{"id":55975,"date":"2017-02-08T07:15:37","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T12:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=55975"},"modified":"2021-11-01T16:20:26","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T20:20:26","slug":"best-spartan-races-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/db\/best-spartan-races-country\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Iconic U.S. Spartan Races"},"content":{"rendered":"

Running in itself can be tough. Then add mud, rope swings, trekking uphill with crates of rocks and jumping through heaps of fire and your average outing reaches Spartan Race<\/a> status. At these epic obstacle runs, you\u2019ll likely climb mountains, jog through woods and maybe even swim around a lake \u2014 all for the sake of a hard-earned medal.<\/p>\n

You can choose among four Spartan Race distances: Sprint (three to five miles and 20 obstacles), Super (eight to 10 miles and 25 obstacles), Beast (12 to 14 miles and 30 to 35 obstacles). And for the truly gritty competitors, you\u2019ve got the Ultra Beast (26-plus miles and 50 obstacles). If you\u2019re feeling good after that first race, you can also try for a Trifecta, which includes finishing a Sprint, Super and Beast in the same year \u2014 with a pretty cool medal to show for it (and all the bragging rights, of course).<\/p>\n

START TRAINING: <\/strong>Sign Up for Daily Burn Spartan!<\/a><\/p>\n

No matter what distance you choose, there\u2019s a Spartan Race waiting for you. From the majestic mountain views of Killington, Vermont to the steep inclines and declines of Lake Tahoe, California, there\u2019s no better time to conquer new terrain. So what are you waiting for? Train like an elite Spartan athlete<\/a> today, then get ready to shout \u201caroo!\u201d from the mountaintops! (Races below are\u00a0listed by date.)<\/p>\n

10 Incredible Spartan Races Across the Country<\/h3>\n
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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0Citi Field, New York<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>May 13, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Sprint
\nOK so an urban jungle may not seem<\/em> as challenging as mountainous terrain, but that doesn\u2019t mean this race skimps on the tough stuff. The New York Mets stadium transforms into a Spartan playground, as you run up and down the bleachers, bear-crawl<\/a> your way around steps, climb wooden walls, jump rope<\/a> and carry heavy jugs of water. If you\u2019re a Spartan newbie, this is the perfect race to get a taste of the obstacles. Plus, for a little extra motivation, music blasts throughout the stadium and a live stream of the course plays on video boards.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Get Spartan Fit With Daily Burn\u2019s New Training Program<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2.\u00a0Tuxedo, New York<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>June 10, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Sprint
\nA short drive from New York City, this race takes place in Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center. Kevin Donoghue, a Spartan elite athlete, Spartan SGX coach and head trainer for the Daily Burn Spartan program<\/a>, says the Tri-State Sprint is one of his favorite races because of the unexpectedly tough course \u2014 and it also happens to be in his hometown. (He tackled his very first Spartan race here, too.) \u201cTuxedo is a small ski mountain, but it has a lot of steep climbs and descents, both of which have super technical footing,\u201d Donoghue says. \u201cMuch of the course consists of bounding to, from and over rocks and tree roots.\u201d You can also expect to swing on ropes, jump over a heap of smoldering charcoal and fire, lug sandbags on wagons up slopes and then bring buckets of dirt back down. Basically, your average Saturday.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3.\u00a0Palmerton, Pennsylvania<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>July 8-9, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Super and Sprint
\nWhile people probably recognize the Poconos as a go-to for skiing and snowboarding, hitting the trails for a summertime Spartan also provides that core-scorching, lower-body burn. That\u2019s because of some serious elevation: Blue Mountain is 1,600 feet tall with a 1,082-foot vertical drop. But those inclines and declines aren\u2019t the only things you need to prepare to conquer. Because the race is in the thick of summer, Donoghue says, \u201cThe heat can be as much of a challenge to overcome as the ruthless technical steep terrain.\u201d Crazier yet, the course has \u201cthe most consistently soul-crushing sandbag carry,\u201d he says. Don\u2019t let the heat deter you, though, Donoghue says, as plenty of water-based obstacles will cool you off. Put your best foot and<\/em> face forward, too. NBC Sports televises the Spartan elite men\u2019s and women\u2019s competition from this very event.<\/p>\n

GET SPARTAN READY:<\/strong> Try Daily Burn Spartan, Free for 30 Days!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4.\u00a0Asheville, North Carolina<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>July 29-30, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Super and Sprint
\nYou\u2019ll get serious bragging rights once you complete this rugged race, set in Mount Mitchell, the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains. Scenes from the blockbuster movie The Hunger Games <\/em>even features some of the course. So may the odds be in your favor. Donoghue says the course is a great mix of mud, water, thick woods and rocky terrain. \u201cCirculating up and down dense forests continually forces the athletes to navigate through slippery streams with unpredictable depths \u2014 and at times, unpredictable bee hives,\u201d he says. You\u2019ll also carry anything from sandbags to crates as you trek the clay-filled course. Keep an eye out for blackberry and blueberry shrubs, as well as wildflowers.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>What You Need to Know Before Your First Spartan Race<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5.\u00a0Breckenridge, Colorado<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>August 26-27, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Beast and Sprint
\nLovers of the Pacific Crest Trail get to witness breathtaking views of the Continental Divide in this epic Spartan event. You\u2019ll start this race at the highest point of the course, as Breckenridge is 9,600 feet above sea level. Whether you sign up to do three or 13 miles, you\u2019ll run through single- and wide-track descents and climb steep terrain, all at high altitude. Other Spartans recommend racers wear headlamps to help guide them through the forests during this run. And while you get a free beer at the finish, we suggest celebrating your victory even more, with a delicious variety of micro brews at Breckenridge Brewery. It\u2019s just down the street from the venue.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6.\u00a0Brooklyn, Michigan<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>September 9-10, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Super and Sprint
\nThe Michigan International Speedway, home to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is a unique setting for this Spartan circuit. While the course is on the flatter side, it\u2019s obstacle heavy, leaving room for more heart-pumping burpees<\/a> if you happen to miss one. The entire speedway spans more than 1,400 acres, while the track itself stretches two miles with 73-foot wide turns. You\u2019ll feel like a first-place winner as you navigate the track, tug on ropes to jump over walls, do monkey swings and carry sandbags through the challenging stations. And just imagine the glute scorcher<\/a> you\u2019ll experience running up and down the 12,000-seated stadium.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7.\u00a0Killington, Vermont<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>September 16-17, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Ultra Beast, Beast and Sprint
\nThe birthplace of the Spartan race! We hope you\u2019re game for surprises, because this course is known as one of the most challenging in the world thanks to steep uphill climbs (we\u2019re talking Black Diamond ski slopes) and off-trail descents. Of course, that\u2019s not the only thing to prepare for, Donoghue says. \u201cThe race is in the early fall, but in Vermont, that can feel like November,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe weather can change from 75 degrees and sunny to 40 degrees with wind and rain at the drop of a hat.\u201d As you brave the elements, you\u2019ll crawl in dirt, carry logs and jump over five-foot walls. \u201cIf that\u2019s not enough, you also have to swim in a lake and climb up a rope ladder to get out of it,\u201d Donoghue warns. There\u2019s also a series of ropes under a bridge, which forces you back into freezing water. The good news, though: You\u2019ll nail it all with a beautiful backdrop of the Green Mountains.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8.\u00a0Lake Tahoe, California<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>September 30-31, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Ultra Beast and Beast
\nThis iconic venue is home to the Spartan World Championships, so there\u2019s plenty of competition to drive you to the finish. You start at a surface elevation of 6,224 feet and climb toward 9,900 feet. (That means you\u2019ll want to improve your VO2 max<\/a> and get those glutes and calves<\/a> in gear.) While it\u2019s not the most technical course, the long climbs and descents provide a hefty challenge, Donoghue says. Suit up for mud crawls, jumps, swims (yup, maybe a few), spear throwing and much more. Once you earn that medal \u2014 which will probably feel like Olympic gold by the end \u2014 cozy up at Squaw Valley Resort, the host of the event. Home of the 1960\u2019s Winter Olympics, it has amazing accommodations and pretty epic scenery, Donoghue says.<\/p>\n

TRY IT NOW: <\/strong>Sign Me Up for Daily Burn Spartan<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9.\u00a0Vernon, New Jersey<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>November 4-5, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Super
\nYou\u2019ll reach new heights in Mountain Creek as you battle outstanding ascents. Vernon peak has a summit elevation of 1,480 feet, giving you plenty of opportunity to show your strength and stamina. Another location with unpredictable weather, it adds to the element of surprise in this race. What shouldn\u2019t shock you on the course: pulling ropes to lift rocks, climbing wall hurdles, crawling under barbed wire and swimming in mud pits.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Courtesy of Spartan Race<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10.\u00a0Castaic, California<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Date: <\/strong>December 9-10, 2017
\nRace type: <\/strong>Sprint
\nJust 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is SoCal\u2019s gem for hikers and mountain bikers\u2026 and now, Spartan racers. Swinging on monkey bars, tugging ropes attached to large rocks and carrying buckets of gravel make up a few of the obstacles, while tackling 1,500 feet of elevation creates a cardio challenge. You can also expect to jump into the lake at some point during the race, as well as spot peaceful trails with stunning views of green mountainsides and calm waters. You might have already seen Castaic Lake on TV, as it\u2019s been featured on The Amazing Race <\/em>and Fear Factor<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Signed up for a Spartan Race? It’s time to\u00a0to train! Try <\/em><\/strong>Daily Burn Spartan<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>for a six-week\u00a0training plan. Use promo code DAILYBURN for 15% off your next Spartan Race.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n