Get out of the cold and into the gym: Part I

Get out of the cold and into the gym: Part I

Winter is quickly approaching, and soon the cold weather will take us from the outdoors and force us inside. As a way to keep moving and prevent cabin fever, there are a number of options to help keep the cold and extra pounds at bay through the cold winter months.

Bikram Yoga. If you are looking to get warm and toasty, take a Bikram yoga class. Also referred to as “hot yoga”, Bikram yogis perform their practice in a heated room (104 °F). This form of yoga helps the practitioner build strength, flexibility, muscular endurance and release toxins through the sweat. Classes typically run from anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes. During that time the practitioner will be lead through a series of 26 poses and two different breathing exercises.

If you decide to give hot yoga a chance, be sure to wear light, well-vented, form-fitting clothing so that you are able to keep cool and avoid feeling restricted during the movements. Also be sure to go to drink plenty of water before, during and after class to ensure that you are properly hydrated. It is also suggested to bring a small towel, although most studios provide them for a small cost.

CrossFit. If you are an avid exerciser and/or gym-goer more than likely you know someone who has done CrossFit. While the regimen’s safety has been debated in recent months, there are numbers of people who have found a path to better health through what CrossFit Headquarters refers as the “Sport of Fitness”.

CrossFit is an exercise program that prides itself on being “constantly varied” – the regimen pulls from gymnastics, Power Lifting, Olympic Weightlifting, and endurance sports (e.g. running, rowing, jumping rope) and tests these movements in ever-changing workouts at a high intensity.  The regimen is designed to create a well-rounded and balanced athlete rather than a specialist (e.g. marathon runner).

If you decide to give CrossFit a try, many CrossFit gyms (also known as a “box”) offer a free trial class. However, before settling on a gym, be sure to do shopping around. Avoid gyms that offer Groupons, which discount their services simply to get you into the door, and that do not include introductory classes that require you to learn the movements.

When you do find a gym you are interested in, be sure to ask the coaches about their credentials, the gym culture and community, as well as the types of workouts that regularly appear (NOTE: Offering only long workouts or workouts with a name attached to them should put up a red flag). Each CrossFit gym is different, but doing the proper research can help you find a box that suits your individual needs.

Barre.  Instead of heading to the bar for spirits to keep you warm, try a barre class instead. The ballet-inspired program incorporates dance with other traditional exercises to give the practitioner a toned and sculpted body.

There are various types of barre classes to try – some focus more primarily on dance while others incorporate traditional yoga and/or Pilates exercises into the routine. There are also classes that focus on “strengthening and lengthening” the body, sessions led by physical therapists to perform movements while protecting your joints, as well as classes that incorporate exercise props such as hand weights and exercise balls.

Whatever class you do choose, be prepared to ease into the routine and then get in a killer lower body workout. While Barre classes will give you a good overall workout, they will especially work your core, legs, and butt – and who doesn’t want that?

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With the cold weather looming it is time to head back inside, but avoid total hibernation by trying out a new type of fitness class to your exercise regimen. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for our Part II of our "Get out of the cold" series for more ideas to keep you sweating through the winter months. 

Meez Meals; the New Revolution for Vegetarian Cooking?

Meez Meals; the New Revolution for Vegetarian Cooking?

There's paleo home delivery options, diet delivery options, just regular food delivery options; but is there many vegetarian home delivery options? How about vegetarian home delivery options that gives you all the ingredients and directions on how to make it into a home cooked healthy meal? That's where Meez Meals comes in.

Created by genius Jen Moore, Meez Meals offers 5 new vegetarian recipes every week and even delivers all of the ingredients, prepped and ready to cook! So no need to cut yourself dicing those tomatoes, it is already pre-done for you!  All meals are meat free but a recipe card (directions on how to cook) comes with a meat suggesiton for all your carnivore family members. Here at Half Stack, we had the opportunity to have a one-on-one with founder of Meez Meals Jen Moore!! So not only we tried Meez Meals (yummy, I am obsessed with their portabella pizza) we also learned about how this stellar dream became a reality.


 Jen Moore, grew up in a family where home cooking was the norm (very unheard of these days as well all know). Her mother taught her and her sister to cook and also most importantly shared her belief that anyone who can read, can cook! So Jen and her sister cooked dinner every other week for the family, some were tasty, some were but needless to say they learned. Jen's background consist of receiving an M.B.A from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University an a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. She also worked in Brand Management for Unilever and Barilla.

Founder Jen Moore (photo by Lindsey Cavanaugh)

Half Stack: What is your background story? How did you get involved with cooking?

Jen: I learned by cooking for my family. I loved the satisfaction that came with seeing everyone easting something I had created. I quicly relized that there's something magical and satisfying about cooking a meal from scratch that extends well beyond the food itself. That love continued and I always enjoyed looking through cookbooks, trying new recipes and cooking old favorites.
I was happily pursing a career in brand management when my sister told me about the challenges of cooking while juggling a busy job and a small child. The problem wasn't the cooking, ut rather that it simply took too much time ot figure what to make, go to the store and get everything prepped. So my background in markeitng helped bolster the idea to launch a delivery service unlike anything else out there. I founded Meez Meals in 2010, in order ot help other busy professionals recognize the pleasure of making a delicious meal at home. Each week, memebers recieve a cooler packed with the prepped and ready-to-cook ingredicents and inventive recipes-all that's needed to build delicious dinners from scratch. Then they are left to their own devices to do the fun part-the cooking!

HS: Why did you decide to do a food delivery service of food that is prepped so that the customer cooks it at home? 

J: The name itself "Meez Meals" was inspired by the French phrase "mise en place," which means having the prep work taken care of before it's time to cook. I went with phonetic "Meez" to make it more fun. At the heart of Meez Meals rests the idea that preparing a delicious home-cooked meal without the hassle of buying and chopping ingredients returns cooking to a place of pleasure.

HS: How many varieties of meals do you currently offer? 

J: We offer five new creative and delicious meals each week plus salads, sides and desserts featured on our website here. We also have a year-long partnership with Common Threads called Meals for Good. The program offers a new recipe every month from top Chicago chefs. Each recipe purchased through Meez Meals supports Common Thread's innovative after-school programs, which empower children and adults with nutrition knowledge and teach them the beenfits of an active lifestyle and the magic of smart cooking. Additionally, meals are created based on each person's preferences, with plenty of options for those eating a gluten-free, dairy-free or with a spcific ingredient preferences. We invite customers to share their personal allergies and dietary preferences with ordering meals, and we cutomize meals for them. Whether it's subsitutiing mozzarella for blue cheese, holding th eonions or sending gluten-free pasta, we love to make meals just right for each family!

HS: What other meals will you offer in the future? 

J: We have big plans for 2015, but nothing I can fully share quite yet. I can saw we are lookign ot build upon our partnership with Common Thread and have some sampling initiatives that we are looking to flesh out.

HS: Any future plans for the company? Enter different markets? Different food categories? 

J: Meez with be continuing it's growth in the future, but we can't discuss specifics at this point.

HS: Who would you say you are marketing (targeting) with this company? 

J: Anyone that enjoys a home cooked meal! This can range from the busy working parent who doesn't have time to create a weeklong meal plan for the family; the single professionla who's tired after work but wants to have something delicious and healthy from dinner; just about anyone who appreciates the magic of cookign and wants to find the time to do it while still being able to enjoy the rest of their night. The people who cook with us love the ideal of cooking from scratch, but find that too often life gets in the way.

HS: Anything else you would like to share with our readers? 

J: One of the best parts of Meez is the notes we get from members tellins us about what a difference we've made in their lives. Whether it's getting home from a hard day and having a home cooked meal on the table, having kids who turn into adventurous eater because they helped cook a meal, or that they've started turning off the TV and setting the table for dinner, members tell us we make theiur lives a little easier, and dinnertime a little more special.

Thank you to Jen Moore for taking time to chat with us and to the whole Meez Meals team for creating a whole new unique look at cooking dinner at home!!! Yummy food, try it out!!!

October Letter from the Editor - Fall

October Letter from the Editor - Fall

Hey Halfstackers!

Hope fall is treating you all right! This month we are focusing on all things fall must haves - fashion, style, beauty, food and we will be bringing you some great video editorials in the coming weeks. As usual the Halfstack team has been out and about at some great events and will be sharing their adventures with you. You can be sure to find some great local restaurant reviews and culture spotlights from Thom, Dana and Cora. You will also get an insiders view of some great fashion events from Perry and Olivia (our new digital fashion blogger) and some great out and about pieces from Rob and Dana. Also, make sure to check us out for Healthy Fridays every friday from our Health and Fitness blogger - Brittany. She's got some great pieces, interviews and posts on nutrition and health in store for you all this month!



If you didn't know, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. So, ladies and gentleman (guys this isn't a disease that only women get) love your tatas this month and get a check up! I will be spotlighting some brands doing some good this month and share with you all places and products that give back to this national charity.

Be on the lookout for some new Youtube videos from us (if you haven't please subscribe here!) and some upcoming creative stories from our other photo blogger - Aimee of Visual Stimulus. She'll be spotlighting some great neighborhood photography to inspire you to get out and explore Chicago and your own hood.

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Jen Lezan
Editor in chief
Halfstackmag.com

JuiceRx - Local Love

JuiceRx - Local Love

The road to healthy can be long, tumultuous and frustrating, but it doesn't have to taste bad! JuiceRx, a local juice cleanse brand, shared some of their awesome juice concoctions with me to try this month. I will be the first to say that the idea of a magical juice cleanses helping you drop the pounds and inches in a week is a bunch of baloney. BUT, a brand that is meant to help you kick start your health, get you the nutrients you need and detoxify your body of the bad stuff is what JuiceRx is all about.

There is a lot of controversy about the so-called detox diets, especially due to the fact that many are not sustainable. Of course you will lose weight if you are not eating and only sustaining yourself on liquids. Yet, once you begin eating "normal" again the chances of you gaining are much higher. There is also some research that shows that you are slowing down your metabolism when you are on a prolonged cleanse. Yet, there are also some positives that relate to juice cleanses, especially when done under the supervision of your doctor and to help supplement your health rather than just as a crash diet.

Juice Cleanses are known to help those suffering from inflammatory diseases, allergies, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases or bloating. They are a great way to flush out the bad and help kick those sweet cravings. Yet, it's important to note that the juices are not just some magical elixir that automatically flush your body. It takes time and it is so important to drink a lot of water while on a cleanse in order to flush your body properly. The JuiceRX options are a switch up from your typical store bought juices and a much easier way to "juice" in general. As an at-home juicer, I know from experience the amount of time, produce necessary to make one serving of juice and the expenses that can come along with it. Let's just say it's a lot! It's worth it, but it can be a bit much for the non-experienced juicer.

These cleanses, raw foods and elixirs aren’t about fad, or fashion. They’re about high quality nutrition that encourages healing and youthful vigor to improve quality of life today, tomorrow, and well into the future. Unlike many cleanses and health foods, the JuiceRX flavors delight even the pickiest palate. I had the opportunity to try out the "Regular" one day cleanse that had a variety of green juices, fruit based juices and the amazing horchata juice. The juice I make at home tends to be a bit thick, but in comparison the JuiceRX juices were fine, easy to drink and pulp free. Which means your body absorbs it in less than 15 minutes. They use a specialty juicer that applies 5,000 pounds of pressure to fresh, organic fruits and vegetables to extract (that's what all that cold-press stuff means) their juices. This means you get the maximum vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and phytonutrients in every serving. Dean, the founder states that this press delivers 3 to 5 times more nutrition than any other juicing technique, with over 50 lbs of fruits and vegetable nutrients delivered in a 3 day cleanse! Who eats 50 lbs of fruits and veggies ever?

Did I mention how good they tasted? Seriously, this Mexirican was all about that horchata. I almost felt like I was cheating drinking it because it tasted like my favorite drink from my favorite hole in the wall taco place. JuiceRX has taken this Mexican classic and turned it into something that not only tastes amazing, but has managed to make it really good for you, too! They mixed up organic cashews, added a hearty dose of copper, which is known to support bone health and protects against free radicals and of course included cinnamon, which is also known for its cholesterol lowering and blood sugar regulating properties. So good!!

So, besides letting me try out their juices, the JuiceRX founder - Dean Kasal  - sat down with me to share his story. It's always amazing to me how entrepreneurs get their start and Dean, just like many others I've spoken with, started his business out of a personal journey. After years in the corporate grind, Dean was stressed and unhealthy. Facing a constant battle with Ulcerative Colitis and a life of prescriptions that ended up hurting him more than helping him, he was afraid of the life in store for him. After less than a year of popping prescription pills that promised to keep the disease at bay, blood tests revealed elevated liver enzyme levels indicating serious liver damage had occurred. As it turns out, this damage was caused by the pills that were intended to restore health. For someone as young as Dean was at the time, this news was mind blowing.

It was the wake up call he needed to make some life altering decisions to get himself back on the path to health. In 2009, in an attempt to find a natural and holistic way of healing, Dean began juicing. A year later he found himself completely cured of a disease that he was told was incurable. All because of his journey with juicing. He realized to feel better he had to do better for his body and that started by changing what he put into it. This led him to launching what is now JuiceRX. He wanted to share his journey and new found health with the world.

Now, nearly 5 years later, Dean has grown his local business in an amazing way. Now offering shipping nationwide and a new line of Raw Foods, he is set to continue to take on the health industry by storm. The FoodRX addition is a great take on the mail order food system. There are not many companies that offer both food and juice options. Typically, it is one or the other, but Dean saw a need and decided to give his customers what they were looking for: a raw food line that tastes good and is good for you. All meals are made fresh for you the day they are delivered. For best taste and maximum nutrition, enjoy within 6 days of delivery (not including delivery day for local deliveries). My favorite is the Southwestern Chili. Filling, spicy and best with the cashew sour cream! If you haven't checked out JuiceRx - do so today and give them a try, you won't regret it!

October is vegetarian month!

October is vegetarian month!

There are plenty of reasons to take a more plant-based approach in your diet.  Research from the Harvard Health Publication and the Brown University Health Promotion claim benefits of eating a vegetarian diet. Such benefits include lowered risks for heart disease, certain cancers, (such as breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer) diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

However, an improved health is not the only thing that one can gain from eating a plant-based diet. A person can also feel better on an ethical level:  vegetarian diets are better on the environment as well as take a stand against animal cruelty.



If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian or are simply interested in eating a more plant-based diet, here are a few tips to help you along the way:
Grain Fed. When choosing grains, opt for whole grain rather than refined and/or white grains. Whole grains are a source of important nutrients, such as dietary fiber, B Vitamins, and iron, magnesium, and selenium.

Mix It Up. Be sure to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure that you receive a proper amount of nutrients.

Supplement. If you eat an entirely plant-based diet, you may need to supplement in order to achieve a full-range of vitamins and minerals. Vegetarians often supplement with Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Calcium, Zinc, and Riboflavin.

Limit and moderate. Just as if you were eating the Standard American Diet, there are certain foods that should be eaten in moderation. Foods that are high in sugar or high in fat should be eaten in limited amounts.

Whether you are looking to become a full-fledge vegetarian or are just wanting to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet, there are a number of resources online to assist you on your journey, including:

• The Vegetarian Resource Group
• The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
• The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chicago

Where's Jimmy?!

Where's Jimmy?!

Written by: Thom Olson as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue. Read the entire issue today HERE.

It’s Sunday afternoon and you are at Oak Street Beach. A beautiful blonde comes up and asks you “Where’s Jimmy?” and proceeds to hand you a light blue package. The color is somewhat similar to Tiffany’s iconic little gift boxes. Alas… Tiffany’s is not giving away free samples... though one can still hope.  It is, however, a small sample of a fruit bar. It’s marked vegan. Some might find that word marked on the package a little scary. You either try it or throw it in your travel tote for later. 

Later you happen to be on a mud run. Could it be that running in this madness is the result of a three-martini evening where you placed a bet and lost? Thus… you are running through an obstacle course doused in soggy wet dirt. Or, is this something you volunteered for because you find it “pleasant”? Anyhow, low and behold, you see that same blonde, who hands you another taste of something wrapped in the same blue wrapper.  Exhausted and hungry, you decide to give it a try.  You eat it. OMG, you actually like it.  You ask for another and get a taste of a second flavor. You wolf it down and are on your way. Did you just have your first vegan experience?

After a shower and cozying up with a very large bar of soap, you hop on down to the Whole Foods Grocery store to get something for dinner. Who do you run in to? Yup, you guessed it. Blondie hands you a sample but this time you ask for a couple of the real deal and buy them. You have just bought a Jimmy Bar.

Jimmy Bars are a fruit-based snack bar. Each bar has all natural ingredients. In a rare twist of food packaging, all the ingredients are featured prominently on the front of the package and not in micro type buried on the back. There isn’t anything listed that leaves a question mark in your mind like Maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup or some hydrogenated goo.  You can actually pronounce all the ingredients and see there is a shelf life on the package. It’s not like a Twinkie.  Yes, it is vegan, but that is less scary now. There isn’t a dairy component added to the product nor are there any lactose bi-products added. It is gluten free — not a lot of foods can say that, particularly in the snack bar category.  The funny thing is, though, it actually tastes good without any sugar added. The base of the bar is dates. There are 4 varieties: Chocolate Chip, Banana Muffin, Peanut Butter and Apple. With all that said why are you still intrigued? It was blonde right? Or was it the food? So, you start to do some investigating, as you need an answer to the question.

Who is the blonde?
You might have run into one of the two that man the helm of this healthy snack food ship. The very athletically handsome: Jimmy Simon, Co-Founder of Jimmy Bars OR his lovely niece Ciarra. Ciarra is the extremely cute, collegiate daughter of the other Co-Founder Annette Del Prete. The pieces start to fall in to place as you recognize it. Annette is one of the owners of Fillippo’s Restaurant in Lincoln Park. You probably have been going there for many years either before or after a movie. It’s a staple destination over on Clybourn St. It is kiddy corner from Webster Place Theater.

You recognize the blonde, as you have seen her many times at Fillippo’s, waiting on you. Both businesses are a family thing. This new nutrition bar sprang into existence out of the same kitchen as your homemade pasta dinner. It stands to reason and it is no wonder why it would taste good. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years making your favorite Chicken Valdostana. The restaurant was in the neighborhood before it was a neighborhood. They make their own pasta in house and after a plate of it I asked Annette, “What’s the story?”

A word about Annette… and full disclose here. We go way back. I was a waiter in the first restaurant she managed when she got out of college. Her name was Annette Simon. That’s how we first met. A few years later, I ran into her at Fillippo’s where she was engaged to Fillippo Del Prete. They have since got married and had two kids. Annette is very smart. She knows food and is fierce in business. She is also a serial entrepreneur. She has had four businesses including: the restaurant, a Mexican fast food shop, a wholesale bakery and now Jimmy Bars. Jimmy Simon is her brother and very much like her. He is also a serial entrepreneur. He has had six businesses including a very successful IT development company, an art gallery, a commercial realty business and two paper companies.  He chuckles at doing the same business twice but he said it was fun.

He has lived on both coasts and a couple spots in between before coming back to Chicago to do take on this new venture. They both readily admit to their dad having a lot to do with their self-made state of mind. He was a commodities trader but also an entrepreneur.  He instilled in them the mindset to blaze their own paths. He said there is no pension plan option; one has to build it on-their-own in order to ensure their future. Jimmy (who is very active and very healthy) asked Annette to join him in a new business venture. This time, though,  it would be a retail food item that would leverage her expertise. Her epicurean results are what is currently being sold in over 30 states and Canada. Jimmy Bars are also beginning to ship to the UK and Australia.  It has been a very meteoric rise. They started selling bars just a year and a half ago.


You can read the full article in the Fall Issue of Halfstack Magazine - To read click HERE

A Little R&R Never Hurt Anybody!

A Little R&R Never Hurt Anybody!

Oftentimes there is a lot of focus on finding that motivation to workout. We read magazines, pin inspirational quotes to our Pinterest boards, put together playlists all to help keep us on track. While we amp ourselves up to get to the gym on a regular basis and are keeping our diets in check there is one aspect of training that oftentimes is neglected – resting. Yes, I said it. While maintaining an active lifestyle it is equally important to focus on exercise, diet, and rest in order to achieve the results you are looking for.

According to the Mayo Clinic it is important to strength train twice a week and then complete some kind of aerobic exercise, ranging from 150 minutes (for moderate aerobic activities) to 75 minutes (for vigorous aerobic activities). The prescription varies among individuals and their goals. Beginners may follow strive merely for 20 minutes of aerobic activity per day while more serious individuals may exercise for an hour or more several days per week. Regardless of where you are at in your training, the rest day is not to be neglected, and there are several different ways to love your rest day.

Active Recovery

For some though the idea of "resting" (i.e. not doing any kind of a exercise of any kind) makes them feel twitchy. As a result, these individuals may want to take part in "active recovery". This type of recovery refers to performing activities, such as rowing, biking, jogging, swimming, etc., at a 60-70% level.

Active recovery should not be overly taxing. The idea is invigorate and restore the body rather than leave it feeling tired and depleted; instead, the movements should leave the athlete feeling more alert, primed, and better prepared for tomorrow's training.

Yoga & Mobility

A restorative yoga class is another form of active recovery and is another good activity for those who dread the idea of taking a full day's rest. For example, Yin yoga is a good choice because it forces the athlete to perform poses for extended periods of time in order to increase flexibility and improve blood circulation around the joints. In addition, the practice seeks to compliment exercise programs (not just other yoga practices) and restore balance.

If a formal yoga class is not your thing, try trigger point therapy. Using a foam roller and/or other trigger point tools, such as Trigger Point’s FootBaller, QuadBaller, Massage Block, etc. to increase your mobility and flexibility. Such tools can be found online through sites such as Trigger Point, Rogue Fitness, and a variety of other sites.

Body Work & Inflammation Control

Aside from performing mobility on your own, another option to work those muscles may be to go see a massage therapist, an acupuncturist, or see a physical therapist to perform Active Release Techniques [ART]. Another good way to release toxins in the body and to minimize inflammation levels is to try either a mustard seed, salt, or ice bath.

Mental Restoration

What I am referring to here is mental restoration. For each athlete recovering mentally from your training is necessary in order to keep motivated as well as avoid burnout. How you recover mentally though is largely up to you: whether it's reading a book, mediating, spending time outside, getting out with friends or family, writing, cooking, or simply just preparing for the next day, do something that allows your brain to take a "time-out" so that it can prepare for what is to come tomorrow.

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It is sometimes difficult to take a rest day: you don't want to miss a particular workout, your lifting buddy is heckling you to come in, and/or you're excited about your progress and want to continue making strides. But sometimes forcing that rest day upon yourself will give you a much needed break and allow you to come back stronger and more focused, which will only help you in the long run.

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Brittany Lohmann - Health & Fitness Blogger

Staying fit with the Spartan Race & Men's Health Urbanathlon

Staying fit with the Spartan Race & Men's Health Urbanathlon

This cold weather that has started blasting us today is encouraging everyone to stay inside, right? Wrong. This fall there are 2 major obstacle courses that will drive you to the max point of fitness or madness (which you prefer).So wanna stay fit this Fall/Winter? Well check out these two 2 extreme obstacle courses!

Spartan, the name alone makes you think of the movie 300 and all those warriors in top notch physique. Similar to those warriors, the Spartan race has established a reputation in races as a difficult and insane obstacle course for athletes that want a challenge. The Spartan Race even has 3 different races now; the Spartan Sprint (3+ miles with 15 obstacles), the Spartan Super (8+ miles with 20 obstacles) and now the Spartan Beast (12+ miles with over 25 obstacles). So now every type of athlete can find a race for them! Here in Chicago, we have both the Spartan Sprint making an appearance on September 28 and the Spartan Super coming on September 27. Both will take place at the Cliff's Off-Road Park (2725 E 2625th Rd, Marseilles IL 61341). It is ONLY 2 weeks away so make sure to register today!!!!!!!!

Men’s Health is returning this year with their 9th annual Urbanathlon series.  The Urbanathlon challenges competitors to set new personal standards for what it means to be fit and healthy (sorry chicas it's a man's event). It is the ultimate test for men in endurance, strength, mobility and pure toughness. There are 2 courses, the New sprint distance or the classic distance. The Classic distance is between 10-12 miles and has 14 obstacles while the Sprint distance is 3-5 miles and has 7 obstacles. The choice is up to the guy! Also, the fun doesn't end at the end of the race. Post race, there is a Urbanathlon Festival, complete with DJ sets, food and drinks and tons of stuff from our sponsors to demo, sample, and take home. This grueling event takes place for Chicago on October 18 at Solider Field (awesome) so make sure to register today!!!!

So let's get off the couch today and sign up for one of these two obstacle courses and let's get our fit on!