Spartan returned to racing in Jacksonville, Fla., this past weekend after more than three months without events. There were fewer people and more safety protocols, but the grittiness and energy were as present as they've ever been. In some ways, after such an extended absence, they were even more pronounced than usual.

What was different about this race? How did it compare to races pre-COVID? We could tell you, of course — you can check out this recap and learn more about our enhanced safety guidelines — but we figured that you'd rather hear it from racers who experienced it firsthand. We asked for your feedback — sights, sounds, testimonials, and stories from this historic race — and you delivered, as always, with a tremendous amount of revealing, inspiring, and informative content.

Below is just a smattering of the responses we received on social media. For more, click here.

Happy return to racing! We can't wait to see you back out on the course.

'Felt Amazing to Be Back on the Course'

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Great to see Spartan Founder and CEO @realjoedesena at the race this past weekend leading from the front. Great event organization, super safe and social distance compliant and felt amazing to be back on the course. Well done to you and your team for getting people moving with both the global virtual event and now moving back to live races...felt great to be knee deep in mud again and challenging myself on the course, looking forward to my next race! @spartan #spartanprojectunbreakable #spartanba2020 #spartantraining #spartanrace #spartanjax2020 #aroo

A post shared by Darren (@jacobsondarren) on Jun 15, 2020 at 5:46am PDT

Related: We’re Back! With New Safety Standards in Effect, Spartan Makes Successful Return to Racing in Jacksonville

'First DEKAFIT Experience Was Amazing'

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Too tired to think of something clever to say, but thank you for the support and efforts from our production team, @spartan , and of course, the amazing fitness community that we get to connect with. #together #Repost @spartan with @make_repost ・・・ No better way to kick off the weekend than with @deka.fit 🔥 Jacksonville, you’ve been marked‼️❌ Who’s up next? #dekafit #spartan #spartanjax2020 @visit_jax

A post shared by Jarod Cogswell (@jarod_cogswell) on Jun 13, 2020 at 2:41pm PDT

'One of the Most Soul-Filling Weekends I've Had in, Like, Forever'

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This weekend was one of the most SOUL FILLING weekends I've had in like forever lol I got to do something I'd never even think I was capable of doing with one of my favorite people in this world @corylyyy ❤ Completing the race was so fun and exciting...completing the race along side your bestie is PRICELESS! This weekend was the perfect example of: DO WHAT SCARES YOU! Get out of your comfort zone, do the things and you 👏 will 👏figure 👏 it 👏 out! . . . #competition#essentialoils#family#love#military#comfortzone#champs#chemicalfree#beyou#bestrong#bestie#fitness#momlife#fitfam#spartanrace#bossbabe#health#bossmom#fitfarm#spartanjax2020

A post shared by Nessa (@nessa.332) on Jun 14, 2020 at 5:25pm PDT

'Everything Is Safe; I Feel Safe Here'

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I spy with my little eye....me swinging on some rings! 👀 - - - - #Repost @spartan (@get_repost) ・・・ The energy in Jacksonville was UNREAL this weekend! // Make sure to share your photos with us on social using #SpartanJAX2020! #spartan #spartanrace

A post shared by Shannon Silcox 🔘CPT 🔘SGX 🔘PN1 (@gym2mud_shan) on Jun 15, 2020 at 9:09am PDT

Related: 5 Reasons Spartans Should Return to Racing During COVID-19

'Today, I Got to Live'

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YES YES YES! Impressed with this event and happy we can focus on SAFETY AND HEALTH! Way to go! #Repost @spartan with @make_repost ・・・ Racers like prominent race announcer, @fitzness remind us why we do what we do 💯 Aside from being one of the most epic announcers, Fitz has been bravely battling breast cancer and showing everyone that no feat is unattainable 💪 . #SpartanJax2020-thank YOU for allowing us to come back and for helping us bring our races back to life. Together, we are #unbreakable. 💪@spartanrace @deka.fit @spartantrail @spartanextreme

A post shared by Warrior Tech OCR (@warriortechocr) on Jun 15, 2020 at 8:21am PDT

'It Was Easy to Make My Way Through Everything'

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Cherish every opportunity to get out on course, because you never know when the next one will be. I’m certainly in no position to say when obstacle course racing - or any activity, really - will be back to where it was at the start of this year. But with everything taking place outdoors and miles of trail to spread out the participants, we’re in a better spot than most. I think Spartan put a lot of effort into minimizing situations where people usually come into close contact - particularly the festival entrance, starting corral and finisher chute. From check-in to the end, it was easy to make my way through everything without actually coming into close, direct contact with anyone else. I don’t know nearly enough to say whether the reduced overall capacity is sustainable, but it’s absolutely a start. For now, it’s back to the roads and getting ready for the @1stplacesports 5K time trial this weekend. But whenever we’re back to the mud, I’ll be ready to bring it! . #RADrabbit #runinrabbit #borntorunfree #runjax #1stplacesports #running #trailrunning #spartan #spartanrace #spartanjax2020 #spartanjax #trifectatribe #OCR #OCRtraining #altrarunning #zerolimits #runflatstaylow #runnersofinstagram #endurance #embracethesuck #optoutside

A post shared by Zander Kean (@z_kean) on Jun 15, 2020 at 7:13am PDT

'I Didn't Realize How Much I Missed It Until It Was Over'

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Huge thank you to @spartan for finding a way to get us back out on the course! It was not the typical race weekend at all but even with low numbers the excitement and camaraderie reminded you what a great community this is to be a part of ❤️ I didn’t realize how much I missed it until it was over and now I’m left longing for the next one 😩 Fingers crossed I get to do more before the year is over 🤞🏼 #SpartanJax2020 #spartanrace #OCR #beunbreakable #funtimeswithfriends #spartansprint #aroo

A post shared by Deborah Denkema (@snackcake1977) on Jun 14, 2020 at 6:28pm PDT

'Things Were Different, But It Was a Well-Planned and Well-Organized Event'

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The second day of the @spartanrace in Jacksonville was another blast!! I felt so good to get on a course again, jump over walls, get muddy with friends and ring many bells No competitive heats so I finaly had a chance to try the men #atlas #herculeshoist and the #platedrag.... I forgot about the bucket curry 🤣🤣🤣 So happy that I managed to complete the obstacle, man the herculeshoist was so heavy after the last night rain Was awesome to complete all the 3 events #dekafit #spartantrail and #spartansprint and earned my triple containment crown shirt 😃 Things were different, but it was a well planned and well organized event! Amazing job @Spartan Thank you for getting us back out there! Congratulations to all to get out there and earned their hardware medals 🥇 #spartanjax2020 #spartan #spartanrace #spartanwomen #spartanstrong #spartanwomenstrong #run #running #runner #ocr #ocrathlete #ocraddict #endurelite #letsgetit #spartanlife #spartanathlete #fit #motivation

A post shared by Anny Borisov (@annyb2007) on Jun 14, 2020 at 8:58am PDT

'A Blast, Filled With Pleasant Surprises'

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Aroo! #SpartanJax2020 was a blast, filled with pleasant surprises. ⠀ ⠀ Since there was no man-made mud obstacles, my initial thought was that it will be easier. And this event definitely proved to be a little more challenging going through some of the obstacles with slippery hands and shoes from wading through water. ⠀ ⠀ There were hand sanitizer station after each obstacle which came in very handy to get mud off your hands but for some of us, we didn’t learn this til a little late. ⠀ ⠀ My daily runs have paid off running through the hills and I’m happy to finish and earn a new time PR. Beating my own time is my biggest goal after all 🤗⠀ ⠀ ⠀

A post shared by Jan Dy McDonald (@lilmzchief) on Jun 13, 2020 at 1:28pm PDT

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