Spartan 2023 - Part 1

If you had asked me years ago if I ever had any interest in Spartan obstacle races, I would’ve laughed and never looked back. However, I got my first taste in 2022, and indeed, I haven’t looked back. I’m proudly hooked, and chasing races across the country (maybe even globe!).

Rolling under barbed wire in Hawaii 2022

Last year, in 2022, I had an initial goal to complete my first 5k. Here I am rolling under some barbed wire. In Spartan terms, this is the ‘Sprint’. It’s the easiest race, with only 20 obstacles. However, admittedly, my first race was in Hawaii, so I was somewhat spoiled. However, as soon as the race was over, I was already registering for more. I wanted more - I wanted to keep testing and pushing myself.

I ended up completing a trifecta the first year I heard about it, and that was just the beginning. I completed the Beast (21k, 30 obstacles) in Granbury, TX and my first Super (10k, 25 obstacles) in San Jose, CA.

My first Beast - I was a mess

I told you, I was hooked. Here’s the finish line in San Jose, in October 2022:

A Super in San Jose - such a beautiful race

This year, 2023, I have set a goal of completing at least two trifectas, plus some of the other types of races that Spartan offers - check out their Stadion races, for example. For my trifectas, I’m looking at the upcoming calendar and there are a range of exciting locations that I’d love to go visit. States and parts of the United States I have never visited, but would love the chance to experience this way.

On January 28, 2023, I completed my first of at least six races this year - the Super (10k) at the SoCal 1 event in San Bernardino, CA.

My first Super of 2023

It was a fun race around a beautiful natural park and the obstacles proved challenging as always. Not crazy mud/water features, but it’s Spartan - you never know what tomorrow will bring. I’ll add some more official pictures when they get here, but for now - this journey is underway.

One race down, another one tomorrow (the 5k Sprint).