After each mud run or obstacle race I compete in, you'll get my review and grades for each event to help you decide which ones you might want to sign up for. The following categories will be discussed:

1. COURSE- the design, venue, and setup of the race itself- how creative/ adventurous/ difficult the obstacles were, and obviously... how was the MUD?!?

2. FESTIVAL- all the fun beyond the actual race- the social atmosphere which usually includes food, beer garden, dj/ music/ concert, contests, vendors, and more during the after-party

3. SWAG- the included goodie bag and prizes up for grabs- all the "free" stuff that comes with price of entry and the quality of awards, shirts, and other giveaways

Feel free to use the search box to read up on any past topics you might be looking for.

SPARTAN RACE CITIZEN'S BANK PARK, Philadephia PA, 11/14/15

When I did this race a year ago (well actually about 14 months ago, as they held 2014 CBP race in September), I had little time to soak in any of what happened in this brief stadium Sprint.  This time around with no urgency to head back North, I got more out of the 30 minutes on course and some down time before and after it, without the stress of flooring it up to Vermont for a race the next day.  I always think of stadium Sprints as more like going to do a workout than a race, but they're nonetheless still lots of fun even though they're over so quickly.

1.  COURSE-  While the only-a-decade-old glittery Phillies’ ballpark can’t compare with last week’s visit to historic Fenway, Citizen’s Bank Park seemed to offer a little more race for your entry buck, clocking in close to a half mile longer than Boston.  That explained most double-race customers’ finish times being 5+ minutes longer than last week. Generally, these stadium Sprints are all the same, but Fenway was shorter than most in part because it is (as far as I have seen) the only race that is run entirely inside the confines of the arena.  This Philly race, along with CitiField and Tampa, stretched into adjacent parking lots areas for a few obstacles and some extra running.  The biggest shock for myself and probably hundreds of others (or more!) was to experience the only time I have been unable to complete the Herc Hoist, asbent of the usual barricade fence for pulling leverage.  I’m pretty sure I heard even the overall winner and Spartan Pro Team member Brakken Kraker failed this obstacle.  Again, the spear throw was the more durable but now half-the-size archery bullseye target, which didn’t help my already dismal ~50% stats there.  GRADE = B

2. FESTIVAL- Being two months later in the year than 2014’s CBP race, morning temps in the 40s weren’t too condusive to a real happening afterparty.  It surprised me that this event was scheduled so late in the Fall- as their home team’s dead last-place NL East finish certainly didn’t suggest they would have had playoffs in the City of Brotherly Love this year.  Either way, I grabbed a banana and Clif Bar for the post-run breakfast, but it was probably too early for that festival beer.  I'm sure other Spartans may have had no issue there though?  GRADE = C

3.  SWAG- Maybe my most favorite part of doing Spartan stadium races is the commemorative medal we get at the finish, which is different than the "ordinary" Sprint medals throughout the year,  Shirts are standard issue as always... and the souvenir list really ends about here though.  I've still yet to purchase a unique venue tshirt or any other merch, but some of them are really nice if you're willing to drop another $25 or so on top of your already exorbitant race weekend costs.  I'd love to know which is everyone's favorite special edition shirt they've picked up.  GRADE = B


OVERALL GRADE = B