Spartan Race Revives the Spirit of Adventurous Age
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Posted By: Richard Lee | April 29, 2010 | 2 comments
The Spartan Race, a new international adventure racing series, is set to launch in Burlington Vermont on May 16th before fanning out to eight different venues including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Boston and two locations in the UK. The Spartan Race series are fundraising events benefiting St. Jude Children’s Hospital in their battle against cancer, and will announce additional partner charities for Canada and the UK soon.
Adventure racers of all stripes will hurtle, climb, crawl, muck and spear throw through more than a dozen obstacles over a two mile course that takes its inspiration from Spartan and Navy Seal training, American Gladiator and adventure races.
Whereas 300 Spartan warriors marched into battle with the Persians, race organizers expect to attract at least triple that many at each race, in excess of 1000 competitors with different goals in mind, from the elite athlete seeking something more to test his ingenuity and physical prowess than the average triathlon, to the weekend warrior looking for a thrill that stretches beyond the video console.
The overall winner will receive an authentic Spartan helmet with second and third place receiving traditional Spartan spears and the chance to test their mettle in the world championship race, the infamous Death Race held in Pittsfield, Vermont.
According to many, The Death Race is amongst the toughest races on the planet, renowned for its twenty-four hours of relentless physical and mental challenges, and utilizing the gnarly mountain terrain and cornpone tasks of rural life to push competitors to their breaking point and beyond. Ninety percent who enter falter in the opening hours of the race. The race has gained some notoriety in the past year, and is pegged to be covered, along with the Spartan Race qualifying matches, in a reality television series produced by the Discovery Channel.
Though the Spartan Race draws its inspiration from the fierce, disciplined and ascetic Spartans, it does so with tongue firmly implanted in cheek. Competitors are encouraged to arrive donning their finest tunics, sans weaponry, and whatever else will stoke their spirit of adventure while they still have the time of their lives. And as, at least in the imagination of Hollywood, the brutal Spartan Warriors of old all maintained perfectly rippled abs, the race will offer prosthetic spray on versions for those who find themselves a bit soft in the middle at the starting gate. Additional festivities for the spectators will include fire dancing, spear making, feats of strength, Spartan models, archery, mud wrestling and a tug of war competitions. Once the top Spartan warrior is crowned, a post race party with a live band and DJ hosted by Nectar nightclub and Long Trail Brewery will ensue including a spit roast barbeque, food and drinks, 2 free bees for racers and revelry. Each competitor will be rewarded with two free beers.
Participants may register online and for more information visit: http://www.spartanrace.com
Contact Brian Duncanson at: spartan@peak.com
Links The Death Race: http://www.youmaydie.com
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