Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Spartan Race Entry GIVEAWAY!

If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you know I'm a road runner. But... I do like the occasional adventure race if I get to dress silly and beer awaits me at the finish line {proof and proof}.

The ULTIMATE in adventure racing comes under the name SPARTAN.


The Spartan Race series has long intrigued me, but I'm a bit gun-shy after a friend broke her arm in one. Spartan is not for the weak at heart. It is straight-up hard core. I have several friends who have completed a Spartan - both the Super and Sprint distances. I look at them with great pride and admiration... and slight jealousy. Make no doubt, SPARTAN is a title I crave. I want to be as tough and badass as these ladies...

These photos just scream... I can survive ANYTHING!
And that's the attitude I try to have through life.


Cassie and Patty are both fellow Sole Sisters with whom I run and train. When asked if they would repeat their Spartan experience, they quickly replied "YES!"

Cassie illustrates how monumental Spartan was in her life... "Completing the Spartan was pretty symbolic for me. I wasn’t much of a risk taker in the past. If I thought something would be hard or require too much effort, I’d pass. When I encountered obstacles in life, I’d take the easy road because it felt safer. When you finish a Spartan and you look back at the grueling course that you completed, something inside you changes. You realize that you can push through anything and still be standing on your own two feet in the end." Just last month, Cassie completed her first 26.2 marathon. Indeed, anything IS possible!

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Spartan Race is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life. Our events are all about challenging today’s perception of normal. Our events challenge the familiar, today’s perception of normal living and getting you out of your comfort zone! At Spartan Race, we do this everyday and it shapes everything we do.

Do you want to run a Spartan Race? 
Enter below via Rafflecopter for your chance to WIN A FREE ENTRY into any open heat of a 2013/2014 Spartan Race in the continental U.S.  
Find a Spartan near you here.  My favorite picks are ChicagoMilwaukee, NebraskaVirginia, and Philadelphia. Hint... You just may see me at Miller Park in Milwaukee on September 7...


I CAN'T WAIT... I'M IN!!  
Go ahead and register now, but save some cashola
by registering through the link HERE to receive 
15% OFF your race entry!


Spartan Tips (courtesy of my friends Patty & Cassie!)
  1. Work on cardio and strength training and never, ever give up!  If you're already a trained runner, you'll be fine with cardio, but work on upper body strength. The more you do beforehand, the better the race will be. You don't want people carrying your load. Be self-sufficient.
  2. Like any sport, what you wear (or don’t wear) is very important. NEVER wear cotton! There are many obstacles where you will be fully submerged in muddy water. The last thing you want is to have your clothing weighing you down or God forbid, falling off. I saw more naked rears climbing out of the water than I care to remember! What I suggest the ladies wear are compression capris or pants. When you’re crawling under that barbed wire, your knees with thank you!
  3. At any time during training, if you have doubt or just needed a pick-me-up, go to spartanrace.com and watch the motivational videos and read the blogs. If those don’t inspire you to get up and get moving, nothing will!
Being able to say you are a Spartan is a privilege.
Wear the badge proudly! AROO!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 comments:

  1. Omgosh, this would be so amazing!! I signed up for one a couple of years ago and was so excited, but it got canceled at the last minute :(

    So sweet of you to have this giveaway! Good luck to everyone!! :)

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  2. This is an awesome giveaway! I have always wanted to do this one. I have never done a run with mud and obstacles....looks like a blast. I need to be a Spartan!!

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  3. Already looking to do the Super Spartan in Virginia in August. Just really want to challenge myself and continue to do so in my fitness and journey to getting healthier. Also looking to do the Special Ops Spartan in Tampa in Feb 2014!

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  4. I did one last year and it was SO FUN!! So much harder than I expected but I loved it!!!!

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  5. This race is both terrifying and exciting to me! I've been dying to run one for months, and missed it last time it came around to Arizona!

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  6. I just had a great group of friends run in NY, and I want to join them next year!

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  7. the only thing I've done anywhere close to this is muddy buddy (which was a blast)! I started running 2 years ago this july (and have lost 40+ pounds, love it!) but finishing a Spartan race would make me feel like I really can do anything now! (plus throwing it in my exboyfriend's face that I did a Spartan before him would just be the sprinkles on my cupcake ) haha

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  8. I've never done a Spartan and I would love to because I think it would be a great test of how far I've come physically and mentally.

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  9. I would love to complete a Spartan Race. I have done Warrior Dash and Tough Mudder is on the list for this weekend, so Spartan Race is next!

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  10. Running a Spartan Race would be a new challenge and inspire me to work on my upper body strength, something I am sorely lacking in.

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  11. My fiancee and I love doing races together. Last year we ran the Primal Mud Run, and this year we’re seeking a new one to try. An entry for the Spartan Race would be perfect!

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  12. Ran the Super Spartan in Miami, Fl. Had the best time and want to challenge myself to do it faster next year.

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  13. Great post, Jess! You are so creative! I didn't realize you were going to do a Spartan. :) They are definitely tough, but so are you! Cassie is dead on about not wearing cotton. I would wear compression capris next time...and don't forget gloves. The ropes can hurt your bare hands after awhile.

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  14. I have wanted to run a Spartan race ever since I found out about them, to see if I could handle it! I haven't run any obstacle races but I know that I would love it!

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  15. I have wanted to run a Spartan race ever since I found out about them, to see if I could handle it! I haven't run any obstacle races but I know that I would love it!

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  16. I have wanted to run a Spartan race ever since I found out about them, to see if I could handle it! I haven't run any obstacle races but I know that I would love it!

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  17. I have been wanting to do a Spartan race forever!

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  19. I've never ran a Spartan before. I want to because it sounds very challenging and out of my comfort zone.

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  20. These Races Scare The Crap Out If Me BUT if I Win, I Will Get Over It And Do it.

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  21. I've always wanted to run a spartan race but have been too chicken. Do or die time!

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  22. I would love to run in London BUT I'd stick with Nebraska for costs sake. :)

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  23. I have never done any obstacle race adventure thing and would love to give it a try. I am super obsessed with Marathons and TRX but I think this kind of a race would kick me in the can!

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  24. Great giveaway. i am with you... I'd like to be able to call myself a Spartan!

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  25. I'd love to do a Spartan (preferably Gerard Butler) to test myself and my body's limits.

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  26. My husband has done all but the Death-so I'd like to try one too!

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  27. I have not done one and think it would be fun and at the sametime a great challenge. Plus I cloud also use the motivation to become stronger with my upper body.

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  28. I'd like to run a Spartan Race because it would force me to work on upper body strength. That has been something I often neglect.

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  29. I'd like to run a Spartan race because I was always the "chubby" girl growing up. I was bad at sports, picked last for teams, you name it. Learning to run and love it has been so freeing for me. Combining that with the obstacles in Spartan would let me prove to myself and the world how far I've come!

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  30. I've done a OCR, but the Spartan is supposed to be the ultimate OCR, a serious challenge of strength. I probably should start working on that.

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  31. I want to run a Spartan because I've never done one. I've done a lot of 5k's this year but am looking for some more excitement.

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  32. I think this would be a huge accomplishment; I would love to leap over fire and crawl under barbed wire at the Super Sprint in Virginia in August!

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  33. I've never done a Spartan Race but I did an obstacle course one time and loved it! I would love to win this giveaway since it would be so out of the box for me and would let me experience something I normally would not do. Lately I have been working on channeling my inner tough and this is just the event I need to show that! :)

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  34. I would love to try a Spartan Race! I have done The Mud Crusade and Warrior Dash, and wasn't impressed with the races after the hype. Hoping Spartan is well executed here in Georgia!

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  35. Let me put it this way. I'm heading to Spartan Beast in Utah at the end of the month for my Trifecta medal (Sprint, Super and Beast in one calendar year). My first Sprint was AZ in March (I think), I'm now hooked and have 6 races for 2 Trifectas for 2014. So, I really need this free entry! lol! The races and travel are expensive but the glory is worth it. I'm almost 49 years old and have 3 Spartans under my belt. I didn't ever dream that I'd do an obstacle race of any sort, but my son's friend and a young friend of mine talked me into it and now I'm in love...even doing the Tough Mudder come September. But Sparta will always come first! I am Spartan!! AROO! AROO! AROO!! (Spartan battle cry.)

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  36. I would love to run a Spartan Race (Atlanta, GA). I think it is a great test of true fitness for runners - and a GREAT time!

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  37. I started working out over a year ago so I would feel better physically and to help with m job as an x-ray tech. I have started running races and find the challenge to be so exhilarating. I am 44 years old and my goal is to complete a Spartan Race.

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  38. I've never done one mainly because I have 5 kids and I never have the extra cash to do it! I REALLY REALLY want to do one though, it would totally empower me though!

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  39. Never done one but think it would be AWESOME!!

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  40. I have done the Warrior Dash and really want to run an obstacle race that scares the hell out of me. This one scares me, so I really want the challenge.

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  41. I need to add a spartan race to my growing list of accomplished mud run's!

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  42. I am dying to do a Spartan Race!!!!!! I just haven't entered due to $$$ this year, Philadelphia would be my Spartan of choice!!

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  43. I really want to add a Spartan Race to my list! But the price has kept me at bay so far. :)

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  44. I've run one Spartan Race, first time this year. It's a goal of mine to finish in the top three of my age group, and I totally think I can do it!

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  45. I'd love to run one, but can never plan accordingly to pay in advance due to my husband's travel schedule (military). I'm a mom of four and would love to be a Spartan to show my kids (esp my 2 girls) that they can do anything!

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  46. Spartan and Tough Mudder are both great events in their own ways. I've only done a Spartan Sprint and two Tough Mudders but I'm looking forward to getting a Spartan Trifecta completed eventually.

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I appreciate your feedback and comments!