Every race is a test. Every obstacle is a lesson. Every finish line is proof that consistency, discipline, and determination can take someone further than they thought possible.
“I’m chasing 13 Trifectas because every race is a chance to test my limits, build resilience, and grow stronger, physically and mentally,” Raphaela said.
That is the heart of her journey.
Not one race. Not one medal. Not one perfect moment.
A full season of choosing progress over excuses.
For Raphaela, earning the 13x Trifecta Shield means proving to herself that consistency wins. It means honoring every early morning, every hard race, every obstacle overcome, and every moment where she chose to keep going when stopping would have been easier.
“It’s more than a shield,” she said. “It’s a symbol of every early morning, every obstacle overcome, and every moment I chose to keep going.”
That is what makes the Shield powerful.
It does not come from one good weekend. It comes from a year of repeated decisions. It comes from showing up again and again, through fatigue, travel, weather, setbacks, and the moments when both body and mind are asking for a break.
In ancient Sparta, the shield was never just something carried. It was a symbol of discipline, identity, and the courage to stand firm when the test became hardest. For Raphaela, the 13x Trifecta Shield carries that same spirit. It is proof that she stayed committed to the goal through an entire season.
Anyone can push hard for one weekend.
The real challenge is staying committed long after the first burst of motivation fades.
That has been the hardest part of the chase for Raphaela: consistency.
Not one obstacle. Not one course. Not one brutal climb.
The repetition.
Race after race. Weekend after weekend. Finding the motivation to keep going when the schedule is heavy, the travel is long, and the body is tired.
But that is also where she finds meaning.
“What keeps me going is knowing that growth happens when things get tough,” Raphaela said.
That line explains why she keeps coming back.
Because Spartan does not ask athletes to stay comfortable. It asks them to move forward through difficulty. To discover what they are capable of when the easy option is gone. To become stronger than they were yesterday.
That idea has shaped Raphaela’s chase.
Thirteen Trifectas. One season. One goal.
Becoming better than yesterday.
This journey also brought one major milestone: her 100th Spartan Race in Zandvoort in 2026.
That is not just another race count. It is a marker of everything that came before it. The first start line. The early doubts. The learning. The travel. The friendships. The obstacles that once felt impossible. The finish lines that slowly built confidence.
One hundred races means one hundred times choosing to show up.
One hundred chances to grow.
One hundred reminders that progress is not always loud, but it is always earned.
For Raphaela, the Spartan community has been one of the biggest reasons the journey matters. Her favorite moments are not defined by one single race, but by the people she has met and the friendships built along the way.
The finish lines are special.
But the people make them unforgettable.
Sharing challenges. Overcoming obstacles together. Celebrating each other’s successes. Watching others push through their own limits. That is what reminds her why she started, and why the chase is worth continuing.
“Spartan is more than racing,” she said. “It’s a community.”
Raphaela also credits Constantin Schueler as someone who has supported and inspired her along the way. In a season this demanding, that kind of support matters. The Shield may be earned by one athlete, but the road to Sparta is rarely walked alone.
Her advice to someone chasing their first Trifecta is simple and grounded:
“Don’t focus on the entire Trifecta. Focus on the next step, the next obstacle, and the next race.”
That is the kind of advice that applies to every Spartan, whether they are chasing their first finish line or their 100th race.
Do not let the full mountain overwhelm you.
Take the next step.
Then the next obstacle.
Then the next race.
Trust the process. Stay consistent. Remember that every Spartan was once chasing their first Trifecta.
Progress matters more than perfection.
Raphaela chases Trifectas because growth begins where comfort ends.
By the time she reaches Sparta, the Shield will represent more than 20 Trifectas.
It will represent her 100th Spartan Race.
Every early morning.
Every difficult course.
Every moment she chose discipline over excuses.
Every friendship built along the way.
And every step that helped her become stronger than yesterday.
For Raphaela Kittler, the Shield is not just something earned at the end of the season.
It is proof of who she became while chasing it.
