This past weekend thousands of crazy obstacle racers took over Kualoa valley and trudged their way through the mud, over walls, under barbed wire, and had a blast the entire time. These events have gained a lot of popularity the past 5 years as it gives people an opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and do something they would've never thought they'd do. We had a handful of MMF athletes competing this year and they all did fantastic! Sam and Lyndsey completed their first Super distance, which is 8 miles and over 20 obstacles. Sam also raised hundreds of dollars to go to the Reverse Rett Syndrome charity, which was fantastic! Mara completed the ultimate Trifecta, which is all three races in one weekend. That's almost 25 miles and some crazy amount of obstacles that I can't even count! Her husband Cody also smashed it by finishing 2 of the 3 races. He should still get the trifecta award though, since he had the challenge of watching their baby on day one. And my man Ruben may have set the record, he signed up for the Beast race, which is 13 miles and over 30 obstacles. This course was no joke. It was extremely muddy, slippery, and technical. It took him almost 11 hours to complete the race, but I want to give him a huge shout out, because it takes a lot of tenacity and perseverance to continue to push and not give up after 11 hours! Great job to all the MMF athletes! Now if you're thinking that this type of event isn't for you because you're not an athlete and you don't think you can do it, then you're wrong. Go watch these races and you'll see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. I overheard one middle-aged man tell his wife and kids that it was the most difficult thing he has ever done in his entire life, but he had never felt so alive! You should have heard the pure excitement in his voice as he explained to his wife that he had to wade through a river in chest deep water, and that the mud stole his shoes on several occasions. He was like a kid in a candy store! I also sat next to a gentlemen who weighed over 250 pounds. He told me his story of how he lost 80 pounds and this was the culmination of many months of hard work. He was still overweight and very nervous about the race, but he was determined and excited! They say a Spartan is made up of 7 different pillars: stamina, power, athleticism, readiness, tenacity, attitude, and nutrition. However, I feel these are qualities that every person has within them, but whether or not they decide to use them is another story. These qualities are not just in reference to exercising or working out, they can cross-over into your daily lives as well. Having the stamina to play with your kids after a long day at work; or having a good attitude when things just don't seem to be going your way. So whether or not you ever get out and do a race of any kind, think about these 7 pillars and how you can apply them to your life. Be a Spartan of your life!