From May 1 to 3, the Spartan Kids Races in Beijing and Changsha concluded successfully, with more than 10,000 young warriors completing the course. Several athletes earned spots at the Spartan Kids World Championship, scheduled for August in Chongli.
The Beijing race took place at the Expo International Tourism Resort, with the course designed to integrate seamlessly into the venue’s landscape. The track weaved through clusters of buildings within the park, balancing challenge and scenic appeal. Participants tackled 18 to 26 obstacles across distances ranging from 3 to 5.4 kilometers. The evenly spaced obstacles, continuous running sections, and unpredictable mountain weather in Yanqing posed considerable tests for the competitors.
“This is our sixth consecutive year hosting the Spartan race at the Expo Park,” said靳晓阳, the event director for the Spartan Kids Race. “We strive to offer a fresh experience each time through new course designs and obstacle combinations.” This year, the course for the 10-14 age group extended to the Yongning Pavilion, a landmark structure within the park, allowing athletes to enjoy panoramic views while tackling越野 sections.
Changsha, a popular holiday destination, welcomed the Spartan Kids Race for the first time during the May Day break. Over 2,000 young competitors completed the obstacle challenge. As a new venue, the Changsha race attracted many first-time Spartan participants, injecting fresh energy into the event. It also saw experienced athletes making their home-debut, including local rock climber Xu Yiyi, who aimed to secure a spot at the world championship.
Xu Yiyi, an 11-year-old rock climber from Changsha, had previously excelled in Spartan Kids Races. Competing in the elite 11-12 age group, she leveraged her climbing strength to control her pace and power effectively, earning a qualification for the Spartan Kids World Championship in Chongli this August. “The Spartan race demands a broad range of abilities. I’m strong in my upper body, but my lower body needs improvement, so I’m slower in the running segments,” Xu admitted. “I’ve been focusing on road running to improve, aiming for a top-10 finish at the world championship.”