The Spartan 7 HARD challenge is a seven-day fitness program created by Spartan Race. It aims to help people become stronger and healthier both mentally and physically. The challenge itself seems pretty simple, although Spartan labels it as “The Commitment That Will Change Your Life” and even goes so far as to say it will “transform you into a modern-day Spartan warrior capable of taking on anything.” That is a pretty bold claim, especially for a 1 week program, but I do believe that taking these concepts and incorporating them into your daily life (beyond the 1 week) will have a big impact.
After completing the Spartan 7 HARD challenge, here are 5 things I learned:
1. The Workouts Were Tougher Than I Expected
While the workouts were pretty simple, it turned out to be much harder than I expected. I did not realize how out of shape I was. A year ago I was probably in the best shape of my adult life and could have easily done these workouts. But after having been down with an injury for so long, I was struggling to get these done.
To be honest, on day 1 I was only able to get through half of the pullups (I completed the run and push-ups). I made the mistake of trying it at 4:30 in the afternoon, outside in the sun, and the run just wiped me out to the point I did not have anything left. I went home and jumped in the (cold!) pool with my workout clothes on.
I miscalculated for day 6 and was not able to do a full 5 hours. I already had plans with the family that day and we needed to leave early that morning, so I was only able to get in the regular workout before we left.
2. Cold Showers Suck
This was more of a mental challenge than anything else. While there are supposedly several health benefits to taking cold showers, I still do not like them. I pay good money to have hot water in my house, and I enjoy using it every day. This was probably the worst part of the challenge for me.
3. I Snack More Than I Thought
The eating plan was probably the easiest part for me. I normally don’t eat until around 9:30-10:00 in the morning, so I just had to be sure to eat a little earlier each night to meet the cut-off window. What I did not anticipate was how often I wanted to go grab a little something to snack on at night. Even if I was not very hungry, I found myself wanting to munch on something every time I walked into the kitchen.
Getting dinner done by 5:00 also proved difficult a few times. On day 3, I was Home Depot and realized it was 4:45, so I had to eat quickly. The only thing around was a McDonald’s so that is what I did. Certainly not the best choice, and definitely not in line with what this program is trying to accomplish, but it was all that I had. I could have easily waited a half hour to get home and eat something healthy, but in my mind that would have been failing the challenge for the day. (admittedly it probably would have been better to just extend my eating window a little, but the rules are the rules and I did what I did to abide by them.)
4. I Cannot Stand Apple Cider Vinegar
Literally. Something about the taste of it causes a gag reflex in me. I knew this going into the Challenge, so for a couple of days ahead of it I tried different mixtures and variations of it and I simply cannot drink the stuff. So I substituted lemon juice in the water for this one. If that makes me less of a man then so be it.
5. Getting 8 Hours Of Sleep Is Hard To Do
I normally only sleep 6-7 hours, sometimes less, even on the weekends. My life just is not where I can stay in bed much longer than that. I am usually up at 5AM or before, so I can get my workouts in before everyone else gets up. So trying to add in an extra hour or two of sleep was tough. I had to make it a point to be in bed by 9:00 every night, which is early for me, and get up at 5:15 every morning to go ahead and do the workouts.
Final Thoughts
As I said, this was harder than I anticipated and it made me realize just how out of shape I had gotten, especially in running. One year ago, leading up to a Memorial Day Murph, I set my all time running personal record of a 6:51 mile, and I regularly ran 5-6 miles non-stop at a slower pace. Now, I can’t even run a single mile without having to walk part of it, let alone 2 miles. By day 3, my legs were already so sore from the running that I almost gave up on the Challenge. Even without being able to fully do day 6, by the time day 7 rolled around I was just ready to be done. Had this been a 30 or 60 day challenge, I probably would not have completed it. But, since it was only for 7 days I continued to push through and I’m glad I did.
So would I do the Spartan 7 HARD Challenge again?
Actually, yes, I do plan on doing it again at some point. I think it is a great way to kick start any fitness program or goals, and can be a great way to benchmark your fitness and resilience throughout the year. I am thinking about just making it a part of my Spring Cleaning Challenge each April, and maybe doing it again sometime in the fall.