11,000 Participants to Converge in Lehigh Valley for St. Luke’s Pocono Spartan Race
The borough of Palmerton is about to triple its population over the weekend when more than 11,000 competitors take part in the 2026 Pocono Spartan Race at Blue Mountain Ski Area.
St. Luke’s University Health Network is the Official and Exclusive Health System and Hospital Provider of the 2026 Poconos Spartan Race Event to be held July 11-12.
Palmerton has a population of about 5,500, so this weekend’s race will triple the number of people in the Carbon County hamlet during one of the top five Spartan events on the East Coast.
"Spartan is built on overcoming obstacles and expanding what’s possible, but nobody accomplishes that alone,” said Brian Cox, Director of Global Partnerships at Spartan. “Having an elite Partner in St. Luke’s provides our racers with the high-level preparation and unmatched recovery support they need before and after an intense weekend at Blue Mountain. We hope to continue to grow this Partnership for many years to come.”
This weekend’s Spartan events will include a 5K sprint with 20 obstacles, a super 10K with 25 obstacles, and kids races from ½- to 2-miles with obstacles. It will also feature a Spartan Trail race on pristine single-track trails too narrow and inaccessible for obstacle building.
All races will take place on Blue Mountain.
John Graham, Senior Network Administrator, Fitness & Sports Performance, and Spartan participant, is excited to mark St. Luke’s fifth year as presenting sponsor of this event in partnership with Spartan. “It’s absolutely incredible to see such determination and human spirit on display,” says Graham, who is a co-captain along with Dave Wood of St. Luke’s Spartan team. “As we celebrate our fifth year, we look forward to everyone stretching their limits and overcoming every obstacle with us. Participants are tested at every turn, making it such an empowering and life‑changing race.”
During the event, St. Luke’s Chiropractic Care and St. Luke’s Sports Medicine team members will be available at the “St. Luke’s Spartans” tent, where participants can go for assistance with recovery. The tent will include post-race stretching and recovery tools to help speed up the body’s recovery from the intense event. St. Luke’s will also provide snacks and drinks to help participants rehydrate during and after their events. All finishers receive a T-shirt, medal and professional photos.
Experts from St. Luke’s Fitness Centers, Physical Therapy and Running Institute, and members of the St. Luke’s medical staff provided training and racing tips to participants and help coach teams. Spartan Training Classes lasting 90 minutes and were held every Monday and Saturday until July 9 at St. Luke’s Fitness & Sports Performance Center West End.
St. Luke’s Fitness & Sports Performance also offers group fitness classes at its Carbon, Commerce Way, Anderson, Warren and West End facilities.
