meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

Travis & Mark Macy - Eco-Challenge vs Alzheimer's with host Joe De Sena

The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

Spartan Races

Self-improvement, Health & Fitness, Education

4.8874 Ratings

🗓️ 15 September 2020

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ultrarunning father & son Travis & Mark Macy were excited about the return of  Eco-Challenge Fiji and planned to race - Travis on a younger competitive team, Mark on team "Stray Dogs."  Plans changed after learning 66-year-old endurance racer Mark Macy was facing Alzheimer's.  He'd won the grueling Iditashoe 100-mile snowshoe race and competed in 9 Eco-challenges - but this race would pose a special challenge, but also unique rewards.  Joe De Sena, a veteran endurance racer himself, trades tales with Travis and Mark about eco-challenge and about their last meeting when we interviewed Travis about his book "The Ultra Mindset."

 

LESSONS

  1. Make time for family
  2. Sometimes the risk of avoiding the challenge is greater than the risks the challenge poses.



This episode was brought to you by TrueForm Runner. Visit www.trueformrunner.com/spartan and use the code SPARTAN10 to save 10% 

 

FOLLOW SPARTAN UP:

Spartan Up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spartanuppodcast/

Spartan Up on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpartanUpPod

 

CREDITS:

Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc.

Hosts: Joe De Sena 

Sefra Alexandra, Johnny Waite & Colonel Nye send their regards :)  

Production Assistant - Andrea Hagarty

 

© 2020 Spartan



Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The original plan is Dad was going to do eco challenge with the stray dogs, with his old teams.

0:05.6

As Alzheimer's advanced a little more, we kind of realize, you know, hey, maybe it's a better fit for

0:11.3

Dad to be out there with some younger teammates and I also, you know, I realize like what do I want out of this race? I want to be out there with my dad.

0:19.6

Welcome to the Spartan Up podcast with Joe DesSenna, founder and CEO of Spartan Race.

0:25.0

We are talking about overcoming obstacles.

0:29.0

The same way we teach people to get over obstacles on the course, we will teach you here on the Spartan

0:36.5

up podcast to get over obstacles in your mind.

0:39.5

Today on Spartan Up, Travis and Mark Mason, his father and son team took on Eco Challenge Fiji together,

0:46.0

after learning 66-year-old veteran endurance racer Mark Macy was facing Alzheimer's.

0:50.0

He'd competed in nine eco-challenges.

0:52.0

This race, facing Alzheimer's, would nine eco challenges. This race facing Alzheimer's would pose new challenges and as it turned out new rewards.

0:57.0

This episode of Spartan Up is brought to you by Gone Rogue High Protein chips.

1:02.6

Visit Amazon or Gone Rogue Snacks.com

1:05.3

and use the promo code Spartan 25 to get 25% off.

1:09.8

We are here for Spartan Up Podcast with two legends, Travis Macy and his dad, Mark. And you guys just got done with Eco Challenge in Vigu.

1:20.0

Yeah, Joe, I just wanted to ask you, the last time we did this,

1:23.0

we were on a beach in the Bahamas,

1:26.0

and now we're locked up, you know,

1:28.1

I'm in a room closet or something.

1:30.8

Why, what's going on? Can't you fix this what I think I think is I've made so many people so

1:37.2

unhappy with burpees that God the universe even with us.

1:43.4

I think that's what happened.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Spartan Races, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Spartan Races and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.