How a Four-Time Cancer Survivor Rebuilt His Life With Spartan Races

How do you rebuild purpose after life knocks you down four times? Nick Klingensmith shares how cancer, addiction, and chronic illness didn't break him. They forged him. 

Nick explains how hitting rock bottom led him to sobriety, discipline, and the Spartan Race community that reignited his purpose. He reflects on ownership, gratitude, and the power of taking the first step, signing up, even when you're not ready. His story is proof that resilience isn't motivation; it's daily action, built one uncomfortable decision at a time.

 

What You Will Learn:

• How to shift from a victim mindset to one of ownership and action.
• Why signing up, before you feel ready, is the first step toward real change.
• How community and accountability transform recovery into resilience.

 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:15 The first cancer diagnosis and the choice between living and dying.
• 03:06 Hitting rock bottom and choosing sobriety as an act of survival.
• 05:02 How a single Spartan Race broke years of self-limiting beliefs.
• 09:58 The power of the Spartan community to restore purpose and belonging.
• 13:44 Redefining setbacks through perspective, gratitude, and daily standards.

 

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Learned:

• The "Sign-Up First" Rule: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}