DEKA vs Tough Guy and Gal Challenge : distance, stations, prix et difficulté comparés (2026-27)

DEKA is a functional fitness race series run by Spartan Race and billed as the decathlon of hybrid fitness racing. Every DEKA event uses the same ten DEKA Zones. The time for each zone and the total time are recorded, so athletes can compare results with their own previous marks and with a global leaderboard.

The flagship DEKA FIT puts 500 m of running before each zone, for 5 km in total. DEKA MILE uses 160 m runs for one mile in total, and DEKA STRONG is the ten zones with no running. There are also DEKA Ultra (50 zones and 25 km of running) and DEKA ATLAS, a heavier ten-zone test with a 30-minute cap. Athletes who finish STRONG, MILE and FIT in one calendar year earn the DEKA Trifecta. Heats include Elite, Age Group, Teams and Ruck, so the series suits gym-goers as well as competitive athletes.

The Tough Guy and Gal Challenge is New Zealand's longest-running mud run series, organised by Event Promotions (Cambridge, NZ) with naming sponsor Middleware. Adult events offer roughly 6 km (1 lap) and 12 km (2 laps) obstacle courses plus a 6 km Team Challenge (teams of 5+, at least 2 women), with Open (13-39) and 40+ grades, and a daily cap of 1,500 competitors. The 2027 adult series runs at Camp Wainui (Wellington), Kumeu Showgrounds (Auckland) and Lakes Ranch (Rotorua), alongside junior, secondary-school and family editions in more cities. Entries for 2027 open 1 November 2026.