by Nate Widom

When you hear “adult obstacle course,” you might imagine adults channeling childhood memories of playing in the schoolyard to navigate hurdles, hopscotch squares, and monkey bars. However, the courses HAC Personal Trainer Tom Lombardo participates in are very different. Competitive obstacle course races are marketed directly towards the passionate fitness-lover, can span several miles, and are filled with numerous challenging obstacles that test competitors’ mental and physical strength. Elements like fire, barbed water, mud, and ice water may just be part of the game.
Beginning last year, several HAC clients and friends joined Tom for the Savage Race, many of them having never done anything like it before. This May, Tom and his mighty team of seven returned to conquer the Maryland Savage Race again, a feat worthy of celebration!

Before the Race

Why are you running the Savage Race?

Caroline
It looks like fun! I don’t think I ever outgrew the urge to play in the jungle gym and hang on the monkey bars. Savage is just an adult-sized playground, so it seems like an appropriate activity.

Joe
Last year, I snapped my femur in half after months of recovery and physical therapy. I felt better, but I still felt I needed to build up my core strength to prevent this from happening again. That is when I signed up with Tom. I have always been a person who needs a goal to help focus my efforts, and when Tom mentioned the Savage Race, it sounded like the perfect stretch goal. I know I won’t be able to finish all the obstacles, but I plan to do as many as my 70-year-old body will let me do.

In 2024, Joe broke his femur and attended physical therapy for about six months. But he didn’t let that stop him. This year, he not only completed the Savage Race, but also just completed a 46-mile hike in Utah and plans to bike across Norway in August!

Emily
This is actually my 4th Savage Race with Tom. My husband and I signed up for the race last year in May, along with a few of Tom’s other clients, and
now we’re hooked.

Orlagh
I started working with Tom when I turned 70. My goal was to fix my fear of falling. Within a few months, Tom asked me if I would be interested in participating in a Savage Race. Since I didn’t know what it was, I googled it and told Tom no! Luckily, Tom saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. So, I agreed to participate, and Tom started a training program for me. And I am so grateful!

Orlagh joined up with Tom’s group of competitors during last year’s competition and was saddened not to be able to participate this year.

Paul
I did the run because Tom suggested I do. The name alone and his suggestion were enough to make me curious about it. Plus, I think he saw how hard I push myself, and I am always up for a good challenge. Emily, another trainee of Tom, egged me on occasionally as well. I do love team sports and competition, so I eagerly jumped at it, all the while knowing nothing about it. I had no idea what was to befall me.

What are you most looking forward to (or are nervous about)?

Caroline
I’m looking forward to challenging myself and going outside of my comfort zone. I’m sure there will be obstacles I can’t complete, but I’m not necessarily dreading them. I’m taking this first race as a learning opportunity so that I can continue to improve for the next race.

Joe
I am looking forward to running the race as a team. It should be fun working with my teammates to conquer the challenges and see how far I can push myself. Some of the obstacles, such as the giant slide, look like fun. I am terrified of any of the overhead obstacles that require me to do any hand-over-hand climbing.

Emily
I’m looking forward to seeing what new obstacles they have in store to challenge us. I’m also looking forward to running as a team with Tom’s other clients again. I’ve built a lot of great friendships at the HAC. The ice plunge is a new obstacle for me this year. They’ve placed it at the start, so I’m not looking forward to beginning my run freezing cold and soaking wet.

Paul
I was looking forward to challenging myself and taking on something I never had before. I wasn’t nervous about anything because I knew nothing about it. I told my wife about the website, and she researched it some and even asked, “You’re not nervous about this?” the night before the race.

How are you preparing? Have you done any special workouts with Tom, in or out of training with him?

Caroline
I’m doing an unfortunate amount of running. Aside from that, I’m working on things like pull-ups and general upper-body strengthening to help with some of the climbing obstacles.

Emily
Training has been trail running at Carousel Park and focusing on upper body and core strength.

Orlagh
Tom created a training program for me. Tom has participated in Savage races in the past, so he had first hand knowledge of what I needed. I didn’t always see “the big picture,” but I had complete confidence in Tom.

Paul
Tom did an excellent job trying, yes, trying, to prepare me with upper body strength exercises. I repeated those as I could when I came for self-directed gym sessions.

Joe
I train with Tom once a week and then take his training regime and duplicate that two more times during the week. I also have been hiking 6 miles several times a week and biking 20+ miles a few times a week.

Race Day

Tom’s group included a mix of seasoned racers and the opposite; some had never even run a 5K. Still, the team was nervous. They took the challenge on a beautiful, sunny, 70-degree day, but things got icy before the race had even begun. Each year, a special obstacle is placed before the start line, so anyone wishing to complete the race must conquer it, even before it technically begins. This year’s first obstacle was the famously dreaded “Shriveled Richard.”

“It was like a giant tub with a ramp with wooden slots. You gotta climb up to it. It’s filled with water, and about the first foot is just ice cubes,” Tom describes. “In the center of this giant tub is a wooden bar, and barbed wire above that. You’re fully submerging yourself in ice water and you climb out the other side, and then you can start the race.”

“I had some people say, ‘I don’t think I can do this,’” Tom recalls. After reassuring the team, Tom led the group, swimming together through the freezing torment to meet at the starting line. But the experience didn’t discourage him; it fueled him. “I get out, and I’m so amped up. I have so much adrenaline.”

Tom checked his shoes and bib at the starting line but realized something was missing. “I go to adjust my glasses—and they’re gone. I lost my glasses in the ice plunge.”
Still, the team kept trekking along, overcoming several more obstacles. Due to the adrenaline, Tom’s vision didn’t worry him until halfway through the race. “I had a hard time seeing the ground. Everything started getting fuzzy. I was afraid I’d twist or roll an ankle because I might not see a rock or root or divot in the ground.” Tom couldn’t drive back without his glasses; thankfully, his teammates jumped in to get him and his van home safely.

Things were still tough for the rest of the team, but everyone quickly gained confidence and was eager to see what came next. Most didn’t look at the course map before starting the race, and the surprises motivated them to keep pushing.

“You get tired after a while,” Tom continues. “It’s a lot of upper body strength. We were helping a lot of people just get up over bars, over walls.” Some obstacles were over 6 feet high and totally flat with no traction.

Thankfully, the team conquered the race, and satisfaction quickly set in. “It looks scary, but when you’re there, and you know you have the support of the group who are willing to help you, [it’s not as bad as you think.]” Tom reflects. The squad helped “anybody who needed help,” whether teammate or stranger! “We all had a blast. We stuck together, and everyone did more than they thought they would. We finished this race half an hour earlier than the previous year.” The group completed the Blitz Course in just under an hour and a half.

If you’re interested in trying an obstacle course race, Tom recommends giving it a try. “Even if it’s way out of your comfort zone, it’s a fun experience. You got more than you think you do.” Tom plans to keep a HAC team going (and growing) well into the future.

After the Race

Now that you’re finished, how do you feel?

Caroline
Fantastic! I had an absolute blast, and I’m so glad that I did it! It was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but it was such a fun time, so I’m glad that I went through with it.

Joe
I feel great and am really amazed that I was able to overcome as many obstacles as I did. Beforehand, I assumed I would only attempt maybe half the challenges, but I tried them all and finished the majority of them. I was nervous going into it, but once it started, it was just so much fun that I forgot to be scared.

Emily
It feels great to have another Savage Race medal to add to my collection. I’m proud that I was able to complete a number of obstacles that I haven’t been able to do in past years, and I’m determined to be able to complete more next race.

Orlagh
Proud, exhilarated, happy, indebted to Tom.

Paul
I feel great having accomplished something I had never experienced before! I will proudly display my medal and number in the bar I built downstairs in my house!

What was the most challenging obstacle and why?

Orlagh
For me, it was Colossus! The enormity of the obstacle in size alone, was daunting.

Paul
The Sawtooth. Let’s just say I didn’t go very far and leave it at that.

Caroline
I was really intimidated when I saw how big Sawtooth was. It was another obstacle that I was prepared to fail, but then I made it up the first half, and I thought to myself, ‘Oh, you’re actually doing this. Nice.’

Joe
There were three obstacles where you had to hang and go hand over hand across a pool of cold water. I never made it very far, but the plunge into the water was pretty invigorating.

Emily
The most difficult obstacle for me was Wheel World. It’s like monkey bars but with spinning wheels. It required arm strength that I don’t have yet.

What would you say to anyone interested in completing the Race?

Caroline
If you have any sort of interest just go for it!

Joe
Do it!! But get training from someone like Tom, who really knows what is needed to not only survive but have fun doing it.

Emily
Grab a bunch of friends to join you, and go for it. It’s so much more fun than I anticipated. It’s such an amazing way to challenge yourself mentally and physically along with a great bonding experience with friends. Plus, you get some excellent and often times hilarious photos.

Orlagh
Do it! You are stronger than you think!! It’s OK to get out of your comfort zone. You will meet fabulous team members who become part of your special Savage family!

Paul
Just like the Nike commercial…DO IT! It does not matter your physical status. Obstacles can be skipped, and I did some; there’s no shame in that. But it’s a great way to get out on a Saturday and have fun with your fellow gym rats or just the casual gym attendee!!!

The Wheel World is like monkey bars, but the bars are circular and spin as you grab onto them for an extra twist. And you’re also doing this over a pool of water.

What would you like to do next? Would you participate again?

Caroline
I’m going to do the full race in August! I can’t wait! My kids did the Savage Jr., too, and they had a great time, so we’ll be signing them up as well.

Emily
I’ve already registered for my next Savage Race in August.

Joe
I’m not sure I’m ready to do it again. I was one of the oldest participants in the race and actually the only one in my age group (which allowed me to finish first in my age group), but I am happy I did it. It proved that I am not yet ready to be put out to pasture.

Paul
I’m not sure. I would more than likely do it again, absolutely. Now that I know what lies before me, I can prepare more effectively and complete more obstacles successfully.

Orlagh
Absolutely!!