Is prize money awarded at Spartan DEKA events? The simple answer is yes, but just how much money depends on which race you’re running, and which division you’re in.
DEKA events only award prize money for the elite divisions; age groupers get podium recognition but unfortunately no money. So you’ll need to put up a stellar time to get invited to race in the elite division.
Let’s take a look at the 2024 & 2025 DEKA seasons, which events awarded prize money, and just how much is on the line at each event.
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See the full schedule of 2024 DEKA events here.
Elite Divisions Only
DEKA only awards prize money for athletes in the elite division of officially-sponsored DEKA FIT events. This means that prize money is not given to:
- any age group winners
- regular season DEKA MILE winners
- regular season DEKA STRONG winners
- regular season DEKA Teams winners
- regular season DEKA RUCK winners
- regular season DEKA ULTRA winners
- winners at any DEKA Road Show event
2025 DEKA Prize Money
2025 US DEKA FIT Races
The elite divisions for men & women at all US DEKA FIT events are eligible for the following prize money, totaling $3,500 per event ($1,750 for men, $1,750 for women). This is identical to the 2024 season.
- $1,000
- $500
- $250
Teams & Rucks divisions do not receive prize money.
There are 8 DEKA FIT races in 2025 awarding prize money, totaling $28,000.
2025 European DEKA FIT Races
For the 6 European DEKA FIT events on the 2025 calendar, prize money has not yet been announced. However, we expect it will be similar to last year’s payouts, which were:
- $600
- $400
- $200
2025 Australian DEKA FIT Races
There’s only 1 DEKA FIT race on the 2025 calendar for Australia so far. DEKA FIT Melbourne is awarding the following prize money for its elite men & women, which is noticeably higher than the US prize money.
- $3,000 AUD (~$1,850 USD)
- $1,500 AUD (~$900 USD)
- $1,000 AUD (~$600 USD)
The single DEKA FIT race in Australia is awarding a total of ~$3,350 USD in prize money.
2025 DEKA ULTRA World Cup
There are several regular season DEKA ULTRA races, none of which are awarding prize money in 2025. However, the DEKA ULTRA World Cup on September 7, 2025 in Austin, TX is awarding the following cash prizes for the top 3 elite men & women:
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- $2,000
- $1,000
- $500
A total of $7,000 is being awarded for the DEKA ULTRA World Cup ($3,500 each for men & women). This is identical to the 2024 ULTRA World Cup.
2025 DEKA FIT Ruck Awards
Spartan DEKA does not provide prize money for Ruck events. However, Titan 6 Actual awards a prize pack to the top 3 finishers in the general ruck divisions of DEKA FIT events, as well as the new Ruck Masters category (ages 45+).
The total amount of DEKA prize money for the 2025 season so far is $35,000. This will go up once the prize money for DEKA World Championships is announced.
$28,000 – 8 US DEKA FIT elite races
$______ – 6 European DEKA FIT elite races
$3,350 – 1 Australian DEKA FIT elite race (converted from AUD to USD)
$7,000 – DEKA FIT ULTRA World Cup
$______ – DEKA World Championships
——————
$38,350 total prize money committed so far by DEKA in the 2025 season
2024 DEKA Prize Money
For the entire 2024 season, Spartan DEKA gave away $110,300 in prize money. DEKA World Championships made up more than half of the prize purse, awarding a total of $58,500 for elite individuals & teams.
The remaining prize money was awarded at US & International DEKA FIT events, as well as the DEKA FIT Ultra World Cup.
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2024 DEKA FIT Prize Money Payouts
The exact payouts differ depending on which race you’re participating in.
Officially sponsored DEKA FIT events in the United States pay out the following for male & female elite racers:
- $1,000
- $500
- $250
There are 8 of these events in 2024, totaling a $28,000 prize purse.
Officially sponsored DEKA FIT events outside of the United States pay out the following for male & female elite racers:
- $600
- $400
- $200
There are 7 of these events in 2024, totaling a $16,800 prize purse.
2024 DEKA FIT ULTRA World Cup
The first ever DEKA ULTRA event on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at DEKA FIT Midwest in Fort Wayne, Indiana had a special payout for male & female elite racers:
- $2,000
- $1,000
- $500
2024 DEKA World Championships Prize Money
Individual DEKA FIT, DEKA MILE, and DEKA STRONG
Both men & women receive the following payouts for each individual event:
- $3,000
- $2,000
- $1,000
- $500
- $250
$13,500 is awarded for each of the 3 elite individual races, totaling $40,500 for all elite individual races.
Teams DEKA FIT, DEKA MILE, and DEKA STRONG
For each event, there are 3 team’s divisions—men, women, and coed. Each event and division is awarded the following prize money (shared between teammates):
- $1,000
- $600
- $400
There are 9 total races that award prize money totaling $18,000 for all elite teams races.
2024 Local DEKA MILE & DEKA STRONG Events
As far as we know, none of the local DEKA MILE or DEKA STRONG events held at DEKA affiliate gyms are giving away any prize money, but you’ll still receive a finisher’s shirt and a DEKA medal.
The total amount of DEKA prize money for the 2024 season was $110,300.
$28,000 – 8 US DEKA FIT elite races
$16,800 – 7 International DEKA FIT elite races
$7,000 – DEKA FIT ULTRA
$58,500 – DEKA World Championships ($40.5k indy, $18k teams)
——————
$110,300 total prize money awarded by DEKA in the 2024 season
Additional Questions
Does DEKA have prize money?
Yes, but only for the elite divisions of officially supported Spartan DEKA FIT events (not roadshows, DEKA MILE, or DEKA STRONG), the DEKA FIT ULTRA, and at DEKA World Championships.
Do age groups win prize money in DEKA?
No. There is no prize money for age group divisions in DEKA events, but they do receive podium recognition.
Do the DEKA Ruck events award prize money?
No DEKA Ruck event winners are awarded prize money, even at the DEKA World Championships. However, prize packages are given to the top 3 finishers in all Ruck divisions at the DEKA World Championships and most official DEKA FIT events, provided by Titan 6 Actual. These usually consist of podium flags and gift cards.
What do you get for finishing a DEKA event?
All DEKA finishers receive a finisher’s shirt. This includes DEKA FIT, DEKA MILE, DEKA STRONG, DEKA ULTRA, DEKA RUCK, and DEKA Teams.
In addition, for DEKA FIT events, each age group division has a podium ceremony for the top 3 males & females. Each podium finisher receives a finisher’s flag with their placement.
Do DEKA MILE & DEKA STRONG events have prize money?
No. DEKA MILE & DEKA STRONG events do not award prize money, with the exception of the DEKA World Championships at the end of the season.
Do men & women receive the same prize money in DEKA?
Yes. Every year that prize money has been awarded, the men & women received the same amount.
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