How Physical Activity in Escape Rooms Helped me Prepare for a Spartan Race
By: James Butler
As you guys may know by now, I am a HUGE fan of escape rooms. However, a couple things you might not know about is the physical activity in escape rooms and the fact that my girlfriend/escape room partner is a HUGE fan of insane obstacle courses. Those two things might not seem related, and they may be a distant relation (like second cousins once removed,) but there are similarities.
How I Got Roped into a Spartan Race
So, first thing’s first, my girlfriend signed us (yes, us, as in herself and myself) up for the Spartan Race. Now, while I do not actually remember agreeing to do one with her, I do recall expressing admiration that she had completed a Spartan Race. In fact, I might’ve said that I would watch her race in another Spartan one day. I just don’t remember the words “let’s sign up for an insane super obstacle course together” coming out of my mouth, though.
What is a Spartan Race and How does it Relate to Physical Activity in Escape Rooms
For those who are unfamiliar with Spartan Races, they are super obstacle courses. Obstacles include climbing cargo nets, crawling through mud under barbed (or electrified) wire, jumping over fire, and carrying heavy, clumsy objects.
If it sounds like it was designed for lunatics to you, well you might be right. Now, if you also think people who do them should be in great physical shape, you would also be correct. Finally, if you think that I am in “Spartan” shape for this race, then you would be incorrect.
Brain Over Brawn
Alas, if I wasn’t going to be able to brawn my way through the race I would have to brain my way through.
“How?” You may ask. Well, believe it or not, I’ve been training for this race for the past two years… with escape rooms.
Treating the Obstacles like the Physical Activity in Escape Rooms
Escape Rooms often have various challenges that require physical activity that is incorporated into the puzzle solving. So, after completing over 80 escape rooms, I think I may have a fighting chance at these insane physical challenges.
Now, I am well aware that swinging over a water-filled trench isn’t the same as rigging ropes in a certain order to drop a clue or key. But by relating the physical activity in escape rooms to what I’m about to put myself through, it definitely helps to make the obstacles not seem nearly as intimidating. So, without further ado, here are some of the skills that I’ve trained [via escape rooms] in preparation for the Spartan Race.
Climbing
Many Spartan Races include climbing over walls of different sizes. While Expedition Everest didn’t require us to scale a 6-foot wall, it does include a challenge to get from the first to the second floor of the experience. So, I have escape-room-ladder-climbing experience. It’s practically the same thing right?
Crawling
I do not anticipate enjoying army-crawling through mud under barbed wire. That may not be the technique I have needed for the physical activity in escape rooms but I have crawled in many rooms. Usually, it’s been to search for a clue under a desk or table, but some rooms have had us on our hands and knees to gain entry to another part of the room. That is to say that some escapes mean getting low to move on.
Throwing
One challenge I do look forward to is the Spear Throw. While we have yet to throw a spear in any escape room, we have thrown balls and darts, lassoed an object, shot rifles, and used long poles to hook or retrieve a distant switch or object. I would love to report we made all those shots successfully the first time, but that wouldn’t be true. Most times we’ve had to take turns until one of us develops some aim and finds the right technique. Remember: it’s ready, aim, fire, and not the reverse.
Low Visibility
Yes, you really do jump over fire in Spartan races. It is of course safely managed and apparently the photo op most Spartan racers love to share. While the flames are concerning, the smoke makes it even more of a challenge. Needless to say, seeing well in a dark escape room might not be a Herculean test of physical strength, but limited visibility can absolutely make an escape room harder.
The immersive experience and spookiness of escape rooms are enhanced by darkness. When we tried Trap Door Escape Room’s Day of the Dead theme, the dim lighting fit the theme perfectly. It did make it harder to find clues and differentiate between colors in some puzzles.
“What color is that clue?”
“Red? Maybe orange?”
Playground Challenges
I never enjoyed the monkey bars and I’m hoping I can somehow cross the Spartan Super Version. Sometimes it’s monkey bars, hanging rings– sometimes both. Now, you might be asking how that relates to the physical activity in escape rooms. Well, in escape rooms, we have completed playground challenges like going down slides; parking our bikes; and even climbing up, across, and under a playground to complete several different tasks to escape.
Slides in Escape Rooms
Slides are fun in an escape room and even more fun when they are well hidden and revealed as you progress through the game. You can always tell who the most adventurous one on your escape team is– they are the first one down a slide or through a tunnel. There is a surprising amount of physical activity in escape rooms.
Tire Flipping . . . in Escape Rooms?
Over the years, the image of someone flipping a giant tire has become synonymous with obstacle races. It is definitely a lift-with-the-legs task. With that being said, I am not sure what theme a tire flip would be comparable with in terms of physical activity in escape rooms. Maybe a farm tractor lost a wheel and a clue is hidden underneath?
Large Manipulatives
Granted, it’s not a tire, but some of my favorite puzzles are large manipulatives. Some escape rooms feature big gears to assemble and move or whole puzzles where you have to rotate the puzzle. Some big puzzles require more than one person to move/twist/turn into the right position. Often each person can’t see the other person’s perspective; so, it takes good communication while moving objects.
It is true that escape rooms never include puzzles that require brute strength to complete. In fact, there are strict rules against forcing anything open. However, the aforementioned rooms that include big props to manipulate or assemble are a big part of the escape room experience and deserve a spot on the list of physical activity in escape rooms.
When in Doubt Burpee Out
Realistically I won’t be able to complete every one of the 20 obstacles in the Spartan Sprint. I will try each and every one and try to figure out what method would give me the best chance to finish each one. Plus, if I fail to complete an obstacle, the Spartan Race gives every racer the option of completing 30 burpees.
Push Through Challenges
Some obstacles can’t be figured out– they just have to be worked through. Many racers struggle with admitting they have failed an obstacle and will try an obstacle over and over instead. Some do eventually succeed, but fatigue gets the better of most, and then after struggling with an obstacle repeatedly- it still comes down to burpees.
Knowing When to Ask for Help
No escape room will require 30 burpees to move on from a puzzle you are struggling with. The Escape room version of the burpee is asking for hints. Stuck? Step back for a second and take a breath. Change perspective and try again? Is there a different way? Maybe someone with a longer reach or smaller fingers?
Escape rooms are team activities. Maybe someone else on your team will have an easier time of it. Most solutions come after a few minutes of frustration and then just talking the problem out loud to each other. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you can’t see the way to move on. Someone on your team (or your Gamemaster) will be ready to offer you their (most likely unmuddied) helping hand over the wall.
Today’s Tip from an Escape Room Enthusiast:
We’ve done a few rooms now that feature a version of the Pigpen Cipher. Unfamiliar with pigpen? Check out this link for more info.
Basically, keep your eye out in rooms for symbols that look like parts of a tic tac toe board or big X with dots in different locations.
So, “T” symbol would look like >
There isn’t just one version of pigpen so any room that uses it will have something somewhere in the room to help you translate it. Happy Escaping!
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Trap Door Escape Company
Trap Door Escape Room has 4 locations: 3180 Route 611 in Bartonsville, PA in the Poconos; 60 White St. in Red Bank, NJ; 34A Speedwell Ave. in Morristown, NJ: and 77 Wind Creek Blvd in Bethlehem, PA. The Red Bank location was the first of the 4 locations, opening in the fall of 2015. Morristown followed in the summer of 2017, and Bartonsville opened during the holiday season of 2018. Wind Creek is currently undergoing construction and will be opening in September 2022.
History
The idea came to Tone Purzycki back in 2011 after he wrote a screenplay that developed into a live-streaming game. The game revolved around an actor trapped in a situation and the audience had to solve puzzles to figure out where he was trapped. The “Find Me Event” had more than 1,000 people playing over the course of several hours. After the success of several other streaming events, the idea of an escape room was born.
Location
Each location has different rooms from which to choose. Our Morristown location is home to Day of the Dead, Witch Hunt, and The Greatest Freakshow. In Bartonsville, you’ll find Cure Z, F5 Tornado Escape, Fear the Bogeyman, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, We’re All Mad Here, and Prisoner Z. In Red Bank we currently have Everest – our first 2 story escape room. Ripper of London is also available at this location. Our pirate themed games will soon be open at Wind Creek.
Trap Door Escape Room also offers team building, streaming events, and birthday parties. For more information on any of our games, prices, and locations, explore our website or call 570-234-3366