Sunday at the start of the Spartan Race Sprint in Glen Rose Texas the elite men's race heard a very interesting set of directions in regards to the Olympus obstacle. As the pre-race briefing started, the start line was informed that instead of burpees for failing the obstacle Olympus, the penalty would be a running lap. No burpees just a penalty running lap. Is this the beginning of a change in the elite racing scene for Spartan or just a one-off test?
The change in penalty was just a quick part of the overall briefing and no further explanation as to whether this would be a change implemented for 2018 or whether it was just a test. The Glen Rose weekend is the perfect testing ground for a possible rule change for the 2018 season as it falls after the 2017 Spartan Race World Championships and before the start of the high profile competitive races in 2018.
While Burpees and Spartan Race go together like a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich it would not be the first time Spartan Race has evolved the penalties for obstacle failure. The original penalty in 2010 was 20 pushups for a failed obstacle. It wasn't until 2011, that the initial “burpee” was implemented. That original penalty was actually a squat thrust with no jump. It was not until into the 2012 and 2013 that the burpee as we know it today became the Spartan Race standard, chest to the ground, feet leave the ground, and hands in the air.
The original penalty in 2010 was 20 pushups for a failed obstacle. It wasn't until 2011, that the initial “burpee” was implemented.
The Spartan Race community will have to see if Glen Rose penalty lap instead of burpees at Olympus was a one-off test for the company or something that is a sign of changes in the wind at least in the elite races. The community will have to see if this “new rule” pops up again this weekend in New Jersey or other races on the horizon.
Penalty loops appeared in the Atlanta Super at the multi-rig and rope climb as well. I didn’t get an opportunity to investigate further, but I spotted a short barbed wire crawl in the lap for the rope climb as I passed. The chattering I heard in the festival area following the race sounded like racers were favorable of the penalty laps overall.
It was at Olympus that we had a penalty loop not twister
Thanks Alex, updated!
Keep! The! Burpees!
YEPPPP
They did the same thing for the Open heats at the Beast on Saturday. According to the MC, the penalty loop was about 1/2 mile.
Let’s evolve to mandatory obstacle completion for the Elite and Competitive and a loop for the Open.
They had penalty loops at Pittsburgh
So many other races are burpee free, by not considering changing the penalties SR risks bleeding away the largest pool of competitors, the non elites..
As Philip said above, they had a penalty loop after Monkey Bars in Pittsburgh. As an official, I felt it only right to fail both Olympus and the Monkey Bars that race to compare doing 30 burpees and the penalty loop, which was a barbwire crawl. The 30 burpees were more taxing and only took 30 more seconds.
The penalty loops along with some burpee-penalty obstacles closer to the festival should make officiating more efficient…especially given the pending changes for age group awards (I don’t know the details).
the penalty loops are easier to officiate i think. I Understand that most people (including myself) dont like burpees, but that’s the point. A penalty should be something you dont like. a lot of people want just mandatory completion, but if you learn to hate burpees, you will eventually learn to complete the obstacles. Some say it’s easy to just get good at burpees, If it were that easy, no one would want to get rid of them and everyone would gladly do 30. but, doesnt a penalty loop just play into the “pure runners” strength? that’s like asking to take out heavy carries. OCR is about testing and challenging all facets of your fitness and mental capacity.
Either way, i did the Atlanta Sprint and liked the mix of loops, burpees, etc. asking SR to just be like every other race is going to make people ask “what’s the difference between ____ and ____”. variety is good. some races have penalty loops, some races have burpees, some had 8 counts, some have mandatory completion. All varieties are good for the sport.
Hope they keep the mix. It will be interesting at each Spartan race to find out which obstacles have penalties and which ones have burpees.
Penalty burpees are what makes Spartan Race unique and part of brand identity. It would be lousy to eliminate them for officiating, or other reason. Agree with comment above that penalty laps gives “runners’ an advantage. If not for burpee penalties, I may not have worked my butt off so much to reach the point of making all of the obstacles and going well beyond anything I thought possible. Forget having a silly wrist band cut off (you still get the medal), burpees instill fear. Burpees also play into the Elite’s race strategy with some amazing finishes this season thanks to the burpee. Keep the burpee, train harder, and Spartan Up! 🙂
The penalty lap is the standard at the European Series “The Toughest.” I like it much better. There is no cheating to that system. Some of the penalty laps included a sandbag carry.
BURPEES make Spartan Race a unique challenge. No one gets to skip obstacles (except those Open Heat cheaters who don’t deserve a medal). I hate that we live in a world where everyone gets a medal even if they don’t fulfill the requirements (youth participation trophies). Earn it! Own it! Don’t change Spartan! Although I do understand it is easier to officiate the Elites, Spartan needs to remain the top OCR company. Joe DeSena is best marketing genius of the sport that may lead OCR to a potential Olympic sport.
Let’s face it, many pros and elites aren’t even doing true, Spartan standard Burpees, that is, chest to the ground, and a jump with a hand clap overhead. The purposeful failing of obstacles in order to do “burpees” just to beat another pro….pathetic. How about a mandatory NO FAIL, lose the PRO/ELITE wristband if you don’t complete an obstacle, ala BattleFrog style?
I hope that Spartan completely eliminates all burpees for penalty loops. Once this new dynamic takes hold, they can officially evolve the sport from Obstacle Course Racing to Cross Country.