What is a Spartan Race - The Quick Guide to Everything Spartan Race

Entering the world of Spartan Racing can be difficult enough without having to to try and understand all of the terminology for race names, nicknames, distances and more. To make it easier of every one I’ve put as much of it as I can find here in one location.

So what is a Spartan Race? Spartan Race is a series of races held world wide featuring military style obstacles (rope climbs, heavy carry ect) that can all be completed with out assistance by the elite and age group levels. Spartan Race is not mud runs although (depending on the venue) you will probably be getting muddy.

The Original Spartan Race Series

Sprint

The Spartan Sprint distance is 5k (update for 2020) featuring 20+ obstacles and represented by the color red.

Super

The Spartan Super distance is a 10k (update for 2020) featuring 25+ obstacles and is represented by the color blue.

Beast

The Spartan Race Beast distance is a half marathon (21km, update for 2020) featuring 30 obstacles and represented by the color green.

Spartan Ultra (Beast)

The Spartan Race Beast distance is 50km featuring 60 obstacles and represented by the color purple. Finishers receive a Belt Buckle as a medal and trifecta (more below) piece.

Stadion Series

Spartan Race’s Stadion (stadium) series is 5k (update for 2020) with 20 obstacles, features a unique medal, and represented by the color yellow. These races won’t have mud or water and are highly competitive.

Mountain Series

Typically featuring a Super and/or Beast course, these races take place on some of the bigger mountain races Spartan runs in the United States and features a unique medal. It’s also another of their point series and attracts top level competition.

Update for 2020 from Spartan Race HQ

Kids

1/2 Mile – About 0.5 miles, suggested age: 4-6yrs. Parents are allowed to run with their children

1 Mile – About 1 mile, suggested age: 7-10yrs. Parents are not allowed to run with their children

2+ Mile – Around 2.25 miles, age: 10-13yrs required. Parents are not allowed to run with their children.

Spartan Ultra World Championship

A 24 hour race with laps consisting of around 8 miles and 25 obstacles. Racers must complete 30 miles get a finishers medal/buckle. Typically these are held in remote locations and play a big part in the Spartan Race $$$ payouts so it will feature some of their top athletes.

Spartan Endurance Series

In short, these are not races. These are endurance team building exercises in the form of military drills for extended periods of time. You quite or complete the amount of time.

Hurricane Heat (HH)

3-4 hours, make sure to check the required gear list for the specific event.

Hurricane Heat 12 Hours (HH12)

As the name suggests, HH12 is the 12 hour version of the original Hurricane Heat.

Hurricane Heat 24 Hours (HH24)

As the name suggests, HH24 is the 24 hour version of the original Hurricane Heat.

Spartan Race Agoge

60 Hours, participants will need to have a doctor signed medical waver and make sure to check the required gear list.

Trail Series

New for 2019, the trail series runs both a 10k and 21k race. Most venues feature both but make sure to check before hand.

Spartan Race Medals

Every Spartan Race finisher will receive both a finishers medal and trifecta piece (1/3 of a medal piece). When a racer completes a certain 3 races types these 1/3 pieces will fit together and form a trifecta medal. There are two types of Spartan Race trifecta, the traditional Trifecta and the Endurance Trifecta.

Spartan Race Trifecta

Finish any Spartan Sprint or Stadion, Super, and Beast or Ultra Beast.

Spartan Race Endurance Trifecta

Three ways to complete:

Traditional – Hurricane Heat, Hurricane Heat 12 hour, and Ultra Beast.

The Storm – Hurricane Heat, Hurricane Heat 12 hour, and Heat 24 hour.

The Journey – Hurricane Heat, Hurricane Heat 12 hour, and AGOGE.

Multiple Trifectas

Participants can also earn multiple Trifectas resulting in increasing larger medals. No joke, they become the size of pizza treys !

Spartan Race Wave Times / Group Levels

Spartan Race breaks down it’s runners into three groups/levels with the highest levels wave times starting first. The three levels are Elite, Age Group, and Open. Elite and Age Group have the opportunity to place or podiums in their respective groups earning an extra medal, points in the series, and potentially money.

There is no qualification necessary and anyone can sing up for any wave while it it available. And while fairly self explanatory I’ll do a quick overview of each of the groups below.

Open

These waves run all day and are perfect for the general public, groups, firs-timers, and non competitive racers.

Age Group

Looking to step up your game? Age group is no joke with the two most difficult divisions typically being 30-34 and 35-39. These are your above average runners and a few guys that should be running elite.