Obstacle course racing is hitting the big leagues with major prize money, a growing roster of world championship competitions, and now even prime-time TV coverage. But as 2015 Spartan Race champ Capt. Robert Killian will tell you, you don't need to be a pro athlete to conquer the toughest obstacle of all: the winner's podium. Here's how to qualify for the top four obstacle-course championships:
- The basics: Three main categories of Spartan races — Sprint, Super, Beast — range from three to 12 miles in length with 20 to 30 obstacles, along with lots of muddy hill running. Each type of race has special "Elite" heats for competitive athletes. The championship race is indeed a Beast.
- Signature obstacle: Spear Throw: Not a colorful name, this is an actual spear throw. Anything less than a perfect hit into the target hay bail, and you’re penalized with 30 burpees.
- How to train: Spartans test all muscle groups and are a tough mix of endurance and strength.
- To qualify for championship: Place in the top five in any Elite-level Spartan Race.
- What’s at stake: $500,000 in cash and prizes among winners. The top two finishers each won over $15,000 this year.
- Who to beat: Killian claimed the Spartan World Championship title at Squaw Valley Resort, California, on Oct. 5. Zuzana Kocumova won the women’s division.
- The basics: A 5K run with 12 obstacles. Most people take about 50 minutes to complete it. Known for its post-race party, the finisher medal doubles as a bottle opener. The championship race adds a half mile to a typical Dash.
- Signature obstacle: Goliath: A two-story cargo net climb followed by a balance beam walk across a muddy trench below and then down a 30-foot slide into water.
- How to train: "It’s a runner’s race. You don’t need to have a lot of strength. Fun obstacles, not super difficult," says Killian, who finished in ninth place.
- To qualify for championship: Place in the top 25 in any 2016 Warrior Dash.
- What’s at stake: $100,000 among the top five male and female finishers. First-place winners took home $30,000 each.
- Who to beat: Max King and Bridget Franek took top honors at the Oct. 10 Warrior Dash World Championship in Pulaski, Tennessee.
- The basics: The 10-mile course is billed more as a team-focused challenge than a race. However, the championship race, dubbed the World’s Toughest Mudder, is a 24-hour slog repeating the same five-mile circuit.
- Signature obstacle: King of Swingers: Leap off a ledge with a rope swing high above a pit of muddy water. Time your release just right to tag the dangling bell before taking your plunge.
- How to train: The Toughest Mudder is all about endurance. "And you will need a pit crew," says Killian, who came in 13th in this year’s gruel-a-thon.
- To qualify for championship: Open to anyone crazy enough to try.
- What’s at stake: $60,000 split among top five male, female and team finishers, plus $100,000 awarded to any four-person team that does 100 miles.
- Who to beat: On Nov. 12, outside Las Vegas, Chad Trammell won the men’s division, completing 19 laps. Amelia Boone knocked out 15 circuits for the women’s win.
- The basics: Created by Navy SEALs, this 8K course has 22 "military-inspired" obstacles. For the first-ever championship race this year, competitors had to do all obstacles twice.
- Signature obstacle: Platinum Rig: A long monkey bar-like cage littered with hanging O-rings, chained bars and straps.
- How to train: A CrossFitter favorite. "This is a straight-up obstacle course with not a lot of hills or running. You just need speed and strength."
- What’s at stake: $60,000 split among top 40 racers.
- To qualify for championship: Finish a Spartan "Elite" race in the top 10 or qualify for the Spartan Championship.
- Who to beat: On Dec. 12, Ryan Atkins and Lindsay Webster took top prizes at the BattleFrog Championship in Sorrento, Florida.
