1. COURSE- Set up under a large party tent on Broadway between 42nd and 43rd Streets in the heart of Times Square, participants (including celebrities Tiki Barber, Brooklyn Decker, and elite CrossFitter Spencer Hendel) got try to try their hands (and feet) at a number of the typical Spartan obstacles found in their races. A vertical climbing wall, rock-climbing traverse wall, monkey bars, and rope climb were among the favorites it seemed. They did have a truck bed of mulch (?) as a mock mud pit to crawl though, but I hope newbies will know that is just a glimpse of what's to come when they sign up. Of course this was a shortened version in every aspect, but the under-5 minute maze of tasks did provide a good glimpse of what the "real" event is all about. That was the goal I'm sure- to attract onlookers in the busiest intersection on the planet, rather than really test any athlete's abilities. Veteran racers had an easy go of the course, and most ran through it several times. Grade = B
2. FESTIVAL- A bit of a disappointment without music, obviously no beer hahaha, or much to do besides spectate, though you have to remember a regular race festival (afterparty) is obviously funded mainly by the participants's entry fees. And this demo, was of course free to the public, so its hard to gripe about it. I only thought that the magnitude of the Reebok-Spartan deal would have had a little more "fireworks" (not literally!) to celebrate the 2013 Spartan season and grab every New Yorker and tourist to come see what was happening on a Thursday morning in Times Square. I probably could have walked by a block further down the street and not noticed. Grade = C
3. SWAG- The Mudman got some really sweet gear hookups from both Spartan and Reebok! SR had two tshirts being given away, the first I'm willing to bet was from the original Times Square date in November (top photo) and then another was produced since Reebok joined, as a promo for the Citi Field race happening in April this year (not shown). Anyone who ran through the o-course also received a Spartan medal, the same one you'd get after the finish line at one of their regular Sprint races. Media received an incredible goodie bag of some of the newest Reebok apparel (bottom photo). Not a bad haul?! Grade = A
OVERALL GRADE = B