For the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, their 2019 season ended in late September. But for Spartan obstacle course runners, there is no off season and for the first time ever, the two will combine as the Spartan Stadion Series will take over Wrigley Field this Saturday for the Spartan Stadion and Kid’s Race.
As the Spartan races are known for their Sprint, Super and Beast courses, a few years ago they wanted to add something more unique to their brand. And as big as the Spartan community is, the professional sports world one is even bigger, so it was a natural match made in heaven and the Spartan Stadion series was born. Having already visited AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX and Fenway Park in Boston, MA, the legendary Wrigley Field can now be added to that list and Chicagoans couldn’t be happier that this big event is coming to their back yard. “It’s an epic field,” said Lisa Sterkowicz Caccioppo. “My husband played there in High School.” And being from Chicago, Sterkowicz Caccioppo know that Midwest Mother Nature can be very unpredictable. “Just dress in layers and bring a windbreaker.”
And with the forecast projecting the temperatures to be in the low 40’s for race day, Indiana resident, Heather Hannin isn’t worried about that at all. “It doesn’t change my training since you always have to be prepared for anything,” explained Hannin. “I will be sure to have enough layers knowing we’ll be out on the course much longer with the adaptive athletes.”
The adaptive athletes Hannin is speaking of are those under the Team Oscar Mike banner, an organization that helps keep injured veterans on the move. Team Oscar Mike has a mission to assist Veterans and civilians, adaptive and able-bodied in participating in and completing obstacle course races, road races, marathons, triathlons, and more. And alongside those veterans will be former Chicago native turned South Dakotan, Julie Bell who will be running this race in honor of someone very near and dear to her heart. “I’m doing this one with my sister in memory of my Dad,” said Bell. “I’ve been a Cubs fan since birth because of my Dad. I never dreamed she would ever consider doing a Spartan, but it’s Wrigley baby!”
Whether its wanting to check off visiting Wrigley Field off your Bucket List, earning your Spartan Trifecta medal for 2019 or taking the leap to do your first Spartan race, when the Spartan brand teams up with one of the most famous professional sports stadiums in the nation, you can expect the event to be a home run! “It’s one of the last classic baseball stadiums still in use,” said William Bird. “When I saw Wrigley was hosting a Stadion, I had to go.”
For more information or to register for this event or future Spartan events visit, www.spartan.com.
Photo credit: Spartan
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