06
2012The other day I found myself on a five-hour flight with no internet – keeping me from working on my site Mud and Adventure (where you can find a mud run or obstacle race near you). With my first ever Spartan Race coming up (the 8-10 mile NJ Super Spartan) this Saturday, I figured it would be a good time to read Spartan Race’s free ebook The Spartan Guide to the Sport of Obstacle Racing to get some insight on how Spartan races differ from other obstacle races and what I could expect from the event.
Not only am I doing the Super Spartan in the morning but I signed up for the Hurricane Heat that night. I am doing the Super Spartan for me for fun and the Hurricane Heat for the business value – the opportunity to meet the founders of Spartan Race and run alongside the some of biggest names in the sport while its still in its relative infancy. So I signed up for up to twenty ski mountain miles of what may be the most physically demanding day of my life.
I had previously told a buddy of mine who is doing the Super Spartan with me that I may or may not do the Hurricane Heat depending on how I felt after the Hurricane Heat. Afterall it was just a $25 add on since I was already registered for the Super Spartan.
Well, ready to dive into the ebook I was prepared to read a bunch of brand focused marketing hype. You now know I am not only interested in learning about Spartan Race because I want to know what’s in store for me on Saturday but it benefits me from a business perspective to know more about the company, its values and culture and actually know some more about them before I have a chance to meet them.
When I landed I had made it a third of the way through the book. As expected there was a lot of brand pushing hype. What I also found was a lot of great information – about the history of mutli-sport, the history of obstacle raising and an introduction to some of the key players both on and off he field – that was just the stuff I got a chance to go through. The book , despite the Spartan Race hype, is a great read and resource for anyone touched by the obstacle racing bug – especially since its free.
What struck me the most however is perceived passion the founders of Spartan Race have for the sport. They are all passionate hardcore endurance athletes in their own right. Whether or not this equals passion and commitment to others and the sport series they created, I can’t say. But I can say is that I don’t see the same backgrounds in the C level suite elsewhere within the industry.
One chapter that really hit home before my flight landed was the one written my Navy SEAL Mark Divine on mental domination. This past month I have personally come to a point where I have said to myself enough is enough. Let’s live the life you are meant to lead. For everyone this is different but in my heart I know how I want to live my life and I hadn’t been doing it. To keep a long story from being even longer, the start of chapter talks about how the mental fight must be won before the actual fight. Well I can’t promise you what shape I will be in, but I promise you I will see you at the Hurricane Heat – at the start, finish and the after party.
