as many as he could and still do them well.
Rob first came to Flathead Lake Resort in 2021, and he charmed us all instantly with his excitement for the Flathead Valley, Flathead Lake Resort, and the Spartan Race. We reveled in his tales of obstacles and burpees (for every obstacle you cannot complete, you have to do 30 burpees instead), running through swamps and up mountains, and of the friends he has made along the way.
Spartan Racer to his core.
A man of little words when it comes to topics outside of the Spartan Race, there were none needed when he presented his Trifecta Medal to us. We were speechless. And so very honored.
Fast forward to 2022, and Rob is back for yet another Trifecta in Bigfork, Montana. And this time he came bearing a gift. As he reached into his car, it was hard to hold back our curiosity, and we found ourselves peering over his shoulder. His passenger side seat back was barely visible due to the many Spartan medals that were displayed there. We were a bit in awe.
And to our utter surprise, when he pulled the largest one out of the car and presented it to us - yes, there were some shiny eyes - we were flabbergasted and honored to our core. Rob stole our hearts and replaced it with a medal. And not just any medal, but a medal only earned by those that have completed ten Trifectas in one season. Do the math. That’s 30 Spartan races in one year!
I rated this place [Flathead Lake Resort] a 10, so this is my gift to you.” (Rob, Spartan Racer)
A 10 for a 10! Now that’s a hard-earned medal and one never to be forgotten.
Rob stole our hearts and replaced it with a medal.
I rated this place [Flathead Lake Resort] a 10, so this is my gift to you.” (Rob, Spartan Racer and Flathead Lake Resort Guest)
As a man of few words when it comes to anything outside of Spartan, we can only begin to guess why he gave us his high rating and his beloved Spartan Trifecta Medal. It could be the outdoor showers we placed around the property. (Spartan racers get very muddy.) It could be the beachside campfires. It could be the fellow Spartan racers staying with us, too. It could be the cleanliness and quaint styles of our rooms and vintage campers. But we really think that is was simply our kindness. You see, our guests are like our family, and Rob was instantly family.
We were enamored by him, but it turns out he was enamored by us as well.
Spartan Racer or not, come stay with us! We’d love to get to know your story, too.
For more information on the Spartan courses across the world, click here.
For more testimonials on Flathead Lake Resort, click here for Patricia and James’ story.