Spartan Race Returns to "Joe's Backyard" for Another Trip around The Beast

Killington has long been somewhat of a spiritual home to the Spartan Race. The race's founder, Joe De Sena, moved to nearby Pittsfield, VT during his adulthood, where he furthered his interest in participating in long-distance events before forming his own race series. After the inaugural event took place in Williston, VT in 2010, The Beast hosted its first Spartan Race in 2012 on a grueling course which, due to the proximity of De Sena's home, became fondly known as "Joe's Backyard." Now, over a decade later, thousands of Spartans return year after year to this venue to test their limits.

Though it's a two-day event in practice, preparation starts well before the first racers make their way to the start line. Preliminary planning meetings take place all throughout the summer between Killington Resort and Spartan Race staff. Members of several departments, including Patrol, Food & Beverage, Parking, and more have significant roles to play leading up to and during the event, as well as (of course) our Events Team. On the Spartan side of things, the course preparation also starts early. The first trailer containing event material and course supplies arrived at The Beast back in late August, a solid three weeks ahead of the event's official start date on September 19.

Following the same theme, even the first day of the event starts early. Each year, Spartan Saturday's festivities include the aptly named Beast, a demanding 21K (or 13+ mile) course with thirty obstacles spaced throughout. Even before that, though, the first Spartans of the weekend take on the Ultra, a brutal 50K (or 30+ mile) course with around sixty obstacles spread out over two laps. The first wave of Ultra runners leave the start gate each year at 6:00 a.m. while temps float around 40 degrees and the sun isn't even up yet. The transition zone between laps one and two of the Ultra is located right next to the start line, making it a convenient place if you wanted to call it quits and find your ride home. Quitting, however, is extremely uncommon in this event—even if they're lagging in pace, most Spartans opt instead to stay out past dark, headlamps lit up, trudging through the course sometimes all the way until the last cut-off time at 9:00 p.m.

As a first-time Spartan participant this year, I knew at least some of what I was getting into. I had witnessed some previous Spartan Races from up close, participated in some other high-elevation races in recent memory, and even got some tips from family members who would be running the Beast 21K with me. One more thing I knew for sure was this: there's only so much to do to prepare yourself for 6700' of elevation gain spread out over just 13 miles. Due to the steep climbs and descents, the race ended up feeling much more like a long, long hike than a lengthy jog. Naturally, it was little difficult to get much speed going while hiking up Ovation or cautiously trekking down Upper Skyehawk.

Recapping the rest of the physical (and mental) ups and downs of the course itself would take quite a while, so I'll just leave you one of my favorite aspects of the experience. Even more so than any other race I've done, your fellow Spartans on the course feel much more like your friends than your competitors. No matter your pace, you'll find support in many different forms, from those looking to start their own "aroo!" chants to those willing to offer you the food and water off their backs. I found the most support from the latter, as my personal savior was one racer who let me sip from his hydration pack so I could swallow some salt pills and stop my ongoing cramps. Was it a little gross? Maybe, but it was much better than quitting.

Sunday of Spartan weekend brought the conclusion of the Kids 1-3K races as well as the Sprint, a 4+ mile course that squeezes 20 obstacles into an action-packed day. This year, Mother Nature added some extra moisture to a course that already involved plenty of mud, all while temps barely climbed into the 50s in the afternoon. As I slowly recovered on the couch, Spartans of all ages and nationalities braved the conditions to finish out the weekend. Along with the friendliness, the overall diversity of Spartan participants is another highlight of this event. Scan the leaderboard for long enough and you'll find folks from Germany, the Dominican Republic, and plenty of countries in between. You'll even find 19-year-olds competing for top times alongside 64-year-olds.

The positive effects of Spartan Race also make their way well down the mountain, as the influx of visitors is great news for dozens of local businesses. J.P. Quidore, director of operations at The Mountain Inn and Killington Distillery, is one of many businesspeople who looks forward to the Spartan rush each year. "Events like this demonstrate the tremendous potential Killington has beyond the traditional ski season," he said. "The more high-quality events we can attract throughout the year, the more we can strengthen our local businesses, create jobs, and continue building Killington’s reputation as a true four-season destination. We were thrilled to be part of it."

Just down the road, the Lookout Tavern is another spot that feels the benefit of Spartan weekend. "Our sales are three times what they would be otherwise," said Phil Black, the longtime manager at the Lookout. "The town would struggle to sustain enough businesses to support its winter demand without events and such in the summer and fall. They allow us to keep the lights on." A vibrant, year-round business scene is a clear benefit for locals and tourists alike, and events like these help keep that scene possible.

As we finish looking back on the great weekend that was, we still have more to look forward to next year. It's now official: Spartan Race will return to The Beast again in 2027 and 2028, pushing us past the 15-year mark of hosting this great event. If you're looking to tackle the Sprint, Beast, or Ultra next year, it's never too early to start training! Mark your calendars for September 18-19, 2027—The Beast will be ready, and we hope you will be, too.

To view the full results from this race, visit spartan.com.