Spartan, the world’s leading extreme wellness and endurance brand, has announced that it is entering the UK trail running market for the first time in its latest push to expand and innovate its fitness footprint. For the 2020 season, Spartan will host 10k and Half-Marathon trail events at two of its most scenic venues; Glanusk Estate, Wales, and Marston Lodge, Midlands.
“Following the successful 2019 launch of Spartan Trail in five countries, we’re excited to expand our experience and community by introducing the growing sport of trail running to our event line-up in the UK,” said Spartan Founder and CEO Joe De Sena.
Joe added, “The ancient Spartans were known to run on the mountainous trails of Sparta, so it’s a natural extension of our brand as we work to motivate people everywhere to step outside of their comfort zones and learn there’s no limit to what they can achieve. Spartan Trail in the UK will provide a new opportunity for existing racers while offering the trail running community an event like they have never experienced before.” The inaugural Spartan UK trail season will unfold in some of the nation’s most breath-taking landscapes, beginning on the 21st June 2020 at the stunning Glanusk Estate, in the heart of the Black Mountains, fittingly followed by a 10k at ‘Spartan’s UK home’, Marston lodge, on the 12th July.
Each event will feature stretches of rugged terrain and natural obstacles, such as river crossings, scrambles, log hops and technical single-track that define a traditional trail race. The races will coincide with Spartan’s Obstacle Course Race (OCR) race weekends, bringing the electric atmosphere of the brand’s event festival to the trail running community.
The UK trail launch follows the recent announcement of the 2020 “Spartan Trail World Championship,” a series of six trail running events across the globe, which combine to cover four continents and a $270,000 USD prize purse. The series is part of the brands bid to bring new experiences to its racers and achieve its worldwide mission to transform 100 million lives.
Spartan UK and Ireland Director of Production and Trail Lead, Karl Allsop said: “As we continue to grow as a brand, it is vital that we add more products to support this expansion and the decision to branch out into the world of trail was an easy one, with trail running’s values of transformation, resilience and self-belief aligning closely with ours. The two venues that feature in our inaugural trail season couldn’t be more suited, offering spectacular views, varied terrain and natural obstacles in abundance. I look forward to integrating the passionate community of trail runners into our Spartan UK family, whilst also showcasing the epic sport of trail and its endless physical and mental benefits to our regular Spartans.”
