Can I skip an obstacle? Is there a penalty?

True Spartans do not jump over an obstacle, otherwise what is the point of participating in an obstacle race?

If you fail to jump over a particular obstacle, only after you have tried at least once will you have to do 30 BURPEES, under the control of the marshals, before you can move on to the next obstacle.

If you don't want to do so many burpees, you'd better try to pass the obstacles!