The mud crawl under barbed wire was just one of the mandatory obstacles Spartan Racers from around the U.S. had to overcome to complete the eight-mile course during the ‘Super Spartan’ races held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

The mud crawl under barbed wire was just one of the mandatory obstacles Spartan Racers from around the U.S. had to overcome to complete the eight-mile course during the ‘Super Spartan’ races held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

The motto for the Reebok 2016 races is “The Year of Resilience” and resilience is just what it took the racers to complete the rigorous course with its 24 obstacles and the chance to claim a portion of over $100,000 in prize money.

What are Spartan Races? According to the Spartan Web Site, “Reebok Spartan Race is innovating obstacle racing on a global scale. With more than 130 races around the world annually – we offer three core races each escalating in distance, obstacle count and challenge level; the Spartan Sprint (3+ miles/20+ obstacles), the Spartan Super (8+ miles/ 25+ obstacles) and Spartan Beast (12+ miles/ 30+ obstacles). Courses are riddled with signature obstacles: mud, barbed wire, walls, rope and fire.”

Competitors raced through eight miles of desert terrain, overcoming obstacles such as a mud crawl under barbed wire, carrying 90-pound buckets of rock, 60-pound weights, and climbing ropes and rocks not to mention some very large tractor tires. Racers who couldn’t overcome the obstacles, in some cases, were allowed to give up 30 burpees instead, but other obstacles like the mud crawl were mandatory.

Athletes take their time to rehydrate during the eight mile Spartan Race course, some even sharing their own supply with friends and fellow competitors during the 2016 Reebok Spartan Super Race held on March 19 at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch. Mesquite temperatures on race day climbed well into the 80’s. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Athletes take their time to rehydrate during the eight mile Spartan Race course, some even sharing their own supply with friends and fellow competitors during the 2016 Reebok Spartan Super Race held on March 19 at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch. Mesquite temperatures on race day climbed well into the 80’s. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

All obstacles and courses test the ability of the athlete in both strength and endurance and most competitors are able to complete the eight mile course in 2 to 4 hours. After completion of the course competitors jumped over a ‘field of fire’ to finalize and end their “Spartan Challenge.”

Competitors challenged themselves to 24 obstacles throughout the eight-mile course set for the Spartan Races held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19: ‘The Year of Resilience’ for Spartan Racers around the U.S. Not completing an obstacle resulted in the participant having to complete 30 ‘burpees’ before continuing on in the course. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Competitors challenged themselves to 24 obstacles throughout the eight-mile course set for the Spartan Races held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19: ‘The Year of Resilience’ for Spartan Racers around the U.S. Not completing an obstacle resulted in the participant having to complete 30 ‘burpees’ before continuing on in the course. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Visitors wanting to watch had a bit of trouble getting into the park with most of them taking at least 30 minutes to travel the short road to the event but the extra traffic affected Mesquite minimally. Those who weren’t aware that the races were happening were oblivious to the thousands of extra bodies visiting the town. Some Mesquite residents even said, “I had no idea there were THAT many people here; where were they?”

Kenzie Kriesmer, Kai Domingo, Kylee Prende and James Russum are nursing students who volunteered to serve as emergency medical personnel during the Reebok Spartan Races held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19.  Medical personnel reported treating minor cuts and bruises, sprained ankles, some heat and dehydration-related illnesses and hypothermia during the 12 hour overnight races but thankfully no serious injury or illnesses occurred during the course of the event.  Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Kenzie Kriesmer, Kai Domingo, Kylee Prende and James Russum are nursing students who volunteered to serve as emergency medical personnel during the Reebok Spartan Races held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Medical personnel reported treating minor cuts and bruises, sprained ankles, some heat and dehydration-related illnesses and hypothermia during the 12 hour overnight races but thankfully no serious injury or illnesses occurred during the course of the event. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

20 medics diligently traveled the course, treating athletes for minor cuts and bruises, sprained ankles, some heat and dehydration-related illnesses and during the 12 hour

overnight “Hurricane Heats,” hypothermia but no serious medical issues occurred during the races.

The Spartan Race is slated to be held in Mesquite for the next two years as well. For those wanting to discover more about the Reebok Spartan Races visit their website at www.spartan.com.

Robert Geller is a serious Spartan Racer who has been racing for three years. Geller completed the ‘Super Race’ course in just over two hours. Here Geller is making it over the top of a 20 ft. structure at about six miles into the eight-mile race held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Robert Geller is a serious Spartan Racer who has been racing for three years. Geller completed the ‘Super Race’ course in just over two hours. Here Geller is making it over the top of a 20 ft. structure at about six miles into the eight-mile race held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

 

 

 

Men’s Race Results:

1 Matt Garrison, age: 44, Course Time: 1:16:59

2 Dan Pacatte, age: 33, Course Time: 1:22:34

3 Hannibal Smith, age: 29, Course Time: 1:23:49

4 Jeff Monroe, age: 43, Course Time: 1:24:16

5 Trevor Junghans, age: 29, Course Time: 1:26:33

6 Abe Cendejas, age: 33, Course Time: 1:26:53

7 Luke McCausland, age: 34, Course Time 1:26:59

Mike James, an operations manager for a demolition company from Seattle, WA and Jodi Agin-Batten, a health care professional from Payette, ID, met at this year’s Spartan Races in Mesquite and kept each other company during their event. James expects to complete nine races this year, three of them being planned in just one weekend in Hawaii. Agin-Batten ran her first of three races in Mesquite on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Mike James, an operations manager for a demolition company from Seattle, WA and Jodi Agin-Batten, a health care professional from Payette, ID, met at this year’s Spartan Races in Mesquite and kept each other company during their event. James expects to complete nine races this year, three of them being planned in just one weekend in Hawaii. Agin-Batten ran her first of three races in Mesquite on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

8 Bryon Curnutt, age: 32, Course Time: 1:29:41

9 Michael Peterson, age: 41, Course Time: 1:30:18

10 Brandon Lewis, age: 29, Course Time: 1:30:58

Athletes complete their jump over the ‘Field of Fire’ to claim victory over the rugged 8 mile course they had to complete during the Spartan ‘Super’ race held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Athletes complete their jump over the ‘Field of Fire’ to claim victory over the rugged 8 mile course they had to complete during the Spartan ‘Super’ race held at the Mesquite MX Park and Hafen Ranch on March 19. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.

Women’s Race Results:

1 Tiffany Johnson, age: 35, Course Time: 1:38:50

2 Trina Johnson, age: 34, Course Time: 1:38:51

3 Cera Edgley, age: 31, Course Time: 1:39:27

4 Hailey Gordon, age: 23, Course Time: 1:39:33

5 Jordyn Larson, age: 32, Course Time: 1:42:30

6 H Johnston Vasquez, age: 28, Course Time: 1:43:24

7 Katie Cassiday, age: 44, Course Time: 1:44:41

8 Brandy Mccreary, age: 42, Course Time 1:45:33

9 Jeanette Gonzalez, age: 25, Course Time: 1:46:38

10 Jennifer Stewart, age: 37, Course Time: 1:47:39