The Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend has a storied history, with the event being hosted at various venues over the years as Spartan sought to find the perfect location to meet the demands of Midwest racers. The journey began in 2014 at The Wilds, a zoological park associated with the Columbus Zoo, made famous by the Nat Geo show Secrets of the Zoo. However, the 2015 event at The Wilds was marred by a parking lot disaster, with multiple cars getting stuck in a large field masquerading as a parking lot.
Spartan had to bring in two tow trucks to manage the situation, as elite and age group racers rushed to make it to the starting line, some abandoning their cars on the roadside to sprint to their start times. This logistical nightmare led to a change in venue, and in 2017, the event moved to the Richmond Hunt Club near Chicago, which had the capacity to accommodate more racers.
The Badlands Off Road Park
A few years later, the event shifted to The Badlands Off Road Park near Attica, Indiana. The demand for the race continued to grow, leading to the introduction of an ultra race at the Attica venue. However, the course was notoriously muddy, making it challenging for both racers and those trying to park. In response to these challenges, two years ago, Spartan announced yet another venue shift, this time to Perfect North Slopes Ski Resort near Cincinnati. While the name “Perfect North Slopes” might not sound as intimidating as “Badlands,” the course proved to be deceptively challenging.
Venue Overview: Perfect North Slopes Ski Resort
Perfect North Slopes may not have the same level of notoriety as Mountain Creek or Palmerton, but with a peak elevation of 1,000 feet and several ski runs, Spartan has managed to create a tough course that includes significant elevation gain, making previous Midwest venues look relatively flat in comparison. Unlike the gentle rolling hills of The Wilds, Attica, and Richmond Hunt Club, Perfect North Slopes presents racers with steep, challenging climbs. The Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend seems to have hit a sweet spot, attracting 7,000 racers on Saturday and another 4,000 on Sunday, with many participants competing in multiple races over the weekend.
Spartan staff have indicated that they are in a multi-year agreement with the ski resort, suggesting that the era of constantly shifting Midwest venues may finally be over.
Logistics and Accommodation
Perfect North Slopes is conveniently located just 20 minutes from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), a modern regional airport with international service. The airport offers easy car rental pickup, major connections to key cities, and an efficient TSA line. The Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend itself is near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, just across the Ohio River from the airport. Lawrenceburg offers several standard chain hotels, but it’s essential to book early, as local hotel staff are still adjusting to the influx of Spartan racers and have yet to fully implement price gouging practices common at other venues.
For dining, Lawrenceburg has plenty of options, but one standout is “4 Speed on 50’s Diner,” a popular hangout for Spartan racers. This old-school diner with simple, satisfying food is a must-visit on the Friday before the race.
Race Venue and Facilities
Perfect North Slopes offers ample parking in legitimate lots, with an overflow lot about 0.25 miles away from the main area. This setup ensures that the parking issues of previous venues, where cars needed to be towed out of muddy fields, are a thing of the past. Registration takes place in the parking lot and is typically straightforward, with volunteers from the ski resort staff who are experienced in managing day-pass traffic.
The ski lodge itself is open during the race, offering food, coffee, breakfast, real bathrooms, and lockers for rent. Spartan Plus members have access to a large room in the ski lodge. New this year was the addition of the Ultra race, along with the Beast, Saturday Sprint, and Sunday Super/Sprint events.
One notable absence at this venue was Athlete’s Services, usually provided by Rocco (roccocastellano.com). Rocco may be focusing more on DEKA events this season due to their profitability. Supporters have started an online petition and crowdsourcing campaign to encourage Rocco to return to more Spartan events, so be sure to check with the OCR Kings for details.
Course Overview: Beast, Ultra, Sprint, and Super
The Beast course at Perfect North Slopes was listed with 3,200 feet of elevation gain, reminiscent of the Mountain Creek venue in New Jersey. The course featured several big climbs connected by technical trail running, which was equally challenging in parts. Though the maximum climb at Mountain Creek is 1,500 feet, Perfect North Slopes, with its nearly 1,000-foot peak, proved to be more demanding due to its constant up-and-down, hilly, and technical terrain. On Saturday, 30% of runners did not finish the Beast, one of the highest DNF rates in recent years, largely because many underestimated the course’s elevation
The Ultra race saw an even higher dropout rate, with 45% of participants failing to finish. As usual, Spartan enforced the transition area cutoff time, and those who underestimated the course found their day ending at 1:15 PM. The course’s technical nature led to several injuries, with many racers requiring medical attention.
The Sprint and Super races had reduced mileage, with both distances starting uniquely by immediately wading into a large pond. This tactic effectively reduced crowding in the early miles. Spartan decided to place the Dunk Wall at mile two for all distances, ensuring a memorable, if not chilly, start to the race
Obstacle Placement and Challenges
Racers who dislike front and back-loaded obstacle placements would have found this weekend’s races particularly challenging. After a few standard obstacles, including a long bucket carry in the early miles, participants entered the woods west of the ski trails and temporarily forgot they were in an obstacle race. The organizers reserved the ski elevation for the second half of the race, and they brought back the notorious barbed wire crawl up the ski slope, this time with snowmaking equipment adding to the sloshy mess. The final stretch included a grueling uphill sandbag carry, within one mile of the finish line, that zapped the energy of even the most seasoned racers. Ultra runners had to endure this section twice, making it a true test of endurance.
The placement of obstacles in the final two miles, combined with the lack of tree cover, made the course especially tough for those finishing after noon, as temperatures rose. Additionally, the final sandbag carry, designed in the shape of the Spartan shield, gradually became a formless mess as the weekend progressed, leading to potential safety concerns and confusion among racers.
Festival Area and Final Thoughts
The Festival Area at Cincinnati Spartan Trifecta Weekend had a different feel compared to previous venues, with the ski resort’s food vending still open, relegating the Festival Area to a handful of local vendors. Notably, Dr. Squatch, the soap company with a quirky marketing campaign, made a return appearance, handing out soap near the cold wash station—a welcome addition for Spartan travelers who rely on parking lot “showers” after races.
The Spartan Cincinnati Trifecta Weekend finally seems to have found a home at Perfect North Slopes. The venue is affordable, with access to reasonably priced hotels and restaurants, and offers a challenging course that will likely earn a reputation as one of the tougher stops on the Spartan calendar. For those looking to step up from a flat ultra to a mountain ultra, this venue provides a great first step toward tackling the more notorious Spartan venues like Utah, New Jersey, Vermont, or Montreal.
