Spartan Pride
Mammoth’s Ryan Kent has true grit
It was August, 2014. Mammoth resident Ryan Kent was back in Yorktown, Virginia, visiting family and friends. One night, while he was perched on a barstool, a buddy of his told him about a Spartan race that was going to be held locally the next week. You should try it, said his friend.
The first and most obvious question Kent had was, “What is a Spartan race?”
Answer: They’re obstacle course races of varying distances, from three miles (Sprint) to 12-14 miles (Beast). Some of the obstacles include turning over a 450-pound tire, or carrying an 80-pound bucket of rocks for a half-mile.
The Spartan Race Series, which is sponsored by
Reebok, was founded in 2010. There are now more than 200 races a year in over 30 countries. According to Kent, it’s the fastest-growing sport in the world, even outpacing MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). According to an article which appeared in Sports Illustrated in March,
“Obstacle Course Racing could be the next Olympic sport, as the IOC looks to bring fresh energy and relevance to the Olympic games with new competition.”
