These Are Our 15 Favorite Spartan Race Photos From 2021
With Spartan events in hundreds of epic locations all across the globe, there are endless opportunities to capture incredible imagery. And our world-class photography team seizes on that opportunity weekend in and weekend out, snapping hundreds of remarkable shots at each event.
As is our annual tradition, our photographers combed through tens of thousands of photos and selected their top 15. (When you're done, check out the top photos of 2020 and 2019.)
The 15 Best Spartan Race Photos of 2021
1. Trail Euphoria
In November, Spartan hosted the first-ever Golden Gate Spartan Trail Classic, featuring 10K, half marathon, 50K, and 100K races. The views are hard to beat in California's Marin Headlands, and every image taken at this event is a contender for photo of the year. (Credit: Emily Tidwell)
2. Are You DEKA Strong?
2021 was a great year for the expansion of DEKA. The fast-paced functional fitness challenge features 10 zones of different movements that push athletes to their breaking point as they muscle through them. (Credit: Jeff Lautenberger)
3. The Coast Is Clear
The Golden Gate Trail Classic ran along the beautiful coast of Northern California at sunrise, and racers even had the opportunity to run across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. (Credit: Emily Tidwell)
4. Pure Joy
Competitors of all ages earned their DEKA Mark in 2022. (Credit: Brent Doscher)
5. The Ultimate Racecation
Most Spartan racers can probably agree that the Hawaii Trifecta Weekend, held at Kualoa Ranch, is one of the most stunning races in the world. In addition to the full slate of adult races, there's also a Kids race. You simply can't beat that mountainous backdrop. (Credit: Josh Gibney)
6. Leaping Over Fire
What would a compilation of top images be without an epic fire jump photo? The Fayetteville Trifecta Weekend was a great opportunity to capture the elation that comes with leaping over that fire right before crossing the finish line. (Credit: Brian Pickett)
7. Redefining Tough in the Mountains
The incredible athletes who raced this year's Ultra World Championship in Telluride, Colorado were treated to some unbelievable views during sunrise and sunset. The mountains, as one would expect, were punishing — especially over the course of 24 grueling hours. (Credit: Isaiah Downing)
8. 'That Will Be Me Someday!'
We absolutely love this image of a young Spartan racer watching competitors jump over the fire at the end of a long day during the New Jersey Trifecta Weekend in October. (Credit: Carla Torres)
9. Triumphant in the Shadows
Two racers high-five after emerging from the dunk wall at the end of a long day of racing the Spartan Beast in Big Bear, California. (Credit: Michael Der)
10. Picture-Perfect Sunrise
We admit it: We're suckers for beautiful sunrise photos. This shot, from October's Dallas race, fits that bill perfectly, capturing the precise moment that an Ultra competitor rings the bell at the top of a rope climb in the early hours of the day. (Credit: Jeff Lautenberger)
11. Determination, Focus, and Strength
Spartan Elite Tiffany Palmer puts everything she has into the sled pull at the last California race of the 2021 season at Castaic Lake. (Credit: Orlando Ramirez)
12. Just One More...
The 2021 Spartan Games featured an impressive roster of elite athletes competing in everything from wrestling to mountain biking to a dead ball shoulder toss. In this photo, Corinna Coffin uses all of her strength to get one more rep in, while the bruises on her leg show just how much the week's events took their toll on the athletes. (Credit: Orlando Ramirez)
13. Navigating the Desert Dunes
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Agoge was one for the ages. Competitors were physically and mentally put to the test throughout the three-day even. The students completed a multitude of challenges and hiked more than 40 miles in the desert, navigating only by map and compass. (Credit: Brent Doscher)
14. A Trail in the Desert
Pristine dunes, blue skies, warm weather: What more could you ask for during a championship weekend? In this photo, the lead racer of the Trail half marathon leaves footprints in the sand as he climbs the first of many ascents. (Credit: Brent Doscher)
15. At Last, the Ultimate Crown
After a grueling battle through Abu Dhabi's desert dunes, Ryan Atkins collapses on the ground after winning his first Spartan World Championship. The Canadian crossed the finish line mere seconds ahead of second-place finisher Sergei Perelygin. Atkins' wife, Lindsay Webster, took the title in the women's championship heat. (Credit: Brent Doscher)
