SEE IT: NFL Star Tyreek Hill Crushes a Spartan Sprint, Documents the Race With His GoPro
What happens when an elite NFL wide receiver tackles a 5K, 20-obstacle Spartan Sprint?
We don't have to wonder or speculate. Five-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro Tyreek Hill took on the challenge in Concord, North Carolina in April and documented the entire race with his GoPro, in real time.
The Kansas City Chiefs star — racing alongside his girlfriend, Keeta Vaccaro — hoped to break the 24-minute mark. (That's a pretty lofty goal considering the Elite winner, Ryan Woods, won the race with a time of 25:20.)
He took his time and raced at a leisurely pace, finishing in 51:40 (46th in his age group and 199th amongst men). Even though he wasn't kicking it into full gear, his athleticism and strength were on full display as he effortlessly powered through obstacles. Before crossing the finish line in unison, Hill and Vaccaro jumped over the fire together, hand in hand.
'This Felt Like the Perfect Challenge'
"I’ve been challenging myself this offseason with different workouts outside of the gym," the 27-year-old explained when asked why he decided to take on his first Spartan race. "I want to keep my training fun and exciting, so this felt like the perfect challenge."
In the video above, the GoPro intimately captures Hill's experience as he offers real-time commentary. You can also hear him cheering on and encouraging Vaccaro throughout.
A former All-American in track and field in high school, Hill had no issues with the running, naturally. Some of the obstacles, however, gave him fits (the Barbed Wire Crawl and the Atlas Carry, most notably).
"It was about as difficult as I thought it would be," he said, "but it was more fun than I expected. Having my whole family there for support helped a lot."
Knowing what he knows now, and with one race under his belt, what will he do differently to prepare for the next one?
"I will definitely focus on the unconventional obstacles," Hill said. "My endurance and stamina are always strong, but carrying rocks was different for me."
Up Next: A Podium Finish?
Speaking of his next race — and yes, there will be a next race — the Super Bowl champion has his sights set on an Elite podium finish. He believes that he can compete with the best OCR racers in the world, and the goal is simple: Finish in under 30 minutes.
Stay tuned.