Gear Junkie: What was your goal in developing Spartan Races?
Joe De Sena: I think suffering is a really good thing for people to go through. It resets equilibrium in life. The idea of creating obstacle racing is to put people in that situation. I remember doing a nine-day adventure race. I’d been rained on for nine days straight. Afterwards, I came back to New York and it was raining and didn’t even notice.
Our lives have become way to soft. When you suffer, none of that (day to day) stuff is important.
Gear Junkie: Why do you think obstacle races have become so popular?
Joe De Sena: I think at our core as human beings this is very natural, very primal. It’s been a long time coming. The pendulum has swung so far in the wrong direction. We try to make things easier, faster, better. People buy things for comfort and luxury and have gone away from the things the human body is meant to do.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we are happy as can be when we act like animals because we are animals.
It’s not the fancy shampoo that makes everything work in our bodies. It’s the sweating. It’s the working. It’s the heavy breathing that make us happy.
That and social media, to be able to share that experience – imagine one dog out having a blast and others stuck in a house – now, with facebook, he can share it, all those other dogs stuck in kitchens want to be a part of it. It’s the crash with social media and people out experiencing life how it’s ment to be.
Gear Junkie: What makes an obstacle race difficult?
Joe De Sena: It’s got all the components of a triathlon, marathon, mountain run, and more. You’ve got to have complete body control, complete body strength. If you’re competing, you’ve got to have it all: strong upper body, strong core, endurance. It’s use of the complete human body.
Gear Junkie: How many competitors do you expect at the World Championship?
Joe De Sena: About 10,000. In the really really elite male and female field, about 300. The elites are elite because done lots and lots of races and proven themselves.
They will compete in Waves. The elites will go first, then 300 at a time will be released.
Gear Junkie: There will be a 90 minute TV special on NBC. How will this be televised?
Joe De Sena There will be 18 to 20 cameras on course and film crews. It’s certainly going to be more interesting to watch than a marathon or an Ironman.
We’re going to get it in the Olympics that’s our plan.
Gear Junkie:How will the championship compare with other Spartan Races?
Joe De Sena:It’s going to be harder. It’ll be a beast distance, half marathon. I think this year will favor strength over speed.
Gear Junkie: Do competitors know what obstacles are waiting for them?
Joe De Sena: They know standard obstacles. They don’t know where they are placed or set up and there are always mystery obstacles.
Gear Junkie: Does this race favor any type of athlete?
Joe De Sena: You’re going to need endurance and mental toughness. It’s very obstacle centric. The race is going to require some serious mental toughness.
Gear Junkie: Do you have any favorites to win?
Joe De Sena: Matt Novakovich, a former mountain runner and cyclist from Alaska. He’s a dark horse. Another guys is Hunter McIntyre, this 190 pound guy running sub 5 minutes miles.
Gear Junkie: Why a world championship?
Joe De Sena: We want to be in the Olympics. We believe in timing and ranking. Democracy works, communism doesn’t. This is a chance to find out who is the best each year and turn this into an Olympic event.
