What Is a Spartan Race? Ultimate Guide for Victory! - Savage Potential, Unleash your Inner Beast!

Spartan Race Guide

Introduction

Greetings my fellow readers and welcome to my Introduction to the Spartan Race Blog post! I thought there may be a good number of people who have never heard of a Spartan Race before, so I decided to write a simple bite sized summary to catch you all up.

I have made 2024 the year where I will attempt to conquer all of the major Spartan Race events and complete the trifecta medal, so read up on the basics below and look forward to my personal insights as I wrestle my way up hills, over obstacles and through mud, water and fire on my path to victory!

So, What is a Spartan Race?

The Spartan Race is, at its heart, an obstacle race. While not 100% of the time, the majority of these obstacle races take place in mountainous areas, where steep hill climbs await between obstacles.

There are a multitude of different types of race, however, the most common races are the 5km Sprint, the 10km Super and the 21km Beast.

Events for all ages and fitness levels

There are different levels and distances which cater to all kinds of people, ranging from the beginner friendly 5km sprint, for anyone looking to get out of their comfort zone and enjoy a challenge outdoors, to the 50km Ultra, for people who are looking for grueling mental and physical torture.

In addition, for each race there is a competitive heat, where you can race others for the best times and a chance to claim a spot on the podium and even win some prize money.

Or you can opt for the open heat, where individuals, friends and teams alike battle through the course at whatever pace they wish, aiming to conquer the full course.

Types of Race

Spartan Kids
5km Sprint (20 obstacles)
10km Super (25 obstacles)
21km Beast (30 obstacles)
50km Ultra (60 obstacles)

There are additional race types in addition to the above, however the 3 main obstacle race events are the Sprint, Super and Beast. Races are held in different locations throughout the world, so definitely look up to see if there are any races in your local area by using the below Spartan Race Finder link!

Competitive – This heat is for spartans wishing to compete for glory, prize money and a chance to stand on the podium.

Open – This heat is for any individual or group wishing to challenge themselves and aim to complete the course, regardless of time taken.

The costs

With the added work required to set up so many different obstacles, the fees for the races aren’t exactly cheap. The below prices are before tax and other add-ons, so expect the final price at checkout to be a little higher.

Sprint – 150USD

Super – 164USD

Beast – 173USD

Race locations

They are held all over the world, and participating countries are on the rise! For your very first race, I would perhaps recommend trying your hand at a local venue and testing it out. But if you are the adventourous kind then I would definitely suggest participating further a field or even abroad! Nothing beats running through the wilderness and tackling obstacles while being blown away by scenery of a foreign land.

My personal insights running the 5km Sprint!

Before Race Day

After booking my slot online, I received my race information including the confirmation of my start time, which was my chosen time of 12:30. I decided not to look at any of the other information as I like to leave it as a surprise for during the race.

The night before the race, I made sure to pack some snacks, drinks, a change of clothes and a small towel. I didn’t really do anything in the form of preparation apart from get a good night’s sleep.

Race Day

I arrived at the race venue roughly 90 minutes before my race start time to ensure I didn’t have to rush to register or store my belongings. The venues can get pretty busy so I would recommend getting there a little earlier, even if its just to enjoy the atmosphere.

I received my timer, wristband and headband from registration and proceeded to warm up while moving around the venue and receiving as many free beverages that I could get my hands on. Energy drinks and protein cups were both great and there were plenty of food options at a cost too.

You can enter the start area 15 minutes before your allocated start time. I jumped in and made my way to the front of the pack to hopefully avoid any queueing at obstacles further down the line.

A presenter type with a microphone explains the ground rules and then counts you down with motivation infusing music blaring in the background.

3, 2, 1, Start!

Upon starting the race, I decided to try and keep ahead of the majority of the pack so I could enjoy running with a full view and hopefully avoid getting stuck in the mob. This particular course started with a downhill stretch and then a ridiculous climb. I was reduced to walking while breathing heavily and placing my hands on my knees for extra support as I pushed forward. in the space of 5 minutes after beginning the race, my energy filled gallop was reduced to the crawling pace of a heavy smoker.

Once I was up and over the epic hill, my heart quickly recovered and I was straight into the first few obstacles, Z climbing wall, the rope climb and the one where you have to pull a super heavy iron plough across the ground. Many of the obstacles required a decent amount of upper body strength and grip strength and considering the price for failure is 30 burpees each time, I thought it was definitely worth investing in these areas.

It helps having some technique for the obstacles if you are wanting to complete the race in as fast a time as possible, however, I felt that more than the obstacles, it was the running (or lack thereof) in between the obstacles that really separated the faster crowd. Building up a decent running base will definitely contribute to a faster finish time. On this particular course, the last 300 metres or so were also uphill, with the fire jump placed just before the finish line as the hill plateaued. Throughout the course, cameramen are taking photos of all the participants which get uploaded for sale after the event.

Victory Loot

After crossing the finish line and congratulating myself on a job well done, I enjoyed a free protein shake. Then, grabbing my finisher medal and t-shirt I started making my way to pick up my belongings. All in all, a great day out and plenty of fun watering the greenery with my sweat and hard work out in the Japanese countryside.

If you found this content interesting and/or enlightening, please check out my personal experiences for the 10km Super Spartan Race here!