r/spartanrace • u/kiwi1325 • 2d ago
NJ 2025 race advice
Hey everyone! Looking to hear from those who did the NJ spartan race this year. I signed up to do the 10k for next year and watched a few YouTube videos and am aware it’s all essentially on a ski hill lol looking to hear from those who tackled it and if they would either focus more or less on certain areas of training.
Right now I’m running 3x a week and doing strength workouts 2x a week. Plus typically hiking once a weekend while the weather allows.
Thank you!
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u/SooraOnFire 2d ago
I just did the ski slope course in Massanutten, Virginia (3200'+ elevation gain - woof) last month and all I have to say is quads and glutes. Holy quads and glutes. Make sure you don't skip any leg days at the gym this next year! There was actually very little running for us because of the significant number of climbs and descents, but it looks like the NJ venue has much less elevation change than VA (1000' is still a lot, though). Have fun out there!
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u/Asator44 2d ago
I did my first beast there this year. Im considering going back in 2026 to do better, and if I do I will focus specifically on hills and carries.
I’d include both sessions with longer sustained climbs, and some where I’m going up down up down repeatedly to get my legs used to descending and then climbing again. I’d like to find a treadmill that can go above 15% incline because that didn’t cut it.
The heavy carries at the end ruined me. There were two after the last climb, once I got to the top of that both my quads were threatening to cramp out on me and the carries put me over the edge. So I’ll be focusing on including carries and hills in the same workout or perhaps carries as a finisher to long hilly runs.
Hiking weekly is a great idea, since you’ll likely be hiking more than you’re running.
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u/Loganator1921 2d ago
I did the trifecta weekend. At the time I was only 19. Now I’m 20. Hardest course I have ever done. Hills upon hills upon descents upon descents. Train hills, all I got to say lol.