Tuesday, December 30, 2014

This is...SPARTAN! Pt. II: Resolutions

So Christmas is just past and you're still excited about setting up that new FitBit until you lose it or by the time two weeks have passed you've forgotten to wear it more often than not and you haul out your New Year's Resolutions, or as I like to call it: Setting Yourself Up For Epic Failure And Embarrassment And Oh Yeah That Gym Membership You'll Be Paying Out The Ass For The Next 20 Years And Only Use It Twice.

But don't let that discourage you.
Really.
I mean it.
Have a cookie and a Netflix binge.

I do know that there are a select group of you who will actually follow through with your
1. Get in shape/exercise/lose weight!
resolution. At least for longer than...January. So YOU PEOPLE, this is for you.

Last year I wrote a post for Spartan Races/Reebok, and I guess I did a good enough job that they've asked me to write another this year to tell you about some new and different stuff they've got happening. I looked at the Spartan Race website and I tell you, it was nearly enough to make me want to enter a race myself. [nearly. that is an important qualifier]
It is ADVENTURE RACING at it's finest. I like the way they put it on the website: "Spartan Race is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through the woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life. Our events are all about challenging today's perception of normal."

***I HAVE A FREE RACE CODE TO GIVE AWAY! Details at the end! FREE BABY!***

The coolest new thing in my opinion happens in March - you will TAKE A CRUISE to the race! From Port of Miami you'll be taken to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas for a Spartan Sprint - which is a brand new thing.
A CRUISE. Travel in style before you go pound the crap out of yourself on the course! TOTALLY worth it and I'm not even being sarcastic.

As I mentioned last year, my friend Sean and some of his family and friends are frequent Spartan Race participants:








They tell me that some of the races are brutally intense but they've never had more fun.
One of the nice parts about the Reebok Spartan Races is that they're accessible to most everyone. For beginners, sign up for a Spartan Sprint! Beginner/entry level doesn't mean it won't be challenging though, so suck it up, Buttercup, and prepare to get down and dirty.
There is an intermediate level, an advanced Beast level, and an extreme level Death Race.
I will pay you upwards of $5 to show me some pictures of you in the Death Race.
I'm totes good for the money. Also? I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU. So you cannot refuse.

Need some help with the workout? They've got Workout Of The Day motivation and Food of the Day recipes to keep you on track. Also this year be sure to listen to the Spartan UP! podcast - hosted by bestselling author Joe De Sena.
Need to know where to race? They're scattered across the country so most people will be able to find one close - here's an upcoming race schedule - in fact in just a couple of short weeks you could be racing in So. Cal! (Local Okie friends - there's going to be a Super Spartan race in OKC in 2015 - get registered!)

There are even age-appropriate courses for the littlest kids! If your kid is entered in the Spartan Kids race, you get 2 free spectator passes as well. I think this is one of the most awesome parts of the Spartan Race experience, especially since so many schools have lost their phys ed programs and some elementary schools have even done away with intramural sports. It makes me sad, since I loved playing basketball and softball all through school, since I was about 8 years old. (gratuitous personal photos to follow:)





Do yourself a favor and get a SEASON PASS - start off with a sprint and soon you'll be headed for the Death Race!
I AM TALKING TO YOU, my triathlon-running friends, Warrior Dashers, and workout fanatics. Don't make me call you out by name on social media (although I probably will anyway).
At least go check out the website - there's a bunch of stuff I didn't even mention here because some of you have the attention span of a gnat and I know you *coffcoffJenniferDuplantiscoffcoff* are already thinking "TL;DR".

Do you remember me mentioning a FREE RACE CODE? Just leave a comment of some sort here, or on Facebook or Twitter, letting me know you want to be entered for the drawing. Every RE-TWEET and/or SHARE of the link to this blog post will earn you additional entries! Got ello.co? Share the link to this post and get another entry!
Drawing will be JANUARY 10th so you can get into an early race if you want.  Go forth and share!
***Added bonus: Get 10% off any race when you register with the code: SPARTANBLOGGER






P.S. Dear Reebok, I don't suppose that there's any chance you could hunt up a pair of those classic plain solid white leather sneakers with the embroidered round emblem on the side, the ones I can't find anymore? Women's size 9. I think they're NPC II classics. I'm just saying it would be a nice gift for some deserving someone. It might even inspire a person to train for a Spartan Race. #Maybe :)
These ones:



(**Disclaimer: I am receiving NOTHING for posting this advertisement. They asked and I posted because
1. Fitness + Fun = Good times and great memories
2. I DO WHAT I WANT
C. I could totally keep the free race code for myself if I wanted to. But hey, I'm all about the readers getting something good. I'm totes unselfish like that.)

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