• Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Top 10 Posts
  • Train Hard
    • Printables
    • Videos
    • New Move Monday
    • Shed & Share
  • Eat Well
    • Food Tips & Tricks
    • Recipes
  • Live Free
    • Challenges
    • Mindset
    • Spiritual
  • Your Second New Year
  • “Living + Active” Challenge
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Coaching
    • Speaking
    • Essential Oils

Clare Smith

Training Body & Soul

Spartan Race Giveaway!

August 5, 2014

Hey friends! I’ve got a giveaway for you that I’m super excited about! First off, do you remember my trip to LA to visit Candace Cameron Bure and run the Spartan Race with she, Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler!) and others? Check out some of these fun pics!!

Candace and Clare- Spartan Race : peak313.com

Spartan Race: Malibu

Spartan Race Giveaway! : peak313.com

It included lots of mud, water, and general discomfort–BUT THAT WAS THE FUN OF IT!  There are 3 different “races” you can do; sprint, super and beast. The graphic below explains the difference between them. Click on the image to increase the size to read. (We did the sprint).

Spartan Race Descriptions

The folks at Spartan race contacted me so I could let you know that OHIO is now joining in the fun! Well, you know I love this because I LIVE in Ohio and couldn’t be happier that it made its way here! The Ohio race is Saturday, October 4th at “The Wilds”. You can find more information about the race here!

Ohio Spartan Races

Here’s the good news–you’ve got a chance to run one—and do it with a friend for FREE! (because that is the BEST way to do it!) This giveaway is open to ANY of the open-heat Spartan races in 2014 in the continental US so be sure to share it with your friends! You know you want to end 2014 with a bang, right?!

Enter the information below in the rafflecopter and I’ll choose 1 winner (who will get 2 FREE entries!) by Sunday, August 10th. For the rest of you who don’t win, you can use the code SPARTANBLOGGER for 10% off any race! Holla!

 

Candace, Clare, and Andrea at the Spartan Race : peak313.com

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Featured 66 Comments

About Clare

Comments

  1. Nicci Ramirez says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Not going to lie this would be a touch one but probably my friend Abigail since she is an OverCoMer!!! <3

    Reply
    • Nicci Ramirez says

      August 6, 2014 at 9:10 am

      Oh dear not touch but TOUGH 😉

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth Moore says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:17 am

    I want to do a Spartan Race so badly! This would be so amazing to win!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Meeks says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:18 am

    I have a few people in mind to ask,.bit hopefully Sara Jane is up to the challenge …excited!

    Reply
  4. Laticia Bomar says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:28 am

    This looks Awesome! Would absolutely love the challenge and it would either be my husband or daughters. It would likely cause us to buy two more tickets and it would become a family challenge, but we would have a blast! That’s our favorite thing to do!

    Reply
  5. Sarah Batchelder says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

    I would bring my best friend Matt!! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Sheila says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

    This would be so fun! I’d probably either ask my neighbor or one of my Crossfit friends to do this with me.

    Reply
  7. Rachel says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:35 am

    I would want to do this race with my dad. We started doing 5ks together a few years ago and have done some 10ks so an obstacle race would be do much fun!!

    Reply
  8. Stephanie Lancione says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:39 am

    I would ask my friend Amy! She’s an amazing runner!

    Reply
  9. Carly says

    August 6, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Definitely with my 14 year old son! He and I are running a Warrior Dash this weekend and a half marathon together in October!

    Reply
  10. Jessica Reno says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:04 am

    I would ask my friend Carel. Neither of us are serious runners but I think we would have a blast.

    Reply
  11. Sarah says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:05 am

    This looks like so much fun! I have always wanted to do a race like this. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!

    Reply
  12. Sue Wolcott says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:09 am

    I’d love to have a goal to push myself..I know I’m capable, just need the shove. I’m sure a Spartan would be a huge shove! 😉

    Reply
  13. Alicia says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:19 am

    AWESOME! I’ve been wanting to do one but broke my foot last year before I could. I’ve just gotten back to where I was with my running/fitness so now’s a great time for this raffle!

    Reply
  14. alicia says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:33 am

    I would invite one of my best friends and mutual fitness fanatics, Courtney. I would love this. We love to get into races and haven’t tried a Spartan yet. The money it would save from winning this would be a blessing. looks like it was a ton of fun 🙂

    Reply
  15. Sherry Buck says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:33 am

    My husband!! We have been working on our nutrition and fitness. This would be so much fun to do with him!!

    Reply
  16. Rhonda Diehl says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:36 am

    so excited for Ohio! Trying to put a team together now, so guess we could draw a name out of a hat for who would get the freebie. I would love to do the trifecta that day! Sure hope we win!

    Reply
  17. Sarah Matos says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:39 am

    I would love to do a Spartan race! I have plenty of racing girlfriends but I think I’d like to do this one with my husband 🙂

    Reply
  18. Sara Abernethy says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:44 am

    This is a great giveaway! Thank you for always motivating and inspiring and helping me praise God as I work to maintain my Temple 🙂

    Reply
  19. Kim d says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:44 am

    This looks so fun to do with friends!

    Reply
  20. April Rodriguez says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:45 am

    I would love to do this race with my husband 🙂 he has been wanting to do it for awhile! Thanks for this giveaway!!

    Reply
  21. Rachel says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:45 am

    Would love to run this!

    Reply
  22. Sara Abernethy says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:49 am

    I would love to run this race with my best friend, my husband Alan!

    Reply
  23. Kortney says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:50 am

    Oh man! This would be soo fun! I’d probably invite my sister to do the race with me if I won – she’s one of the few people I know that would enjoy something crazy like this 🙂

    Reply
  24. Becca Hill says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:57 am

    This would be a fun challenge! I would love to share doing this with my sister-in-love, Lynn, who has inspired in my running journey. She would also enjoy doing something wonderful and crazy like this!

    Reply
  25. Ashley says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Looks awesome!!!

    Reply
  26. lorea says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:13 am

    I would love to race with my husband. We did a rugged maniac race last weekend and had a blast. Obstacle courses are the best dates! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Jessi Whitt says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:14 am

    I would run this race with my brother and/or SIL.

    Reply
  28. Seth says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:30 am

    I plan to run the race with my wife and a bunch of our friends. I missed it last year, but won’t let that happen again.

    Reply
  29. Jules says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:42 am

    This sounds like so much fun! I don’t think my husband would enjoy it as much as I would, so I would take my sister Lori. 🙂

    Reply
  30. LinAe Nichols says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:56 am

    Not sure who I’d ask, probly a new gf from my awesome “gym” I go to! I have been wanting to do a Spartan Race since I found out about them a couple years ago!! Done some Warrior Dashes and Mud Runs and they were a BLAST, but not hard enough. I love that this race has ppl at the obstacles and burpee penalties! They’re just so stinkin expensive, but FREE isn’t ha!! 🙂 Here’s to hoping I win woohoo!!

    Reply
  31. Randi Lee Grant says

    August 6, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    I would ask my fitness bestie!! I have always wanted to so this bit lacked commitment. This would force me lol!

    Reply
  32. Katie Barlow says

    August 6, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Thank you for this! I love Spartan Race and am looking forward to doing another one!

    Reply
  33. Angela Sedberry says

    August 6, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    I would get my husband to run this race with me! 🙂

    Reply
  34. Katy Collins says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    Awesome! Love your posts, share them on my own training site (which is brand-baby-new). 🙂 Thanks for loving Jesus and health and sharing your light! Later, lady. -katy

    Reply
  35. Rebecca Gonzalez says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    I would love to do this with my hubby!

    Reply
  36. Rebecca Anderson says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    My oldest son would LOVE to do this with me!! What an awesome way to celebrate my 50th year on the earth in a strong and powerful way and share that with my 14 year old! He could so use a confidence builder like this!

    I’m a big fan of yours…used your exercise routines and LOVE how you shine the Master in everything you do!

    Reply
  37. Bill Wolfe says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    I love competing in Spartan Races and seeing all the people I train able to complete them as well!!!

    Reply
  38. Lori says

    August 6, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    This would be perfect for me and my sister, who lives in Plano, TX!! What great bonding time 🙂

    Reply
  39. Emily says

    August 6, 2014 at 2:16 pm

    I would LOVE to do this! It will be just the motivation I need to get back in shape again!! I want to bring my sister, Amy!

    Reply
  40. Lisa says

    August 6, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    I would make my sister do it with me 🙂

    Reply
  41. Alexandra Fleming says

    August 6, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    My boyfriend Zachary Evans, we are so competitive and would race to the finish line. May the odds be ever in my favor!!!!!

    Reply
  42. Tricia Marble says

    August 6, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    I have been putting off doing this race because I don’t qualified! Winning would push me out of my comfort zone and I would do it with Heather Meloy!

    Reply
  43. marie says

    August 6, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    Oh me oh my. This is a tough one. I have three people who come to mind who I’d like to run with. But since this will be coming from Peak 313, a Christian fitness blog, I’d have to go with my fellow fit and fierce sister in Christ, Michelle M.

    Reply
  44. Jaime says

    August 6, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    I need to win this. My friend and I signed up for the Rugged Maniac and I had to back out 3 days before because of personal circumstances. This would allow me to make it up to her!

    Reply
  45. Brittany says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:08 pm

    She doesnt know it yet but def Aubrey 🙂

    Reply
  46. Heather Meloy says

    August 6, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    I would bring my friend Tricia 🙂

    Reply
  47. Christine says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    I would so love to run this with my hubby!

    Reply
  48. Anna says

    August 7, 2014 at 12:52 am

    I would love to do the race with my husband!

    Reply
  49. Mary says

    August 7, 2014 at 7:32 am

    I’d ask my best friend that hates getting dirty to do it with me. 😉 lol

    Reply
  50. Lisa Marik says

    August 7, 2014 at 9:12 am

    Thank you for this opportunity. If I win, it is clearly God nudging me to continue to do great things for Him and His glory. Lord have mercy!

    Reply
    • Lisa Marik says

      August 7, 2014 at 9:13 am

      I would ask my super inspiring friend Tish to do this with me.

      Reply
  51. Carrie says

    August 7, 2014 at 9:46 am

    I have never done anything like this before but would love the challenge!!! Not sure who I would take…gotta think about that one!

    Reply
  52. Rachelcaruso says

    August 7, 2014 at 10:10 am

    This would be a fantastic thing to win!

    Reply
  53. Sarah Mitchell says

    August 7, 2014 at 10:22 am

    I would Love this! I would run it with my Hubby!

    Reply
  54. Kim Gray says

    August 7, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    I would love to have the opportunity to do this with my amazing 16 year old daughter, Lindsay!

    Reply
  55. Jennifer Anne says

    August 7, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    I’d ask my husband! Ran it last year and hope to again!

    Reply
  56. Jessica Harris says

    August 7, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    My sister, Jenna or my best friend Brigitte!!

    Reply
  57. Tiffany says

    August 7, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    I would love to do this. I have been focusing in getting healthier this year so it would be a great way to end a year of fitness! Also, it would be awesome motivation! I would invite my sister to go with me. 🙂

    Reply
  58. jasper says

    August 8, 2014 at 8:54 am

    i’d like to ask my mom to do the race with me since she loves the outdoors.

    Reply
  59. Heather Sue says

    August 8, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    I’d ask my husband – we’re both newbies!

    Reply
  60. Bob says

    August 9, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    I would ask my wife. We love the outdoors.

    Reply
  61. Fides says

    August 9, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    My husband who rocked the LA Marathon and The LA Tough Mudder

    Reply
  62. Mary says

    August 9, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    My hubby. He would be ecstatic.

    Reply
  63. Amanda Fowler says

    August 9, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    Kara Hermes, my fitness inspiration!

    Reply
  64. Sarah L says

    August 9, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    I’m sooooo wanting to run this with my half-marathon training buddy Brenda!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Sarah Matos Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube

looking for something?

post archives

Instagram

Let your complicated, challenging, nuanced situati Let your complicated, challenging, nuanced situation(s) be what forms you. Let it build you into the person God is bringing you to be. It’s not the ability to live life unscathed and perfect that creates a beautiful soul. It’s the ability to feel the heat and pain and come out more tender, authentic, and loving that makes you a person who is set apart for use. A person like this is refreshing and that person absolutely is you. #abeautifulpurpose

(Quote not my own)
I’ll keep this short because I want you to read I’ll keep this short because I want you to read the poem. We can bring our burdens many places nowadays- friends, Instagram, Facebook, text, to gym, to work, to sleep.. you get the point. But let’s make sure we bring our burdens first to Jesus. After the week.. month.. year.. many of us are having, there’s no better time to do this than now. #sweetunfailingrefuge

(I found this tucked in an old book at my family’s 100 year old farmhouse that we were selling this summer 🤍)
•My house was a mess with everyone being home to •My house was a mess with everyone being home today
• I only had ingredients for one batch of soup
• I don’t drink alcohol on Mondays
• Hubs had the sink totally apart in the middle of a project
• The kids were in and out of our deep conversation

Sometimes the quick stop to say hello turns into a therapy session with dinner and wine. Everything was stacked against me – so I thought- but the mayhem is often beauty and normalcy to the person’s life who is spinning. Sometimes “the plan” goes off track... but it’s not off track in God’s eyes.

Living life knowing that the minutes of your day are not yours but for God to use to encourage and be there for people who are hurting changes everything. It changes who you marry. It changes how you spend your money. It changes what you do with your time. Dinner portions may not be what you planned but God always finds enough to fill those who come to His table to be loved on and heard.

If I know one thing – it’s this. People are hurting right now. Some things are private and some are public. What would it look like if our homes became safe places for people to land? For our hearts to enter in the pain? For our embrace to provide the temporary relief needed? We can be people who talk about bringing the kingdom here on earth or we can be people who do what we can with the little we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 🤍
I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the past few weeks. Between an insane December, Covid recovery, Ohio winters, and the mere fact I don’t have the bounce back that I used to (#thisis40) it’s been a slow go for me to get to feeling where I feel best physically. It’s been discouraging to say the least and I feel like I just turned a corner last week. 

While a lot truly was physical exhaustion, it was more of a mind game I was playing. I had to be my own #hypeman and tell myself to keep chipping away at the goal. I had to tell myself that the only way to the end was through it…no shortcuts. Just time and steady work. I often dismissed the small wins I had because I hadn’t hit the finish line. Well that thinking wasn’t helping me and one day had the “aha”that while I wasn’t yet at the goal, I was BETTER.

Each of us have something in our lives where it’s not what we want. We are on the path to achievement but it sure ain’t there yet. It can be with some of the obvious things such a health or financial goals but I see this often with people regarding relationships. The marriage, friendship, child or community in which we live falls just short of “perfection” and so we just settle instead of putting in consistent, hopeful work, which allows room for the Holy Spirit to work. 

I just want to encourage you to keep chipping away because while things may not be what you want, they can be better. In fact the way we reach what we want is not by snapping our fingers and it magically appearing but by a process or journey which involves ups and downs, straight stretches of boredom, and then finally a renewed energy as you see the end in sight.

What have you given up on achieving because it hasn’t come to fruition in the time you wanted? Remember… things can be BETTER. And that counts for something. 🤍
I was recently telling someone my journey or where I was recently telling someone my journey or where I am today in regards to what I do for a living... the crazy road I’ve travelled over the last 10 years to get me here. It’s changed a lot and if you’ve been here online with me, you have seen it! If you would have asked 18 year old Clare what she saw herself filling her days with at 40 years old, it would be about 5% of what I’m doing. Goodness...none of this was even around when I was 18!

I look back and see all the twists and turns. All these tiny moments and conversations. Many open and closed doors. Things that I thought were just random or not a big deal, but in hindsight, they were a huge deal. I appear to be a very type a “has her stuff together and a plan” type girl but the truth is, I am (was) taking everything day by day.

All I know is that everything I stepped into prepared me for the next thing. Many times I didn’t even know it! But I look back often and am like, “ohhh, God, I see what ya did there!” 

My encouragement to you is this- no matter what age you are- trust the path you are on. Let peace be your guide... not some assumed plan an “expert” or author told you. Sure- be wise with your time. Put in the work with diligence wherever your feet may have you, but be open to the nudges of where to go.

Maybe I’m crazy but living a life of faith in God is one of the most exciting and fulfilling things. I don’t know what He has for me in 5 years let alone 1...and for whatever reason, that thought alone gets me up and helps me live with a holy anticipation. I trust Him.  I live less with resistance to the unexpected now. God is indeed preparing you for what he has prepared for you. What a loving Father!
We all know this but it’s so easy to forget. Rem We all know this but it’s so easy to forget. Remember that seeds are buried and “in the dark” before anything springs forth. Our journeys in life can often feel like that. Do the daily work. Tend your “heart garden.” Time is on your side. And when it’s time...it’s time. 🤍

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬
A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s retreat in the Chicago area. I just finished a session & a lady ran up to me asking if she could ask me a few questions. She was early 50’s, striking in appearance… fit & confident. She started telling me that she resonated with my health/fitness message & wanted some encouragement on starting “this late in life”, but as we continued talking, her demeanor changed & tears started to fill her eyes.

She told me that was she was struggling with something that had been weighing on her since she was 18…the decision to have an abortion. The tears were streaming down her face, the clear guilt she carried from it weighing heavy on every part of her beautiful stature. Not many knew about it. Her current husband did not…many friends did not. She felt it was keeping her from this life she saw that was just within reach. The more she sat in silence, the heavier the chains felt. She needed to speak and I watched the tears fall like visible chains.

We chatted a little longer, prayed & hugged, & as I walked away I couldn’t help but think of many women I’ve encountered with this same story but I would’ve never known. Walking through life seemingly fine, yet carrying a deep wound inside, questioning every bit of her worth and ability to make a difference. Heartbreaking. 

If you relate to that woman, I want you to know that you are loved & seen. Your past, as hard as it has been, has formed & shaped you into the woman you are today, & a woman that God greatly desires to use. He wants your broken, fragile heart. He will bind it up and heal it. He will walk with you in the shadows. He will lead you beside still and soul-quenching waters. There may be many words you can attach to your situation but there is one more powerful than all that I want you to keep remembering…RESTORATION. Jesus is renewing and reviving something within you that will bring light to yourself & others.

For the rest of us who may not have this as a part of our story, let’s remember that we are walking amongst those who have & that we are to be healing arms, not ones of judgement & legalism...but ones of compassion & grace. 🤍 DM me if you need prayer!
This came up on my Facebook memories and I just fe This came up on my Facebook memories and I just feel it’s always applicable! There is always something in our lives that if we could just “get our hands on” would work to our favor. We dream about what it would be like if we got that thing/person etc. We think about the 2 tweaks that need to happen for it to occur. We pray about it. Perhaps obsess over it.. sound familiar?

But we also start to resent our current lives. We stop living in what God has fully given us. We live everywhere but the here and now and alongside that dream of yours comes a side dish of anxiety and sadness. So then we get our hands in it, perhaps without God’s “OK” and then we see a mess unfold. We’ve all been there. If only we had waited. 

This is the grind of living in reality. We are pulled from living what is before us into living into a dream we have deep within. Here’s the cool thing. We don’t have to choose.. reality or dream. It’s not an either/or but both/and. We can live fully here while also giving energy to our hopes. The difference is how tightly we hold into those things and how much they get elevated in our hearts.

If you are here this morning I just want to encourage you that you aren’t alone! I truly believe with everything I am, that God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) I believe in His sovereign timing. I believe that the work He started in you (and everyone else in your life) will be completed. (Phil1:6) Keep praying, stay faithful to where you are now, walk in the “peace path” and hold onto Jesus. He will lead you. 🙏🏻
Follow on Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube

© 2021 · Clare Smith · Design by Heart & Arrow

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.