Three Races, One Lesson

One way to truly push yourself to the limit

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In today's edition, Joe shares: How I Push Myself to the Limit Why Struggle Leads to Enjoyment 8 Essential Core Exercises Spartans! Have you wondered what it would be like to discover how far you could really push your mind and body? Let me take you through a week in my life that showed me I could do anything. It wasn't my plan to tackle three insane events in one week. This was years ago, before Spartan. I prided myself on never backing down from a challenge. Every day, someone would ask, "Hey Joe, want to do this race?" or "Hey Joe, want to do this Ironman?" And my answer was always yes. I didn't want to be that guy that ran away from challenges. Two months later, I took a look at my calendar and had an "oh sh*t!" moment. I had committed to three different events in the same week! 100 miles in Vermont on Saturday, 135 miles in Death Valley on Wednesday, and an Ironman the following Saturday. To make it even more interesting, my wife reminded me of so-and-so's wedding we had to attend on Friday. Vermont 100 The first event was the Vermont 100. With the help of my friend Lisa Smith, we pushed through and finished in just under 24 hours, the gold standard for a 100-mile run. Immediately after, I took a cold plunge to refresh my legs and raced to the next challenge. 135 Miles in Death Valley Next up was the 135-mile Badwater race in Death Valley, where temperatures soared to 131°F. My shoes literally melted on the road. Lisa's strategy was to start slow, which drove me crazy, but it paid off. As the temperature dropped to a "cool" 110°F at night, we picked up the pace, passing many who had underestimated the heat. That race was nuts. Big-name athletes were being helivac'ed out or quit halfway through. When Lisa's foot broke, I was alone for a long stretch of road where "Beware of Bears" signs scared me so bad I ran faster than I ever have in my life. I finished in the top half of the race. A Wedding and an Ironman After Death Valley, I flew to a wedding, somehow managed to dance with my wife, and then headed to Lake Placid, New York, for the Ironman. I was confident after having just run 235 miles, but six miles into the marathon, my leg gave out. I turned to a couple of kids for help, and although they didn't have Advil, they had beer. A burger and another beer later, I managed to finish the Ironman, capping off an incredible week. I got in the ice tub, back on a plane, and was sitting in the office the next day. What did I learn? Humans can do incredibly challenging things. But only if we put one foot in front of the other. If I had focused on the whole week of racing, I would have quit in Vermont, never realizing how far I could go. Our fears and doubts take over and lead us to quit. That's why we must focus on one next step, not the week ahead. Whether you're training for an event on our 2025 calendar, building a company, or dealing with difficult family circumstances, focus on the next tree, the next phone call, the next bill to pay, and you'll get there. Nelson Mandela once said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." And he was right. Keep pushing your limits, and remember: a cold plunge can fix many things. Here's to The Hard Way! Joe Fire Up Your Core Your core is built from more than just abs — it also includes your hips, glutes, lower back, and hip flexors. Maintaining a strong core will not only keep you strong and injury free, but you'll be race-ready every day of the week. Add these eight moves into your workouts to strengthen your core the OCR way. Superman Hollow Body Hold Hanging Knee Raise Reverse Crunch Hollow Body Roll The Ape Dead Bug One-Arm Chest Press Get how-to instructions for each move on Spartan.com. You Ask, Joe Answers Q: Hey Joe, How do we balance living our lives and enjoying our lives with being prepped for the difficulty of our lives? - Dave M. A: Hey Dave, I don't think you can have true enjoyment in life without enduring struggle. Joy comes from the grind. Once you have that down, you're able to appreciate what you have and the people around you. You'll feel stronger, prouder, and more at-ease. Plus, you'll be prepped for the hard stuff that will eventually return. Creating bonds is key to a good life, and the way I do that is with competitions and challenges with friends. When hard times come, you have a solid support system to lean on. Aroo! Question for Joe? Want to tell him what you think of The Hard Way? Email him at thehardway@spartan.com. "I can't do a Spartan race" CLICK TO SHARE They Said It "It always seems impossible until it's done." –Nelson Mandela ➝OUR LATEST The Hard Way Podcast "I have to figure this out versus I want to figure this out. 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