“My name is Joe De Sena, and if all you want is a training program, there’s a list of exercises in chapter 6 and recipes starting on page 206.
Or, to make things really simple: Go outside right now and run as far as you can. Then do as many burpees as you can. Then run, walk, or crawl home. Eat whole foods, skip dessert, don’t get drunk, get some sunshine, take cold showers, lift something heavy, use the stairs, meditate or pray, find someone to love. Lights out at 8 p.m.
There’s your program. Go do it.
Look, if being fit were as easy as having a list of the right exercises, the Internet would have ended the obesity crisis. There are a gazillion exercise programs out there! The team at Spartan Race posts a new workout every day—it’s all there, it’s all free. We have all this information at our fingertips. Lack of information isn’t your main obstacle.
Your main obstacle is you.
You are also your greatest opportunity.
And that’s as true for me as it is for anyone.
The purpose of this book is to help you overcome any physical or mental obstacle—and to achieve the opportunity that lives inside of you. To become Spartan Fit.”
~ Joe De Sena from Spartan Fit!
Joe De Sena is the founder of the Spartan Race.
He’s also, as Angela Duckworth, author of Grit, tells us: “a paragon of grit” who “shows you how you’re capable of so much more than you think.”
A paragon of grit. That’s the perfect description. De Sena is *extraordinarily* inspiring. He once completed the Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles), the Lake Placid Ironman (140.6 miles) and a short Vermont trail run (100 miles) in one week. (!) Now, he’s on a mission to help people optimize their lives and get Spartan Fit.
We covered his first book Spartan Up! which was also fantastic. For this one, he teamed up with John Durant—who wrote The Paleo Manifesto. Spartan Up! fired me up creatively (and got me doing burpees). This book fired me up to take my fitness to the next level. I’m signed up for my first Spartan Race and I’m committed to getting Spartan Fit! (Get a copy of the book here.)
After inspiring us with stories of real-life heroes and ancient Spartan lore, De Sena walks us through the seven pillars of Spartan training + a 30-day plan to get Spartan Fit. The book is packed with Big Ideas and I’m excited to share some of my favorites so let’s jump straight in!
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