Spartan Race

Spartan Race is a series of obstacle races of varying distance and difficulty ranging from 3 miles to marathon distances. They are held in US and have been franchised to 30 countries including Canada, South Korea, Australia and several European countries.[2] The series include the Spartan Sprint, the Spartan Super, the Spartan Beast, and the Spartan Ultra. Spartan Race also has a military series, hosted on military bases.[3] There are also winter and team events.

Spartan Race
TypePrivate
IndustryObstacle Course Racing
Founded2007
FounderJoe De Sena
WebsiteOfficial website
Footnotes / references
[1]

History

Spartan Race began as a spin-off of the "Death Race", a 48-hour endurance event founded in 2007. Spartan was founded by De Sena,[1] intended for it to be a more manageable endurance race for a wider audience. The first Spartan Race event was held in 2010 at the Catamount Outdoor Center in Williston, Vermont and represented the city of Burlington, Vermont. Roughly 500 competitors had to "run, crawl, jump and swim" and overcome a variety of obstacles.[4] All finishers received a medal, and prizes were awarded to the top athletes.

In 2012 Raptor Consumer Partners invested in the Spartan Race company.[5] In 2013 Reebok had become the event title sponsor, and the races were renamed the "Reebok Spartan Race Series".[6] On December 7, 2013, Universal Sports broadcast a special on the 2013 Spartan Race World Championships.[7] In August 2015, parent network NBC then approved a Spartan-based television series, Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge, led by the producers of fellow NBC series American Ninja Warrior.[8] Later in 2015, Spartan Race founded the "Spartan Agoge" which is described as a "60 hour physical, tactical, mental and team based training and testing" event, to be held in Vermont twice a year.[9] ESPN describes the Spartan Race as "a true test of will."[10]

In February 2020, the federal court and Spartan Race came to an agreement that gave them full possession of Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder is expected to continue its races, and the 2020 season starts on April 17 in North London.[11]

Obstacle race
Spartan Race competitor

Spartan Sprint (3+ miles of obstacle racing, 20+ obstacles), the Spartan Super (8+ miles, 25+ obstacles), the Spartan Beast (13+ miles, 30+ obstacles), and the Spartan Ultra (30+ miles, 60+ obstacles).[12] The obstacles themselves also vary from race to race. Frequently presented obstacles can include a fire jump, climbing under barbed wire, wall climbing, mud crawling,[13] the "over-under-through" (a series of obstacles in which runners must first climb over a wall, then under a wall, then through a square hole placed in a wall),[14] spear throw, rope climb,[15] heavy object carries,[16] "Herculean Hoist",[17] "Tyrolean Traverse", monkey bars,[18] Traversal Wall (similar to a bouldering wall), Hobie Hop (a thick rubber band is placed around the ankles and participants hop through consecutive tires), Slippery Wall (a wall built at an incline, roughly covered in grease), a zig-zag log jump, steep mud climbs (rolling mud), tractor pulls, underwater submerging below walls (dunk walls), Atlas carries, tire flips, stump balances (skipping on stumps across a pond), rope swing,[19] and the now discontinued Gladiator Arena.[20]

Failure to fully complete any obstacles results in a 30 Burpee penalty in which runners complete before continuing their race.[21] A participant can obtain a Trifecta medal after completing a Spartan Sprint, Spartan Super and a Spartan Beast in one calendar year.[12] As of the 2016 season, the finisher medal includes both the traditional circular medal and a "pie piece" – one third of a larger Trifecta medal.[22] Each Spartan event also provides races for children ages 4 to 13: half-mile races for ages 4–8, and one mile races for those older than 8.[23]

The Spartan World Championships are held yearly, and to qualify for the event, men and women must finish top 5 in a U.S. Championship Series event or a Regional Championship in their respective category.[24]

Spartan World Champions[25]

Event Name
2012 Men’s Cody Moat (USA)
2012 Women’s Claude Godbout (Canada)[26]
2013 Men’s Hobie Call (USA)[27]
2013 Women’s Amelia Boone (USA)
2014 Men’s Jonathan Albon (UK)[26]
2014 Women’s Claude Godbout (Canada)[26]
2015 Men’s Robert Killian (USA)
2015 Women’s Zuzana Kocumova (Czech)
2016 Men’s Hobie Call (USA)[28]
2016 Women’s Zuzana Kocumova (Czech)
2017 Men’s Cody Moat (USA)[29]
2017 Women’s Lindsay Webster (Canada)
2017 Team USA
2018 Men's Jonathan Albon (UK)
2018 Women's Lindsay Webster (Canada)
2018 Men's Team Canada
2018 Women's Team Canada
2019 Men's Robert Killian (USA)
2019 Women's Nicole Mericle (USA)

The 2017 Ultra World Championships were held in Iceland on Dec 14-Dec 17.[30]

Spartan Ultra World Champions
Event Name
2017 Men's Joshua Fiore (USA)
2018 Women's Morgan McKay (CAN)
2018 Men's Ryan Atkins (CAN)
2018 Women's Janka Pepova (SVK)
2019 Men's Ryan Atkins (CAN)
2019 Women's Rea Kolbl (Slovenia)


Spartan Trifecta World Championship
Event Name
2018 Men's Jonathan Albon (UK)
2018 Women's Zuzana Kocumova (Czech)


Spartan Kids World Championship [31]
Event Name
2018 Men's Tyson Brinkerhoff (USA)
2018 Women's Avery Steyn (CAN)


The first Spartan Gym was opened in 2016, in the 1 Hotel in Miami.[32][33] Additionally, Spartan Strong is a group fitness class offered exclusively at Life Time Fitness.[34]

Event Types

Spartan Sprint

The Spartan Sprint features 20 to 25 obstacles along three to five miles of terrain and it is considered a short distance race.

The Spartan Sprint is the first part of the Spartan Trifecta achievement, where participants are encouraged to complete 3 races, earning them The Ultimate Spartan Achievement.[35]

Spartan Super

The Spartan Super has 25 to 30 obstacles along eight to 10 miles of rugged terrain, and is considered a middle distance race.

The Spartan Super is known to be significantly more difficult than the Spartan Sprint.

Spartan Beast

The Spartan Beast features 30 to 35 obstacles along 12 to 14 miles of rugged terrain.

The Spartan Beast is known to be the most difficult Spartan Race in terms of completing the trifecta; some participants can’t finish and are marked as DNF.[36]

Spartan Ultra

The Spartan Ultra features 60 obstacles along 30 miles of rugged terrain.

Spartan Kids Race

The Spartan Kids Race was created for boys and girls ages four to 13 to encourage exercising. The Kids Race is segmented into 3 different age groups:

  1. Ages 4–8: ½ Mile Run
  2. Ages 10-13: 2 Mile with Obstacles
  3. Ages 11–14: In select cities only, a 5 Mile Course with Obstacles

Spartan Trail

Spartan Trail is classic trail running the way it's meant to be. Get off the pavement and explore America’s wilderness over 10k and Half Marathon distances.

Honor

The Honor Series made its debut in 2016. The races occur on military bases throughout the country and are open to current military, veterans, and the general public. The course runs from 4–5 miles and contains obstacles similar to the other races.[37]

Stadium (Stadion)

Monkey bars and burpees take the field during the Stadium Series, where Spartan turns America’s ballparks into race courses. These events are typically three-mile Sprint-style races with more than 15 obstacles, and are held at baseball and football stadiums across the United States.[38]

The series provides competitors with access to stadiums with opportunities to step onto the field where the pros play, including the Dodgers, Cowboys, Packers, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets, Nationals and the San Francisco Giants. At Fenway Park, racers had to complete burpees in the Red Sox locker room.[39][40][41][42]

The name Stadion (running race) (or stade, Ancient Greek: στάδιον) is drawn from an ancient running event, part of the Ancient Olympic Games and the other Panhellenic Games.

Some of the stadium-themed obstacles include:

  • The Batting Order: A series of obstacles and exercises to be completed quickly.
  • Foul Ball: The participant is to carry a sandbag a specific distance across the field.
  • Seventh Inning Stretch: The participant must run up and down stairs in the stadium, and then must rope climb afterwards.[38]

Global Championship Series

The annual Spartan Global Championship Series unfolds across more than 40 countries on the road to the Spartan World Championship. The series sees competitors facing off on the course, battling signature Spartan obstacles on varying terrains and natural conditions.[43]

Format: 14 National Series around the world lead into stand-alone championship events in five regions paving the road to the Spartan World Championship. Elite and Age Group competitors must qualify for Regional Championships and the World Championship.[44][45]

Ultra

A hybrid of race and endurance events, the Ultra covers 30+ miles of terrain and features close to 70 obstacles. The Ultra is the only Spartan event featuring strict time cutoffs that must be met; competitors are warned that not all who sign up will finish.

Competitors are encouraged to bring ‘Transition Containers’ to supply the participant with food and water at the halfway point of the race due to the general tenacity of the course.[46]

Hurricane Heat (4-8, 12-, and 24-hour)

The Hurricane Heat Endurance Event was created in August 2011 due to the cancellation of a prior Spartan Race caused by Hurricane Irene. In the Hurricane Heat, the goal is for the competitors’ teams to reach the finish line; individual times are not applicable. The Hurricane Heat is composed of 4-8, 12, and 24 hour courses. Each Hurricane Heat event is unique to the others in terms of obstacles and location.[47]

Agoge

Spartan Race brings a fully immersive training program that balances class time with hands-on practical application of those skills and lessons. The Spartan Agoge is held on The Farm in Pittsfield, Vermont, twice a year in the summer and winter—and in historic locations across the globe including Iceland, Mongolia, Isle of Skye in Scotland, and along the Great Wall of China.

Media

“Spartan on NBC Sports” is a five-race U.S. Championship series that airs on NBC Sports Network and regional Comcast SportsNetwork stations while the World Championship is broadcast on NBC. The 2017 Spartan World Championship was December 24, 2017. [48]

In 2016, Spartan launched an editorial website, Spartan Life, which features fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle content.

In 2018, Spartan launched a series: “Spartan: The Championship Series,“ on ESPN and ESPN 2, which is a five-episode series, and features all the action from Spartan’s championship events.[49]

See also

References
  1. Elliott, Buck (June 21, 2017). "On Course - Our resident ex-jock takes on the Spartan Race". Fort Worth Weekly. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  2. "5000 racers conquer inaugural race".
  3. "Spartan Military".
  4. "VIDEO: The Spartan Race in Williston | Burlington Free Press". burlingtonfreepress.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  5. Keneally, Scott (October 22, 2012). "Playing Dirty". Outside Online. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  6. "Spartan Race Growing Through Participation Surge And Reebok / NBC Partnerships". Forbes.com. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  7. "Spartan Race Tackles TV". Obstacle Racing Media. August 8, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  8. "NBC Orders 'Spartan Race' Competition Series From 'American Ninja Warrior' Producer". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  9. "Spartan Endurance Agoge 001 – Part I: So it begins". ORM.
  10. "Spartan Race true test of will - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. June 6, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  11. Dumcius, Gintautas. "Spartan Race clears hurdle in acquisition of rival Tough Mudder". Bizjournals. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  12. "Family of Spartans".
  13. writer, Kevin Opsahl staff. "USU employee No. 1 in Spartan race competition".
  14. "Spartan Race: Atlanta Sprint Weekend 2016 Review". Obstacle Racing Media. March 10, 2016.
  15. Observer, Erica Beck The Argus. "Spartan Race next in fitness journey".
  16. "North Berwick teen overcomes all obstacles". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. July 3, 2016.
  17. Staff, Hunter Ingram StarNews. "'Spartan' team bonded through suffering".
  18. "Spartan Race New Jersey Beast 2016". Obstacle Racing Media. May 3, 2016.
  19. "Spartan Race: The Obstacles". The Mountain Times. September 21, 2015.
  20. "The bizarre allure of obstacle races".
  21. Keneally, Scott (February 6, 2014). "DNF: The True Tale of Failure at a Spartan Race".
  22. "New Spartan Medals and T-Shirts". Obstacle Racing Media. March 15, 2016.
  23. "Military Rec: Spartan workout Saturday on Bragg".
  24. "Spartan Just Hosted Its Most Competitive World Championships Ever". Competitor.com. October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  25. "Rankings and results".
  26. "Photos: 2014 Spartan Race World Championships | Competitor.com". Competitor.com. September 25, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  27. "Vermont Beast - World Championship 2013". Spartan Race, Inc. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  28. "Hobie Call Results at Athlinks.com". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  29. "Cody Moat and Lindsay Webster Capture 2017 Reebok Spartan Race World Championship at Squaw Valley - LetsRun.com". LetsRun.com. September 30, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  30. "Spartan Race Series Is Heading To Iceland For Their World Championship". September 21, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  31. "Obstacle-Crushing Tweens Compete for Podium in First-Ever Spartan Kids World Championship",Runner's World, December 1, 2018
  32. "Tour 1 Hotel South Beach's new Spartan Gym". Curbed Miami. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  33. "1 Hotel South Beach Official Launch of The Beach Club". Miami's Community News. November 3, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  34. "New Spartan Strong Classes". August 21, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  35. "Spartan Race Inc. Obstacle Course Races | Spartan Sprint: 3+ Miles, 20+ Obstacles". Spartan Race. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  36. "Spartan Race - Obstacle Racing Media". Obstacle Racing Media. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  37. "2017 Spartan Sprint Honor Series Review - West Point, NY". Obstacle Racing Media. September 2, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  38. "Spartan Stadium Series AT&T Park Sprint Review". Obstacle Racing Media. November 27, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  39. Nate (November 12, 2016). "Race Report: Spartan Race @ Fenway Park". Vegan Cable Guy. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  40. "Fenway Spartan Sprint". 2 Generations Running. November 13, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  41. "Spartan Race - Fenway Park (Stadium)". Racethread. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  42. Gori, Adam (May 1, 2018). "Spartan Citi Field Stadium Sprint 2018". Obstacle Racing Media. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  43. team, Sports4Jax (December 21, 2018). "Jacksonville selected as one of five cities to host 2019 Spartan US National Series". WJXT. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  44. "ESPN to Air Five-Episode Series Profiling Spartan, The World's Largest Obstacle Race and Endurance Brand". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  45. MENAFN. "2018 Spartan World Championship Powered by Rakuten Drew the Best Endurance Athletes in the World to North Lake Tahoe, CA". menafn.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  46. "Dallas Spartan 2017: How I Survived My First Ultra Beast". Obstacle Racing Media. November 10, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  47. "Spartan Race Hurricane Heat: Bright". RunSociety – Asia's Leading Online Running Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  48. "NBC - Spartan Race". Miami's Community News. November 3, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  49. Schlachter, Margaret (September 20, 2018). "ESPN Brings You OCR - Spartan: The Championship Series". Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
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