OCR Insider, June 2023: What to Know About Every Spartan Race This Month
If you think you're just going to walk onto a Spartan course and crush it, you're in for a rude awakening. You need to prepare: You need to know the venue, the course, the terrain, the level of difficulty, and the likely conditions. Every month in OCR INSIDER, we look at the upcoming races on the schedule and tell you everything you need to know so when you reach the start line, you're ready. On the docket this month: Monterey, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, and Tri-State New York.
The Official Guide to All of the Spartan Races in June 2023
Monterey Spartan Event Weekend (June 3-4)
The Gist
A full lineup of 20-obstacle, 5K Sprints, Super 10Ks with 25 obstacles, and Kids races are coming to Salinas in early June, near the central coast of California. For the more extreme Spartans, a 4-hour Hurricane Heat is also on the roster.
If you'd prefer to explore the coast with an unobstructed view (ie. no obstacles), a series of challenging Trail races are also available this weekend, with distances ranging from 10K to half-marathon to 50K.
The Venue: Pastoral
Described as “pastoral" by race directors, the woods, hilly terrain, and trails of the race venue offer both scenic beauty and rugged, lung-burning toughness. Both Sprint and Super competitors will encounter more than 1,500 feet of elevation gain, and trust us when we say that these views are insane.
If you plan on conquering Monterey for your first Spartan race, sharpen up your strength and endurance with these essential training tips.
Weather: Not-Summer-Yet Weather
It may be California, but it's still not technically summer yet. As such, expect the weekend's conditions to be dry and temperate: mid-50s to high-60s this time of year.
Bonus: Coastal California Dreams
You’ll be near towns like Salinas, Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur, so there’s no shortage of bucket-list places to visit.
After you cross the finish line, enjoy a beer while you study a map and draw out your post-race weekend plans at the XL Public House on Main Street in Salinas. Plus, you just can't miss the iconic Big Sur drive, where you'll catch dramatic, sweeping views where the rugged coastline meets the towering mountains throughout the 90-minute trip. Here's how to get started.
Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend (June 10-11)
The Gist
After a short time apart, we're stoked to be back at Perfect North Slopes for a fourth time. This year, we're bringing a stacked Trifecta weekend — Sprints, Supers, and Beasts — to near Cincinnati, complete with Kids races and a 4-hour Hurricane Heat.
The Venue: Skiing in the Midwest
Just 30 minutes outside of Cincinnati, this ski resort will challenge racers with a nice mixture of hills, flat-field running, and some water and mud to add that extra layer of difficulty. Expect this to be a fast, yet challenging Trifecta weekend.
Parking for the event will be located onsite, and you'll find the one-of-a-kind festival within the resort's Base Lodge, including a nice obstacle viewing area.
Weather: Not-Summer-Yet Weather
Weather in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — yes, you're not technically in Cincinnati — in June can fall anywhere between mid-60s to mid-80s, which can feel pretty warm when you're grinding out on the course. If you think you'll need help keeping your energy and electrolytes high during a summer race, here's our expert hydration advice.
Bonus: Post-Race Recovery Walking Tours
When you're off the course, enjoy all that the area around Cincinnati has to offer: gardens, mountains, and museums. No matter what you’re into, you’ll find it exploring the Buckeye State. Take your kids to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, then celebrate your race-day success with a hidden brewery tour through the underground Linck Brewery and Jackson Brewery tunnels.
Colorado Springs Spartan Trifecta Event Weekend (June 10-11)
The Gist
In the thin air of Colorado's Fort Carson Army Base, Spartans will attack Sprints, Supers, Beasts, and Kids races at this 2023 Spartan Honor Series race weekend.
Venue: Rocky Mountain High
If you are arriving from sea level, the first thing you’ll notice about the course (once you steady yourself from the Rocky Mountain views) is that it is most certainly not at sea level. At 6,000 feet and accompanying thin air, you’re more than a mile high, so be as physically prepared as possible.
Related: Want to Race Alongside the Country's Bravest? Welcome to the Honor Series.
Weather: A Counterbalance to the Altitude
Despite the relentless lung-burning to which this course will treat you, you'll be spared some pain when it comes to weather. The temperatures should be reasonable: mid-50s to mid-70s. And with a mere 19% chance of any rain, the humidity will be low, so your body can cut through the air like a knife.
Bonus: Garden of the Gods (and More)
Colorado is known for its natural beauty, so you can easily knock a few things off of your bucket list if you’re visiting the Fort Carson area from another state (or even another country). The Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and Rainbow Falls are but a few of the epic natural wonders of the area. Of course, the iconic Rocky Mountain National Park and one of the country's most endurance-focused cities — Boulder, Colorado — are both just about a 2-hour drive away, so don't miss out.
Tri-State New York Spartan Event Weekend (June 17-18)
The Gist
A quick trip and a dreamy escape for Northeast city dwellers, this weekend near the Catskills in Bethel, NY offers Sprints and Kids races.
Venue: The Open Arms of Woodstock
You’ll be racing on the flat and fast world-famous grounds of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. If you're unfamiliar with the historical importance of Woodstock, consider this: The staff were expecting 50,000 people. A half-million showed up for the three-day event, and, miraculously, the peace generally stayed intact. And if you do know anything about the festival, you may remember another defining feature: mud.
Related: These Are the 10 Best Venues to Conquer Your First Spartan Race
Spartan races are known for being both welcoming — to first-timers and strangers in particular — and muddy, so this venue is considered one of the best Spartan events for beginners, and is consistently a fan-favorite.
Weather: All-Welcoming
The weekend's temperatures should be enjoyable, sitting somewhere between the mid-50s to low-70s, and there is nearly a 40% chance of precipitation based on historical precedent.
Bonus: Get Your Art and Outdoorsy Fix
Unsurprisingly, the town of Woodstock has plenty to offer when it comes to the arts, so check out the local arts scene and stop by the Little Apple Cafe for a post-race juice cleanse. If you're still not tired from your race, Woodstock has some epic hikes with panoramic views — like the popular Overlook Mountain Trail — if you persevere to the top. For a less involved activity, grab a beverage at one of outdoor picnic tables at the Woodstock Brewing Company.
