The Death Race attracted a small tribe of the world’s toughest — but Joe knew more people needed a taste of discomfort and the pride that comes from conquering it. So, he created Spartan: an obstacle course race inspired by the grit and discipline of ancient Spartan warriors but designed for anyone willing to show up and push past their excuses.
THE MISSION
Impact 100 million lives
Spartan's mission is to help people live without limits. Our training and race events can help everyone develop the physical and mental strength to take on all of life's challenges with an unbreakable spirit. We believe that living "the hard way" based on ancient wisdom and daily training can make us the people we were born to be.
OUR HISTORY
Spartan was born on a rugged farm in the Green Mountains of Vermont in 2010, founded by Joe De Sena — a driven endurance athlete and entrepreneur who believed modern life had made people too soft. Long before Spartan became a global movement, Joe hosted the infamous Death Race on his farm: a punishing, unpredictable test of human limits with no medals, no comfort, and no guarantees of finishing.
The Death Race
Spartan Races
What started as a single race in the Vermont mud has grown into a worldwide community of millions across 30+ countries. From the 5K Sprint to the 50K Ultra, every Spartan Race tests your body and your mind, proving that the only way forward is through.
Today, Spartan is more than a race; it’s a mindset, a training ground, and a call to live life The Hard Way — with resilience, grit, and zero shortcuts. Join us, get off the couch, and remember what it feels like to truly earn it.
“The phrase ‘I can’t’ doesn’t mean anything to me, because through my efforts i’ve learned that anything is possible.”
