The popularity of obstacle course racing (OCR) in Brunei Darussalam has experienced a consistent and notable increase, thanks to the fervent participation of local enthusiasts who aspire to challenge themselves and push their physical limits.
This growth has been further fuelled by the presence of well-equipped facilities provided by numerous gyms across the country, catering to individuals interested in obstacle course training.
Moreover, the sport has achieved widespread acclaim and recognition on a national scale, particularly after having recently been included in the sports line-up for the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
This momentous acceptance took place earlier this year and has significantly elevated the sport’s prominence and popularity in the region.
The establishment of a national team marked the Sultanate’s maiden appearance in the regional multi-sport tournament following approval by the organising committee to be included as one of the contested sports.
The rise of obstacle course racing in the region came into prominence after it was introduced during the 30th SEA Games in Manila, Philippines in 2019.
Whilst the sport is normally contested in a short distance format covering 100 metres, it is also designed to test one’s mental and physical endurance to the fullest.
This is where Spartan racing comes in.
It is widely known and popular across the world, garnering global participation in numerous events hosted in multiple countries and regions.
Founded by Joe de Sena, the race promotes a sense of community and a passion for fitness and lifestyle whilst adopting positive values and characteristics such as possessing dedication, commitment, courage and drive.
Moreover, it has been understood to reach these shores in the mid-2010s and the interest among local enthusiasts continues to be gaining momentum in recent times.
The race presents a series of obstacle races categorised by distance, number of obstacles as well as the level of competitiveness or difficulty. To earn the ultimate accomplishment in Spartan, a competitor must complete all three race events namely the Sprint, Super and Beast in a single calendar year.
Successful participants will be rewarded with a Trifecta medal, which indicates the completion of all three events.
All three events can also be completed in a single weekend if the organiser is hosting the Trifecta Weekend.
The starting point for a Spartan race is the Sprint which consists a total of a five-kilometre (km) run and 20 obstacles and it is ideal for newcomers or those who want to complete the challenge over a short distance.
The Stadion edition draws parallels to Sprint but instead of an outdoor setting it is typically held inside or along the vicinity of a stadium hosted by the organising city.
In recent times, Southeast Asia or specifically Malaysia and the Philippines have made efforts to advance the development of the sport following the respective launches of the Spartan Stadion in Johor Bahru last year and New Clarke City this month. The Spartan Stadion has also generated a strong following with participants extending not only from the region but also across the world including the Middle East, Europe and North America.
The course for the Sprint Edition has perhaps the least elevation of the Trifecta races but mainly incorporates speed and intensity.
Some of the obstacles that participants will expect in the Sprint event include the A-Frame Cargo, Atlas Carry, barbed wire crawl, balance beam, Hercules Hoist, multi-rig, monkey bars and rope climb.
The seven-feet wall or under is also popularly featured with participants required to climb over using muscular strength.
Besides the cardio element of the competition through running, the obstacles will undoubtedly pose mental and physical challenges including different regions of muscles in the body.
For instance, the Sandbag Carry requires an individual to carry a sandbag for a certain distance while the Z Wall requires a combination of pure strength, balance and agility.
Some of the obstacles also allow a competitor the opportunity to ring the bell which brings joy and a sense of satisfaction especially in the world of Spartan racing.
The Spartan Super could be ranked as intermediate in terms of difficulty level whereby competitors are required to complete a 10km run and 25 obstacles.
The biggest challenge of the three is the Spartan Beast which covers a distance of 21km equivalent to a half marathon and 30 obstacles.
Upon completion of an individual Spartan race, a participant will be entitled to a slice of the Trifecta medal but not a round or complete one. The Spartan series also includes the unforgiving Ultra edition which features twice as many obstacles as the Beast edition and covers a whooping 30km of distance.
In addition, the Spartan Trail has no obstacles and mainly focuses on trail-running covering a distance of either 10km or 21km. A celebratory fire jump is usually the perfect way to end the race before a competitor crosses the finish line.
In preparation for a Spartan race, the organising city typically carries out a promotion drive through community workouts or training specifically focused on the event.
From registration and exploring the different vendors at the festival whilst enjoying some entertainment to finishing one of the demanding races in the world, the Spartan experience is unlike no other. – Fadhil Yunus
