How One Hard Race Shaped Me
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 | | | In today's edition, Joe shares: | | | GOING TO EXTREMES | Spartans!
Ben Saul-Gardner is one of us.
The 33-year-old entrepreneur recently took a 16-hour flight from London to Jakarta, connected to a small regional airport, drove to a tiny coastal village, then, finally, spent 90 brain-rattling minutes pounding through the waves on a small boat to get … nowhere.
Saul-Gardner, it turns out, paid $3,700 to be abandoned on a remote island in Indonesia for 10 days.
He paid to suffer hunger, isolation, and uncertainty.
Alone, without food or fuel, he lived off coconuts and crab, and foraged for firewood.
On the island, he had no one to rely on but himself. And he realized how much time he actually had to think when all the daily distractions of his digital life were left on shore.
Surprisingly, Ben's not alone in his search for greater meaning through doing hard things. More of us are seeking extreme adventure to get away from our digital world and feel alive.
That's a major reason so many people do Spartan races each year.
They seek tough challenges to build resolve and strength so that they can handle life's ups and downs.
In fact, hearing Ben's story reminded me of one of my toughest adventures.
In the early 2000's, I signed up for the famed Iditarod, the annual 1,500-kilometer dog-sled race across the barren Alaskan tundra in subzero conditions.
Most people – sane people – race with a team of 12-16 dogs to complete the grueling two-week race in whiteout conditions, with gale-force winds that can cause the temperature to dip as low as -100 degrees Fahrenheit.
But I decided to ditch the dogs and do it alone.
The experience was so difficult that I shiver at the memory, and I have vowed to never set foot in Alaska again.
At one point, I had to dig a hole in the snow to survive. Shivering uncontrollably and fearing for my life, I understood clearly then that toughness isn't about big muscles, loud talk, and bravado.
It's an internal battle, just you in your head.
That's why I created Spartan — to give everyone the chance to do something hard that will change who they think they are and what they are capable of.
The first step? Commit, put a race on your calendar that gives you a reason to get up and train, eat right, and get your rest.
Knowing you have a fierce challenge looming in a month, or six months, or a year, has a way of directing your energy, keeping you on track, and driving you to accomplish something that will make you healthier, fitter, tougher.
So, find a 2024 race here, and sign up today.
And check out the benefits of a Spartan+ Membership, including early access to Black Friday deals. The future you will be grateful.
Here's to The Hard Way!
Joe | | | They Said It | | "Nothing in life is really, really fun, unless it's really, really hard." | | – Mike Leach | | | THE COST OF ALCOHOL | Having a cocktail or glass of wine to celebrate the holidays can be fun, but it can wreck your rest.
And while alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, it disrupts your "sleep architecture" in the second half of the night, making you more likely to blow off your workout or overdo caffeine. This in turn can lead to another poor night's sleep and a vicious cycle begins.
A simple solution? Enjoy a drink or two at happy hour or with dinner, but cut yourself off a few hours before hitting the sack. This gives your body time to metabolize the alcohol before sleep.
If you want to know how alcohol impacts your training, click here.
Any concerns? Try going alcohol-free for two weeks to see if your sleep improves and you feel more refreshed. | | | The Hard Way Podcast | | | "When I got quiet and really reassessed and connected, that mindfulness was like a portal to expansion. I realized I could choose a different story, a different narrative. Why not me?"
–Craig Siegel | | | | | | Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here. | | | WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEWSLETTER? | | | | | |
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