BOSTON, Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the
growing sport of trail running attracting more than 9.1 million
annual US participants, Spartan, the world's largest obstacle
course race (OCR) and endurance brand plans to expand its fitness
footprint with the launch of a new race product, "Spartan Trail." The new trail running
series, combines a classic approach to trail running with the
Spartan ethos that millions around the globe have come to
experience through the brand's OCR events.
"Spartan has inspired millions to live healthier lifestyles
through OCR and training programs, and we're excited to expand our
experiences and community by introducing the growing sport of trail
running to our event lineup," said Spartan Founder and CEO
Joe De Sena. "The ancient Spartans
were known to run on the mountainous trails of Sparta, so it's a
natural extension of our brand as we work to motivate people
everywhere to step outside of their comfort zones and learn there's
no limit to what they can achieve. Spartan Trail will provide a new
opportunity for our racers while offering the trail running
community an event like they have never experienced before."
Launching April 14 outside of
Seattle, WA, Spartan Trail events
unfold in some of nature's most breathtaking landscapes, with 12
events in the US planned for the 2019 season. Each race will
coincide with Spartan's OCR race weekends, bringing the electric
atmosphere of the brand's event festival to the trail running
community. Spartan Trail events feature 10k and 21k
distances with miles of rugged terrain and natural obstacles like
river crossings, scrambles, log hops and technical single-track
that define a traditional trail race. However, the two growing
sports converge at the start line where participants will shout out
the time-honored Spartan chant before the gun and will hit the
signature Fire Jump obstacle before crossing the finish line.
Racers will earn Spartan Trail finisher medals and t-shirts –
and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three elite male and
female finishers. The top three male and female athletes competing
in one of six age groups (14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)
will step onto the podium and earn a winner's medal and bragging
rights.
The new race product was developed by Spartan in collaboration
with prominent ultra-runners Charlie
Engle and Luis Escobar, who
have brought their experience and knowledge of the trail running
industry into the execution of the series. The two will act as
co-race directors, closely working with Spartan to craft each
course. Other trail running legends are set to make surprise
appearances as guest race directors throughout the season. Spartan
has also partnered with Trail Runner Magazine to help inspire,
educate, and serve the Spartan Trail community.
"We're confident the sentiment Luis and I feel for Spartan Trail
will echo throughout the passionate trail running community as
we've worked to shape the series, first and foremost as trail
runners, understanding the wants and needs of our peers," said
Engle.
"We will take painstaking steps to ensure the quality of our
courses, so they appeal to everyone from the trail beginner to the
hardcore racer, thinking of everything from the location, to the
scenery, to the twists and turns of the trail. We look forward to
creating this new experience for all to thrive in the sport," added
Escobar.
2019 Spartan Trail Schedule (dates and locations are subject to
change):
Location
|
Date
|
Seattle,
WA
|
April 14
|
Big Bear Lake,
CA
|
May 19
|
Austin, TX
|
May 19
|
Monterey,
CA
|
June 2
|
Palmerton,
PA
|
July 14
|
Ft. Carson,
CO
|
July 14
|
Asheville,
NC
|
July 28
|
South Atlantic
(TBD)
|
August 25
|
North Lake Tahoe,
CA
|
September
28
|
Arrington,
VA
|
October 27
|
Southern California
(TBD)
|
October 27
|
Vernon, NJ
|
November 3
|
For more information and to register for Spartan Trail events,
visit Spartan.com.
ABOUT SPARTAN
With more than 200 events across more
than 40 countries on six continents, Spartan is the world's largest
obstacle race (OCR) and endurance brand. Providing transformation
through sport, Spartan attracts more than one million annual
participants across all fitness levels, from beginners to elite.
More than five million participants have finished Spartan events,
creating a lifestyle that extends beyond races including health and
wellness products, training and nutrition programs, and popular
media content, which has made OCR one of the fastest growing sports
in the world. Spartan events feature races at various distances,
Stadion and Sprint: 3-miles (5 km), 20 obstacles; Super: 8-miles
(13 km), 25 obstacles; Beast: 13-miles (21-km), 30 obstacles; and
Ultra: 30-miles (50-km), 60 obstacles. Visit http://www.spartan.com
for more information and registration.
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SOURCE Spartan