Mobile County and Saraland Gearing Up for the Inaugural Alabama Spartan Race

Oct 6th, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. – The land has been cleared and obstacle construction is underway as the Mobile Sports Authority (MSA), the Mobile Bay CVB, and the City of Saraland prepare for the first ever Reebok Spartan Race to be held in the state of Alabama. The Alabama Super, a nearly ten mile course containing over 24 natural and man-made obstacles, will test the endurance and determination of almost 4,000 competitors on Saturday October 17th beginning with the first heat  at 7:30 a.m. on  the race site positioned off of Celeste Road in Saraland.  

From the moment this event was initially discussed in April 2014, the Mobile Sports Authority and City of Saraland set out to put Saraland and Mobile County on the endurance course map. “The minute we started discussing the possibility of bringing a race to Mobile County with a few of our local Spartan competitors, we discovered an excited and engaged group from the Saraland area who wanted to make this happen. And the idea just took off,” said MSA Executive Director Danny Corte. “This has been a huge undertaking and we’re all looking forward to seeing the results.”      

As a prelude to the race, on Friday, October 16th, participants, their friends/family, and sponsors will be treated to “A Taste of Saraland” at the Shell Chemicals’ Pre-Race Party. Admission to the pre-race party will be free to those involved.  Beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m., the party will be held in the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce parking lot located at 939 Saraland Boulevard. During the event, participants will be able to sample free food and beverages from numerous Saraland-based restaurants while enjoying live music, door prizes, and a bit of revelry.   With less than two weeks remaining until the Reebok Alabama Super Spartan Race, a dedicated committee of various Saraland officials, as well as Mobile Sports Authority and Mobile Bay CVB staff, has been working around the clock to ensure that this will be a very successful event for both Spartan and the City of Saraland.  

“The City of Saraland welcomes all Spartan participants and spectators,” stated Jeff Kahn, VP of Economic Development for the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our objective from the outset was to make this race one of the best ever. We have a dedicated committee that has gone above and beyond to ensure that the weekend will be enjoyable, safe, and memorable for all who attend. Our local businesses and entire community are extremely proud to put Saraland on display! So we say welcome to all - we’ll see you Friday night and at the finish line on Saturday.”        

There are still opportunities for people to volunteer and/or participate in the Alabama Spartan Race. Those interested in volunteering or assisting with site build-up and/or race day activities may contact Rita-Nicole Wright of the North Mobile YMCA via email at rwright@ysal.org.  

For anyone who would still like to compete in the Alabama Spartan Race, registration is still open at www.spartan.com. Visit the site and click on “Alabama Super” for all the details.        

Founded in 2010, Spartan Race is the global leader in the sport of obstacle racing. Spartan Races cater to individuals looking to test their physical limits and change their frame of reference for what they can accomplish, from everyday people looking to get off the couch and lead a fitter lifestyle, to elite endurance athletes who seek the ultimate physical test. Currently, Spartan Race offers three primary race formats, “Sprint” (3+ miles; 20+ obstacles), “Super” (8+ miles; 24+ obstacles) and “Beast” (13+ miles; 30+ obstacles), along with a shorter format race for children. Unlike other obstacle-focused events, Spartan Races are always timed, and competitors are encouraged to complete each of the primary race distances to achieve “Trifecta” status, earning medals for each finish. With over 50 races slated for the United States in 2015 and an additional 83 races scheduled across 20 countries internationally, Spartan Race urges you to change your life today by signing up to race at www.spartan.com.