Happy Mother’s Day, Sparta!  For all the mothers out there, we honor you and are proud to share the story of  Leyla Di Cori, a Spartan regular, and her inspirational mother, Johanne Di Cori, age 72 years young, who took on her first Spartan race daughter by her side.

Here is their story, told by Leyla herself.

When we finally arrived at the race site in Mont Tremblant, I was ecstatic to see some familiar faces from the Spartan Staff. They came from Vermont to help out with the races in Montreal.

I took part in the competitive heat at 10:00am. Finishing in the top 8, I was pleased with myself and my mom was pretty proud of me. As we posed together at the picture booth, my mother looked at me and said: “I want to race with you tomorrow.” I looked at her in dismay. I had tried to convince her in the past to try a Spartan Sprint but she refused. And there she was, my 72 year-old mother saying she wanted to race! I was thrilled with the idea. That evening I wrote an email to Steve Halstead to explain my mom wanted to race. We started preparing that same night. I decked out my mom in my thigh high socks, my race shorts, my trusty Salomon Speedcross 3s and a Spartan Tech T-shirt. If she was going to race, she was going to look the part too!

Sunday morning arrived. Believe it or not, my mother only told my father that very morning she would race. He was stunned and by the look on his face and a bit worried. You have to understand, my mother was not training for a Spartan Race. Despite her age (and trust me, you’d never think she is 72 when you look at her!) she is quite active. She bikes, walks in the neighbourhood and is used to going to the grocery store and walking back with bags. Add to that the fact that she gardens and doesn’t mind getting dirty! My concern was yes, she was active, but clearly she had not been getting ready for the challenges a Spartan Race presents. My biggest concern remained that my mother, Johanne, also suffers from asthma! I vowed to not leave her side. I was going to stand by my mother no matter how long it took. We were in this together!

Once we arrived at the race site, I decide I would go ahead and race the competitive heat at 9:00am. Originally, we were both going straight into the 10:00am but I wanted a lay of the land in order to be the best guide possible for my mother.

At 10:15, arm-in-arm with my mother, I led her to the front of the start line. I explained the shoving that would occur, the smoke, the fire that was at the beginning and how she should expect hilly terrain for the most part. The siren went off, and off we ran! The smoke affected my mom’s breathing from the very beginning but she managed to run the first kilometer.  Racers were not noticing a 72 year-old was racing with them.  As the hills grew higher, we slowed down and power walked through the mountain. The forest was hilly and muddy. It certainly was tough terrain for her but she was doing awesome. Funny enough, two other men, probably in their late 40s were walking the trail as well. I am glad to say we Chicked them!

Never leaving my mom’s side, we made it through the woods. The course made us go in and out of the woods several times. We did all the obstacles from the sandbag carry, to the rope ladder and so many others. My mom was amazing, strong, and determined.  She was not giving up. Despite the thirst and the fatigue she was committed to finishing. The only thing that worried her was the 220 yard barbed wire crawl. The mud was incredibly deep and she even got stuck in it. The suction was so strong she was knee high and couldn’t get out. Her legs cramped up and she couldn’t move for a good minute. Fellow Spartans helped her out of the crazy mud pit. With every crawl, I would say, “You got this, mom! You can do it! Don’t give up!!!” Other racers couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw my mom. Imagine this white haired woman racing next to them. So many racers encouraged her and were in awe. With every step we took, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly proud.  I kept telling her how remarkable she was for doing this. She is a grandmother after all!!!

My mom was determined to finish and kept a smile the entire time. She even joked with me that giving birth was easier than a Spartan Race.

Less than a mile away from the finish line, there were a series of obstacles. The only one my mother missed was the spear throw. I did the burpees for her. I knew she was getting exhausted but with every step she took I pushed her, saying we were almost there. If we got this far, we were not giving up now!!! I could see how tired and dehydrated she was. It was about 104F that day. She climbed up theat 8 foot wall like a cat! She went through the tunnels. She made her way to the electric barbed wire. She went up the cargo nets with great agility and she conquered the inclined platforms. Then came the final obstacle before facing the gladiators: the inclined slippery wall with rope. I guided my mother telling her how to position her body. We were side by side. She barely had any strength left in her arms. She said she couldn’t take another step.

I said to her, “Mom! This is the last one!!! Now give it all that you’ve got! And I know you have it! Now pull!!! PULL!!!! YOU CAN DO IT! Take baby steps and pull yourself up there!!!” Another Spartan Chick was at the bottom and helped me by guiding my mother as I was extending my hand from the top of the ramp. The crowd was going wild seeing my mom. She was near the top and said she couldn’t get over. I remember yelling “ YOU GOT THIS MOM!  Do it!” And she did! The crowd soared!  It was a magical moment. I think my heart stopped when I saw her legs make it over. We made our way down cautiously. I looked at her, hugged her saying how proud I was to be at her side, and how incredible I believed her to be.  As we turned around, a few yards ahead of us the gladiators were waiting. I had promised my mother I wouldn’t let any gladiator tackle her.  She was going to stay at my side and I was going to shove them if someone dared to approach her. As we made our way towards them, I eyed them cautiously. All four of them bowed down in front of us.  They looked at my mother and applauded her. Everyone around the finishing area was applauding and cheering. Arm in arm, mother and daughter crossed the finish line with tears in our eyes. We had made it! My mom Johanne made it!

My father was waiting for us at the finish line. His face said it all. He hugged both of us and then held my mom in his arms. Clearly you could tell how emotional he was to see his muddy wife, that against all odds finished a Spartan Race, despite not having trained for it and suffering from asthma.

I can tell you my mom was a Spartan Super Star! She was being stopped left and right and everyone wanted their pictures taken with her. The MC even made an announcement about Johanne Di Cori, the 72 year-old Spartan Chick/grandmother  that just finished the course. I was tearing up for the most part after the race. Words couldn’t and still can’t express how proud I am of my mother. She is the reason why I am strong and determined. I just can’t stress that enough.

My mother is such a down to earth person. She doesn’t realize her achievement. For her it was a race she completed, a challenge she wanted to try.  I told her she was an inspiration for many after completing this race.

That’s a Spartan mom, if we’ve ever heard of one!?

Tags: Johanne Di Cori, Mother's Day, spartan race

by Carrie Adams

With an epic year of racing in the books, we are recounting some of the biggest stories of the year.  Let’s start with post #10!  How about a story about a guy who lost over 400 pounds and reclaimed his life, conquered a beast, and earned his membership into the Trifecta Tribe?   We are talking about the one and only Chris Davis.  His story inspired thousands.  To see his journey, watch this video. 

From the original post:

Every day Spartan Race HQ gets emails and phone calls with success stories of our athletes getting off their couches and getting healthy preparing for a Spartan Race.  Untold pounds have been lost, new levels of health and well-being found by those who embrace a healthy Spartan lifestyle.  Every so often one of those stories strikes a chord so deep, we are compelled to tell it completely.  One of those stories is in motion now, and we are going to keep sharing updates of a man who has turned to Spartan to change his life forever.

We met Chris Davis in Georgia where he finished the race in 3:04, and at 390 pounds.  Struggling across the finish line and exhausted, Spartan staffers helped him to his car and he headed home.  But that is not where this journey begins and it’s nowhere near over.

Chris started his Journey at 696 pounds. in 2010, he heard of the Spartan Race and started losing weight.   We got in touch with him and moved him to Spartan HQ. He is currently down 300 pounds from his starting weight with the help of the Spartan Race motivation.

Spartan Race staff, including founder Joe Desena are attempting to get him to 180 pounds by September a loss of an additional 200 pounds over the next 5 months.  In his own words, he’ll share his journey on the Spartan blog.  Here is his first entry.

To read the blog in it’s entirety, click HERE.  And stay tuned for another top blog post from 2012!

Tags: Chris Davis Project, joe desena, spartan beast, Trifecta Tribe, vermont

by Carrie Adams

With 2013 looming large on the horizon, and much of the holidays behind us, we look forward to our Times Square demonstration on January 17th and the more than 60 events we have planned for Spartan venues around the globe in 2013.  Before we set foot on a race course in 2013, we want to give back to those hit hard by October’s super storm Sandy.  After all, Spartans give generously.  So we gave our friends at NYCares a call so we could find a way to roll up our sleeves and do what we do best – get dirty.

When we had to cancel our NYC Times Square event in the wake of Super Storm Sandy, we had no idea how much damage the storm would bring to the East Coast.  As we prepare to return on Thursday, January 17for our demonstration at Broadway Plaza between 42-43rd streets from 11AM – 2PM we want to show New York that Spartans also give generously with a two-day volunteer opportunity Saturday, January 12^th and Sunday, January 13^th to help those still rebuilding in the wake of the devastation.

Spartan Race is pleased to announce a two-day volunteer opportunity in conjunction with NYCares to help Muck Out some homes in Far Rockaway, Queens!  Nothing like doing some good and getting dirty in the process!  With nearly a dozen of our Street Team already on board, we can’t wait to get started!

The Spartan Muck Out will involve clearing debris and damaged items from homes, and removing drywall and other damaged parts of the buildings and will be led by experienced NYCares staff members or trained, experienced volunteers.

New York Cares was founded in the late 1980’s by a group of friends who wanted to take action against serious social issues facing the city and is now the city’s largest volunteer organization, running volunteer programs for 1,300 nonprofits, city agencies, and public schools.

There are different tasks at each location and volunteers should come prepared and flexible to participate in the entire process.

Date: Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13th:

Volunteering Spartans will board a bus to Far Rockaway, Queens at 8AM where you will work to clear and clean out homes for residents. Once on site, all volunteers sign waivers, are given an overview, safety briefing, and provided supplies including tools, tyvek suits, and n100 dust masks (if necessary).  Volunteers are then divided into groups of between 8 and 12 and are directed to a home to work with.  Each volunteer work crew is led by an experienced staff member or a trained, experienced volunteer.

Time: Bus departure time: 8:00am
Bus return time: 6pm (depending on traffic)
Bus meet-up: 47 Trinity Place at the corner of Trinity Place and Rector Street in Downtown Manhattan. http://goo.gl/maps/oSl7B

To join in the clean-up process, Step 1 – Create an account here: http://www.newyorkcares.org/users/create_account.php
Step 2 – Go to this link and click sign up for Saturday, Sunday, or both.  (Link:http://www.newyorkcares.org/volunteer/volunteer_opportunities/search_projects/projcodesearch.php?projcode=Spartan+Race&location=&neighborhood=&dow=&x=0&y=0&pass=1&page=1)
Step 3 – Show up and muck out!
Once you sign up you will receive an auto email with more details and my contact info.

Give back and get dirty!

There is no better way to begin the New Year than with a chance to do good and then a Spartan Race experience in Times Square that’s never been done before!  We look forward to returning to New York in the New Year!

Tags: Muck Out, NYCares, Queens, Spartan Race Times Square, Super Storm Sandy

by Carrie Adams

Mark your calendars, Spartans!  Spartan Race is headed back to Times Square Jan. 17, 2013 for our Invitational Obstacle Race Demonstration but FIRST we’re making a pit stop in Far Rockaway, Queens to help out the victims of Super Storm in a joint effort with the non-profit organization,  New York Cares, to help those still recovering from the devastation.

For the first time, Spartan Race will be hitting up the urban jungle in a Times Square demo like you’ve never seen!  This invitational demo will feature some of our most beloved and feared obstacles and will have participants show the viewing public what a Spartan Race (well, short one) looks like!  We may even do a burpee or two as well, we’re known for those!   The Spartan Race Times Square Challenge is set for Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at Broadway Plaza between 42^nd and 43^rd Streets, in Manhattan. (updated location)

Before the demo in Times Square goes down, Spartans will get a chance to get out into the community and help out those in need.  We’re announcing the Spartan Muck Out, a two-day volunteer project to help clean-up efforts in Far Rockaway, Queens, that will take place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 12 and 13.  Both days, busloads of Spartan volunteers will depart 47 Trinity Place (corner of Rector Street) in downtown Manhattan at 8:00 a.m., returning at approximately 6:00 p.m.  The Muck Out will involve clearing debris and damaged items from homes and removing drywall and other damaged parts of buildings. Experienced New York Cares staff members or trained, experienced volunteers will oversee each work crew.

Joe D., Spartan founder and resident burpee dictator, Joe Desena is excited about bringing the world of Spartan Racing together with the world of Spartan charity.  As you know, Spartans give generously.  ”We are doing all we can to change lives all over the world with these events.  There is no better time to change your life than in the New Year.  That doesn’t just mean your body.  As Spartans, we want to give back and of course, we’re doing it in the best way we know how – by getting dirty!”

We’ll be joined by some familiar faces.  Team X.T.R.E.M.E. (www.team-x-treme.org) is heading out and bringing retired U.S. Army Sgt. Noah Galloway, (amputee of the left leg above the knee and left arm above the elbow), Eduard Lychik (single leg hip disarticulation), and Marine Corporal Todd Love (trimembral amputee of both legs above the knee and left arm below the elbow.)  We’ll have some of our elite racers and everyday competitors on hand as well, showing off the Spartan demonstration course!

Want to get involved in the Muck Out?

To join in the clean-up process, Step 1 – Create an account here: http://www.newyorkcares.org/users/create_account.php
Step 2 – Go to this link and click sign up for Saturday, Sunday, or both.  (Link:http://www.newyorkcares.org/volunteer/volunteer_opportunities/search_projects/projcodesearch.php?projcode=Spartan+Race&location=&neighborhood=&dow=&x=0&y=0&pass=1&page=1)
Step 3 – Show up and muck out!
Once you sign up you will receive an auto email with more details and my contact info!

See you in the Big Apple!

About New York Cares

New York Cares is New York City’s largest volunteer organization. New York Cares runs volunteer programs for 1,200 nonprofits, public schools and city agencies to help people in need throughout the five boroughs. Since 1987, New York Cares has made it easy for all New Yorkers to work together to strengthen the city, and last year helped 400,000 New Yorkers in need. For more information, visit newyorkcares.org. 

Tags: Far Rockaway, NYCares, spartan race, Super Storm Sandy, Team X-T.R.E.M.E., Times Square Demonstration

by Carrie Adams

In 2012, Spartan Race crossed the United States from Boston to Malibu, Miami to Washington State.  We were in Canada and the UK, we found ourselves in Slovakia and we were even doing burpees down under in Australia.  Spartan Chicked grew from eight women in 2011, myself included to over 8,000 on FB.  And with 55 races in the 2012 books, it’s easy to get lost in the BIG numbers, the 130,000 women who have crossed a Spartan finish line, the average 124.8 miles Spartans would travel for race day, the first of its kind Fenway Spartan Race, the introduction of the world’s first ever marathon (plus, it was actually over 28 miles) Ultra Beast in Vermont and the nearly half a million dollars in cash and prizes given away in the calendar year.  It’s been monumental.

Yes, it is easy to focus on the big numbers, distracted by how quickly Spartan has grown and expanded.  But, for every one of those 130,000 there is a story… there is an impact and an impression left by finishing a Spartan Race, the medal placed around the neck of someone who arrived earlier that day unsure of what lay ahead.  And for all manners of women, those who are accomplished athletes to those who are just finding their inner athlete, lives were changed.  So, we’re going to tell a few of those stories to remind our readers that Spartan Race is still striving to be maintain the spirit of why we began in the first place: getting more people off the couch, empowering individuals, families, and communities to be healthy, to overcome obstacles, and to find out what they are truly capable of when they commit to finish what they start.

First up, is Sarah Keddel.  In her own words, she describes her Spartan experience in Tuxedo Ridge.

The Making of a Spartan Chick

By Sarah Keddel

When I entered my first Spartan Sprint at Tuxedo Ridge, I had no idea what I was in for. I figured it would be an obstacle course similar to the one I did in military basic training back in 2002. I thought it would be easy. I thought it would be something that I would soon forget about when it was over.

I could not have been more wrong.

It took me longer than I felt it should have to do that race. I thought I was in good condition with the little bit of maintenance work I did at the local gym, and this Spartan Sprint was a perfect mirror to make me realize the reality of my condition. I had caught mud madness. I found myself determined to do better at the next race, when before this race, I had not planned on doing more than one. I went on to register for, and volunteer at, as many races as I was able to handle with a full time work and homework load.

Luckily, I attend a college where I get to design my own curriculum. The Spartan races, and training for them, became my main focus of study for the last semester. I taught myself about endurance training and sports nutrition for science credits. I also had the good fortune to interview a couple of the elite Spartan racers in a comparison study about endurance sport psychology. I watched, and reflected upon, the evolution of the post-race videos and Spartan advertisements as a study on women in sports advertising.

As time passed and the races grew longer and more difficult, I grew stronger. As I became physically stronger, and I discovered I have more self-confidence than ever before. I used the knowledge and strength I gained to complete the VT Spartan Beast in September. Meeting that challenge alone has changed my world view in a positive way that only experience can explain fully.

The Spartan races have been fun, but they mean much more than that to me. I’ve made friends who run the races, and friends who design them and set them up. Each race feels like a wonderful, crazy, and supportive family reunion. The Spartan races have helped me stay focused in pursuit of higher education. I’ve become physically, mentally and emotionally stronger in one year than any combination of time and experience before this point, and I’m proud to be considered a “Spartan Chick”.

Tags: Sarah Keddell, Spartan Race Fenway Time Trial, spartan sprint, Tales from the Chicked, Tuxedo Ridge

by Michael Mills

The Power of Change.

I was introduced to Sparta and my quest to take on the Conyer’s Georgia Race on March 9, 2013. Notably, I’ll be taking on the majority of the course on my hands and knees. As a T-12 paraplegic, that is my best option for completing what I have been told is a grueling course. It all started with seeing a picture of Todd Love and Team X-T.R.E.M.E.’s efforts in Lessburg that made me want to take on this epic challenge. That means I have to get prepared.  I write a weekly blog recounting my training as I get ready to become a Spartan!

I wanted to first of all thank my lovely wife Tiffany Mills for the birth of our son, Michael Elijah Mills. Elijah was born on November 28th, 2012 at 9:26 A.M. He weighed in at 8lbs and 19 ½ inches long. Next, I would like to thank everyone who sent encouraging messages and posts on my Chasing Spartan Facebook page last week as well. We read every single one of them.

Change is a part of life. Whether that change is good or bad, we all experience it, we all live it, and we all have to deal with it in one way or another. Some of us deal with change better than others, but at the end, it is how we react toward change is what makes us who we are.

When I was paralyzed on May 2nd 1993, it changed my life in a way I never thought I could handle. I lost the use of my legs. I lost everything that I knew in an instant. I lost the ability to ride a skateboard, walk down a sidewalk, run a mile, and everything else that a typical 16 year old did. Well, at least I thought I did. I took that change and made it a positive. I looked at what most others saw as a tragedy and decided to see it as a blessing. I have been paralyzed now for 20 years and I will say that change on May 2nd 1993 changed my life for the better. I do more than the average person without any limits.

My most recent change was on November 28th, 2012 when my son was born. Now for those of you who are parents, you know what sleepless nights and staring at the crib to make sure your child is still breathing feels like. The schedule you had prior to the birth has gone out the door. You are now on your child’s schedule. You eat when you can and you sleep when your child is asleep. Everything revolves around your newborn baby. Needless to say, your training will take a back seat to what is most important, your family. Your family should always be the highest number on the priority list

When change happens in life, we tend to move around it and hide from it. Sometimes, we have no choice but to face it. For me it has been my diet and my training. I knew when Tiffany I found out that we were going to be parents again that our training schedules would change. For her, she has been used to going to the gym, walking and even teaching a class or two during the week. Now she is restricted for weeks as she just gave birth to our son. For me, I am restricted because I work fulltime and I have the cutest little responsibility ever to take care of now back at home.

Tiffany and I talked about my training the other day and she knows the importance of my training for several reasons. My health is the most important and she knows that. Being paralyzed, if you don’t take care of yourself, you could get sick easily and then well, it could all go downhill from there. Many people with disabilities die at a young age and the most common factor is their health and not taking care of themselves. Me, I want to be around for a long time and see my children grow up. I want to be healthy and I want to live that life I have always dreamed of. So, Tiffany pushed me Saturday afternoon to go and train. I started thinking about ways to train as a Spartan when times got tough. I tried to figure out a little WOD during the SEC Championship game where Alabama and Georgia would play their hearts out. I decided I would WOD out this game. I decided that every time Alabama would score I would do pushups. Georgia scored, I would do dips. For every field goal, I would do abs for Alabama and for Georgia, I would do plank for one minute. Now for my pushups, dips, and abs, I did 100 each time someone scored. It was a workout in itself. The final score was 32 Alabama, 28 Georgia. I was beat. Not only did I get to watch a great football game, I got to work out at the same time. I was able to spend time with my wife and my son and get it all in at the same time. This goes back to last week’s blog “I CAN’T!” You CAN if you just find a way. There should be never a reason why you can’t do something.

Sunday was my first day back of training after Elijah was born and I have to say, it felt great to get back and chase those goals I have set. I feel my most recent change has motivated me to the next level. Instead of finding an excuse to skip training, I am coming up with new ways to train when the opportunity strikes. I think Change can be a good thing if used properly. Change can be bad or change can be good, it is all how you see it and learn from it.

What will Change do for you?

[Editor's Note: Michael Mills is a T12 paraplegic, the victim of a head on collision with a drunk driver in 1993 and though he’s been tackling wheelchair racing since 1996, competing in over 160 road and track races in the twelve years since, even representing the United States three separate times, he saw the Spartan Race series and realized it was the next challenge he wanted. He'll be doing the Georgia Spartan Sprint on 3/9/13. Want to stay tuned in to Michael’s journey? He’ll be regularly posting his story and training on our blog in a series we’ll be calling “Chasing Michael Mills.” Follow his Facebook page. Want to support his cause? Check out Spartan Sprint for Bert’s Big Adventure | Michael Mills’ Fundraiser on CrowdRise. ]

Tags: Berts Big Adventure, Chasing Michael Mills, Conyers, Georgia Spartan Race

by Jason Rita

“THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN”  SPARTAN RETURNS TO GLEN ROSE WHERE THE BIGGEST NAMES IN OBSTACLE RACING WILL BATTLE FOR THEIR SHARE OF SPARTAN’S $40,000 POINTS COMPETITION PURSE.

FOLLOW ONE EPIC WEEKEND OF LEGENDARY SPARTAN RACING AS THE SPARTAN 300 POINTS LEADERS FACE OFF IN THE SEASON’S FINAL BEAST RACE IN ORDER TO SETTLE WHO WINS THE 2012 SPARTAN POINTS SERIES COMPETITION  TOMORROW WE WILL PREVIEW THE WOMEN’S RACE.

At nearly every Spartan Race from our inception to today, one man has had the target on his back. One man was the standard of excellence in obstacle racing. One man stood on the brink last year of achieving an unfathomable athletic feat, and only the Spartan Death Race stopped him from taking $100,000 of Joe Desena’s money. From January 2011 to today, that man has won 24 Spartan Races at all distances – from Sprints to Supers to beasts. He inspired many a start-line bounty declaration, Joe Desena grabbing a megaphone and dangling amounts increasing from $1,000 to $10,000 to anyone who could beat him. He vanquished all comers. He raced everybody and everywhere, and won. He went to other off-brand obstacle races, and won. He raced with a weight-vest, and won. He raced with one arm tied behind his back, and won. He raced blindfolded, and won. He proved he was not a robot sent from the future but was in fact a human when he actually lost a race after a nutrition bonk. Such was the legend of Hobie Call.

One year ago, Hobie Call came to Glen Rose, Texas, as the undisputed best obstacle racer in the world, and went home with $10,000 as he held off the USA national Xterra champion Josiah Middaugh at the 2011 Spartan Championship race. But this year, Hobie Call’s dream of retaining his Spartan championship title and winning the 2012 crown in Killington, Vermont, was extinguished when Cody Moat raced away from him in the last mile down the Killington mountain to claim the Spartan 2012 Championship.

For nearly two years, it seemed that Hobie Call was racing only against himself. But this year, after a shock defeat in Vermont at the 2012 Championships, he arrives in Glen Rose as not the hunted, but the hunter. Now it is Cody Moat’s turn in Texas where he has the opportunity to cement his status as the world’s pre-eminent obstacle racer. How will Hobie and the other Spartan 300 obstacle racers handle Cody’s emergence as the new sheriff in town? Can someone race forward to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Cody?

And what a gauntlet! After putting his stamp on the Spartan racing world in Vermont and claiming the Beast Championship and UltraBeast victories, Cody went on to win Spartan South Carolina where Hobie did not race due to an injury. On November 3, Cody went and showed trail runners how Spartans roll, winning the USA Trail Marathon Championships in Moab, Utah, and then being subsequently named as USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week. But Hobie sent a resounding signal that he was ready to race again, when he returned to form at Spartan Sacramento with a victory, albeit in Cody’s absence.

Now Hobie and Cody will toe the line in Glen Rose, their first battle since Vermont. Like two gunslingers in an old Hollywood western, high noon will be observed in Texas this weekend – except that it won’t be at 12 o’clock, it will be at 8:00 am on Saturday when the attention of the obstacle racing world will be focused on The Great Race at Glen Rose. Cage/Travolta have nothing on the Moat/Call Face/Off to see who is fastest.

As the deciding race of their head-to-head rivalry this year, a lot is on the line for these two Spartan obstacle racing champions. Each has one victory over the other, and one victory when the other is absent:

Spartan Utah Hobie 1st, Cody 2nd

Spartan Vermont Beast Cody 1st, Hobie 2nd

Spartan South Carolina Cody 1st, Hobie did not race

Spartan Sacramento Beast Hobie 1st, Cody did not race.

For the Spartan Race Points Series, a 1-2 finish for the Cody/Hobie-monster will mean that the Points Competition will come to decimal points to separate them at the top of the table. If Hobie and Cody do finish in the top spots in Texas, they will leapfrog over current Points leader, Christopher Rutz, from Team Juwi, who has already done an incredible 22 Spartan Races in calendar year 2012, the most of any Spartan athlete worldwide. Chris’s strategy was to stake his spot at the top of the points table early and force others to overtake him. Any mistakes by Hobie and Cody will see Chris claim the title of 2012 Points Champion. Assuming he does both days at Texas, as expected, Chris will be the only Spartan racer who will have done every US-based Beast race possible: Utah, both days at Vermont, Carolina, Sacramento, and Texas. He will be henceforth known in these pages as Chris “SuperBeast” Rutz.

There are several Spartan racers who are expected to have a say in the proceedings, including Brakken Kraker, Elliott Megquier and Alec Blenis, each of whom have the talent and tenacity to potentially crash the Cody vs Hobie party, and upset the expected Cody-Hobie two-man race to the top of the Points table. Alec has a lot to prove after his experience in Vermont where he went off course early and destroyed his chances at a high finish, ending his year-long quest to be challenging for the points crown. Brakken proved he can not only hang with the leaders, as when he finished 3rd to Cody and Hobie in Vermont, and 2nd to Cody in South Carolina, but can also win races, as when he won the Indiana Sprint and the Mid-West Super. A strong showing in Texas will give Brakken a shot at the Points top 3 places, as well as an age group win in M25-29. Elliott has been balancing his Army training with his passion for obstacle racing, and is on top of the M20-24 Age Group.

All the Spartans racing at Glen Rose this weekend have a lot to race for as detailed in our recent Points Series Prize Update. Stay tuned as the 2012 Spartan Points Series reaches its exciting conclusion in Glen Rose and the top male and female rankings are finalized to determine how $40,000 in cash will be given away to the best Spartan obstacle racers. Tomorrow we will post our preview of the women’s race which is headed towards a similar dramatic conclusion and count down the final hours to race morning when all the Spartans atheltes will race for glory.

AROO AROO AROO!

Tags: Cody Moat, Glen Rose, hobie call, obstacle racing, spartan beast, spartan race, Xterra

by Shane Phillips, Guest Blogger and founder of Paws 4 PTSD

It was hot.  The kind of Texas hot only felt during the hell that is known as two-a-days for Texas High School Football.  I have no idea how many laps Coach Bradford had already made us run.  All I know was I was bent over, vomiting, in a grassy area near the front of my high school in Tolar, TX.  I felt a pat on my back, or more accurately a heavy slap, and turned to look into the red face of a guy who resembled the human version of a tank.  He was as wide as he was tall and I seriously doubted he had more than 4% body fat.  He gave me this grin and said, “Don’t be a p***y”, then off he went gleefully running more laps.  I didn’t know it then, but I had just met Riley Stephens who would become one of my closest and dearest friends.  Who, throughout our friendship, became the one constant I could depend on no matter what I needed.  Guidance as a warrior, guidance on dealing with the demons we shared, a good laugh, and that particular sense of humor that anyone who ever had the chance to be around him had the privilege to know.

In 2010 I experienced my first Spartan race in Houston, TX with a team of people I had never met before.  If you’ve run a Spartan Sprint race you know just how much fun I had.  As time passed this experience was something I talked to Riley about and we’d planned on running a race together in Texas after his retirement from the military.  Among other plans we shared based on the timing of his retirement and deployments with the 1/3 Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a senior Medic.

In July 2011 one of those rare once or twice a decade events took place.  We were all in the same place at the same time.  To celebrate the 4^th of July, Riley’s dad Mic hosted a party and we were all able to be there and celebrate our independence.  None knew it then, but that would be the last time we were all together to celebrate.  This picture is a toast in their honor during the party and the last picture I have of  Riley and I together. 

Time passes and most of us carried on with our jobs and deployments.  In the summer of 2012 Riley volunteered to go to Afghanistan with a team who needed a medic.  Just before he left Riley and his team he’d served several combat deployments with decided they’d give a Special Forces send off to their medic, their friend, their brother.  Riley and his team ran a Spartan Beast in South Carolina the week or so before his deployment.  Knowing Riley and the boys from his team I know they caused as much havoc as they could.  They even took the pugil sticks away from the Spartan warriors and made them fight to get them back.  That is definitely Riley!

After the race Riley told me just how much fun he’d had and how this type of race was perfect for guys like us.  He even enjoyed the hot girls giving medals and beer tickets! Riley was never one to not enjoy something like that!

On September 28^th 2012 I received a phone call from Ken, Riley’s brother who also serves in the U.S. Army, that I’d prayed I’d never get.  Ken spoke directly, as is our custom, and relayed to me that our brother, my best friend, my hero, had been killed in Wardak, Afghanistan.

During the next days of learning his death was real and coming together as a huge family we laid our brother to rest on October 7^th 2012 as close to a brother and best friend he’d lost in 2006, also in combat, as the National Cemetery in Dallas, TX would allow.

A group from high school got together and decided to run the Spartan Beast in Glen Rose, TX this December 8, 2012.  They all belong to the inner circle of “brothers” of our small town.  We all call Riley’s dad, Mic, “Dad.”  And for some of us blood makes no difference on the closeness of our bond.  “For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.” (William Shakespeare)

Team Riley will consist of: Jamie Gray, Cody Watson, Brooks Goodson, Austin Harris, Jerry Snyder, and Ken Stephens (Riley’s brother).

In closing, I want to remind you of this.  Those people sweating and cursing and bleeding with you on the course running under the name Team Riley aren’t running for themselves.  They aren’t even running for those like me who lost a brother too.  No, they will run for Riley.  They’ll suck it up and I know that each time they hesitate or grow tired they’ll hear in his sarcastic Texas drawl “Don’t be a p****y” and then smile and carry on.

[Editor's Note: We are proud and humbled to have Riley's story featured on our Spartan Race blog and for Shane's willingness to share the story.  To Riley's family and friends, we extend our sincerest condolences and deepest gratitude and look forward to their participation in our Glen Rose, TX Beast race on December 8, 2012.  Find Shane's non-profit organization Paws 4 PTSD on Facebook and online.]

Tags: Army, Paws 4 PTSD, Riley Stephens, Shane Phillips, South Carolina Beast, spartan beast, Special Forces

by Carrie Adams

Spartans from far and wide descended on Fenway Park for the first of its kind Obstacle Course Race in a major league ballpark. It was all smiles as the Spartans raced up and down and around the stadium for the inaugural event. It was also celebrating 100 storied years of history in the beloved national treasure and we were thrilled to be able to bring that experience to our racers.

One of our Spartans on the day was Kevin Faulk, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots. Kevin’s 12 year career in the NFL thus far was spent entirely with the Pats. He was drafted in the second round of the 1999 Draft and made an impact almost immediately as he was New England’s leader in yards rushing in 2000. That year, he added 51 catches for 465 yards and one touchdown. He was also active on special teams, leading the team with 38 kickoff returns for 816 yards while also returning six punts for 58 yards. In 2001, against the Miami Dolphins, Kevin completed a 23-yard pass to quarterback Tom Brady, his first career pass completion.

Kevin and the Patriots would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVI over the St. Louis Rams. In 2002, Kevin’s seven total touchdowns ranked second on the team. He also finished second in the NFL in 2002 with a 27.9-yard kickoff return average. That same year, he broke the Patriots’ franchise record for total kickoff return yards, which had previously been held by Dave Meggett, who had 2,561 yards on kickoff returns. Also in 2002, Kevin returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, becoming only the second player in Patriots history to return more than one kickoff for a touchdown in a season. He became the only player in franchise history and the only NFL player in the 2002 season to record multiple touchdowns in three different categories: rushing, receiving, and kick returns.

For the next two seaons, Kevin continued to contribute to the Patriot offense as the team won both Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. On November 26, 2006, in a game against the Chicago Bears, Kevin surpassed Tony Collins on the Patriots’ all-time receiving list for a running back with 262nd catch. During the 2007 season, Kevin was a consistent starter alongside fellow running back Laurence Maroney and in 2009 he became the team’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards, amassing 12,140 yards by the end of the season. He also became the 26th running back in NFL history with at least 400 receptions.

Of the Spartan Race he experienced he said, “I had the pleasure of making an appearance at the Spartan Race in Boston, it was one of the best experiences ever!  Going through the obstacle course reminded me a little of training camp. You have to have your mind right and get ready for the challenge ahead, the course is not only physically challenging but also mentally. I met a lot of great people who participated in the race and challenged themselves to finish the course. I am going to bring my whole family with me next year to compete in the race. Thank You Spartan Race for showing me a great time. ”

Tags: Fenway Park, Kevin Faulk, New England Patriots, NFL, Super Bowl XXXIX, Super Bowl XXXVI, Super Bowl XXXVIII, Tom Brady

Tags: Meghan Henry, SoCal Super Spartan, Sparkle, spartan chicked, Spartan Race Malibu Sprint