The elements proved to be the unknown factor in Colorado for the second annual Reebok Spartan Military Sprint this year. With competitors getting sunburned and dehydrated on the first day, to those suffering from hypothermia the following day, it certainly was an event that tested every single competitor to the limit.
The men’s Elites was won by Justin Jindra, followed closely by Isiah Vidal and Nicholas Joseph taking second and third respectively. It was a home-grown 1-2-3 for the ladies as Colorado’s finest filled all three spots on the podium. April Luu successfully defended her title with typical fiery determination, with Tobie Rippy and Ashley Swallow making the home crowd proud with a sweep of the awards. Navy Federal Credit Union again generously donated the prize money to the winners.
The course took no prisoners at all. With even the most innocuous of obstacles such as the moats claiming victims, it was a wake-up call to all that thought this was a run-of-the-mill OCR. Both days had people failing to finish, proving that Spartan Race, even on “short” distances, demands your total attention and will punish those that do not prepare.
The event village saw support from many sponsors and promoters ranging from the Colorado National Air guard, Werner Climbing Equipment and Whole Foods. Of course, many competitors and spectators were thankful to Coors Light for the refreshments they offered. Red Bull gave the racers wings while Snap Infusion gave them the stamina to carry on.
Snap Infusion’s nomination for Supermom, Kati Scheetz, was not just running for herself or for the prize of the finisher’s medal. Her daughter – having been induced at 37 weeks weighing only 4lbs with no heartbeat or breathing – currently suffers from a condition that is baffling doctors. Of the last 6 months, 4 of those have been spent in the hospital trying to treat with the mysterious illness which means she has to be fed 100% of the time via tube. With caring for her daughter now being a full time job and all the stresses that come with it, Kati somehow still manages to train and successfully completed the Military Sprint for her little girl.
And like night follows day, more stories of triumph over adversity and inspiration came bleeding through. Zack Askins, a native of Colorado, decided to wear a full 85lb (when dry) bomb disposal suit throughout the course, with a shrug of polite indifference greeting those who ask him if it was difficult.
Brad Fredricks of New York explained, “I was sitting behind a desk and thinking, ‘life must be more than this’ and I saw one of your videos and I wanted the next challenge. I wanted something that was going to be the next level of my life.” Despite having broken his hip in June of 2012, he now is taking part in every Spartan Race this year.
Then there was Shane Tisdall, who having lost his left hand in a motorbike accident some years earlier and suffering paralysis, was seen cheerfully going through his burpees one-handed after failing to negotiate the monkey bars. When asked about how much of a hindrance it was, he smiled and simply pointed out, “it was the best thing that ever happened to me. At the time I wasn’t living very good”.
James Moody, after being clinically dead due to throat cancer and then underwent extreme and brutal throat surgery, offered the simple suggestion of, “don’t quit. Just stick with it, keep working at it”. Good advice not just for Spartan Race, but for all of life, perhaps.
The highlight of the weekend was that of the marriage on course between Arizonians DiAne and Mike Santos. Beneath the 
romantic monument of the cargo climb that stood before the fire pit, they exchanged vows before witnesses then went on to jump the fire pit together and have the Spartan gladiators form a guard of honor before Mike carried his bride over the finish line. A fitting end to an event that saw many either fall in love, or renew their passion for Spartan Race.
A special mention to go to the medical team that had to step up several gears in order to handle those unfortunates that succumbed to the course, the weather or a combination of both.
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Tags: April Luu, Colorado Military Sprint, Fort Carson, Justin Jindra, Marriage, Reebok Spartan Race, Spartan Elites, Special Forces
Indiana is a venue that is familiar with firsts. This was the first Indiana event and the first Founder’s Race in 2012. It was the first on-demand race we held in that season as well. 2013 brought another first, Todd Sedlak’s turn at the helm of the race course direction. Says Sedlak, “Having completed dozens of Spartan Races myself, I wanted to bring something different to the racers in Indiana. The Indiana Spartan Sprint was designed to truly be an obstacle racer’s course, averaging one obstacle every 300 yards over five miles. Haspin Acres offered some incredibly rugged terrain, allowing for tremendous natural obstacles like chasms, ravines, mud holes, river beds and steep, muddy climbs. The Rolling Mud into Barbed Wire was the muddiest, slipperiest one I have ever seen, and all uphill.”
Take me out to the ball game! Citi Field is officially in the books! With one of the biggest single day events in Spartan history, it was a spectacular weekend at the ballpark! From push-ups in the locker room to scaling a cargo rope in the outfield, the Spartan Stadium races are quickly becoming fan favorites with the unique chance to take on a Spartan Race in beloved ballparks around the country.
The Spartan Kid’s Race was one of the largest to date with the big screen capturing all the action as the junior Spartans ran, jumped, and climbed their way to Spartan glory! We even had a live feed from Kandahar, Afghanistan with Army troops sending off our start waves. Spartan Race teamed up with Pro vs GI Joe, a nonprofit organization connecting our troops in Afghanistan with their families and they set off the racers from the start line. 
The hills were as relentless as the baking Nevada temperature. Who can find hills in the desert? Spartan Race! Add to the mix the single most competitive line-up of Elite Spartan Racers in it’s entire history, sprinkle in some incredible finishes, our walls, ropes, tires, and gladiator pit and it proved to be a mouth-watering recipe. We consider our first visit to the Vegas to be one for the record books!
Away from the elites, more stories of heroism and inspiration spread amongst the racers. Travelling from San Diego, ex-military servicemen Brian Riley and Lionte Stores showed that even losing a limb is, to quote Brian, “is no reason to stop.”
On March 23rd and 24th Reebok Spartan Race headed to North Carolina for a Sprint and it was a chilly weekend with rainy and cold temps Saturday and Sunday but that didn’t keep it from being one of the most competitive men’s event we’ve had in 2013!
Hot, Hot, and more Hot
The Spartan Kid’s Race was adorable, as usual! Spartan Races are for the whole family and the little ones who competed were incredible and the proceeds for those races benefit the 
The 
booths from MBAA, Prankration, Team in Training and Biggest Loser all made new friends on the Spartan Festival grounds. Spartan would also like to thank 
et again, were the 
mpressive was Taylor Jackson of Palm Springs. On December 11th, 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!
on 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!
When we announced early 2012 that we’d be having the world’s first marathon(ish) distance Obstacle Course Race, the response was overwhelming. Application only, thousands of race resumes flooded HQ with runners wanting to be a part of history. When all was said and done, we had a line-up of Spartan Ultra-Beast participants that ranged from National Champion Trail Runners and Olympic athletes to first time marathoners.
I’m not sure but I thought I heard one of Hobie Call’s children at the 
I was looking for a flash of ill-will, a glimpse that this was a grudge match, a smidgen of spite, a nuance of nastiness. Disappointed, all I saw was the top Spartan racers from the Vermont Beast – Cody, Hobie and Brakken Kraker – all Spartan champions, incredible athletes and tough-as-nails competitors, all who had something to prove at the year’s final Beast, chatting like it was a training run amongst mates. But we all knew why we were there: there was the $40,000 elephant in the room as the 2012 Points Series Crown would be decided. In addition, sponsor Navy Federal Credit Union was putting up $1,500 for the day’s elite wave winner. It was a chance at redemption. It was time to win some cash money. It was a time to settle the score. What was that Hobie v Cody score again?
