During the Ascension weekend, from May 19 to 21, Spartan Netherlands will again organize the Spartan Race Zandvoort! In this 2023 edition many things remain the same, but the ambition of Spartan Netherlands has again led to some significant changes in the course. Our Race Director Martijn Dekker has listed all these changes and we spoke with him!

Martijn! Of course, we've known you for a few years now, but can you tell the people how you ended up here?

I was introduced to Obstacle Course Runs in 2017. I saw the Spartan Race on TV and I was immediately curious. I then participated in the Spartan Race IJmuiden and quickly found out that it was totally my thing! I proactively stayed in contact with Spartan Netherlands. In 2019, a different organizer got involved with Spartan Netherlands and one thing led to another, and I got asked to be a Spartan Brand Ambassador!

At that time, I was also active in the OCR Association Netherlands, which unfortunately no longer exists, where we also did promotion for the Spartan Race in the (then still called) Amsterdam ArenA. Well, as I said we stayed in touch and the year after that I started doing customer service, which I still do by the way. When it was announced that Spartan Zandvoort was going to be organized, I was asked for the role of Race Director and I still love doing it today!

Which Spartan Races have you run yourself?

Well, I started with IJmuiden. Then the Isle of Maurik, Maastricht... I've been to France, I've been to Tenerife. For next year, Sparta is planned already. So I’ve seen quite a few.

Looking at Spartan Zandvoort 2023 - what has remained the same from 2022?

We still start and finish at the same place. The Badhuisplein is still the setting for the Fire Jump and right next to it you’ll find the finishers' village. The beach will definitely come back, the promenade will definitely come back. Of course, we will visit the Formula 1 circuit again, which has had some updates.

Expanding on that - what has changed?

Well, for the first time we are allowed to use a whole section of the circuit that we were not allowed to use before! I'm not going to give everything away now, just to keep people a little curious... But more about this will be announced soon! One little sneak peek? Practice your stair climbing....

We've also been looking at how to use the obstacles a little differently, by having them change locations, for example. By making a few small changes, you can give the race a completely different character and that's what we went for in 2023.

Where does this change come from?

Development! With the race in Zandvoort, we just want to keep developing, and improving every year. The space in Zandvoort, with all the different surfaces and scenarios, lends itself to a great race and we want to make the best use of that every year to always put down a slightly different, and therefore challenging, race each time!

Of course, the fact that we get to use that new part of Circuit Zandvoort was also one of the reasons why we made the changes.

Do you already have an idea what the toughest point in the course will be?

Well haha, as I already gave away: the new part near the circuit will really hurt your legs... Besides that, the sand will of course be grueling. Before the first edition, we heard from a number of participants from abroad that they did not worry too much, because the Netherlands "was so flat anyway". Well, they knew it when they crossed the finish line with concrete thighs! So a tip from me: train on running in sand, if that is possible in your area.

Why should you participate in Spartan Zandvoort, especially if you have never run a Spartan Race before?

The Spartan Race offers different distances. Especially if you have never run a Spartan Race before, you can just join at your own level. You have three levels; the Elite, the Age Group and the Open categories. The latter is for people who just want to run their own pace and make their own challenge. And that one is definitely accessible to beginners!

The Sprint, the 5-kilometer distance, is very accessible for beginners. Even in terms of the course, how you run, what obstacles you encounter, it's all very manageable. And once you don't succeed? Then the Spartans around you are all willing to help you, really. Of course, you yourself can start with someone and help each other through.

And eventually, after the finish, you get the feeling that is so typical for Spartan: 'I just did it!'

I urge everyone to try. Anyone can do it. People often think OCRs are very tough and only for very fit, very strong people, but that's really not the case. Sign up for one of the distances, set your personal goal, whether that's a finish time or just finishing at all, and go for it. Or choose the Night Sprint, which again this year promises to be a huge party with lights and music. Don't hesitate - just go for it this year!