Success Through the Struggle with Spartan Race Founder Joseph De Sena- EP025
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
Joseph De Sena truly lives by this unique philosophy, having moved his family from Japan to New York because things were getting too easy. His belief that life is more fruitful when you’ve struggled extends to his work as well.
Joe is the CEO and co-founder of Spartan Race, Inc, the world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand. The Spartan lifestyle spans 35 countries and encompasses a global championship series as well as training and nutrition programs.
Joe had a lucrative career on Wall Street, but he wasn’t inspired by the work. In 2000, he got the idea to change people’s lives through endurance racing, but the events were too difficult for most and Peak was losing money. In 2010, he changed the race format and Spartan was born. Today Joe addresses the difference between Spartan and other obstacle races, how to train for a TRIFECTA, and the healthy addiction associated with Spartan racing. Learn more about Joe’s hope for the future of Spartan racing and how he seeks to help people push themselves in order to grow.
Topics Covered
[1:01] How Joe came to start Spartan racing- Grew up in Queens
- Mom became interested in yoga, meditation
- Introduced to 3100-mile race (mind stronger than body)
- Initially did other jobs to chase money
- In 2000, decided to start race business to change lives
- com lost money for ten years (300-plus mile races too difficult for most)
- Changed format, name in 2010
- Now 1M participants in 35 countries
- Authentic, athletic (nothing silly)
- Spartan seeks to be Olympic sport
- Consistency, competition
- Feels good to be healthy, push yourself
- Human brain changes in positive way
- Reconnect with friends, the earth
- Chance to feel alive
- Triathlon is linear, ‘boring’
- Spartan has lower bar to enter
- One hour per day (for respectable time)
- Do yoga to help prevent injury
- Burpees, pull-ups and running
- Any gym
- Coach or trainer can help with motivation
- 1,000 certified SGX coaches around the world
- Injury rates lowest in industry
- Imagery and narrative is intimidating, so people train
- Dangerous to go cold
- 71-year-old mother-in-law did Tokyo race
- 11-year-old son did Fort Knox, 8-year-old daughter did Beast
- All sizes and shapes of people
- Go at own pace, do what you can
- Can’t get through obstacle, do burpees as punishment
- At least 60 days
- Include yoga to prevent injury
- Run five days a week
- Give Ali Fitness podcast a 5-star review on iTunes then email ali@ali.fitness for a free copy of Spartan Fit!
- $100,000 total
- Substantial if good, follow circuit
- Very unlikely to stop after one race
- Average is just shy of three events
- Most want to earn TRIFECTA
- Healthy addiction
- Change 100M lives
- Olympic sport
- Epic, 24-hour race
- 1,000 entries (short 350 participants)
- Email joe@spartan.com for chance at free entry
- Will be one of hardest races (relay division alternative)
- Most laps on five-mile course will win
- Don’t want life to be too easy
- Moved family from Japan to New York
- Life too easy, nothing to strive for
- No ability to deal with adversity
- Life more fruitful when you’ve struggled
- Lived on farm in Vermont
- Hired Kung Fu master for kids who only spoke Mandarin
- Only allowed kids to watch Mandarin-language TV
- Moved to Singapore, enrolled in Mandarin-English school
- Mother’s name (Chinese characters) on arm
- ‘Love’ on hip (after second date with wife)
- About to get third, Oscar Mike Foundation
- If new person doesn’t click, leader must resolve
- Navigator is key team member
Learn More About Joseph De Sena
Email joe@spartan.com
Spartan Fit!: 30 Days. Transform Your Mind. Transform Your Body. Commit to Grit. by Joe De Sena and John Durant
Resources Mentioned
Rise of the Sufferfests Documentary
