Spartan returned to its roots in Vermont, where more than 6000 people braved the now infamous Killington course. Cody Moat and Claude Godbout took the top male and female spots, while newcomer Amelia Boone showed incredible athleticism and took second in both the Beast and Ultra Beast. It was on this same weekend that the Ultra Beast was born, featuring glow-in-the-dark medals that have since become highly prized collectors' items.

The year Spartan really arrived - this Killington based World Championship created the most buzz in obstacle racing history. The prize money was the highest ever, NBC turned up, and Amelia Boone and Hobie Call put on a victory show for the cameras. Those that raced will fondly remember the Tarzan Swing obstacle and may wonder - will it ever make a comeback?

Thousands descended on Killington, Vermont for the third year running. This year was also the first time an athlete from outside North America took the crown. The UK's Jon Albon was named the best male obstacle racer in the world, but the foreign invasion didn't stop there; Canadian Claude Godbout seized the female title. This was also the year Spartan debuted the soul crushing Double Sandbag carry, an obstacle so difficult it keeps most Spartans awake at night.

This year the Championship roadshow travelled west to the beautiful mountains of North Lake Tahoe, California. Two unknowns emerged to snatch the title - Army green beret Robert Killian and Olympic nordic ski racer Zuzanna Kocumova took both first places out of nowhere - leaving most folks wondering if they were actually awake or California dreaming.

The original champ Hobie Call's comeback year, but not without a fight. Star athlete Ryan Atkins and 2015 victor Robert Killian chased Call through the mountains of North Lake Tahoe for an exciting finish. Zuzanna Kocumova flew down the steep terrain for her second world title, while Lindsay Webster and Faye Stenning went head-to-head-to-head on burpees right at the finish line, putting just eight hundredths of a second between second and third places.

It was here that the Spartan World Championships truly secured its place as one of the world's premier sporting events. More than 15,000 people made the pilgrimage, where for the first time more than 20 nations battled it out for the title of Spartan Team World Champions. Team USA was victorious, while Team Czech snatched second place from Canada after a late missed burpee penalty. In the individual race, Lindsay Webster put an end to Zuzanna Kocumova's reign in a battle that came down to the Multi-Rig. While after a 5 year hiatus 2012 world champion Cody Moat held on from 2014 winner Jon Albon to claim the men's title.

This year, some of the best endurance athletes from more than 50 countries battled a 13.5-mile “Spartan Beast” course with 34 obstacles and elevation reaching more than 4,000 feet.