Challenge Yourself | Spartan Edition

Today’s post is inspired by my running around like a crazy person. Between blogging, running (literally), school, and work I have been totally over-scheduled. This is the kind of schedule I look forward to and this is the mindset that envelopes today’s post. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to get out and get going with ENERGY after you read it too!

Have you ever felt bored of your exercise routine; like no matter WHAT you do there is little to no progress? Have you had to drag yourself to the gym deplete of energy and motivation? Maybe you are just tired of the same ol’, same ol’ and are itching for something new.

If any of those pertain to you then it’s about time to spice up your routine and challenge yourself. Why? Because if you are anything like me you need an end-goal or change to amp your energy up and feel excited about getting into shape. I love fitness and I also love trying new things. I can do the same activity for months and, at some point, I lose interest in it and feel the urge to try something new. I consider myself a “jack of all trades” when it comes to fitness. I have tried just about everything (or at least it seems like it) and that is perfectly okay if you feel the same way! There are so many kick-ass things to try that you don’t need to limit yourself to just one. Not to mention, they all target different areas and keep your muscles from getting so used to the same set of moves.

Here are my Top 5 Reasons To Challenge Yourself:

1. You will push every limit and cross barriers you thought unimaginable
2. You will learn more about yourself
3. Without challenge you will likely never reach your full potential
4. Challenges keep you engaged; you’ll never stop learning
5. Self-empowerment and self-fulfillment make you stronger and more confident

Are you ready to take it to the next level? While I am specifically focusing on exercise in this post, you can challenge yourself in every single aspect of your life. You know… mind, body, and soul. Challenge keeps you from getting complacent in every way and will make you a happier person! Below are the Spartan challenges I am ready to tackle in 2017 and why I recommend you follow along and try them too.

Spartan Challenge

I ran the Spartan Sprint with my dad in 2016 and decided this year I would convince my whole family to run with me. After my recent try-out, I knew I needed another challenge to keep myself going. The Spartan Race is the perfect opportunity to do just that. They challenge you mentally and physically and push every one of your personal limits. When Spartan reached out about partnering I had to hold myself down from the excitement! I am very proud to be a member of the Spartan team and to run this year as a true Spartan #AROO

If you aren’t familiar with Spartan here is a little breakdown for you. There are three main race types: 1) Spartan Sprint (3-5 Miles), 2) Spartan Super (8-10 Miles), 3) Spartan Beast (12-14 Miles) à If you’re one of the crazy one’s you may be inclined to complete a Trifecta which is the completion of one of each race type within one calendar year. I would love to eventually do this, but in 2017 I will be completing another Sprint and my 1^st Super.

Training for the Spartan race is where you will challenge yourself the most. Last year I went into the race not knowing what to expect, but this year I am prepared. There aren’t too many walls I can try to jump over in my area, but there are other ways to test your strength and endurance. I never knew what training would entail and here I am climbing the fence at a local baseball field to work on grip strength and lessen my personal fear of falling and wiping out in front of people.

Last year I struggled with several of the heavy obstacles (atlas stone, sandbags, and gravel buckets). Much of my routine is focused on strengthening my arms. This, of course, is in addition to making sure I can run the distance + 2 miles in case they decide to mentally mess with me and add an extra mile onto the course this year. Another one of my goals to start in June will be to train for a marathon in 2018, but I’ll get into that in another post later in the summer.  Of course, with the Spartan race you cannot be afraid to get dirty… like REAL dirty. We were an absolute disaster after last year’s race, but it was part of the fun! Who doesn’t like rolling/crawling under what seems like miles of barbed wire?

So, what do you think? Challenging yourself is tough but 100% worth the effort. You will be so proud as you cross the finish line, see significant changes in your body, and can’t help but see a positive boost in your overall attitude. Challenge – what we live for! Your potential is limitless as long as you let yourself fail, learn, and then CONQUER!

LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER, 2017.