BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — What is the Spartan Race and why has it gained a reputation for being too tough for ordinary folk?
The race, named after the ancient Grecian city, was founded in 2010 by Joe De Sena, its Chief Executive Officer.
Its official Facebook page describes it as “the world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand”.
Race events include three distances: the Sprint, which is the 5K 20 obstacle race;” the Super, which is the 10K 25 obstacle race, and the 30 obstacle race “Beast”. A competitor who completes earns the “Trifecta” medal.
“All races are timed and feature Elite, Competitive and Open heats, along with Spartan Kids races designed to challenge youth ages four to 14 with special obstacles and trails,” the Spartan FB page says.
So far the Race has had more than seven million participants in the more than 300 race events.
The Spartan lifestyle is also observed spans in more than 45 countries and “encompasses a global championship series, training and nutrition programs, health and wellness products and a range of media entities”.
The race’s militaristic-style obstacle races is known to push participants to their limit “across miles of unforgiving terrain while conquering signature obstacles such as the spear throw, bucket brigade and barbed wire crawl”, the Spartan page says.
The Spartan Championship Series features global rankings which culminate into the Spartan World Championship, where the sport’s best male and female athletes collide in Abu Dhabi.
The Spartan Endurance, meanwhile, is created “to bring participants to their breaking points and build them back up again and includes the 26.2-mile (or greater), 60 obstacle Ultra Beast; four and 12-hour Hurricane Heats, and 60 to 70-hour Agoge, which is based on the rite of passage ancient Spartan boys faced at the age of seven,” the FB page adds.
