L I F E L E A R N E D T H R O U G H T H E S T R U G G L E ( PA R T 1 )

B Y J E S S E J A M E S J A M N I K

• "There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity...when things seem so bad that you've got to grab your fate by the shoulders and shake it." – Anon

• For me, this hit around this time, last year.

• Flashback -- Spartan Death Race 2014: As the story has been told, there was a knife wielding, crazy man, screaming about the Death Race games.

• The drama-filled scene ended upon a cut off bib that went up in flames (But, as Josh Eckler reminded me, no one else will ever be able to say they didn’t turn in their bib upon DNF – never mind throw it in the fire for a climatic ending, worthy of millions of YouTube views).

• Story telling aside, I made a complete (for lack of a better term) ass out of myself.

• But, I learned. And, so far, the most valuable life lessons have come from my worst F%^& ups E V E R. Just for the record, I’ve had a TON of them!

• “To make no mistake is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.” –Plutarch

• Mindset, outlook and perspective play an overpowering role in everyday life, Death Race included.

• When I look at my life two years ago, aside for some really strong “good points,” my life can best be described as upside down and in a life changing transition.

• Things weren't right at home and I had a ton of shit going on in my personal life.

• Much of which, I tried to handle myself, being too stubborn to accept reality or help.

• While physical training and fitness stayed on point, my mental mindset and strength was weakened and fogged with a haze of thoughts.

• I’d like to believe I left all of this behind when I took off from Riverside Farm on Friday morning, but I did not.

• I brought it with me, with every step, until a breaking point, circa Saturday late night at the top of Tweed.

• This year, because of my amazing girlfriend and her unconditional support and encouragement, I was able to bounce back, “fix” my life, get my head screwed back on straight and start doing what I knew I could always do -- conquer, overcome and achieve.

• Summer Death Race was one for the record books.

• On the go for a little under 60 straight hours this year, I was one of the 37 official finishers out of the 204 that started the race.

• That's 18% -- Quite an awesome feeling, not gonna lie :)

• The theme this year was "LIFE" and boy did I sure learn about it.

• You see; when I tell people what I do, most just think I’m fucking crazy or nuts.

• Truth be told, you probably have a few screws loose to put yourself through all this bullshit.

• It’s not for a prize, trophy or cash purse.

• It’s for the pure joy of knowing just how far you can push the limits, how far you can actually take your body and just how much suffering can you endure before you reach your breaking point.

• THAT is endurance racing, adventure racing – not the tangible finish line awards.

• Death Race tested all of that and then some.

Follow Jesse’s story & the lessons he learned throughout his Summer Death Race by following

his blog here: Life Learned Through Struggle