KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 ― When the Reebok Spartan Race returns for the third time next month, it will be a racing event milestone for Malaysia.
The country becomes the first in the South-east Asia region to host all three races of one of the world's biggest obstacle course races (OCR) with this the final event of the trifecta series.
Spartan Race Malaysia director Douglas Lau says by completing the trifecta race, participants will be part of a global tribe of fearless adventure loving racers. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
Reebok Spartan Race Malaysia will also be kicking off another round of the trifecta series with the "Sprint” course on October 8, a day before the much tougher "Beast” course which is a two-day event at Taman Rimba Alam, Putrajaya.
"By completing the trifecta race, participants will be part of a global tribe of fearless adventure loving racers,” Douglas Lau, race director for Spartan Race Malaysia, told Malay Mail Online.
Like any other OCR that involves crawling under barbed wires, scaling 10-feet-tall walls and many other challenging obstacles ― not to mention the mud ― the Reebok Spartan Race is unique in the sense that it follows a set of obstacle programmes used in its other races worldwide.
Reebok Spartan Race returns for the third time next month. ― Picture taken from spartanrace.my
Among the unique obstacles that are only available in the Reebok Spartan Race: lifting a 60 kilogramme atlas ball from the ground, throwing a spear at a bale of hay and of course performing 30 burpees at every failed obstacle.
The Spartan series is divided into: Obstacle Sprint (5+ kilometres/15+ obstacles), Obstacle Super (13+ kilometres/20+ obstacles) and Obstacle Beast (20+ kilometres/25+ obstacles). There is also a category for kids.
Each series is divided into the elite and open categories where elite racers compete for cash prizes.
For every series completed, participants receive a medal and one-third of a trifecta medal.
Participants crossing the finishing line at a Spartan race together. ― Picture courtesy of Reebok Spartan Race Malaysia
Upon completing all three, each participant would have collected all three parts of the medal, which signifies he or she has completed a round of the trifecta series.
When Reebok Spartan Race first made its appearance in the country last October, it coincided with National Sports Day.
It, therefore, had a huge turnout including Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in the Sprint race.
"Over 10,000 participants took part and completed in the Sprint race in Setia Alam last October and more than 8,000 participated in the Super series in Klang earlier this year.
"For Beast, we are expecting 2,500 participants. We have had a good mix of participants, from young to old. In Spartan Race, we believe everyone has what it takes. We also start them as young as four-years-old through our Spartan Junior Race,” Lau said.
Lau added that "adrenaline junkies” in the country were undoubtedly regarded as among the "craziest” in the region.
"Malaysians have shown us that they are able to push themselves beyond their limits,” he added.
Participants going through the barbed wire obstacle at one of the Spartan Race. ― Picture courtesy of Reebok Spartan Race Malaysia
To get participants pumped up ahead of these upcoming races, Reebok Spartan Race Malaysia regularly organises free community workouts on weekends.
These classes are open to anyone, including those who are not contesting in its races.
"Some of the workouts include bootcamp, crossfit, yoga, trail running, kickboxing, and running.
"By organizing these workouts, we are also aligning ourselves with the Fit Malaysia initiative of increasing the number of active and fit Malaysians.
"Our highlights included two mass workouts where we had over 500 people in each session working out together for two hours,” he said.
Fit Malaysia is the brainchild of Khairy and is aimed at encouraging Malaysians to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Moving forward, Lau said more races can be expected from Reebok Spartan Race Malaysia, indicating that the next Super series will take place early next year.
Suresh Supramaniam, 46, who will be completing his first trifecta series next month said he was psyched for the upcoming Beast race.
A partipant going through an obstacle course. ― Picture taken from spartanrace.my
"I have been running at least twice a week and lifting heavy weights three times a week as I was told the course is not going to be a walk in the park.
"Anyway, I hope it is organised properly with adequate water stations on race day,” he said.
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