DEKA, the fitness racing series from the creators of Spartan, has announced a partnership with youth fitness platform EXCLSR to launch a dedicated school-based racing programme. The collaboration will culminate in the inaugural DEKA YOUTH East Midlands 2026 event on September 11, 2026, at the Derby Arena & Velodrome.
The partnership marks the first time DEKA has dedicated a standalone arena event exclusively to youth fitness racing. Designed for students aged 14–18, the format aims to bridge the gap between school physical education and the rapidly growing global sport of hybrid racing.
A pathway into fitness racing
DEKA YOUTH features 10 functional ‘DEKA Zones’ – including weighted lunges, rowing, and sled pushes – connected by 160m running intervals. Unlike adult individual races, the youth format focuses on teamwork:
Team Format: Athletes compete in pairs (male, female, or co-ed)
Strategy: While the first and last running laps must be completed as a duo, teams can choose how to split the work across the 10 zones and intermediate laps
Accessibility: The programme is engineered to be measurable and inclusive, catering to both competitive athletes and first-time participants
EXCLSR integration
EXCLSR, founded by Bryce McMurray and Peter Northing, provides digital and training infrastructure to support schools year-round. Powered by AI-driven digital capabilities, the platform offers structured training programmes that help to prepare students for the large-scale showcase event in Derby.
Peter Northing, Co-Founder of EXCLSR, said “Functional fitness racing is growing at unprecedented rates across the world. EXCLSR brings fitness expertise, digital capabilities (powered by AI) and a powerful partnership with DEKA YOUTH that delivers an exciting year-round programme and an awesome showpiece event for young athletes across the UK and soon the world.”
The move into the Derby Arena represents a scaling of youth fitness, moving the discipline from local school halls to a premier international sporting venue.
Emily leRoux, Vice-President of DEKA, said “The arrival of our youth fitness racing program in the UK marks a transformative moment for how we engage the next generation with movement. This collaboration is rooted in our shared mission to provide a high-energy platform, foster young people’s resilience and confidence necessary for a lifelong connection to sport.”
Bryce McMurray, Co-Founder of EXCLSR, added that the partnership creates a “clearly defined pathway” for young people to progress from grassroots school environments to elite-level arena stages, potentially redefining the future of school sports globally.
Registration and school partnership details can be found via the DEKA and EXCLSR digital platforms.
