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"I learned many lessons from my first race with my heroes. I learned it was easier to breathe when I cried, so I cried often and without shame. I learned that a teammate's faith in you can propel you up any mountain. I learned that winning requires an entirely different mind-set than not losing. I learned that the best teams in the world share not only their strengths but also their weaknesses. I learned that you don't inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing you are. You inspire them by showing them how amazing they are."

"You don't inspire your teammates by showing them how amazing you are. You inspire them by showing them how amazing they are."

"Being an Athena, you’re not just a survivor, you’re an adventurer,” Benincasa said. “We give them a different label to put on themselves, and it’s something they become on their way to the finish line.”"

"“And I learned that when people leave their egos at the starting line in pursuit of a common goal and form a deep and genuine connection to one another along the way—otherwise known as human synergy—they create a beautiful and unstoppable force that can handle whatever the winds, the mountains, the rivers and the jungles throw their way.”"

"“We often hear, ‘What else can I do?’ It gives them a whole new perspective,” Benincasa said. “It’s not about trying to get back what you were, it’s about trying to be the best of what you’re capable of today, this minute.”"

"The most gratifying thing is the moment when you see someone realize they’re going to make it, when you see the fear disappear … and they realize how awesome they are.”"

"If there's anyone out there who has taken extreme to a new level, its Joe De Sena - in adventure racing, in business, and ultimately in the business of adventure! Spartan Up! is must-read."

"Very often people are saying, ‘OK, I survived. But now what?’ ” , the nonprofit’s founder. “We want to be that now what.”"

"“I was in shock, because my body had never betrayed me before,”"

"I always found a way to get through whatever it was, so I pretended it wasn’t happening for a little while. And then I was being rolled into surgery for my first hip replacement.”"

"“Maybe somebody always wanted to run a 10K but got cancer, and now they need the motivation to not let that dream fade,” she said. “It’s not about the setback, it’s about the comeback.”"

"The secret to long-term success is to work as a team,” Benincasa said. “The greatest results happen when people connect.”"

"“Great leaders embrace their setbacks as a chance to learn,”"

"We don’t achieve the greatest heights by stepping on the backs of our opponents, but rather by putting our teammates on our shoulders.”"

"I did this for all of the amazing women I know who are recovering from medical setbacks. I want to show what's possible when you choose not to focus on what you've lost, but on being the best of what you are today,'"

"I find the best thing to do is look at what you still can do, instead of what you can't. I can't run very far anymore because of my condition, but that lead to me to something I love even more - the sport of paddling,'"

"'In the middle of the night I did have a moment of crisis. I couldn't keep my balance on the board and worried the muscles supporting my hip replacements weren't up for the job."

"'It's the best feeling to help survivors of health setbacks live out their dreams of physical adventure. My friends think I'm crazy, but quitting is not an option!'"