From the first-timers lacing up their shoes to see what they're made of to the 100-meter Ninjas who train for absolute perfection, one thing is clear: the heartbeat of Spartan, Tough Mudder and DEKA is community. It’s not just about the obstacles or the mud (though there’s plenty of both) – it’s about who’s willing to be out there in the trenches with you, no matter your circumstances. Whether you’re interested in building a national team, repping your regional crew, guiding kids through their first taste of grit, or dragging a stranger up a wall at 3 a.m., there will ALWAYS be a place for you in our Spartan and Tough Mudder communities. 

There’s a silver lining in every struggle, so we’re spotlighting the incredible groups that make the madness magic and keep the community strong. To everyone who keeps showing up (or wants to start), racing hard, cheering louder, and building something bigger than themselves: Are you ready to find your people?

Spartan and Tough Mudder Communities You Can (and Should) Join This Year

1. Spartan Race Nation Leaders (New for 2025) 

The voice of national pride and unity at Regional Championships.

Nation Leaders are selected to represent their countries and help build strong national teams at regional championships around the world. This year, we’ve created unbreakable regional bonds and put some extra muscle into developing a community of strong leaders to represent the European Championship (with APAC and Pan-Am community development to follow). These leaders inspire like-minded athletes hailing from their nations, foster strong team identities that align with their goals and values, and help recruit gritty racers to compete at Regional events, bridging the gap between local pride and international competition.

Join your national team for the European Championship in Lahti, or represent your flag at the next Regional Championship.

2. Spartan Race Global Team Captains

The heartbeat of local Spartan crews.

Global Team Captains foster loyal, active communities at Spartan races around the world. They mentor new racers and break down barriers to entry, create training groups to get all levels involved, and ignite excitement for Spartan’s biggest events, including the World Championships. You’ve probably even seen some of our Global Team Captains across social media, showcasing what it means to live the Spartan lifestyle.

These essential community pillars have always been active at the Trifecta World Championships, but this year, you’ll see them and their dedicated communities at all World Championship events. If you’ve ever considered traveling to some of the most awe-inspiring corners of the globe to conquer obstacles and find your tribe, Global Team Captains are here to get you there.

Find your Global Team Captain now and join the Spartan Championships movement.

3. Spartan Race Brand Ambassadors 

Spartan’s front-line storytellers and motivators.

These passionate athletes share Spartan with their wider communities in their towns and cities, promote races and engage with fellow Spartans on their social media, and represent the brand. That means they share their training progress, motivate others to keep showing up for themselves, and turn out to races to keep the morale high. Brand ambassadors play a key role in helping first-timers feel capable of toeing the line (because they are!),  and many ambassadors compete across the heats – so even if you’re just starting your Spartan journey, there’s someone there to support you – and often fall so in love with the communities they’ve helped build that they graduate into other roles like Team Captain or Nation Leader. 

Find a race and start racing with your favorite brand ambassadors!

4. Spartan Race Elite Athletes

Chasing podiums, prize money, and legacy.

The Elite division is where the highest-performing athletes compete in Spartan’s most prestigious races, including the World Championships. These high-performing, dialed-in athletes must qualify and face the toughest fields in OCR – where seconds matter and glory is earned. If you ever get the chance to show up to a race weekend early and catch an Elite heat, you’re in for a performance of sheer grit, discipline, and badassery. Many of our Elites started in Open and Age Group heats, so if you’re just getting started but think you have what it takes to make the leap, we know you’ll crush it.

Are you ready to compete with the best? See how to qualify for Elite Championships.

5. Spartan Race 100M Athletes (Ninjas)

Precision. Speed. No mistakes allowed.

The 100M World Championship is the fastest, most technical obstacle course race in the Spartan world. This is where the sport’s most agile and explosive athletes compete – where one failed obstacle can be the end. When you only have 100 meters, even the smallest mistake, hand slip, or trip can make or break your entire race. These athletes train incessantly with dedication to perfection and being at the pinnacle of their sport, and this event pushes the limits of what is humanly possible.

Join the 100M World Championship Show and discover the Hvar World Championship weekend.

6. Spartan Race Open and Age Group Racers

The core of Spartan. The engine behind every finish line.

Whether it's your first Sprint or your fifth Trifecta, Open and Age Group athletes are what make Spartan, Spartan. It takes true discipline to show up for yourself and get to the start line, but YOU can do it. We’ve had racers from all walks of life lining up to take on every distance – some who have had a massive body life transformation, are going through a difficult time, or are just trying to prove they can do something for themselves – and this community of racers is the foundation of every event. If you’ve done a few races at the Open or Age Group level and are thinking about leveling up, remember: Age Groupers can even compete at Championships without needing to qualify. Why not see what you’re made of?

Find your next race and become part of Spartan history.

7. Volunteers

Volunteers are truly the backbone of every Championship (and every event we have, for that matter). They are the soul of every course. From sunrise setup to finish line high-fives, our volunteers are the unsung heroes who keep the Spartan world turning. They wake up early and bring energy, heart, and fierce dedication, ensuring every athlete – from Elite to Open – has an unforgettable experience. At Championships, they step up even further, providing unmatched support, cheering on the masses, and helping create the world-class standard our global community expects. Next time you’re out on the course, don’t forget to thank your volunteers for showing up to make it all happen.

Step off the sidelines: Become a vital part of Spartan’s legacy by becoming a volunteer.

8. Spartan and Tough Mudder Kids Events 

Our little heroes. The next generation of Spartans. The future of our world. They may be small, but their spirit is massive. At the Kids World Championship, these young warriors start writing the first chapters of their Spartan journey and learning traits that are absolutely pivotal in a young person’s life: respect, discipline, perseverance, and grit. They’re not just racing for medals – they’re building confidence, community, and resilience that they will carry with them into the future: school, work, and personal relationships. These kids aren’t just watching history – they’re preparing to write it.

Sign up your young Spartan or Mudder and let them begin their Championship legacy.

9. World’s Toughest Mudder Heroes

At World’s Toughest Mudder, it’s the community that makes the madness magic. Take the Everest Angels – a legendary crew of participating volunteers who post up at Everest (a slick, curved quarter-pipe obstacle that tests both your legs and your trust) – for example. As competitors scale up the wall, the Angels stay put for 24 hours straight, hauling strangers to the top like mud-splattered superheroes and offering tough love words of encouragement the whole way, all while blinking back sleep. No glory here. Just grit, heart, and an unshakable sense of camaraderie. Teams like this are the real backbone of Tough Mudder, and they’re proof that when the going gets tough, the Mudder community gets tougher.

Discover More about the “the toughest event on the planet.”  

10. Faces of DEKA: From the Course to the Championship

The top of the podium. The coach on the sideline. The athlete chasing their first finish line feeling. These are the stories that power DEKA – each one different, each one earned. From Age Group to Elite, from first-timers to seasoned pros, Faces of DEKA shines a light on the people who bring our arenas to life. They train, they push, they support, they celebrate. They are the reason DEKA exists. And at the DEKA World Championship, they come together as one global community, united by movement and marked by effort. Because we are all athletes.
Because we are DEKA.

Celebrate fitness. Share your story. Earn your mark. Join DEKA and come be a part of the DEKA World Championship in December 2025.