In the pouring rain, Joe stepped to the starting line at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. At 65, he was among the oldest of almost 1,500 competitors. Joe knew it wasn’t going to be easy. He’d heard about how difficult the Spartan race was. What he didn’t know was that almost one third of the racers wouldn’t cross the finish line.

The Spartan 5K Sprint is an obstacle race that tests the resolve and endurance of thousands of participants every year. It features a boot camp–style course with a rope climb, barbed wire crawl, and boulder carry—plus 17 other obstacles, all formidable. Scale an inverted wall. Haul a bucket of sand. Hoist and lower a heavy sandbag. Don’t drop the bag too quickly, though, or you’ll have to repeat the obstacle or take a penalty. Often that penalty is 30 burpees.

Obstacles of Another Kind

Three years ago, Joe was granted full parole from a medium-security prison. He had been incarcerated for 15 years. But stepping onto the street as a free man isn’t simple or easy. For many who have spent time in prison, the transition back is filled with emotional, financial, and spiritual challenges.

“In prison, there’s no normalcy. I’ve been beaten up. I’ve been stabbed,” Joe said. “I’m working on post-traumatic stress recovery.”

During the early years of his incarceration, Joe met George and Adelaide Epp through the M2/W2 prison mentorship program.

“They weren’t just the light at the end of the tunnel; they illuminated the whole tunnel,” Joe said. “George continued to come and visit me. He inspired me to never give up.”

At the rings, Joe finds a smile between breaths. The rings were one of 20 obstacles on the 5K Sprint course.

The Strength You Pull Out of Your Guts

For Joe, Spartan got off to an uncertain start. “I fell twice in the early stages,” he said.

“The grass was so wet, my feet would slip underneath me. There were little rivers going down the side of the mountain.”

As he completed the first few obstacles, Joe found his stride. “I wasn’t going to fail,” he said. He crawled under barbed wire. He traversed walls. For the bucket challenge, male racers had to carry five-gallon pails filled with sand. Female racers had the option of choosing smaller ones.

“I looked up at the official and asked, ‘Where are the seniors’ buckets?’ The official said, ‘There aren’t any.’”

Joe took on Spartan with determination and courage, the same traits he applies as he navigates his path to reintegration

Joe persevered through the remaining obstacles. The final challenge was crawling under a wall while submerged in three feet of mucky water. Joe took a breath and held onto his positive outlook: “Through the blood, mud, sweat, and rain, and all these people everywhere, it was terrific.”

With bloodied knees and screaming muscles, Joe completed the race. Of the 1,500 who started, he was one of 1,041 finishers. He’s got the T-shirt to prove it. “The strength you pull out of your guts and keep going,” Joe said.

“The greatest thing was meeting the people at the end… all the high-fives and hugs.”

Looking Forward with a Little Help

Last year, Joe joined No One Leaves Alone (NOLA), a community reintegration program for former inmates. The NOLA program connects people who were in prison with a circle of supporters. These supporters share companionship and guidance, and help the NOLA member find success in everyday life. Joe’s circle includes George and Adelaide, Ken Hinton, as well as other volunteers and M2/W2 staff members.

“My NOLA circle is not just moral support,” he said. “They are spiritual support, psychological support, family support—because they are my family.”

Racing in Spartan—and finishing—was Joe’s way of saying thank you to everyone in his NOLA circle. Empowered by his freedom and encouraged by his supporters, Joe took on Spartan with determination and courage, the same traits he applies each day as he navigates his path to reintegration.

This path, however, has much more at stake than scraped limbs and bruised egos. The finish line isn’t always easy to see.

“I’m trying not to look backward—I’m trying to look forward, and NOLA helps me do that.”

Sharing Hope and Seeing Others Overcome

Joe keeps in touch with a couple of friends who are still in prison. He shares his experiences and optimism, and encourages them to look forward. He feels like his success in the community will help others know that something is waiting for them beyond the fence. He likes to remind his friends that “the worst day out here is better than the best day in there.”

Joe’s desire to uplift his friends in prison stems from the same place as his desire to complete Spartan. It’s his way of giving something back and saying thank you to those who have helped him find restoration and healing.

By supporting former prisoners transitioning to the community, NOLA has tremendous potential to help lower recidivism rates. While NOLA is funded in part by Public Safety Canada, to continue to grow the program and impact the lives of more former prisoners, we need your financial support. Please make a donation and help us bring hope and purpose to people who are often forgotten.