Series guide
Spartan
Obstacle course racing over trail and mountain terrain, from 5K to 50K.
Outdoor Trail Timed 110 events in the catalogue
Overview
What it is
Spartan is the global benchmark obstacle course race: trail running broken up by walls, carries, rigs and crawls, with distances from a 5K Sprint to a 50K Ultra.
Marketed distances are nominal — Spartan’s own FAQ gives Sprint "3–5 miles" and Beast "12–14 miles", so expect the day to run long.
Format
How the race works
- Sprint: 5K nominal, 20 obstacles
- Super: 10K nominal, 25 obstacles
- Beast: 21K nominal, 30 obstacles
- Ultra: 50K nominal, 60 obstacles
- Stadion: 5K around a stadium, 20 obstacles, pavement not mud
- Trifecta: complete a Sprint, Super and Beast in one calendar year
Rules
Rules worth knowing
- Failed obstacle in Open heats: 30 burpees, athlete-counted (Stadion: 15 for everyone)
- Elite and Age Group at non-stadium events run a penalty loop instead (200 m standard)
- Penalty loop carry: men 60 lb / women 40 lb (Open heats: burpees, no carry)
- Aid stations are sparse — a Sprint may have a single water point, and no food or gels are provided on any course; carry your own fuel
- Ultra mandatory gear includes a pack, ≥1 L hydration, survival blanket, whistle and headlamp
- Spartan Doubles (2026): Open only — partners start and finish within 4 s; both must complete Spear Throw and Fire Jump
- Prohibited: glass containers, any weapon, dogs on course
Timings
Times and start waves
- Typical times: Sprint ~1–2 h · Super ~1:30–2:45 (beginners 3–4 h) · Beast 4–6+ h · Ultra can exceed 8–12 h
- You choose an hour start block at registration; waves release in 15-minute intervals — Elites first
- Most races have no overall time limit; longer courses may publish safety cutoffs the week before
Divisions
Weights and standards by division
Sprint
- 5K nominal (Spartan says 3–5 miles) · 20 obstacles · typically 1–2 h
Super
- 10K nominal (8–10 miles) · 25 obstacles · typically 1:30–2:45
Beast
- 21K nominal (12–14 miles) · 30 obstacles · plan for 4–6+ hours
Ultra
- 50K · 60 obstacles · mandatory gear list applies · many hours out
Stadion
- 5K stadium course · 20 obstacles · 15-burpee penalties · no mud
On the day
Logistics at the venue
- Arrive about 75 minutes before your start
- Aid stations are sparse — carry what you need
- Carry your own fuel — no gels or food are provided on course
- Bring: Photo ID · Registration/ticket
- Worth packing: Tested trail shoes · Mud/wet bag · Full dry change of clothes + dry shoes · Secure on-body nutrition (no gels provided on course)
- Failed obstacle = 30 burpees in Open heats
- A Sprint may have only one aid station — carry what you need
- Choose an hour start block; waves release in 15-minute intervals
Preparation
How CompeteCue helps
- A timed countdown plan — eat, pack, buy, train, rest, travel — built around your event date and the forecast.
- Fuelling routed by your predicted finish time, never by the event brand, with safety gates for declared medical conditions.
- Packing lists that name your own kit and respect the rules above.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Facts verified 2026-07-27 from the organiser's published rulebooks and FAQs:
Spartan is a trade mark of its owner. CompeteCue is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the event organiser.