 | | In today's edition, Joe shares: - A Favorite Race Story
- 3 Benefits of Rucking
- Hard Way Goals
| | | | Spartans!
Long before Spartan became a household name, I organized an event that would go down in history among my friends. I called it The Superman.
It was a brutal 26-mile course through the rugged mountains of Vermont, starting in Pittsfield and ending at the Killington Grand Hotel. Sounds epic, right? It was. But when I tried to recruit participants for it, I hit a wall.
No one wanted to sign up. The challenge seemed too outrageous, even for my crew.
So, I did what any desperate event organizer would do—I lied. I called up friends from Wall Street, family, and pretty much anyone I could think of and told them I was hosting a barbecue at my farm.
Who could resist a weekend of relaxation, cold drinks, and hot dogs in beautiful Vermont? Not many, apparently. About 2,000 people showed up.
At 5 AM on that Saturday morning, the real plan was set in motion. I woke everyone up, groggy and confused, wondering why we were starting so early for a barbecue. "We have to carry the barbecue up the mountain," I told them.
That's when it hit them. This wasn't a cozy weekend getaway—it was a 26-mile endurance race. No one knew they had signed up for this.
Among the unsuspecting participants were a couple of my close buddies, Kenny and James. Both were far from peak physical condition at the time, and as we marched into the misty Vermont wilderness, the absurdity of the situation became clearer. They grumbled, they sweated, and they suffered, but they kept moving forward.
That's what Spartan is all about, isn't it? Enduring, no matter what.
Hours later, most of the group triumphantly reached the Killington Grand Hotel, exhausted but elated. But not Kenny and James.
They had only managed to cover half the distance. I had to send out ATVs to rescue them after 13 miles, and when we found them, they were face-down in the dirt, barely able to speak (OK, slight exaggeration). Yet, despite their exhaustion, they recounted the most bizarre story.
They claimed that a woman in a red Mazda had pulled up next to them on a barely passable mountain road, dressed in high heels, makeup done-up, asking for directions to a place called Rainey Avenue.
I thought they were hallucinating. How could anyone drive a Mazda up that mountain? It was all dust and treacherous terrain.
That night, we laughed it off as a product of exhaustion and dehydration. Hallucinations are pretty common in extreme challenges, after all. Climbers, explorers, even soldiers in survival situations often report strange sightings when they're pushed to the brink.
There's even a term for it—the third man factor. When your body is at the brink, your brain fills in the gaps, creating things that aren't there. Legendary adventurers like Sir Ernest Shackleton experienced it, and now, apparently, so had my friends.
But here's where things get interesting. Years later, while hiking near my backyard, I met a chef from Killington Resort. During our conversation, he mentioned that he lived on Rainey Avenue. I froze. Rainey Avenue did exist. Maybe that woman in the red Mazda was real after all.
What started as a bluff to get people moving became an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, struggle, and stories that have grown larger with each telling. And isn't that what Spartan is all about? Pushing people past their limits, creating memories that last a lifetime, and finding out that sometimes, the wildest stories are the ones that end up being true.
Here's to the races we don't know we've signed up for.
Want to hear more reasons why this community pushes their limits? Read on.
Here's to The Hard Way!
Joe | | | 3 BENEFITS OF RUCKING | All you need to ruck is a backpack and something heavy to put in it. Sounds simple, but walking or hiking with a weight on your back can escalate your athleticism to the next level. Here are three benefits to adding a weekly ruck to your training routine. Then, join a DEKA Strong or Mile event to start your journey to the ruck Trifecta.
1. Build Endurance and Strength
Rucking hits most major muscle groups to build your legs, back, core, and shoulders. And due to the added weight as you walk or hike, you'll also improve cardiovascular fitness without the high impact of running. It's a great way to condition your body to handle prolonged physical activity while carrying weight.
2. Improve Stability and Balance
Carrying weight while moving over uneven terrain (often part of rucking) improves your balance and stability. This is crucial for strengthening the stabilizer muscles in your legs and core, helping to prevent injuries.
3. Mimic Spartan Race Conditions
Spartan races often involve carrying heavy objects like sandbags, buckets, or logs. Rucking helps simulate these tasks, conditioning your body to move under load and move at a good pace while carrying extra weight. | | | | You Ask, Joe Answers | In this week of You Ask, Joe Answers, it's your turn. Last week, I asked you, the Hard Way community, to share goals you want to set for yourself starting this month. Here's a few:
I'm not in shape right now, but my goal for 2025 is to do a Trifecta again, Sprint, and Super in Bled, Slovenia, and a Beast in St. Pölten, Austria.
- Manuel
I'm training hard for my first marathon coming up next month, in celebration of my 50th birthday.
- Diana
I have let myself rest too much the past few years. I keep wanting to motivate myself into getting back at it, but once I start I let something derail me into not following through long term. My goal is to get back to where I can run a Spartan Race and ultramarathons again.
- Cecil
My goals are to: 1. Change procrastinating/overthinking habits, 2. Invest in health, 3. Education is key to learning knowledge and studying new skills, 4. Overcome fears/worries, 5. Speaking in front of big crowds.
- Akeska
To lose 40lbs, complete Chattanooga 70.3, and complete a Spartan Ultra with my brother April 2025.
- Viola
Next year my son turns 14 and will be old enough to complete an adult race so our goal (and his Christmas present!) is to complete a Trifecta with him. AROO!
- Eric
I want to work on building more strength and better flexibility over the fall and winter.
- Sarah
Get a promotion at work and prove my leadership.
- Rich
Aroo!
Question for Joe? Want to tell him what you think of The Hard Way? Email him at thehardway@spartan.com. | | | | They Said It | | "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." | | – Lao Tzu | | | | | To keep receiving this newsletter, sign up here. | | | WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEWSLETTER? | | | | | |
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