About this episode
Spartan Races have become a worldwide phenomenon. Weekend warriors and elite, endurance athletes go into battle on military-style obstacle courses, mostly just for the fun of it. The Spartan Race is the brainchild of Joe De Sena, a former Wall Street trader who was so bothered by his sedentary lifestyle, that he gave up his lucrative career to spend more time outside. He quickly became addicted to adventure, and activity that worked his body to exhaustion. An entrepreneur from an early age, Joe made good money from his desk job, but he always yearned for a life of physical challenges. After competing in ironman triathlons and other ultra endurance events, he created the Death Race, followed by the Spartan Race, an event that is more accessible to the masses. After a difficult start, the race has grown into a global challenge, across 40 counties, with millions taking part every year. Joe is the author of Spartan Up!: A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life – and he hosts the Spartan Up podcast. In this LLAMA podcast interview, with Peter Bowes, Joe explains why he believes humans need to sweat and challenge themselves. He also discusses the mental and physical benefits of enduring a reasonable amount of pain, and why it’s so important to step outside of your comfort zone.
In the episode we cover:
- How Joe found success with Spartan Race, centered around physically grueling exercise, after foregoing a financially successful life on Wall Street.
- Why Joe believes being active and physically exhausted, is something we need.
- Another use for a sheet of plywood.
- Why Joe no longer carries around a kettlebell.
- Why Joe’s idea of a vacation, to escape his mundane desk job, was to go do crazy races and torture himself.
- How Joe believes experiencing pain and suffering helps you to be more rounded and grounded.
- How Joe motivated Spartan Race participants to follow healthier habits, like consuming less alcohol and getting a good amount of sleep.
- What types of exercises and habits Joe follows to offset the sedentary lifestyle of office work.
- Why learning and trying new things can improve your fitness and the health of your brain.
- How pushing your body physically can prepare you for other challenges or big moments in your life, unrelated to exercise. And why allowing yourself to be uncomfortable, or in a bit of pain, can make you stronger.
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The Live Long podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.
