96 people are packed into the lobby of the West Salem Courthouse. Some wear gloves and hats and years-old sweatshirts, pre-stained and ready for anything. The sun is beginning to break through dark clouds. The wind has died down and the rain is slowed to a sputter. The weather is decent, but this is the still The Worst Day For Spartan.

Spartan Trainer Andrea Downard leads the run from the West Salem Courthouse. towards the walking bridge, and over towards Riverfront Park. She leads the 96 Spartans through a pit of mud and over hay bales. Once to the walking bridge, Trainer Carlos Soto barks at each Spartan and directs them into defensive slides across the bridge where they meet Training Director Matt Rudolph who throws every third person a bag of ice to carry to the amphitheater.

At the amphitheater, music blares from the back of a Mini Cooper parked on the stage. Spartan Trainer Drew Baker explains the morning’s workout: a different exercise on each level of the amphitheater. Level one is doing plank suicides while the top level will squat with bags of ice loaded in their arms. Each level contains a special type of misery. Drew Baker counts down from five, his voice muttered and gruff through his megaphone.

“…3…2…1.” Chaos.

Spartans squat with ice, while others roll in the mud and do push-ups, avoiding each other and the frantic earthworms squirming in the grass. Trainers pelt anyone who slows down with handfuls of flour. They yell and scream while Spartans yell and scream and grimace and smile and laugh. Some are jumping. Others are doing foot-fires and up-downs. Everyone is moving. Everyone is covered in mud and flour and worm guts.

This is the Worst Day For Spartan. And the best way to start a fun and relaxing Saturday morning.

Pictures from the event can be found at our facebook page: facebook.com/courthouseclubs