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Two-day event included Ultra 50K, Beast 21K, Sprint 5K and more

 

MILL SPRING – Over the weekend, Tryon International Equestrian Center hosted the ‘Carolinas Spartan’ event, which included a series of foot races with obstacle courses. Before sunrise on Saturday, the first Spartan racers were at the starting line, preparing themselves for a grueling obstacle-laden course stretching through the frost-covered Mill Spring countryside. 

 

The ‘Carolinas Spartan’ was a two-day event that consisted of several races for every level. The competitors in the Ultra level ran a thirty-one-mile course with a total of sixty obstacles and were the first to hit the trail, and the Beast 21K race consisted of 30 obstacles over a 13.1-mile course. There were 5K and 10K races, as well. The kids’ events varied from half-mile to two-mile races, and there were also the Trifecta races, where competitors ran three races of different lengths. 

 

The popularity of Spartan Racing has grown over the last decade. The sport has its roots in the ultra-marathon scene, and all its events are managed by Spartan Race, out of Boston. Events are held worldwide, with the World Championships to be held this year in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

 

The Mill Spring event drew over 3,000 competitors and spectators. 

 

The course obstacles required competitors to utilize not just strength and endurance but strategy as well. Failure to complete one of the obstacles, such as the bucket carry, the stairway to Sparta, or the monkey bars, resulted in a 30-burpee penalty. The famous dunk tank, where racers are temporarily submerged underwater, was removed due to the cold weather. 

 

The event returns to Mill Spring for the Asheville Spartan Race on August 5 and 6. For more information on Spartan training, races, or events, go to Spartan.com.