What is DEKA? The 10 zones and every format, from FIT to Teams

What it is

Spartan’s functional fitness race

The core

10 zones, identical worldwide

DEKA FIT

A 500 m run before each zone (5 km in total)

DEKA MILE

A 160 m run before each zone (one mile)

DEKA STRONG

The 10 zones only, no running

Teams

With a partner, sharing the work of each zone

DEKA is Spartan’s functional fitness race. Instead of a cross-country course, you compete across ten exercise zones — rowing, the SkiErg, the sled, the medicine ball and box jumps are some of them.

What sets DEKA apart is that the ten zones are the same everywhere in the world. That means your time stands comparison with any other DEKA, wherever it is held.

The zones never change; what changes from one format to the next is how much you run between them.

• DEKA FIT: a 500 m run before each of the 10 zones, 5 km of running in total.
• DEKA MILE: a 160 m run before each zone, 1.6 km in total (one mile).
• DEKA STRONG: the 10 zones only, with no running.
• Teams (DEKA FIT Teams and DEKA MILE Teams): you race with a partner and split the work of each zone.

If you come from the gym and running is not your thing, DEKA STRONG or DEKA MILE is the easiest way in: the focus is on the zones and there is little or no running. If you already run regularly, DEKA FIT is the full experience, with 5 km of running spread between the zones.

Nervous about a first race? The Teams formats are a great choice: you share the effort of every zone with a partner, and the day is twice the fun.

DEKA events usually take place indoors or in covered venues, so the weather rarely gets a say. In Spain you can race DEKA in Alicante, Tenerife, Torremolinos, Toledo, Barcelona (spring and autumn), Valencia, Ibiza, Vigo and Madrid.

The DEKA League by Weider final is held at DEKA Tenerife 2026.

• Your official bib

  Entry in the DEKA format of your choice.

• Hotel in the Total pack

  Close to the venue, so you reach your heat well rested. [Confirm hotel per race.]

• Priority Pass

  Bib pickup with no queues and priority in the recovery and food areas. [Confirm if included.]

• Results in the Pulse app

  Results, splits and the DEKA leaderboard to compare your editions.

Pick your DEKA: from the Mediterranean to the Canary Islands, by way of Madrid and Vigo.

• DEKA Alicante 202631 October and 1 November 2026 · AlicanteSee the guide →
• DEKA Tenerife 202621 and 22 November 2026 · TenerifeSee the guide →
• DEKA Torremolinos 202727 and 28 February 2027 · TorremolinosSee the guide →
• DEKA Toledo 20276 and 7 March 2027 · ToledoSee the guide →
• DEKA Barcelona Primavera 202720 and 21 March 2027 · BarcelonaSee the guide →
• DEKA Valencia 20273 and 4 April 2027 · ValenciaSee the guide →

See more races →

• Is DEKA the same as a Spartan Race?

  No. Both come from Spartan, but DEKA is a functional fitness race across ten exercise zones, usually indoors, while a Spartan is a cross-country obstacle race. The DEKA zones are the same everywhere; no two Spartan courses are alike.

• What is the difference between DEKA FIT and DEKA MILE?

  How far you run between zones: 500 m before each zone in DEKA FIT (5 km in total) and 160 m in DEKA MILE (one mile in total). The ten zones are identical.

• Can I do DEKA without running?

  Yes. DEKA STRONG is the ten zones only, one after another, with no running sections at all. It is the easiest way in if you come from the gym and running is not your thing; DEKA MILE, with just 160 m before each zone, is the next step.

• Can I race with a partner?

  Yes, in DEKA FIT Teams or DEKA MILE Teams: you compete with a partner and split the work of each zone. It is a good choice for a first DEKA: you share the effort and the nerves, and the day is twice the fun.

• Can I compare my time with other DEKA events?

  Yes. The zones are the same worldwide, so your time is comparable with any DEKA. In the Pulse app you can compare your editions and check the DEKA leaderboard to see where you stand.