Spartan Race announces a new way for civilians to participate side by side with the military in the Spartan Race Honor Series. The series kicks off on April 8 as part of the “Best Ranger” Competition. The first event kicks off with the Spartan Ranger Challenge Sprint where the race will combine parts of the “Best Ranger” competition into a Sprint distance event. The Fort Benning event kicks off the new series. The full press release below.
Military-Style Obstacle Races Kick-Off at Fort Benning April 8 as Part of “Best Ranger” Competition
The hallowed grounds where America’s protectors train and defend our nation play host to the Spartan Race Honor Series, which challenges civilians to join the world’s best soldiers to conquer militaristic obstacles along 3-mile “Sprint” race courses at five United States Army bases. The starting guns will sound April 8, 2017 with the first leg of the series taking place at Fort Benning (AL) for the Spartan Ranger Challenge Sprint, where the gritty obstacle race merges with the U.S. Army’s 34th annual “Best Ranger” competition, a grueling test of strength and shear will that separates the best of the best in all the U.S. military.
While the competition will bring participants of all ages and skill levels, all eyes will be on 2016 “Best Ranger” winner and Spartan Race world champion Pro Team member Robert Killian Jr., who is expected to face fierce competition from Captain Matthew Kyler, an All-American College wrestler-turned-Army Ranger, who is a two-time Army Combative champion.
“The Spartan Race Honor Series provides a truly unique opportunity for civilians to pay homage to American soldiers while racing alongside them,” said retired U.S. Army Colonel and Spartan Race Military Liaison Tim Nye. It’s humbling to see people of all ages and skill levels push themselves on Spartan Race’s military-style obstacles on U.S. Army bases across the country, especially at Fort Benning, where the Spartan Race course has been integrated into the ‘Best Ranger’ competition for the second consecutive year.”
Following fort Benning, the Honor Series will bring Spartan Races to Fort Carson (CO) May 13, Fort Knox (KY) July 22, West Point (NY) August 26, 2017 and Fort Campbell (KY) September 23. Competitors who cross the finish line at four of five of the tributary races will be awarded a special Spartan Race Honor Finisher Shield, a badass metal trophy. An Honor Series pass valid for the five races is available for purchase on Spartan.com.
An additional race at the U.S. Army’s Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, HI is currently being crowdsourced for January of 2018, and outside of the United States, Spartan Race will host its inaugural Tokyo Sprint, on Sagami General Depot, a U.S. Army base in Japan.
“Members of the U.S. Military selflessly protect our freedom and for that, they deserve nothing but praise and respect,” said Spartan Race Founder and CEO Joe De Sena “We created the Spartan Honor Series to provide people across the country with a badass means to pay tribute, while also getting a taste of the Military’s training regimen, which reflects the principals of ancient Sparta that paved the way for Spartan Race.”
The Spartan Honor Series events are s qualifying stop on the road to the 2017 Reebok Spartan Race World Championship, the pinnacle event of the obstacle racing season featuring a field of 500 elite athletes from more than 30 countries battling the mountainous terrain at Squaw Valley during the 12+ mile (20+ kilometer) “Beast” race. To qualify for the world championship heat, men and women racers must finish in the top five at Spartan Races around the world during the 2017 qualifying season.
The proving grounds for the world championship take shape over the course of 200 races in more than 30 countries, making Spartan Race is the world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand. In addition to the Honor Series, the season boasts the 2017 Spartan Race Global Championships, a series of regional events spanning four continents and 12 countries. Legends will rise as they compete for more than $250,000 in cash and prizes on some of the most unforgiving yet scenic terrain around the world.
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Great article!!!! I would not have noticed the US Army Base races if not for this article.
question… above it states “Competitors who cross the finish line at four of five of the tributary races will be awarded a special Spartan Race Honor Finisher Shield…” which races are considered tributary races?
Thanks again – great info here!