  | Thursday was MLB Opening Day for baseball teams across the country, but Saturday marked what was arguably an equally epic stadium-centered celebration at Baylor University's McLane Stadium: the first Stadion 5K of the 2023 Spartan race season. While thousands of racers were throwing down on the football field, thousands more tackled gut-wrenching Tough Mudder races ranging from 5K to 15K in sunny San Bernardino. We even traveled north up the coast to bring DEKA FIT to Sacramento, and WAY east for the first Hungarian Trifecta weekend of the year.
This was undoubtedly one of the most painful weekends of 2023, and we've got behind-the-scenes footage so you can watch your fellow painmakers suffer. Are you in? | |  | Waco, Texas
Saturday brought some brutal spring storms to a lot of the U.S., but you never would've known from the way the sun sparkled off McLane Stadium's bleachers and the beads of sweat flying off racers' backs in Waco, Texas all day. Perfectly situated on the Brazos River, the home of the Baylor Bears' college football team put Spartans through the wringer before they bravely descended the A-Frame Cargo atop the 50-yard line.
Former Spartan Games 2.0 competitor and obstacle course racing maven Veejay Jones swiftly bagged a first-place Elite finish, completing the 5K, 20-obstacle course in 26 minutes and 21 seconds and beating runner-up Lazaro Perez by a full (and exact) 2 minutes. Veejay — having recently signed up for the Palm Beaches Spartan Race 3K Elite Series — is just heating up this season, and if you want to follow his progress (or even think you can beat him...), sign up for the Palm Beaches Sprint Weekend now! | |  | Waco, Texas
"As a former student of Baylor, I absolutely LOVED the course," racer Alicia Wallum said. "It kept the Spartan feel, but y'all did a fantastic job using Touchdown Alley and the river as a great change of scenery. I am glad we were able to go into the locker rooms... Thanks for putting the stairs first while I had the energy!"
Early spring is just the start of Stadion season! If this weekend's punishing obstacles, post-race celebrations, and perfect weather gave you FOMO, find your next Stadion race and commit now. | |  | | |  | Sacramento, California
Six hours north of San Bernardino where the obstacle carnage was going down, DEKA FIT's 10 tough zones rolled into Sacramento on Saturday along with 450 of the grittiest functional fitness athletes in the game and 36 teams who arrived on-site early, ready to run fast, compete hard, and Earn Their Mark. Flourescent lights beamed down upon grimaces as those wide-eyed racers from the start line suddenly became weary-eyed, hardened, and exhuasted as they moved through RAM lunges, box jumps, farmer carries, tank push/pulls, and more. But despite the agony, they never quit. Plus, Preston Burnett became the new DEKA FIT Ruck world record holder, posting a blistering time of 37:59 (with a 30-pound pack on his back).
Check out the Age Group and Elite winners who emptied their entire tanks and poured their whole hearts into their race (including Lauren Weeks, who won both the women's Elite race in the morning and the Ruck Division) at SAFE Credit Union Convention Center this weekend, then find the closest DEKA FIT event or affiliate near you and commit to Earning Your Mark this year! | |  | Salgótarján, Hungary
This weekend, over 5,000 racers ranging from 4 to 80 years old headed to the mountains of Salgótarján for Hungary's first Trifecta weekend of the year and our second trip to this epic venue. The night before Spartans descended upon Salgótarján's majestic scenery, an unrelenting storm beat them to it, absolutely soaking the start line and the course and bringing with it a bitter, biting chill in the air.
As would be expected, the insufferable weather only encouraged our battle-hardened Spartans, and they tore through the city that dates back to the Middle Ages — "Salgó" means "shining" in Old Hungarian — with agressive fervor (which they absolutely needed to conquer the Beast.) This weekend's 21K featured hostile climbs and descents, unmatched views of historic castles and stone mines, and plenty of stream crossings, forests, and fields.
This one was not for the faint of heart. Check out the heart-pumping, live action here. | | | what's ON DECK AT SPARTAN | | | | Are you ready to be transformed inside and out? With three (or more!) races of increasing difficulty, Trifecta Weekends are our most epic events ready to give your body and mind the ultimate test. Unlock the races you need to conquer your Trifecta with the Trifecta Pass today. | | | | | LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE? | | | | | ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN | | We want racer feedback on the brand partners Spartan is working with. Take this quick survey, and you'll be entered into the opportunity to win a $100 Spartan Shop gift card. | | | | | |
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