‘Very challenging, and beautiful scenery’: Spartan Race Beijing draws 20,000 for obstacle-course challenge, testament to sport’s rapid rise in China

Sprint, Super or Beast – obstacle races of up to 20km in scenic hills outside Beijing draw a huge field of men and women. Spartan Race novice Elaine Yau takes up the challenge, and is thankful for some help

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Competitors at the starting line of a Spartan Race Beijing event last weekend.

Published: 7:16am, 30 Aug 2018Updated: 7:16am, 30 Aug 2018

Since its entry to China two years ago, Spartan Race has become a magnet for extreme sports fanatics, weekend racers and spectators. Last weekend nearly 20,000 took part in Spartan Race events in Beijing.

For the first time in China, races in all three Spartan categories – Sprint, Super and Beast, over distances of between 5-plus and 20-plus kilometres and with 20-plus to 30-plus obstacles – were offered.

Lu Wenqiang travelled from Dalian in northeast China with his family to take part in the event, his 14th Spartan Race.

“I joined the Beast race in Malaysia in 2016. But the Beast race in Beijing is the best in Asia, with very challenging tasks and beautiful scenery,” he said.

Hong Kong’s Lena Tsang wades through a muddy pool at the Spartan Race Beijing. The 42-year-old won her category in the 2018 Spartan China Female Championship. Photo: courtesy of Lena Tsang

The 4,000-plus Beast racers had to overcome challenges including carrying two sandbags weighing more than 50kg on an uphill course.