Bethel Woods to host obstacle race

Posted 12/31/19

BETHEL, NY — Bethel Woods Center for the Arts announced on December 26 that it will host a Spartan Race on August 22. Spartan Race is described by the website www.broadwayworld.com as …

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Bethel Woods to host obstacle race

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BETHEL, NY — Bethel Woods Center for the Arts announced on December 26 that it will host a Spartan Race on August 22. Spartan Race is described by the website www.broadwayworld.com as “the largest obstacle race and endurance brand in the world.”

Spartan holds obstacle races and other events in more than 49 countries. This is the first time a Spartan event will be held in Sullivan County.

The race will be about three miles and is called the Sprint. A post on the Spartan website says, “The Sprint may be our shortest distance race, but it’s still a favorite amongst both new and returning racers. It’s the perfect distance for those looking to start their Spartan journey. The Sprint also allows returning racers a manageable distance to see how far they can push themselves. Delivering 20 obstacles over 5k, you’ll never run the same race twice.”

Spartan sprints feature up to 20 obstacles such as the barbed wire crawl. “The barbed wire crawl is the ultimate test of Spartan endurance. This obstacle requires athletes to crawl on their hands, feet, and knees using any technique to get from one end to the other under the wire. Spartan pros all agree on one thing: get through quickly. Stay low, crawl fast!” says the website.

Spartan features five different races ranging from 5k to 50k. It hosts dozens of races around the country with registration costs raging from $59.99 to $349.99.

People who sign up for the race are encouraged to bring friends, family members and coworkers to serve as participants or as cheering fans. “Racers, your fans will motivate you over the wall and past the finish line. You wouldn’t believe how far a cheering section will go when you’re exhausted. Your fans will also enjoy music, raffles, entertainment and festival challenges,” says the website www.bit.ly/spartandetails.
Eric Frances, general manager of Bethel Woods, said, “It is a wonderful opportunity to bring new audiences to our community and the area, while providing diverse offerings to our loyal fans, guests and supporters.”

Some advice for training comes from competitor Kevin Burnette. “Spartan racing is akin to a rugged mountain-running event with obstacles along the course. You need to get comfortable getting your body up and down over somewhat technical trails. Leg turnover is good, but save the track intervals for your next road 5k and train like a mountain goat instead. Most Spartan courses have some hilly terrain, so remember that power hiking is also an effective strategy for the steep climbs."

Bethel Woods, Spartan Race

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