intro

My 4th Spartan Race! At this point, I’m starting to feel like a pro at traveling and competing. This one however was a bit different from the others. It was a 21 kilometer Beast run held at a U.S. Army post called Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Whenever Spartan Race hosts an event at a military location or one with a similar theme, it’s called an Honor Series. These races are meant to recognize and honor the men and women who put their lives on the line. Competing in one of these special series also comes with an exclusive medal design, and honestly, I think they look way cooler than the regular ones.

arrival

I was immediately won over by Colorado Springs. It’s a beautiful city, and in some ways, it reminded me where I lived in Vancouver with the mountains. But it had a more open, peaceful feel. No constant traffic, no honking horns, just space and quiet. When I pulled up to my Airbnb and opened the door, I got a surprise welcome, dogs! It was such a random but cute moment.

One thing I quickly learned about this area of the States? Thunderstorms. They’re super common around mid-year. The weather can look calm and sunny one minute, and then dark clouds roll in like a movie scene the next. Something to keep in mind if you ever plan to visit. The neighborhood I stayed in was weirdly nostalgic, it reminded me of the Philippines, where part of my family is from. The warm evenings, the hum of crickets, and golden sunsets.

rolling hills

The drive to the race venue was something else. Google Maps led me further and further into open land, twisting through mountain roads and wide plains until I ended up in what felt like the middle of nowhere. That’s when I knew I was getting close. It made sense, though a military base isn’t exactly downtown. The rolling green fields stretched endlessly in every direction, surrounded by small hills that caught the sunlight just right. It honestly looked like a painting. I didn’t realize at the time, but we were actually really high up in elevation.

As I began the race I was thrown into the lush green nature. But wow, those mini hills… they were endless. Constantly going up, down, and back up again. It was brutal, but that’s the kind of suffering Spartan racers secretly love, I think. Hydration was key, if you don’t load up on electrolytes before and during the run, you’re asking for cramps. I could feel my thigh slowly giving out. But thankfully, I spammed those electrolytes before my race into my system.

The weather, was near perfect. Cloudy skies with a few bursts of sunlight and just the right amount of wind. Part of me actually wanted it to be scorching hot, just to crank up the difficulty. But I’ll take ideal race conditions any day. Also because of the long stretches of open plains, you could see other racers weaving through the course far ahead, tiny specks against the horizon. That kind of view gives you perspective on how small you are compared to nature.

thunder strike

Then just as I crossed the finish line, the thunderstorm alert hit, causing any racers on the course to come to a pause. I barely made it in before they paused the event for safety. You could see flashes of lightning in the distance, rumbling like a reminder of how unpredictable nature can be. Thankfully, it stayed far enough away that the race didn’t have to be canceled, but it was definitely one of those “close call” moments.

After I returned to my Airbnb and showered, I rewarded myself with something I’d been curious about for years, Applebee’s. We don’t have them around where I'm from in Vancouver, so it felt like checking off an American bucket-list restaurant. Chill party vibe, solid food, great decoration, great way to end the night.

olympic museum

Before heading back to Canada, I wanted to explore a bit more. So I visited the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. It was a very neat experience. Tons of history, exhibits, and interactive displays that let you try out sports simulations. You get to try sports like skiing, shooting, and archery. There were giant screens showing Olympic highlights, emotional athlete stories, and moments of triumph. It really puts into perspective how much effort goes into reaching the top of your game.

There was even a short 10–15 minute film celebrating the history of the U.S. in the Olympics. It was full of inspiring moments, but also kind of funny for me a little. I half expected a bald eagle to fly across the screen with the American flag while the national anthem played. Still it was incredibly well done. If you’re ever visiting Colorado Springs, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a must-visit.

overall review

Looking back, this trip was easily one of my favorite Spartan adventures. The Spartan Race Colorado Springs was challenging, scenic, and symbolic. The hills, the people, the military atmosphere, it all came together perfectly. Maybe next time I’ll push myself even harder and sign up for a Spartan Ultra. This is one of the handful of locations where they run one, which takes things to a whole new level. Now that would be a story worth sharing about.

At the time of writing this I have done 7 of these adventures. I would rank this experience 2nd place. The race course was stunning, and visiting the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum was very neat.