What is a Spartan Race?
Spartan Race is the world’s premier obstacle course race (OCR). An OCR is a running race with the additional challenge of obstacles along the course. These obstacles require athletes to have a complete fitness level (cardiovascular fitness + strength + mobility).
Related: Spartan Race Training: How To Get Fit For Your 1st Spartan Race FAST
What Are the Spartan Race Levels?
Spartan Race offers multiple distance races for you to choose which is right for you:
Spartan Sprint
The favorite among Spartan athletesSprint races are 3 to 5 miles in length and have 20 to 23 obstacles.
Perfect for:
First-timers
Experienced athletes
Runnerstriathletesand those looking for a new challenge
Health- and fitness-focused individuals
Anyone who wants to change their life
Spartan Stadium Series
Similar to a Sprint in distanceour Stadium series allows athletes to challenge themselves in the unique environment of historic sports stadiums across the country. Generallythese races contain no mudwateror barbwire.
Perfect for:
First-timers
Experienced athletes
CrossFit and parkour athletes
Sports fans
Anyone who wants to change their life
Spartan Super
Ready to step it up? A Super is 8 to 10 miles with 24 to 29 obstacles. You’ll be running a lot farther than a Sprint and encountering new obstacles.
Perfect for:
Seasoned athletes
Those who want more of a challenge
Spartan Beast
With 12 to 14 miles and 30 to 35 obstacles between you and the finish linethe Spartan Beast will test everything you’re made of: your strengthyour enduranceyour resolve. The unpredictable terrain and Spartan obstacles are masterfully designed to push you deep into your discomfort zoneand well past those self-imposed obstacles you once considered your limits.
Perfect for:
Those ready to test themselves
Those ready to push past their limits
Spartan Trifecta
Once you do your first Spartan Raceyou’re going to be hooked. The next step is earning your Trifecta medal. A Trifecta is earned by completing a SprintSuperand Beast all in one calendar year.
Earn Your Spartan Trifecta Medal
What Are Spartan Endurance Events?
Not for the faint of heartSpartan Race endurance events will push you past your limits.
Hurricane Heat
3- to 4-hour Team Building event
Beyond the mileage of the Spartan Race Trifecta stands the Hurricane Heator HH. As a team-based event designed to push racers to greater personal distancesyou quickly learn the value and true meaning of having mutual objectives through teamwork. You also see the connection between teamwork and success and one drives the other on both a personal level and as a member of something greater than yourself.
HH12HR
12-hour team building and individual testing event
The 12 Hour Hurricane Heator HH12HRis Spartan’s next level standalone event specifically designed to test every facet of your mentalintellectual and physical abilities through the use of mental challengesnonlinear problem solvingmoralityas well as teamwork and individual performance under physical duress.
Spartan Ultra
30-mile (or more) obstacle race
No longer just an add-on to the Spartan Beastthe Ultra is a distinctly new Spartan Race experience. The Ultra upgrades the Ultra Beast to an exciting and challenging format of 30mi / 50kmfeaturing unique course elements and obstacles. It’s also highly elusive – in 2018 there are a very few Ultras in the world and even fewer entry places.
Related: 11 Reasons to Do Your First Spartan Ultra
Spartan Agoge
60-hour event that builds physicaltacticalmentaland team-based strength through trainingtestingand evaluation
Spartan Agoge is a 60 hour Extreme Endurance event inspired by the original Greek Agogethe rigorous training mandated for the citizens of ancient Sparta. The training was a well rounded cultural immersion involving stealthloyaltysurvivalhuntingdancingsingingand social skills.
More Spartan Race FAQ:
Will this be too hard for me?
You’ve gotten this farso you’re in the right place. We are all capable of going fartherfasterand harder than we realize. Surethis is a challengebut only through challenge will you become the best person you can be.
What’s with all the burpees?
Athletes who fail to complete an obstacle must complete 30 burpees as a penalty before continuing. Each obstacle will have a designated burpee zone for this purpose. Athletes are responsible for counting their own burpees. We consider burpees to be the best overall body exercise. They utilize your legsarmstrunkand core while challenging your cardiovascular fitness. You’ll soon learn to love them.
Related: What Are Burpees & How to Do Them the Right Way
What kind of obstacles are there?
There are several types of obstacles that require crawlingclimbingpullingand lifting. These obstacles are meant to challenge your full body fitness. A few samples:
Barb wire – crawl under barb wire.
Tip: rolling can save your elbows and knees
Rope climb – climb a rope.
Tip: learning the leg wrap technique makes this easy
Hoist – lift a weight with pulley system.
Tip: using your body weight is more effective than arm strength
Learn more about Spartan's obstacles and download our free Obstacle Course Training Guide.
Related: Spartan’s 5 Toughest Obstacles—and How to Train for Them
How should I prepare?
Spartan is about conditioning your entire bodymindand spirit. You’ll need to train your cardiovascular systemstrengthand agility (to move side to side and up and down). Remembernot all obstacles are about brute strength—learning proper technique will save you a tremendous amount of energy.
Start by downloading one of our training programs.
Then read more in our TrainEatThinkand Life sections.
Is this a team or individual event?
A Spartan Race is an individualtimed event. But the Spartan tribe is a close-knitfriendlysupportive community. Bring your friends and make new ones here.
What do I get with my registration?
Most importantlyyou’ll change your life. In additionevery athlete who completes a Spartan Race receives a finisher medalt-shirtand adult beverage to toast your success.
How do I get started?
All glory comes from daring to begin. It’s important to take the first step and commit! If you wait until you’re ready you’ll never see the changes you want in your life.
Follow our simple 3 step process:
Commit
