Fitness racing brand DEKA, created by the team behind Spartan, has continued to expand its international footprint following weekend events in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Derby, UK. The two events brought together thousands of competitors of varying ages and experience levels, highlighting the growth of fitness racing.
In Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2,281 people attended the Broward County Convention Center, with 1,477 competitors participating in the DEKA FIT challenge. Women represented 54% of the field, while 58% of athletes were competing in a DEKA event for the first time. Competitor ages ranged from 12-year-olds Olivia Legagneur and Zoey McGhee to 79-year-old Sandy Cronin, with an average participant age of 39.
Yancy Culp, DEKA co-founder, said “What stood out to me in Fort Lauderdale was the sheer range of people who showed up to test themselves. You had first-time competitors alongside experienced racers, women making up more than half the field, and athletes from 12 to 79 years old all taking on the same challenge.
“That’s exactly what we wanted DEKA to create – a fitness experience that is measurable and challenging, but also open to anyone who wants to find out what they’re capable of.”
DEKA FIT combines 10 functional fitness zones, each preceded by a 500m run, creating a 5km challenge. Athletes can compete individually or in two-person and four-person teams. The Florida event saw 630 participants compete in two-person teams and 147 in four-person teams.
The Florida event also included the DEKA FIT Ultra, an extended endurance option where competitors complete the DEKA FIT course five times, totaling 50 functional fitness zones and 25km of running. Thirty-seven competitors took on the Ultra, with Michael Powell recording the fastest men’s time of 03:38:29 EST and Serena Simeoli leading the women’s field in 03:58:14 EST.
Florida residents accounted for 80% of the field, though participants represented nine countries. The event returned to the Broward County Convention Center, which previously hosted the 2025 DEKA World Championship.
Meanwhile in the UK, DEKA East Midlands reportedly saw participation increase 40% year-on-year, attracting over 4,500 attendees across three days at Derby Arena. Women accounted for 53% of competitors (1,420 athletes) and 62% of entries in team divisions. Over half of the participants were new to DEKA, with 66% taking on DEKA FIT for the first time.
The UK event introduced the first DEKA Youth competition in the region, bringing school teams into the arena alongside a Family Wave that welcomed 57 younger participants. Ages ranged from 10-year-old Ezra Woollard to 73-year-old Liz Paxton, with an average participant age of 41.
The UK programme featured DEKA FIT, DEKA FIT Ruck, and DEKA MILE, which utilizes 160m of running or walking before each of the 10 zones. Notable performances included Daisy Evans and Jakub Riedel setting a UK record in the DEKA FIT Co-Ed Teams category in 28:43 GMT, while Bodger Rees and Ethan Smith recorded 25:36.9 GMT in the DEKA FIT Teams category. Dave Parkin set a UK Male Elite record in 31:26.7 GMT.
The Derby event hosted athletes from 14 countries and over 250 gym communities, with 17% of the field originating locally from Derby and Derbyshire.
Emily Le Roux, International Vice President at DEKA, said “DEKA was created around a simple idea: give people a measurable challenge and let them discover what they’re capable of. East Midlands showed just how broad that appeal can be, from school teams and families to first-time competitors and experienced athletes.”
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