So Cal Trifecta Weekend Review, Perris Lake CA 1/25

Jan 307 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Introduction

Like you and everyone we have ever known, we proudly live in the Holocene, which began 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. Our ancestors came out of that ice age armed with only spears, animal furs for clothing, and a legendary can-do attitude. The course at the Perris Lake area has geological remnants of these melting ice sheets (California Glaciation, 2024) and the people's artwork (History, 2024) that defined the region for thousands of years.

Current Events

The previous year, the Perris Lake Trifecta Weekend enjoyed sunny weather with temperatures in the 70s, offering a perfect winter escape. This year, however, was quite different. The California wildfires blazed for nearly two weeks, disrupting parts of Los Angeles and causing chaos for local infrastructure. Travel plans were uncertain as the race approached, and airlines only allowed flight changes without penalties at the last moment. Perris Lake, located about 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles, could have affected highway travel. In the end, the fires did not impact the greater Moreno Valley, where the race takes place, but many experienced cooler and rainy weather during the event. Nonetheless, visiting the West Coast is always enjoyable (Going Out West, 2024).

Spartan Relief Efforts

Spartan launched a relief initiative and collected non-perishable items from participants to support those affected by the wildfires. Given that Moreno Valley is an expansive suburb, gathering donation essentials for the relief effort at the nearby Walmart was quite simple. When I delivered my bag at 6:15, the pallet was almost full—a commendable effort by Spartan racers and Spartan itself, which collaborated with a local YMCA for distribution.

Logistics

Three months ago, I secured a non-refundable flight to Los Angeles (LAX) at a favorable rate. As the race neared, I explored other possibilities and maintained communication with the airlines. A week prior to the event, American Airlines introduced a no-penalty change fee. I opted to change my destination to San Diego at the same rate and drove two hours to a Best Western hotel in Moreno Valley, where I stayed last year. This hotel is approximately 15 minutes from Lake Perris, offers reasonable rates, has a functional outdoor whirlpool, and is near many fellow Spartans. Although Palm Springs Airport is an option if departing on Monday, I prefer the red-eye flight to save money and return to work on Monday.

Weather

The weather on Saturday began in the low 40s for the early heats and rose to the mid-50s with strong winds by noon. On Sunday, it was cooler with light rain, but the wind subsided. I packed compression gear and a rain jacket, which I used on Sunday. As I never wear gloves, I used Hot Hands for the first mile or so on both days, anticipating overhead obstacles in cooler temperatures. I visited the Med Tent for injury updates and found several cases of borderline hypothermia. Compression gear addresses most of these issues, but in the battle between fashion and practicality, practicality faces a tough challenge, “there is no bad weather, only bad gear.”

Historical Significance of the Area

Perris Lake Recreational Center is located in Moreno Valley, an area originally inhabited by the Luiseno people, who settled there around 12,000 years ago after the last ice age (History 2024). The Luiseno belonged to the Uto-Aztecan language family, which occupied both coastal and inland regions of what is now Southern California. They were adept hunters, targeting deer, bighorn sheep, and antelope using spears, bows, and arrows, and relying on teamwork and knowledge of animal behavior. The Luiseno also created petrograph artworks on rocks that depicted their hunting and cultural practices. A notable petrograph can be found on a large boulder at mile 8 of the Beast course, painted with a red pigment made from iron oxide sourced from the local hills (Luiseno People, 2024).

The Course

The Beast course was almost the same as last year. We spent the initial 7 miles looping around the lake with no significant elevation changes. The terrain was treeless, with sparse vegetation that was dead and nearly black due to a lack of rain. It's easy to see how a spark or small fire could ignite this brush and burn for days. The second half of the race took us along the lake's shore, running on the beach and winding along the shoreline for six continuous miles. This included beach running, path running, and sections through small groves of trees. There were no technical parts in any of this terrain, and the beach was compact, posing no major issues. The Super course removed the loop around the lake, while the Sprint quickly transitioned to the beach in its route.

Perris Lake CA is a great setting for the first Spartan Race of the season

Obstacle Placement

Critics of obstacle placement will find plenty to discuss with this arrangement, as obstacles were predominantly backloaded along the beach. For the Beast course, there were several easier obstacles, like Horizontal Beams and Walls, before leading us out on the Lake Loop, which had almost no obstacles. Most obstacles were backloaded on the Super and Sprint courses.

There was some buzz about a new obstacle called Lattice Wall. However, when we reached Lattice Wall, it turned out to be just a 7-foot wall with horizontal slats, a very simple obstacle. I have no issue with the obstacle itself, but it is not a lattice according to Merriam-Webster. In carpentry, lattice involves a series of interconnecting horizontal and vertical patterns forming a crisscross design (Lattice, 2024). Lattice can be used for stability or purely decorative purposes, but this obstacle did not resemble lattice. I suggest a write-in campaign to rename this obstacle to something more accurate, and I urge all Spartan racers to join me in this effort.

However, there's some good news! For the Beast, we stepped in right after Multi-Rig, where a Dunk Wall was set up in the lake. Spartan did something remarkable here for the Beast, considering we're in Southern California, the home of Navy Seal training (Navy Seals, 2024). They created a preschool, simplified version of BUDS. This involved a 20-foot swim into cool, choppy water, under the Dunk Wall, and back to the beach. After exiting the water, there was an uphill Barbed Wire Crawl on the sand, followed by the Kayak Carry. The kayaks were authentic, made of plastic composite; not heavy but awkward to handle. We only needed to carry them 20 feet into the lake for the turnaround. Still, this was enough for 4 guys I was with to shout “Who’s going to carry the boats” about ten times. It seemed unnecessary for me to point out that indeed, we were carrying the boats, but I understood their enthusiasm. This obstacle series was a memorable setup and added a local touch to the race. Unfortunately, after the Beast, they closed the Dunk Wall due to increasing wind. This meant Super and Sprint racers missed out on this experience, which was unfortunate for them.

This course always features a long initial sandbag carry on a paved section of the lake. This year, they added a second, longer sandbag carry using those green sandbags meant for building dams during a flood. It was about a mile to reach Multi-Rig, Hercules Hoist, and Slip Wall, leading to the final obstacle, the A-Frame. There was no fire jump; I spoke with the race director who explained they no longer have them in California, for obvious reasons.

T-Shirts and Medals and Debts Unpaid

The T-shirt features a nice design; the Spartan Logo is larger, and the back includes a design with the Boar. This year, only unisex sizes are available, and they seem to have a more athletic fit. So, if you're still in a bulking phase, you might want to consider sizing up. The medals this year are beautifully designed, and the Trifecta Weekend Medal almost resembles a multi-trifecta medal.

For those who haven't received their shield from Greece yet or a back-owed multi-Trifecta medal, they had some available for racers. They plan to identify what you're owed and, if you're registered, provide them to you at a future race. If this applies to you, you might want to contact customer service to inform them. To avoid another incident with TSA (who knew Calamine lotion could be considered explosive), I decided to pick mine up in Jacksonville next month since I'm driving to that event.

Festival Area

It was somewhat sparse this year, primarily due to the larger issues in California. There were some local gyms, our friends at the Border Patrol and the Army as well as some local food vendors. A protein shake with the perfunctory name “Don’t Quit” (I mean, we just finished) was given out, which is new this year. It's not bad and probably a better post-race option than in past years. Regin Energy was not at this race, and I get the feeling they will not be back.

Summary

I'm pleased we have a race in January instead of starting in Jacksonville in February or March. With any early season race, we're taking a chance on the conditions, but it allows us to log some miles and achieve a Trifecta, helping us adjust our training. In December, I revamped my entire strength, running, and lifting program, discovering a lot about my response to a new approach. Races provide feedback, and getting it early in the season was beneficial for making adjustments in my training, nutrition, and recovery. This venue offers solid feedback; it's runnable, and the conditions are reasonable for this time of year.

I also want to express gratitude to my ancestors (through genetic and cultural links) who helped us survive the last ice age; you'll never hear me complain about the weather.