Spartan Race Beijing: Enjoy racing by overcoming obstacles

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A Spartan Race was held in the suburbs of Beijing over the weekend, offering around 8,000 participants a rush of adrenaline and an outlet to challenge their physical limits.

The endurance race consists of courses with different obstacles and made its debut in China in 2016. The country has since held 32 editions of the race, with the most recent one taking place at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in Shunyi District on May 25-26.

The 5km Sprint event featured 20 obstacles while the 13km Super event included 27 obstacles.

Participants had to run with weight, climb walls, scramble under iron wires, crawl in mud and conquer rings, playing solo or in groups.

Two female participants try to surmount the wall in Spartan Race, Shunyi District, Beijing, May 25, 2019. /Courtesy of Spartan Race

Racing on the brand-new track, participants enjoyed themselves to the fullest, with Niu Zhiming from China coming on top in the men's race and Kimberlee Isom from the U.S. winning the women's event.

While the nature of the race requires competitors to have strong physical strength and high endurance levels, anyone can join in on the fun. The race attracts people from all walks of life – from celebrities to white-collar workers and everyone in between.

Yu Chunbin, a 27-year-old retired soldier, joined the event for the first time and completed the men's Super event in two and a half hours. He said, "I know that I couldn't be rich or famous in life, but if I could achieve something that rich and famous people couldn't, I would be satisfied."

The Spartan Race operates a promotion system allowing those who perform well in some games to challenge higher-level versions. There is also a children version for brave youngsters.