by Steffan “Cookie” Cook

Reebok SoCal Super Spartan Champion
Hobie Call

The first Reebok Spartan Race of 2013 is in the books!  The Reebok SoCal Super Spartan at Vail Creek Resort in Temecula, CA was a bit shorter than last year, but the roughly 8.5 mile course was considered even more difficult. The addition of a water obstacle and the punishing hills at Temecula made the event an awesome test of wills.

Rain was an unexpected obstacle on both Saturday and Sunday, making the treacherous terrain and obstacles like the monkey bars even more difficult to navigate. It also marked the first ever collaboration with Life as Rx for WODStock! More to come on that event in a later post, but it was quite a hit!

It was an exciting elite heat, with top male competitors Hobie and Cody battling it out for the top two spots. But Hunter McIntyre was hot on their heels, finishing less than a minute behind Moat. He’s emerging as a man to beat!

Men:

1. Hobie Call 1:13:20
2. Cody Moat 1:17:01
3. Hunter McIntyre 1:17:33

On the ladies’ elite side, the top three were all over the age of 30! Familiar face and last year’s female point’s leader Jenny Tobin placed second with TyAnn Clark edging her out for first. Local Fayre Morgan nabbed third.

Women:

1. TyAnn Clark 1:47:25
2. Jenny Tobin 1:50:55
3. Fayre Morgan 1:58:52

For full results, click HERE.

The biggest team, yet again, were the Weeple Army, boasting team numbers well into triple digits.  They were our 2012 biggest team, and they are gearing up for the same honors in 2013.

Some great moments unfolded at the Super Spartan.

There was a proposal at the finish line (she said yes!) and Spider Man 3 actor Tony Besson, who first took on the hills of Malibu, returned for the punishing hills of Temecula.

There was a great story behind the appearance of Midwest Super Sunday open winner and Montana native Greg Stewart. His car died in Salt Lake City around 3 AM but he still managed to get to the race start line by renting a car at the last minute!

Perhaps most impressive was Taylor Jackson of Palm Springs. On December 11^th, 2011 he was involved in a serious car collision and as a result, had to be treated for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and left-side neglect. He was had broken ribs, fractured C1, C2, C3 vertebrae, collapsed lungs, and a host of other injuries. Together with his father Brian, he got physically fit again and often practiced running up to six miles to prepare and he crossed the finish line on Sunday!

We’d like to recognize our friends at Livestrong who took on the course, the crew from Biggest Loser, and Project Hope Alliance who brought 30 homeless children to take on the Kid’s Race.  With a medal, shirt, and lunch and transportation, we’re told they had a great day at the races!  Thank you to our volunteers for helping us make it a great weekend!

Our West Coast invasion will continue in 2014 with the inclusion of a Sprint AND a Beast for the first time in Spartan history!  More to come on our West Coast take-over, but take advantage of the recently added races and sign up today!

The next Reebok SoCal Sprint will be on January 25, 2014.  Sign up HERE.  The Reebok SoCal Beast, is scheduled for September 13, 2014.  A link for registration can be found HERE.

Need your fix sooner?  Next up, Spartan rolls into Arizona in just two weeks!  See you on the course!

For a peek at some photos, check out our online album!

We’re on Twitter too!  See what’s happening in our community, and follow us today!

Tags: Cody Moat, hobie call, Jenny Tobin, Reebok, Reebok SoCal Beast 2014, Reebok SoCal Sprint 2014, Reebok Spartan Race, spartan race, Tony Besson, Vail Lake Resort

by Sean Nelson, guest blogger

[Editor's Note: Name: Sean Nelson is 46 and his 2012 points were 11,844 (359th overall, 17th - male age 45-49).  He is a Human Resource Executive and single dad to two teenagers.]

It was November of 2011 and I came across a Spartan Race advertisement on the Web. The last Sprint of the year would be held that weekend in Versailles, IL. It was Thursday and I didn’t have my kids that weekend, so I decided (totally out of character) to fly out to Chicago and make the trek out to Cliff’s Insane Terrain Park and just do this thing! I wasn’t registered for the race, but luck would have it I was staying at the same hotel as the Spartan leadership and crew. I got up early on Saturday and ran into Jaloyn Fockler who introduced me to Joe Desena and Andy Weinberg. Instantly, we connected, they helped me get hooked-up for my inaugural Spartan Race that morning so I could make my plane back out that night, and it was amazing! My successful first experience with Spartan racing exemplifies why they are so successful and why they will dominate the Obstacle racing world in the years to come. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but decided the answer to “how” was simply “yes”, translated to mean you don’t need all the answers before you can accomplish new and exciting things in your life. If you don’t like where you are or what your life has become, change it, just say “yes” to something new and jump in. This is how Joe D. runs the company, saying “yes” and doing new and cool things along the way. I am sure this drives people a little crazy, but it has been a recipe for success and will be the difference between Spartan and the others!

Since my first race, I have been a Spartan faithful, running numerous races (one with my teenage son) and completing the Trifecta in 2012 (see my cool new – and first ever- tattoo celebrating that accomplishment!) It was more than the accomplishment itself that enabled me to permanently ink my body with a Spartan…it’s also the Spartan Code! 

Spartan Racing serves as a catalyst and constant motivator for me to maintain a high-level of fitness as well as encourage others to get off their asses and do something they never imagined…it reminds me of the famous Man in the Arena quote (see below).

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

– Teddy Roosevelt

The 3 Pillars of Spartan Dominance

Besides running the organization on a simple vision and focusing on the race and not their egos, the Spartan race will dominate this industry because of these three keys:

(1) The Challenge – For anyone who has done a Spartan Race, there really is no explanation needed here. But for the sake of anyone who hasn’t, the Spartan Race becomes the most difficult physical challenge in most people’s lifetime. For me, the NJ Super at Mountain Creek was absolutely grueling and the hardest physical activity I have ever undertaken. And it should be noted, there are many Spartan races (Ultra Beast, Death Race) that I have not done! The combination of running, strength, elements and terrain make for a functional fitness test that cannot be duplicated even in the hardest Crossfit gym! What makes the Spartan Races unique is the different distances and varied locations opening up this challenge for many more people at different levels of ability and fitness. In addition, it’s the new unique races in major league stadiums and a willingness to try anything to see if it works, the answer to how is yes. My hope is that we’ll expand and someday do Spartan Triathlons at the different distances!

(2) The Community – The Spartan Community is growing all the time, when you meet someone who has completed a race, you have an instant connection, you know there’s something special about that person, a shared experience, a comrade. During the races, no one leaves a Spartan, we assist, we cheer, we stop so that our new friend can continue to best the challenge in front of them. This is a community of people who know challenge, show up and take it on, and celebrate when they get done. The tag line is – ”You’ll know at the finish line”. What you know is that you have risen to the challenge, competed against yourself and have become a greater being than you had been before you began.

(3) The Code – Ultimately, the Spartan Code represents a set of tenets that I can buy into and to live for, a convention that will make me a whole person, a better person, the type of person we need more of in our world – those who live life to the fullest. The code addresses physical and mental fitness, leadership, charity, integrity, learning and full living. It distinguishes the Spartan from the Warriors, Mudders and Dashers in that it comes with a higher calling, being more about the community and about being better than you might naturally!

Keep pushing, keep growing, keep racing…Aroo, Aroo, Aroo!  It’s your turn, get signed up today!  For a list of events, click HERE.  

Tags: spartan race, trifecta

Following closely on the heels of the announcement of a new, multi-year partnership between Spartan Race and Reebok, Reebok Spartan Race today unveiled extensive revisions to its 2013 points system. According to Spartan Race Founder Joe De Sena, the move is in keeping with the organization’s goal to make Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) an internationally sanctioned sport.

“Sporting events have clear rules that are easy to execute event to event,” De Sena commented. “So we’re updating and streamlining the Spartan Race points system to ensure that our dynamic sport has the right foundation to keep our athletes at the highest level of competition as well as offer something fun for our spectators and fans to track.”

The new 2013 Spartan300 Points Plan, which went into effect following the Spartan Championship last Sept., encompasses the Carolinas Spartan Beast Race held Oct. 13, 2012 through the 2013 World Championship Spartan Beast, Sept. 21-22, 2013, in Killington, Vt.

There are two points races, one for the open waves and one for the elite waves. Heres how it works:

Open Points Race:

300 Points are possible for the winner of this division. 95 points for winning gender, 195 points for winning age group, and 10 in participation points. The gender points and age group points are calculated by a comparison to the fastest time of that category in the open heats. So if a male competitor takes twice as long as the fastest male, then they will get half the 95 points. If that same competitor is the fastest in his age group he will get 195 points. participation points will be 10. So his total points will be the sum of the three.

Points attributed to each respective race performance then are weighted according to the Spartan Race hierarchy: Beast – 100 percent; Super – 98 percent; and Sprint – 96 percent.  In addition, bonus points will be awarded for podium placement in Championship Races.

Elites Point Race:

300 Points are possible for the winner of this division. Elite Points are comprised solely of Overall Gender Placement, calculated by a compaison to the fastest time in gender in the elite wave.
Points attributed to each respective race performance then are weighted according to the Spartan Race hierarchy: Beast – 100 percent; Super – 98 percent; and Sprint – 96 percent.  In addition, bonus points will be awarded for podium placement in Championship Races.

“300 points makes each race loss or win critically important,” De Sena asserted.  “Further, by standardizing a metric of 300 across Elite and Open fields, we can now attribute lifetime performance values and comparable grading.  We can also promote multiple associations and reporting simultaneously.  For example, you may compete for Team XYZ and compete in the Elite heat for points.”

To qualify for SR300, competitors must race in designated Elite heats. Elite racers’ five best scoring races (within the elite heats) will determine their total ranking scores. Open racers’ points will be aggregate for the season, and they are not eligible for series prizes or awards. Moreover, relays are exempt from points.

SR300 Elite represents the top 300 male and female competitors determined by points ranking leading into the completion year.  The top 150 men and 150 women will receive additional perks like:

- Wholesale pricing on Spartan fuel

- Priority for Saturday Wave 1 and 2 Elite Heats

- Ability to apply for SR300 invitation-only events

- SR300/Spartan profile pages vanity URLS

- Incentives programs for stewardship

- Discounts on sponsor merchandise

De Sena explained that the new 300 Points Plan will encourage the masses to participate in more races because everyone is ranked. It also is expected to encourage distance and performance “graduation” and “Spartan Race Bucket list” goals while promoting the Spartan lifestyle. The system further serves as a viable measure of performance that takes the audience into consideration (Open = age group; Elites = overall competition). “Last but not least,” De Sena added, “it will create more ‘winners’.”

“The one who wins the most races at varying distances should be series winners,” he continued. “This is a different measure than head-to-head competition.”

With international competition, each country will have a leader board and points-based champion.  We’ll also maintain a leader board for International Points Champions.  But we’ll determine the “World Champion” at the World Championship in Vermont next Sept.

The U.S. will have a 2013 Elite winner for each distance. Similar to the World Championship, the Sprint, Super and Beast champion will be determined at a championship race for each of the three categories later this year.

“The new points plan is designed to intensify competition and generate increased excitement as the season progresses,” De Sena said.  “We’ll be updating points after each event making it easy for athletes and fans to keep tabs on their favorites.

“We’re also kicking up the rewards a notch,” he added.  “The Points Series competition purse has grown to $40,000 – above and beyond the $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in prizes given away at our 2012 Championship.  De Sena explained that 20 cash prizes ranging from $100 to $4,250 will be awarded to the Top 20 men and Top 20 women in the 2013 final Points Series rankings.  In addition, the top 20 men and women, as well all Points finishers ranked 21-50, will earn exclusive Spartan300 sweatshirts, T-shirts and 2013 Season Passes ($400 value).  Male and female Points finishers ranked 51-150 each will get a Spartan300 T-shirt and a free race entry for 2013.   Age group winners will receive a trophy.

“2013 is shaping up to be one heck of a year for Reebok Spartan Race and obstacle course racing as a whole.” De Sena concluded. “There’s no better time than now to get up off the couch and become part of the Spartan movement that is spreading like wildfire around the world.”

by Chris Rutz, Elite Spartan Racer

This weekend, Reebok Spartan Race kicks off the 2013 calendar year with the Super Spartan SoCal in Temecula.

This is the first race since the Reebok/Spartan Race partnership was announced last week in New York City.

Many of the top athletes from the 2012 Season will be racing in Temecula this weekend for their share of the $7,500 cash purse generously provided by our partners at Navy Federal Credit Union for the Saturday Elite wave. 

Cody Moat, 2012 Men’s Points Champion

These Top 10 Athletes from the 2012 Season are scheduled to appear
this weekend:

Men:                                      Women:

Cody Moat                                Jenny Tobin

Hobie Call                                 Leslie St Louis

Christopher Rutz                       Margaret Schlachter

Elliott Megquier                         Corinne Kohlen

Shawn Feiock                           Juliana Sproles

Dallas Bassette                         Leyla Ester Di Cori

In addition to these top performers from 2012, watch out for Hunter McIntyre, who has already made a name for himself at the NorCal Beast and the Malibu Sprint, with podium finishes at each.

On the women’s side, Midwest Super champion and Ultra Beast and Beast second place finisher Amelia Boone may also make an appearance. With prize money, Reebok, and the great group of top racers, it is shaping up to be an exciting weekend of obstacle course racing. 

Many of the top athletes are excited about the agreement between Reebok and Spartan Race. We asked a few of them what they think it means for the future of the sport of Obstacle Racing.

Some quotes on their initial reactions to the news: 

Spartan emerging elite male Hunter McIntyre noted, “It will bring greater attention to the sport, coupled with stronger competition.”

On the Spartan female side top, ten athlete Leyla Di Cori remarked, “I think this is a great opportunity to give more credibility to obstacle racing as a sport.” 

Jenny Tobin, 2012 Female Points Champion

Spartan champion Hobie Call, who was onsite in New York City last week for the ground-breaking announcement, was quoted as saying, “It will be nice to have a large company come out with some obstacle racing specific clothing/shoes, and help sponsor athletes, which will help get serious athletes to more races.”

Leslie St. Louis, Spartan female elite athlete commented, “…maybe I am not thinking big enough yet, but as far as Spartan specifically, I foresee more momentum for CrossFit inspired events and obstacles, such as the WODstock event in Temecula and the obstacles at Citi Field.”

To find out more about what these and other athletes are thinking, get out to the SoCal Spartan this weekend and ask them. They would welcome the opportunity to share their passion for obstacle course racing with you.

See you at the races!  

Not registered yet?  What are you waiting for?  Join the expected 500,000 Spartans that will cross one of our finish lines this year.  

Click HERE to find an event near you. 

Tags: Citi Field, Cody Moat, crossfit, hobie call, Jenny Tobin, Joe De Sena, Navy Federal Credit Union, Reebok, Reebok Spartan Race, Reebok Spartan Race Times Square Challenge, spartan race, WODstock

Flexibility:  A Core Fitness Component in Obstacle Racing

by Jason Jaksetic

The bamboo which bends in stronger than the oak which resists.

—Japanese Proverb

The 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and their flexibility may be the reason why.

Athletes at Spartan HQ weren’t surprised by the revelations found in a recent Wall Street Journal article (this one), that tells of the off-the-radar stretching program of the San Francisco 49ers, a regiment that possibly has enabled their two year charge into NFL dominance.

The piece joked about 300 lbs linemen being more mum about their stretching routines than their squat and bench press records out of machismo.   But the author also hinted that the truth for this reticence might have to do with keeping a competitive advantage.

It seems the flexible, the limber, and the loose have a competitive advantage in football.

I’m not an expert of football, but I know this makes sense from the obstacle racing perspective.  And it also holds true for other endurance sports like running and cycling as well.

Obstacle Racing is not a linear sport, and in this aspect, it has much in common with football.  There are complex movements happening when you scale an 8-foot wall or navigate an endless uphill barbed wire crawl.

Did you see Tiki Barber, former New York Giant great at our NY Times Square event?

Obstacle racing is a sport engineered for those who can get from point A to point B fast.  There is irregular terrain, walls, mud pits, agility obstacles, and myriad other ways to send your body flying in every possible direction.  This is not road running or cycling where efficiency dictates one (or a few) optimal motions repeated over and over.  In obstacle racing you are racing on some of the most gnarly trails going – often something that just has the semblance of a trail.

To be successful in obstacle racing you want to have a good range of motion for agility.  You also want to avoid injury.  Both agility gains and injury reductions are related to flexibility, and flexibility is related to stretching.

Why You Must Stretch

At Spartan HQ, daily training might incorporate Bikram Yoga at Bikram Yoga Pittsfield.  Liz Cotter, head Bikram Yogi there, recounts how she used to train many of the 49ers when she lived in San Francisco.

“They were just so huge.  Extremely muscular. And this was a problem.”  she said, “Range of motion was an obstacle for them.”

Stretching before a workout is more controversial then stretching after. Many studies (here is one, and another) caution about decreased performance.

An ideal warm-up would include some dynamic stretching first to warm the body up, says Dr. Jeff Godin of Spartan Coaching.

“The majority of stretching should be done after exercise, when the muscles are warm and limber.”  Dr Godin say, “That is when people will see the most improvement. Or to conduct stretching entirely separate from other exercise like in a yoga class.”

Warming up – Pre Workout Stretching Routine

Cooling Down – Post Workout Stretching Routine

Tags: flexibility, spartan coaching, spartan training

By Carrie Adams

Even before the sun began to rise over 42^nd and Broadway, the short course of the Reebok Spartan Race Times Square Challenge was fully illuminated and the grounds were buzzing with activity.  Encased beneath a clear plastic tent were a dozen obstacles, signatures of the normally much longer course.

“It’s an urban experience!” exclaimed Joe De Sena, one of the Spartan Race founders and CEO.  “Let’s see how fast our Spartans can move today!” 

Before the event officially began at 11AM, various media outlets, Spartan staff, and some new faces settled into Heartland Brewery just around the corner from the downtown demonstration.  The new faces belonged to Reebok staffers.  Before long, Joe Desena addressed the crowd, joined by Yan Martin, Head of Global Brand Marketing from Reebok.  Over the course of fifteen minutes, De Sena and Yan outlined the ground-breaking multi-year partnership of the company that first pioneered the sport of Obstacle Course Racing and the global fitness brand company that would help bring it the masses, both in the United States and Internationally.   In addition to the global partnership, Spartan unveiled plans for an upcoming Spartan Sprint at Citi Field April 13^, 2013.  The event, previously released to a small internal Spartan community already boasts nearly 1,000 registrants already.

Brooklyn Decker and Tiki Barber

The agreement would bring with it apparel, footwear and accessories and the Reebok Spartan Race will be featured in the brand’s upcoming global marketing campaign – the first time obstacle racing has been featured in a major campaign. Reebok also plans to develop a range of products specifically created for the demands of Reebok Spartan Race athletes, which will be available in fall 2013.

By 11AM the course itself was in full swing.  Spectators stopped and watched as Spartans of all ages navigated the short course in the early afternoon hours.  Joined by familiar faces from Team X-T.R.E.M.E. the onlookers were treated to an inspirational sight of the team taking on the course together.  Later, former professional football player Tiki Barber and actress Brooklyn Decker would take on the course.  Barber, a ten-year veteran of the New York Giants loved his experience on the course telling ESPN, “I might start training for the real one to see if I can do it. This might be something I’ll gravitate toward.”

Resident Spartan champion Hobie Call, who was also announced as a new Reebok athlete went head-to-head with CrossFit Games athlete, Spencer Hendel with Hendel besting Call by a mere 11 seconds in the tight race.   He looks forward to the upcoming Citi Field Sprint.  As the day wound down and the last of the Spartan crossed the finish line, it was one of the most exciting day in Spartan’s history.  With a new partner and the first race

Hobie Call and Spencer Hendel

of 2013 set to kick off January 26^th and 27^th in Temecula, it looks like the sport of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) is on the rise.  Lace up those Reebok kicks… it’s going to be an epic year of racing!

For more on our Reebok Spartan Race Times Square Challenge, you can visit our FB page.  For additional photos taken on the day of the Challenge, click HERE.  Our season kicks off this weekend in SoCal, stay tuned for all the exciting news coming out of HQ!

Tags: Adventure Races, Brooklyn Decker, hobie call, Joe De Sena, Reebok, Reebok Spartan Race, SoCal Super, spartan race, Spencer Hendel, Tiki Barber, Vail Lake, Yan Martin

by Tom McCormack

In 2012, we issued a challenge to the Spartan Community.  We asked for teams to come out, in force, and that the biggest team of the year would be handsomely rewarded.  We had quite a showing, but none more so than a team from the West Coast, going by the team name, “Weeple Army.”   The Weeples were not just the biggest team on the year, they were the biggest team at THREE events in 2012.  They were the biggest team at the SoCal Super, the Sacramento Beast, and the Malibu Sprint earning a Biggest Team Tri-Fecta in CA!

Captain:  Dave Huckle

Final 2012 Biggest Team Results

Top 5 teams for 2012 based on the amount of finishers at every event.

Malibu 2011 was the first of the three Weeple Army appearances.   They arrived with 20 team members and participated in the Hurricane Heat.  Just 60 days later, they arrived at the 2012 SoCal Spartan with 73 members, many of them again participating in the Hurricane Heat at 6am.  They were hooked!

The Weeples are focused primarily on mud and obstacle races, 5ks, marathons, but while having fun and enjoying the event, regardless of their finish times.

David Huckle, Weeple Army team captain did 39 events throughout the course of the year finishing all types of throughout the year and in some cases two events per weekend.  The Weeple Army Running Group now almost 800 members.  From racers that are running their first 5k mud run, all the way up to the Ultra Beast and Death Racers.  They are a varied and dedicated crew.  In fact, two of the Weeple faithful are now Spartan Race employees!  Matt Trinca and Steffen “Cookie” Cook.

Ricky Ignacio, another Weeple,  started his journey with the Malibu Hurricane Heat by showing up late and taking a beating from Joe D. and the Spartan staffers but he finished Ultra Beast less than a year later.  Spartan elite racer Ang Reynolds is also a proud Weeple. We featured one of her blogs recently for Spartan Chicked Tuesday.

Six Weeples arrived at the Spartan Death Race, and four of them finished!  Not too shabby! Congratulations Weeple Army, and keep a lookout for team captain Dave, who will be traveling to a number of 2013 events around the world, paid for by Spartan Race.

Think you’re ready to put a team together?  Get signed up today.

Tags: Biggest Team 2012, Dave Huckle, Malibu Spartan Sprint, Sacramento Beast, SoCal Super Spartan, spartan beast, trifecta, Weeple Army

Joe De Sena

Dear Spartan Community, 

When I started Spartan Race along with six other extreme athletes, we had a simple goal: rip people off their couches to do what humans were made to do; run, jump, climb and sweat.  We knew how outdoor sports and adventure changed our lives so, based on the discipline and strength of the ancient Spartans, we set out to create a challenge and inspire performance. Above all, we knew we could take what we learned and change other people’s lives for the better. 

We’ve had quite a journey since those early days. And now we’re stepping it up in a big way as we embark on an incredible new partnership. Reebok is now the title sponsor for Spartan Race, which kicked off today at The Reebok Spartan Race Times Square Challenge.  

Why Reebok?  We both share the same ideals about the future of fitness and how it can transform people and communities forever. Back in 2010, we started with a small race of a few thousand people in Vermont. Even then we aimed to create a sport. In 2013, we’ll see half a million Spartans cross our finish line.  We are the leader in obstacle course racing with timing standards, global rankings, escalating distances, and cash purses. This is a sport for everyone, for all levels and all ages, from the elite athlete, to the first time participant.

Reebok shares our vision; they recognize that Spartan Race is more than just a race, it’s a lifestyle.  We both believe that through fitness, ordinary people can realize their full potential and reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

We now have the platform we have been looking for. The DNA of Spartan Race won’t change. We’ve just found a partner to help us continue the journey we started at that very first race in 2010.  

Thanks to everyone at Spartan Race and Reebok. It’s time to take this to the next level… together.  

Sincerely,

Joe De Sena 

Spartan Race Founder and CEO

Tags: Adventure Races, Joe De Sena, Reebok, Reebok Spartan Race, spartan race, Vail Lake

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2013 

World’s Leading Obstacle Racing Series Holds One-Day-Only Sprint 

At Home of the New York Mets 

            FLUSHING, N.Y. (January 17, 2013) – Spartan Race, the world’s leading obstacle racing series and Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012, is bringing the Reebok Spartan Race Sprint to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, in Flushing on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 8 a.m. The three-mile race in the stands, on the concourses, and on the warning track at one of America’s newest ballparks, and the home of the Major League Baseball 2013 All-Star Game, is the second stop in a series of stadia events planned for the popular obstacle race series that will attract 500,000 racers to 60 events worldwide in 2013.

A Spartan Race in historic Fenway Park in Boston last fall hosted an estimated 10,000 racers and spectators.

            “Spartan Race was founded to rip people off their couches and do what we as human beings were made to do: run, jump, sweat and climb,” said Spartan Race founder Joe De Sena. “Now with a race just a No. 7 subway ride away, there’s no excuse but to join obstacle racers that range from the most elite athletes on the planet to weekend warriors toeing their first starting line.”

Adult heats will start at 8 a.m. and continue in roughly five-minute, 200-person waves, with individual start times assigned at the event. As with all Spartan events, points will be awarded, and elite performers can win entry to a larger, even tougher Super Spartan event. The three-mile course is a head-to-head, time trial, speed-style event, with the unique twist of incorporating numerous, challenging obstacles for which Spartan Race is famous.

Each racer will receive a commemorative medal, commemorative t-shirt, photographs, scrapes, bruises, and access to Citi Field, as well as instant fame on the ballpark’s 51-foot by 70-foot high definition scoreboard. Spectator access to this event will be free, and a limited number of luxury viewing suites will be available.

Children also can join in the challenge with the Jr. Spartan Adventure Race held at noon. The Junior Spartan course will be approximately one-half mile for children ages 4 to 9; a one-mile Varsity Spartan will be held for ages 10 to 13. The children’s event will feature a variety of scaled-down obstacles and their own mini-festival area filled with games and children’s challenges.  Each child will receive a t-shirt and finisher’s medal.

All Jr. Spartan Adventure Race proceeds will benefit the Kids Fit Foundation (kidsfitfoundation.org). As a leader in the movement to help children learn life-long health and fitness habits, the Kids Fit Foundation strives to raise awareness and develop programs that educate, empower and inspire kids to become and stay fit.

For more information about the Spartan Sprint at Citi Field, including entry fees and deadlines, spectator tickets, parking and children’s activities visit spartanrace.com.

Ready to race in Citi Field?  Get Registered today!

About Reebok

Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Canton, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied heritage in running, training and fitness. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, Reebok operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division.  Reebok is the exclusive outfitter of CrossFit and the Reebok CrossFit Games and main event partner and official apparel and footwear supplier for the 2013 Red Bull X-Alps. For more information, visit Reebok at www.reebok.com. Or, discover Reebok at the following locations: http://reesha.re/plus; http://facebook.com/reebok; http://twitter.com/reebok; and http://youtube.com/reebok

About Reebok Spartan Race

Reebok Spartan Race, voted Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012, is the world’s leading obstacle racing series and the first of its kind to have global rankings. With 350,000 participants in 2012 and 60 events planned for 2013, Reebok Spartan Race is making this one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Reebok Spartan Race is a timed event series featuring races at four escalating distances in locations worldwide that culminate in a World Championship Finale with cash and prizes for the champions – with a half-million dollars in cash and prizes awarded in 2012 alone. While featuring competitive elite heats, Reebok Spartan Races are for athletes of all levels and abilities and are geared toward ripping people off their couches and into the outdoors.

You’ll Know at the Finish Line – A Spartan Guide to the Sport of Obstacle Racing, a new e-book from Spartan Race co-founders Joe De Sena and Andy Weinberg that inspires readers to find and unleash their inner warrior, is available for free on the company’s website.

Go to http://www.spartanrace.com/ for more information, a schedule of events or to register for a Reebok Spartan Race. For videos, please visit www.spartanrace.tv.

Media Contact:

Jeff Blumenfeld

203 655 1600, c 203 326 1200

jeff@blumenfeldpr.com

Al Schreiber

alfredschreiber@gmail.com

646 320 5142

Tags: Fenway Park, kids fit foundation, New York Mets, Reebok Spartan Race, Spartan Stadia Series

Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Canton, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied heritage in running, training and fitness. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, Reebok operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division.  Reebok is the exclusive outfitter of CrossFit and the Reebok CrossFit Games and main event partner and official apparel and footwear supplier for the 2013 Red Bull X-Alps. For more information, visit Reebok at www.reebok.com. Or, discover Reebok at the following locations: http://reesha.re/plus; http://facebook.com/reebok; http://twitter.com/reebok; and http://youtube.com/reebok

About Reebok Spartan Race

Reebok Spartan Race, voted Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012, is the world’s leading obstacle racing series and the first of its kind to have global rankings. With 350,000 participants in 2012 and 60 events planned for 2013, Reebok Spartan Race is making this one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Reebok Spartan Race is a timed event series featuring races at four escalating distances in locations worldwide that culminate in a World Championship Finale with cash and prizes for the champions – with a half-million dollars in cash and prizes awarded in 2012 alone. While featuring competitive elite heats, Reebok Spartan Races are for athletes of all levels and abilities and are geared toward ripping people off their couches and into the outdoors.

You’ll Know at the Finish Line – A Spartan Guide to the Sport of Obstacle Racing, a new e-book from Spartan Race co-founders Joe De Sena and Andy Weinberg that inspires readers to find and unleash their inner warrior, is available for free on the company’s website.

Go to http://www.spartanrace.com/ for more information, a schedule of events or to register for a Reebok Spartan Race. For videos, please visit www.spartanrace.tv.

Spartan Race

Alfred Schreiber

Mobile: (646) 320 -5142

Jeff Blumenfeld

Direct: (203) 655-1600

Mobile: (203) 326-1200

jeff@blumenfeldpr.com

Reebok

Dan Sarro

Direct: (781) 401-4443

Daniel.sarro@reebok.com

Richard Barker

Direct: +1.646.619.2805

Mobile: +1.917.287.9992

Richard.barker@mcsaatchi.com

Tags: Brooklyn Decker, hobie call, Joe De Sena, Matt O'Toole, Reebok, Reebok CrossFit Games, Reebok Spartan Race, Reebok Times Square Challenge, SoCal Super Spartan, Spencer Hendel, Tiki Barber