Monday, January 16, 2012

Tales From the Chicked: Ella Anne Kociuba

by Carrie Adams

Originally posted in the Spartan Race Blog.

At Spartan Race HQ we are lucky enough to receive inspiring stories from all over the world of athletes who have faced adversity only to come back stronger and more determined than ever.  I recently received this story about eighteen-year-old Ella Anne Kociuba and I knew her story would inspire.  After a horrific injury she has battled back and her story of triumph and success is one you won’t soon forget.  Here is her story in her own words. 

ella2My names Ella Anne Kociuba, I am eighteen years old and currently attending a community college in Austin, Texas. I have big plans for the future (I hope to one day be the image of Spartan Racing and become a professional athlete/writer).  I would like to explain my story to you so that those who are struggling can see the light in even the darkest of times.

 

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Have you Been Spartan Chicked?

by Carrie Adams

thebeast-2Unless you’ve been living under a muddy rock, you’ve heard about all the amazing Spartan chicks that come out and race and kick some major ass!  In 2012, we are taking it up a notch with some help from our amazing partner ZICO Coconut Water.  ZICO will be onsite at several events in 2012 handing out products and  hosting the Official Spartan Chicked Pit Stop!  It will be a meet-up location for all the Spartan chicks to mix and mingle and stay hydrated!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Tales from the Chicked: Gayla Allen


by Carrie Adams
I got the most amazing email today and had to share it with you. Sparta, meet Gayla Allen.
Hello Carrie,
My name is Gayla and I’d love to share my story and personal goals for the May Spartan Race event in Texas!
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Living in Austin – a city whose motto could be “nuttin’ but health nuts” – I’m a 51-year-old entrepreneur, mother and grandmother, and I love my chosen lifestyle, which is centered on living the good life, being healthy and strong. You see, I subscribe to the “strong is the new skinny” theory, and with so many health enthusiasts around me, I’m fortunate to be able to draw inspiration from those who could show Rocky how running up the stairs is really done. My husband, who shares my passion for his own, unique reasons, has helped me to reach the even higher-hung branches on life’s little coconut tree.

Altogether, I have six children from a mixed marriage; and I’d like to point out that I gave birth to five of them. Yup, you read right: my body produced five whole separate humans! Still not impressed with my commitment to strength? Well, I also broke my tail bone during each delivery. I didn’t hold it against them, though: my kids are aged 22 to 28 now, and I raised each while maintaining a healthy active lifestyle. I don’t think I need to tell you what a challenge staying fit was – singlehandedly finding a cure for Austin’s allergy crisis might actually be easier. An entrepreneur by spirit, I ran a small business as an independent virtual executive assistant while working as a real estate agent, raised my children, and have recently co-founded a new company, My Texas Smile. In our spare time, my family and I love outdoor activities, like swimming, kayaking, hiking and tennis (although, let’s just say I’m no Venus or Serena).

The Spartan Challenge is our next adventure and we intend to make it memorable. My husband, daughter and I will be joining the other Austin Hoplites to compete in this May’s 2012 Texas Spartan Race. If I were a real Spartan, the motto on my shield would say: “If you want to beat this old lady, I’m not going to make it easy!” My challengers had better laugh me off at their own peril: I have been strength training with my husband for several years now, and have recently started to mix in some cross fit training. My daughter, a cross-fit trainer who would make a truly Herculean Spartan chick, has been my biggest champion and source of encouragement. When it comes to food and nutrition, my diet follows the Paleo principles: this powers both my training and activity fuel banks, and gives me enough protein to make you think 50 could be the new 25.

My goals are simple:
• Improve on my standards achieved in years past;
• Build muscle and bone density;
• Increase vitality and energy;
• Be a role model for women, especially my age, who want to use healthy living to better their lives.

I definitely believe that humans by nature are designed to be fit and strong, even into older age brackets: the only requirement here is just to ignore the caution tape and refuse to stop. Don’t stop running, lifting, eating right, playing and otherwise living life to its life-iest. When we hit the brakes, our lives get stuck in traffic, too.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Tales from the Chicked: Gretchen Lee

by Carrie Adams

Originally posted on the Spartan Race blog.

We recently announced our Tales from the Chicked series where we’ll be profiling some stories from our amazing female athletes!  Our first installment comes from Gretchen Lee who joined us in Malibu and is training for her next challenge – the SoCal Super!  Here is her story in her own words!

photo 1-11 (2)“I hate glitter…but I love Sparkles, my quest for rookie Spartan Chicks” – Gretchen Lee

Whoa, what a year can do for a girl! I never thought my 2011resolution of working out more effectively would lead to the Resolution of looking for “Sparkles” in 2012.

What is a “Sparkle”? For our terms a “Sparkle” is a woman who has not completed a Spartan Race.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Tales from the Chicked

by Carrie Adams

(Originally posted on the Spartan Race blog.)

carrie_kenn1This story is special to me, because as a female endurance athlete, single mother to two daughters, AND a Spartan employee, promoting the women who come to our races and encouraging more to take part means a lot to me!  Spartan Race is one of the fastest growing active racing organizations in the world. We are more than just your average “mud” run we are an international obstacle racing organization that promotes athleticism, an active lifestyle and bringing together a community of people across the globe. A community of people comprised of some pretty amazing women and girls. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Outside Magazine says Spartan is #1

by Carrie Adams

SR_OUTSIDE_BOR_Vector (2)Outside Magazine recently held a poll to determine the “Best Obstacle Race in 2011” and Spartan Race won in a landslide over such notable races as Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash.  Spartan Race won the fan-based online poll with 25,688 votes! Second place snagged 17,911 votes.

So stoked to share this new with the Spartan Chicked community!

Check out Outside Online: www.outsideonline.com

Ode to Sparta: No Excuses!

by Carrie Adams

Frequently we hear from our athletes about why they run and what motivates them to sign up, show up and never give up.  Here is Joanna’s Story in her own words.

IMG00735Last January I signed up for the Spartan Sprint. It was posted as a meet up for an online social group I belong to, and a few of us brave souls signed up. I'd never done anything like it before, and it sounded exciting and challenging, something new and different to look forward to and work towards.

I trained for 8 months, including teaching myself to run for the first time, and learning to love it. Before I knew it I was doing 5K races. On the days I didn't run I was at the gym, swimming, climbing the rock wall or taking classes.  I lost 30 pounds and gained an enormous amount of confidence.