Race Review Spartan Super/Sprint Massanutten VA 10/25
- Tom Shankapotomous
- Nov 4
- 11 min read
Quick Stats
Event Type: Spartan Super (10Kish) & Sprint (5K-ish)
Elevation Gain: ~3,000 ft (Super), ~1,437 ft (Sprint)
Location: Massanutten Resort, McGaheysville, VA
Weather: Dry, mild fall conditions
Terrain: Rocky, steep, uneven footing; no water elements
Obstacles:Severely back-loaded challenge; forward all complaints directly to OCR Kings Customer Service.
Quick Links
Overview
Massanutten Virginia is a brand new addition to the Spartan calendar. It's been a while since Virginia has had a location that truly deserves its place, reminiscent of Wintergreen in 2014 and 2015, with its lengthy climbs, uneven terrain, and unpredictable weather. While it's not a Beast, like Palmerton it delivers a powerful challenge in fewer miles. Although the weather was favorable this season, future seasons will likely experience more variable fall conditions, making the course even more challenging.
The turnout for this race was significant, especially given that it was the inaugural event. They drew over 7,100 runners on Saturday, which is impressive for a first-year event. Sunday's sprint drew even more participants. All the feedback I heard from racers was that the layout was very positive, and in a discussion with the ski resort staff, they mentioned they have already signed an agreement to bring the event back in 2026. This is encouraging news given the spotty history of Virginia races on the Spartan calendar, and making this a mainstay on the calendar is good news. With that said, let's get the obvious out of the way and start at the beginning.
Wintergreen 2014
Anyone who has participated in a Spartan race in Virginia over the past decade will recall the infamous Wintergreen course, which was only held for a few years. On August 23, 2014, the Spartan Super at Wintergreen Resort, Virginia, achieved legendary status and rivals Montana in 2023, Carolina in 2019.
The 2014 course layout at Wintergreen Ski Resort involved multiple ascents and descents of the resort's 1,000-foot vertical ski hill, with the Super accumulating an estimated 3,800 to 5,200 feet of elevation gain over approximately nine miles—back when all races exceeded the advertised distance.
That morning, a thick fog rolled in, delaying start waves by an hour and shrouding the mountain in low visibility as the trails became chaotic. To make matters worse, obstacles were placed on the steepest slopes, including a 0.7-mile uphill bucket carry.
The outcome was a scene of crawling, slipping, and trudging. As we approached the final stretch with a lengthy uphill barbed wire crawl, lightning struck and a storm rolled in. When I finished roughly seven hours after starting (and I'm quite proud of that), the finish line had collapsed, the bag check tent was rolling down a hill, and the shuttle buses had deserted racers on the mountain. Due to course stoppages, some racers finished in 10 hours, and this was a Super.
Somehow, we managed to get a random person to drive us to the parking lot at the base of the mountain, and we wandered through the dark, rain, and fog until we located our car. Since this was only my second Spartan race, I genuinely thought this was normal, but anyone who participated that year would remember it differently. A year later, Spartan dropped Wintergreen, and for years there was no real race in Virginia.
In 2021 and 2022, Spartan announced a return to Virginia with a race in Arrington—the site of the Lockn Music Festival—featuring rolling farmland. For those of us who survived Wintergreen and spent years coming to terms with it, the new venue felt completely wrong. A race at the site of a hippie music festival venue? Rolling hills? Convenient parking? A pumpkin patch? How about a frappuccino? That is a slap in the face of Wintergreen survivors. I'm sure they heard the feedback, as that venue lasted only two years, and for a few years, there really was no Virginia race other than a stadium race near D.C.
But now, with Massanutten, Spartan has embraced its rightful heritage and the opportunity to experience a Virginia race that offers both a challenge and a chance to create new nightmares ... I mean ... memories of steep inclines and difficult conditions.
Supplemental Material About the Region
The Ground Below - Geology
Let's clear something up right away. Massanutten isn’t a mountain in the traditional sense — it’s a syncline, a massive geologic fold that formed when ancient tectonic forces compressed layers of seabed sediment into a broad U-shape. Over hundreds of millions of years, erosion stripped away the softer rocks above and around it, revealing the more resistant quartzite we run on today. This process created what geologists call “inverted topography,” ( I know cause it looked it up) where what was once the low point is now the high ridge.
The course doesn’t just feel ancient — it is. You’re moving across tilted rock layers laid down in shallow seas long before the Appalachian Mountains existed (the second oldest mountain chain the world) shaped not by peaks pushing upward, but by pressure, time, and resistance to erosion. At the risk of putting to sleep anyone who made it this far, here is a link to more detail about geological phenomena, because when you are going up the incline at Massanutten, you are climbing the inverted floor of an ancient seabed.
The Path Behind - History
This area holds incredible historical significance. Long before it featured race bibs and timing mats, the ridge acted as a natural highway and vantage point. Indigenous peoples used the ridgelines for travel and hunting, shaping the uplands with controlled burns and following seasonal routes that later guided colonial roads. During the Civil War, the same
high ground became a strategic communication line, most notably at Signal Knob, where flags and torches relayed troop positions. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps cut switchbacks, fire roads, and overlooks into these slopes, many of which now serve as trails for runners and hikers. More detailed information on the history of this region is available in the link below, highlighting the region's pivotal role over many centuries.
The Sky Above - Astronomy
Beginning at Massanutten, I am photographing deep-sky objects from selected race locations. This race is the inaugural Shank Gym Observatory Mobile Field Operations (MFO-001).
The first subject, IC 5070 — the Pelican Nebula — was photographed under a Bortle 4 (metric that defines the amount of ight pollution) sky near the starting line with a SeeStar S50, processing was finished in Siril on a Liniux platform.
About 1,800 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation, you'll find the Pelican Nebula, a hot spot for star formation. The hydrogen gas there lights up red due to strong ultraviolet radiation. The light we see in this picture started traveling when the Appalachian Mountains were still forming. It's a cool reminder that every hike we take on those ridges is mirrored by the immense distances of light-years above us.
If you want to know more about this nebula and the gear used to snap and edit the pics, check out the link below—it also includes the nebula's story. You can find all the other images from this series on the main astronomy page.
Travel and Access
This was a new travel destination for me, but ultimately straightforward. Massanutten Resort is located in McGaheysville, Virginia, approximately 15 miles east of Harrisonburg. It's easily accessible from I-81 via U.S. Route 33. If you're driving, it's about two hours from D.C., three hours from Richmond, and within a six-hour drive from many major cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and Raleigh.
Closest airports
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD) – 30 mins
Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO) – 1 hour
Dulles (IAD) – 2 hours (traffic permitting and to be avoided at all costs)
Nearby Towns and Amenities
Most lodging options were in Harrisonburg (~25–30 minutes away). Solid choices:
Hampton Inn Harrisonburg – University
Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Conference Center
Courtyard by Marriott Harrisonburg
Post-race food suggestions
Billy Jack’s Shack – Burgers, tacos, beer
Grilled Cheese Mania – Comfort food (my choice)
Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint – Popular with racers I spoke with.
.
The Course
The layout mirrors others on the current 2025 schedule. If you had fun at Pefect Slopes at Cincinnati this year, this course is for you. Steep inclines, technical running, steep downhills with loose rocks, and exposure to the elements are the main components. This course requires sturdy trail shoes to minimize slipping on downhills. Although there was no mud on the course, the terrain was uneven throughout, and loose shale rock (that's a syncline for you!) made footing difficult at times.
Both the Super and Sprint events began with a steep climb up a Black Diamond ski slope, descended halfway, and then climbed again. At the top of the second climb the Sprint diverged, while the Super passing under ski lifts and ascending down up and down again. Overall terrain was technical, with large rocks obstructing the trail and sometimes requiring climbing over to continue. This treeline section seemed to be a mountain bike trail in sections, with tree roots creating more unstable footing. Courses like this always remind me personally to focus on lower body training that includes dorsal and ankle work. This the major diference betwwen road and trail running for me, you need solid ankle mobility or its gonna be a long day.
Overall, the course reminded me of Palmerton in the Poconos, which I always considered the toughest Super on the schedule. The elevation was comparable, with the primary distinction being the season. Palmerton in July can become extremely hot, while this course occurs in the Fall, featuring minimal sun and humidity despite the exposure during the climbs. But don't get too complacent; this year, Virginia had some pretty mild weather, and that is bound to change over the next few years, which can make the inclines slick for footing and the downhills a slip 'n slide.
I don't use a GPS while running, but many people I talked to indicated that the course was longer than the standard 5k and 10k distances, even after accounting for penalty loops and obstacles. But overall, I think Spartan has stuck to the advertised mileage over the last couple of years.
Sprint: ~4 miles, ~1,437 ft gain
Super: ~6.7 miles, ~3,000 ft gain
Obstacles
Both the Sprint and Super started off easy—walls, hurdles, the usual warm-up. But the Super got serious fast. Near the top of the course, racers faced extra obstacles like another Barbed Wire Crawl and the Stairway to Sparta.
That setup meant most of the harder obstacles were stacked toward the end of the race, right after the final descent. We’re talking two Barbed Wire Crawls and a Slip Wall, all back-to-back. along with overhead obstacles a Sandbag Carry, Hercules Hoist and Rope Climb and Inverted Wall (my all time favorite). The OCR Kings have covered this, and I get why.
At mountain venues (ok, ok ... Syncline venues), it’s tough to place obstacles mid-climb. It’s just not practical. So yeah—stacking them at the bottom makes sense, but it still makes for a tough final gauntlet and criticism about obstacle flow is valid. Some people are knocking the course for being too back-loaded, and I get that. But unless Spartan starts flying in rigs with helicopters, this layout made the most of the space.
Now let’s talk about the Spear Throw. It’s become a real pressure point again. Burpees are back for missed throws, and this time it was placed right after that double Barbed Wire and Slip Wall combo. Not ideal when your heart rate’s already spiked and your grip is toast. It felt like Spartan wanted to make it count—and it did. I see this as a pattern since they brought burpees back.
A couple final notes: the Fire Jump made a return—classic Spartan. But the Dunk Wall was noticeably absent. It might be gone for good, maybe because of the California lawsuit. Too bad—it’s a signature obstacle. I’m already eyeing the NJ Beast next year, where the Dunk Wall always shows up and I wonder if it will be there next season.
Festival Area
Saturday was lively with a DJ and announcer. Bag check was managed inside the ski lodge, and there was a cold wash available, though without much mud, it wasn't heavily used. Sunday featured a simpler setup with no DJ or announcer. Vendors were mostly local on both days, with the Air Force and National Guard present as usual.
The "finisher's mile" was a short bonus loop, more like 0.25 miles, with a Reign energy drink at the end. Merchandise was clearly in clearance mode, as Spartan is moving through its old Craft gear after the sponsorship ended. Venue shirts sold out quickly, and by midday, only patches were left. I'm curious to see who the new apparel partner will be for 2026.
Parking
Early arrivals were parked in the resort condo lots, which were about a 10-minute walk to packet pickup. By the time I got out of my car with my hotel coffee and walked to registration, I was only halfway done. They advertised a shuttle, but I think it was mainly for spectators who might not be accustomed to walking uphill. This venue appeared to be quite spectator-friendly, as the festival area was long and wide, allowing views of both the start and finish areas and a few of the remaining obstacles. As a result, I saw many spectators on both days.
Rumors & Wrap-up
There is considerable chatter about the upcoming changes: new shirts, redesigned medals, and alterations to the Trifecta structure. The new medal design has been revealed, and some people are not happy with it. It looks like all medals will be the same with a removable centerpiece that can be used to form a larger hex pattern. I think their overall idea is to have these hexes reflect different races, achievements, and multi-Trifecta milestones. Another change is that T-shirts will be handed out at packet pickup and will be non-distance specific; however, the design will change over the course of the year.
This approach seems to eliminate the Multi-Trifecta or Weekend Trifecta medals. There were big logistic problems over the past three years with these medals, shortages, items stuck in customs, and veteran racers approaching the medal tent not knowing if they would get their multi-Trifecta medals. There were severe backlogs on many medals and swag, and something clearly isn't working (I just received my 13th Trifecta medal from last year in the mail a month ago), so if this is the solution, then this is the solution.
References
American Geosciences Institute. (n.d.). Geologic time scale. Retrieved from https://www.americangeosciences.org
Encyclopedia Virginia. (n.d.). Monacan Indian Nation. Retrieved from https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/monacan-indian-nation/
Harris, A. G., Tuttle, J. H., & Cattermole, J. M. (1997). Geology of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1839). U.S. Geological Survey.
Living New Deal. (n.d.). George Washington National Forest – VA. Retrieved from https://livingnewdeal.org/locations/george-washington-national-forest-va/
Massanutten Resort. (n.d.). History and mission statement. Retrieved from https://www.massresort.com/explore/our-resort/history-and-mission-statement/
Monacan Indian Nation. (n.d.). Our history. Retrieved from https://www.monacannation.gov/our-history.html
National Park Service. (n.d.). Geology of Massanutten Mountain. Shenandoah National Park Geologic Resources Inventory. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/shen
National Park Service. (2021). Signal Knob during the Civil War. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/signal-knob-during-the-civil-war.htm
Nickelsen, R. P. (1983). Structural geology of the Massanutten Synclinorium, Virginia. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 94(5), 573–584.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. (2024). Climate trends in the Mid-Atlantic region. Retrieved from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
OpenGeology. (n.d.). Massanutten virtual field experience. Retrieved from https://opengeology.org/historicalgeology/virtual-field-experiences-vfes/massanutten/
Recreation.gov. (n.d.). Elizabeth Furnace Group Campground. Retrieved from https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10158475
Shenandoah Stories. (n.d.). Elizabeth Furnace and ironmaking in Fort Valley. Retrieved from https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/43
Southworth, C. S., Aleinikoff, J. N., & Burton, W. C. (2017). Geologic map of the Shenandoah National Park region, Virginia (Scientific Investigations Map 3356). U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved from https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70198911
Southworth, C. S., Aleinikoff, J. N., & Burton, W. C. (2021). Geologic map of the Harrisonburg 30' x 60' quadrangle, Virginia (Scientific Investigations Map 3472). U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved from https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70267458
The Historical Marker Database. (2023). Signal Knob Marker. Retrieved from https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=246774
U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Massanutten references. Retrieved from https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/UnitRefs/MassanuttenRefs_2673.html
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. (2023). Natural heritage program: Massanutten habitats and conservation status. Richmond, VA: VADCR.
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy. (2018). Geology and mineral resources of the Shenandoah Valley region. Charlottesville, VA: DMME.
Whisonant, R. C. (2019). Virginia Rocks! A guide to geology and scenic wonder. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press.
This was my first Spartan (Saturday Sprint), and it was amazing seeing the gorgeous fall colors from the tops of the hills made one temporarily forget how much they wanted to die lol. I'm glad to hear I jumped right into a more "sporty" one (Palmerton and Jersey are on my list next season). Hopefuly I'll see you waiting for some trifecta medals (I'm holding out hope) next season.
Glad you finally got your 13th Trifecta medal! And what's this, no more 2x, 3x, 4x, etc???