Spartan Race: History, Ownership, Global Reach, and How to Train for the Next Texas Event

Anabel Cruz
2 days ago
3 min read

If you’re in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and looking for a challenge that pushes your strength, endurance, grit, and mental resilience to new levels, Spartan Race is the ultimate test. Known for its legendary obstacles, rugged courses, and “no excuses” mentality, Spartan has become the world’s most recognized OCR (Obstacle Course Race) series - and Texas is getting ready for another huge event in 2026.

Before you start training, here’s everything you should know: where the Spartan movement began, who owns it today, how far it’s expanded across the world, and exactly how to prepare for race day here in DFW.

A Brief History of Spartan Race

Spartan Race was founded by entrepreneur Joe De Sena in 2010. De Sena wanted to create more than just a run - he wanted an experience that combined endurance, functional fitness, military-inspired obstacles, and a mindset of resilience.

The very first Spartan event took place in Vermont, and from there the brand absolutely exploded. What made it different was simple:

It wasn’t just for elite athletes
It wasn’t a simple fun run
It pushed real-world strength and mental toughness
It built a community around discipline and personal growth

Racers loved the physical challenge, the teamwork, the mud, and the feeling of crossing a finish line knowing they had earned every single step.

Who Owns Spartan Race Today?

Spartan Race is owned by Spartan Race, Inc., founded and still led by Joe De Sena. In recent years, Spartan has expanded aggressively - acquiring Tough Mudder, DEKA FIT, and other brands in the fitness and endurance world.

While the company owns multiple race formats, Spartan Race remains its flagship brand, famous for the Sprint, Super, Beast, Ultra, Stadion, and Kids’ races.

Race-Day Ready List

How Many Countries Is Spartan Race In?

Spartan is now a global phenomenon, running events in over 30+ countries worldwide.

Some of the biggest Spartan regions include:

United States
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
France
Spain
Germany
Italy
Japan
South Korea
Australia
United Arab Emirates

The community stretches across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania - making it one of the largest fitness race organizations on the planet.

When Is the Next Spartan Race in Texas?

Texas OCR athletes, mark your calendars.

Spartan Race Dallas - Trifecta Weekend

📅 October 17-18, 2026

📍 Twin Canyons Ranch - Granbury, TX

This is the biggest Spartan event of the year for Texas and the entire Southwest region.

A Trifecta Weekend means you can complete:

Sprint (5K, 20 obstacles)
Super (10K, 25 obstacles)
Beast (Half marathon + obstacles)
Ultra (30+ miles)

All in one weekend, or choose the course that matches your fitness level.

Whether you're competing or completing, this is the race you train seriously for.

How to Train for Spartan Race in Dallas-Fort Worth

Train smarter, not harder, and train locally.

At AqilFitness Training Solutions, we specialize in building well-rounded OCR athletes who can confidently take on races like Spartan, Savage, Tough Mudder, and HYROX.

✔ Spartan-Inspired Strength Training

Prepare for carries, crawls, climbs, rope ascents, and heavy obstacles.

✔ Ninja Warrior & Rig Training

Perfect for developing grip strength, upper-body endurance, and confidence on technical obstacles.

✔ Trail & Endurance Conditioning

Spartan races involve real terrain - we train your legs, lungs, and pacing strategy.

✔ Small Group or Private Training

Whether you want 1-on-1 training or want to prep with your race team, we create the plan.

✔ Train in DFW

Easy access for anyone in DFW looking to get race-ready without guesswork.

With structured weekly programming, personalized coaching, and obstacle-specific drills, we make sure you show up to the starting line confident, strong, and mentally locked in.

Why Start Training Now?

Spartan demands a combination of:

Strength
Speed
Endurance
Grip power
Mental toughness
Efficiency on obstacles
Proper fueling and pacing

Most people underestimate it. Don’t be one of them.

Starting now means better performance, lower injury risk, and a far more enjoyable race experience.

Ready to Train for Spartan Race Dallas 2026?

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and want a local, structured, and effective way to get ready for Spartan, AqilFitness Training Solutions is your home base.

👉 Book your OCR training session today and start building the strength and confidence you need to dominate any Spartan course.