ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Today on The Show, our guest is an entrepreneur who takes the meaning of grabbing life by the horns as a welcome challenge and has led his life to inspire others to do the very same. He started as a pool boy in New York. Then, after attending Cornell University, he began a career on Wall Street as an equities and derivatives trader. It was here that he engaged in various outdoor activities, ranging from multiple Iron Man races to the Iditarod a race starting in Anchorage, Alaska, and ending on the Western Bering Sea coast, which he finished on foot.
He first became interested in long-distance events after gaining weight while holding his desk job and trying to reverse the process through running the stairs of his apartment building. He later moved to Vermont in order to continue a private stock trading business.
In 2000, his team became stranded in the Quebec wilderness during a 350-mile winter adventure race when he had to dig himself beneath the snow to survive. It was here that he claims he made a distinction between difficult situations and desperate experience and inspired him to create his own endurance races. First came the Death Race, and the first edition in 2007 saw only eight competitors, with three completing the race. The original race is still held at his farm, where in 2014 only 40 of the 300 entrants completed the race. He also hosts individuals at his farm for long-term personalized outdoor training.
In 2008, he began the peak.com Corporation to promote endurance sports, including Peak and Spartan Race. In 2014, he published the book Spartan, a take no prisoners guide to overcoming obstacles and achieving peak performance in life.
Then, in 2016, he followed up that book with Spartan Fit 30 Days, Transform your mind, Transform your body, Commit to grit, No gym required. And in 2018, he added the Spartan Way, Eat Better, Train Better, Think Better, be Better. He's currently serving as the CEO of Spartan Race. Please enjoy my conversation with Joe De Senna.
