Tips for Handling the Spear Throw at Spartan Races

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A resident of Park Ridge, IL, Peter Hill is a sales engineer who graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. A philanthropist who supports multiple nonprofit organizations in Park Ridge, IL, and beyond, Peter Hill also enjoys competitive sporting events such as the Spartan Races.

Nationwide competitions known for pushing people to the limits of their physical abilities, the Spartan Races feature a variety of challenges and obstacles that are hard for first-time competitors to master. If you are training for a Spartan Race, consider looking into tips about the obstacle challenges ahead of time to be better prepared to tackle these tests on the course.

For example, the Spartan Race spear throw is deceptively difficult. Participants must stand behind a barricade and throw a spear 20 to 30 feet into a target made of hay bales. If they don't sink the spear into the hay, they must do burpees before continuing with the race. Spartan coaches advise participants to obtain their own spears before the event to get a feel for throwing it before the big day. Also, competitors shouldn’t rush through the spear throw, but instead pause to take a few deep breaths when confronting this obstacle.

Before attempting the spear throw, Spartans should check the attached string to ensure it isn't caught on anything, and that it can move freely when the spear is thrown. Experienced throwers advise people to hold the spear in the center so the weight is balanced, and handle it like you are throwing a dart rather than a football.