11 Things DIY home improvement and Spartan Race have in common

OK, I admit it’s strange how many parallels—and motivations—I found between our home improvement life and Spartan Race. I swear, I am not making this up.

I used lots of things I’ve learned building and fixing houses while running Spartan Race—physical and psychological.

Conversely, having run Spartan Race—and also having read Spartan Race creator and mega bad a++ Joe DeSena’s Spartan Up!—the Spartan Race juju inspires me back to be better at what I do and who I am.

-Read up! Chance favors the prepared mind. DeSena says it over and over. Whether it’s remodeling your kitchen or scuttling under barbed wire, knowledge is power. The more you have, the more you have. (Note: if you’re looking for a whacked-out series of anecdotes or to be inspired to do more, this book does the job).

-Game face. There are very few people running Spartan Race wearing tuxedos or  goofy costumes. It’s too important. Like our homes and our families. Nevertheless, there were smiles everywhere. It was inspiring. So game up and take what you make seriously. Save the costumes for Halloween. And tie your shoes before you climb the ladder.

-Gear Up. Want to get DIY and home improvement done, get your spouse off your back, or work like a boss? Then get the right gear. Flip-flops and milk crates full of %^&* you don’t need don’t just waste time. Get ready by getting ready before the house is a wreck. And yes, pros, you too.

Dream big, be humble. Hubris without humility is a front row seat to a train wreck in my home improvement experience. Yes, you have to believe you can do it, but it also helps to be aware that you don’t know everything and sometimes questions are more important than answers when you open up the drywall and find an infantry of cockroaches staring back at you. Just sayin’.

-Rig it. (1), Trucks are cool. (2), Plywood and drywall DO NOT belong on the roof of a compact car. Neither does a mattress or everything you own. (3) And nothing belongs on the road, so whatever you drive, know the knots before you hit the streets.

-Lift up. I am guilty for trying to climb the knotted rope by trying to be a hero. First time, I tried to be ‘pull-up-man’. Uh…no. The secret: Clamp onto the knot with your feet and push with your legs. Home improvement equivalent: No matter what it is, move it smarter not harder. Lifting stuff the wrong way only makes you tired. And perhaps require back surgery. Save the power lift for the gym.

-Clean up. I consider a project done—large or small—when everything I used for the project is put away and ready for the next project. Also, and I cannot emphasize enough, this shower area was made of pallets. A pallet project? They are everywhere!

Rub some dirt in it. That’s what the job site tough guys say. Whatever happens, I say, be ready to take care of it, whether you choose dirt or, perhaps, some more traditional first-aid.

-Hang in there. The bigger the project, the more things that can go wrong. And the harder you need to push to get to the end. If it was easy, anyone could do it.

-Positive attitude. It works. I try (and often fail I hasten to add) to think in terms of positive statements. When something doesn’t fit or function, instead of throwing my tool pouch across the room (who, me…never) I try to calm down and think about what WILL work. It’s what you have to get to anyway. Might as well start early. Note: this bucket was full of 3/4-inch gravel and carrying it sucked. That grimace was super-forced but it helped.

–Love it. Theresa says, every story is a love story. I wouldn’t be half the man I am without her. And that is the damn truth. When it comes to home improvement, for us, it’s about love. For each other. For our home. For our family. For turning a pile of wood into a kid’s playset or deck or kitchen or craft. Sure, as Spartan creator Joe DeSena might say, you have to dig deep and sacrifice for what you want. And in the end, the sacrifice is worth it. Every story is a love story and Theresa, I love you.

Mark

A licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor, he writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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