This past Saturday, March 16, 2024, was the second Spartan Sprint for me. Last year, for my first ever attempt (and to complete the physical challenge for my first time through Heroic Coach), I joined 9 other Heroic Coach Class VIII participants in ATL, where I live, to run the Spartan Sprint 5K together as a team.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

That experience was amazing. I had trained, but I was starting from being way out of shape and overweight. I was anxious and a bit fearful that I would be a hindrance out on the course, slowing the team down. I recently learned I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, though, which provided some reassurance that I wasn’t alone.

As we made our way along the course, tackling the obstacles as a team when we needed to, I began to gain confidence. I was completing obstacles and helping others get over or through. My confidence grew and I began to believe that I could do it. There were a few obstacles that I was unable to complete. Running a penalty loop as “punishment” for not completing an obstacle was a requirement. At the end of the race, I realized that I completed 18 of 22 obstacles and only had four penalty loops. Not bad for my first time.

The spirit of camaraderie and encouragement we all brought with us made a huge difference. Knowing you’re in it together makes a huge difference.

Same But Different

This year was an equally amazing experience but for different reasons. The first reason was that my son had chosen to participate with me. The joy of doing something like this together was immeasurable and a bonding experience we’ll remember for a long time.

The second reason was that while I was running with some buddies, it wasn’t my Heroic Team from the previous year. We still worked together as a team embodying a spirit of camaraderie and encouragement, but there were fewer of us. Again, I was anxious that might hold the team up as these guys were all more experienced than me. Although I had been more consistent in training since the last event, I wasn’t feeling as conditioned and in shape as I did for the first one. There were definitely more moments during this race in which I found myself thinking, “What in the world were you thinking doing this again?!?”

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about giving up a time or two, but knowing that my son was with me and watching kept me motivated to push through. The picture above of me at the top of the slip wall is probably my favorite “action” shot this year because I remember exactly what was going through my head at that moment. I had made one quick “attempt” with a rope that was incredibly slick and just couldn’t get a grip. I let go and backed away for a moment, catching my breath and focusing my mind on the task at hand.

Obstacles Make Me Stronger

I walked back to the base of the wall, grabbed the rope, and started up the wall. The key to the slip wall is to maintain a good grip on the rope, lean back to get perpendicular to the wall, and, like Batman and Robin, just walk up. It was tough, but I made it to the top…almost. What you see on my face in that picture above is the strain and determination to hold on as my feet were beginning to slide, my hands were beginning to slip, and I thought, “Oh, no! I got to the top but I’m not going to make it over if I don’t hold on!” In that moment, I had to give everything I had to hold on and make it all the way to the top and over.

Getting over that wall was like almost any challenge we face in life. There are moments when you think you’ve made it, and then moments when you realize you haven’t, and moments where you have to choose to hold on, fight, or let go. Every situation is different, but ultimately, letting go is often the easiest, but not the best choice. Were my hands feeling the burn of the rope and cramping? Absolutely. Were my legs and feet about to give out? It sure felt like it. But I saw my son on the other side, cheering me on, watching my struggle, and I decided that I wouldn’t give up. I wouldn’t go back down until it was on the other side of the wall.

I ended up completing 16 of 20 obstacles, doing better on a couple I didn’t do well on the first time, and finishing about 30 minutes faster. Aroo!

Living with Areté

Maybe competing in a Spartan Race isn’t your thing. That’s ok. But you really should find and do hard things as often as you can. When you want to get stronger, you don’t go to the gym and lift styrofoam weights, do you? No. You have to put some strain on the body so that your muscles are fatigued and then recover, stronger.

Life’s the same way. If you can reframe challenges and obstacles as an opportunity for growth, and getting stronger, whether emotionally, mentally, or physically, then that’s what you can expect on the other side.

If you asked the ancient Stoic philosophers how to live a good life, they’d answer you in a single word: Areté. We translate Areté as “virtue” or “excellence” but the word has a deeper meaning—something closer to being your best self, moment to moment to moment.

Becoming Heroic

Does running a Spartan make one Heroic? Not necessarily. I can think of many people who truly deserve to be called heroes and the reasons generally have nothing to do with whether they completed a Spartan race. However, after participating in the Heroic Coach program, which I can say with all honesty changed my life for the better, I have a new definition of Hero, and what it means to be Heroic. A hero is someone who steps up to life’s challenges and chooses to take them on, even when they might not feel like it so that they can be made stronger for the next challenge, so that they can be strong for those they love, so that they can be a radiant exemplar of choosing to be their best self, moment to moment to moment.My son, Neal is already asking about our next Spartan adventure. Maybe a little rest and recuperation first. But then, “Aroo! Aroo! Aroo!”

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