Three races. Three distances. One Trifecta.
In 2027, I’m taking on my first Spartan Trifecta, completing a Sprint, Super and Beast during the same season.
The Spartan Trifecta brings together the three main Spartan obstacle race distances. It starts with the Sprint, a 5K obstacle race, steps up to the Super at 10K, and finishes with the Beast, a 21K course combining distance, terrain and obstacles into the biggest challenge of the three.
My Trifecta journey will begin at Spartan Scotland, where I’m taking on both the Sprint and Super on the same day. That should leave one final piece of the puzzle: the Beast.
That comes later in the year at Spartan South West, where I’ll take on the 21K Beast. If everything goes to plan, crossing that finish line will complete my first Spartan Trifecta.
Open, not racing
I’ll be doing all three events in the Open category.
That is a deliberate choice.
This challenge isn’t about racing other people, chasing positions or seeing how high I can finish in the results. Tough Smudge has always been much more about testing myself, experiencing the event and enjoying the journey.
I want to be able to take in the courses, tackle the obstacles, help and encourage other people where I can, and enjoy everything that comes with a Spartan weekend rather than worrying about a race clock.
That doesn’t mean I won’t push myself. A Sprint, Super and Beast are still going to ask plenty of questions, particularly as the distances increase. But the person I’m competing against is the one who started this journey.
Building towards the Beast
There is something I particularly like about completing the Trifecta across two different weekends.
Scotland gives me the first two pieces, with the shorter and middle distances completed together. Then there is time to train, learn from those races and prepare for the step up to the Beast.
By the time I arrive at Spartan South West, the goal will be very simple:
21K. 30 obstacles. One final piece of the Trifecta.
And hopefully, another challenge ticked off on the road to seeing just how far Tough Smudge can go.
Endure. Overcome. Make It Count.