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SHANK GYM

Shank Gym is a training log turned research project.
It began with Spartan racing and trail running.

Race reports branch into geology, history, and the sky above.

Five themes guide the work:
the Path Through — Race Reviews
the Sky Above — Astrophotography
the Ground Below — Geology
the Path Behind — History
the Drive Within — Resolve

If that’s your kind of terrain, welcome.

Latest Blog

Year of the Wolf: A 2026 Spartan Season Begins

This four-part series examines how the ancient Greeks transformed fear into structure, from Artemis and the sacred moment of exposure to Apollo’s conversion of ordeal into law. Tracing the wolf from threshold to rule, it follows how what begins in the wild is drawn into the city and made authoritative. The series culminates in Sparta’s agōgē and Krypteia, exposing how societies decide who belongs, who endures, and what must be removed for order to hold.

Recent Blog Posts

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Web Ring

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

Tom’s race reviews are honest, insightful, and a must-read for anyone planning their next Spartan challenge.

OCR KINGS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

His writing brings the grit, humor, and passion of the Spartan race community to life. It’s always inspiring.

Sarah R., Fellow Racer

Shank Gym’s blog is my go-to for preparing mentally and physically for my next event.

Mark T., Ultra Runner

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