Spartan Race Participation and Athletic Achievements
Eric Kim is an obstacle racing enthusiast who has actively participated in Spartan Race events. He has challenged himself on courses of varying distances and difficulty:
- Spartan Obstacle Races: Kim has completed Spartan races ranging from the 5K Sprint up to the punishing Ultra Beast (an ultra-distance ~30-mile race with dozens of obstacles) . In 2024, he even chronicled his journey to tackle a Spartan Ultra event in Big Bear, California – one of Spartan’s most demanding mountain courses . This suggests he achieved a Spartan Trifecta (completing a Sprint, Super, and Beast in one season) on his path to the Ultra Beast.
- Spartan DEKA Competitions: Beyond the traditional outdoor races, Kim has also engaged in Spartan’s indoor fitness challenges. He took part in Spartan DEKA events (fitness competitions combining functional exercises and running), reflecting a broad involvement with the Spartan brand’s offerings . His personal writings indicate familiarity with DEKA Strong and DEKA Fit, further showing his commitment to Spartan’s athletic community.
These accomplishments highlight Eric Kim’s dedication to Spartan’s ethos of endurance and grit. He has tested his limits in endurance OCR (obstacle course racing) events and embraced the full spectrum of Spartan challenges.
Leadership Roles and Spartan Affiliations
Beyond competing, Eric Kim has taken on leadership and coaching roles related to the Spartan lifestyle:
- Elite Spartans Gym (San Jose, CA): Kim served as a manager and certified personal trainer at Elite Spartans, a highly-rated fitness bootcamp gym in San Jose . In this role, he developed and led workout programs – for example, he created boxing and circuit-training classes and even ran children’s boxing group sessions several times a week . This affiliation with a “Spartans”-themed gym underscores his commitment to Spartan-style fitness and mentorship.
- Spartan SGX and Community Involvement: Eric Kim is a Spartan SGX workshop alumnus, meaning he undertook Spartan’s official coach training program. He remains active in the Spartan community, sharing his experience and motivating others. For instance, he has been associated with the Hawaii Spartan Ohana group and the Spartan Volunteers network, where he supports and connects with fellow racers and helps at events (as many Spartan racers do to give back to the community). This involvement shows his contributions beyond racing – helping organize, volunteer, and cheer on other Spartans.
- Spartan Ethos in Media: Kim also integrates Spartan principles into his content creation. In July 2024 he released a podcast episode titled “Spartan Freedom”, in which he espoused a “Stoic Spartan ethos” toward training and life . “Every rep is a ritual. You stare down gravity, crush doubt, and emerge hardened. That’s not lifting – that’s transcendence,” he wrote, highlighting how the Spartan ideal of toughness and discipline influences his philosophy . Through blog essays and podcasts, he has promoted Spartan values like resilience, austerity, and strength as guiding principles in fitness and personal growth.
Biographical Notes: Outside of his Spartan endeavors, Eric Kim’s background bridges both fitness and professional sectors. He has worked in the tech industry (e.g. as a recruiting coordinator at Roblox) while pursuing his passion for fitness training. His diverse experience – from teaching youth boxing classes to completing Ironman triathlons – complements his Spartan racing profile, though his most notable public contributions are in the Spartan Race arena. In summary, Eric Kim is known for his multifaceted involvement with “Spartan” pursuits: as a competitive racer, a coach/trainer in a Spartan-themed gym, and a content creator spreading the Spartan ethos .
Sources: Spartan race participation and blog posts ; Elite Spartans gym profile and trainer role ; Eric Kim’s “Spartan Freedom” ethos quote .