SOBER UP 'SPARTAN STYLE' BOOK LAUNCH!!!
SOBER UP 'SPARTAN STYLE' BOOK LAUNCH!!!
Sober Up Spartan Style sheds light on how Spartan Race and DEKA
SOBER UP Spartan Style sheds light on how Spartan Race and DEKA, Spartan’s partner sport, have reconnected individuals with themselves and others, particularly after struggling with substance misuse. Highlighting the pressing issue of the current drug epidemic, Dr. Tara Pipia advocates for the integration of Spartan Race and DEKA into rehabilitation centers, envisioning a supportive and healthy environment for individuals upon their release.
The book is a captivating blend of research, personal stories, and interviews with Spartan Race Founder Joe De Sena and Spartan DEKA Co-Creator Yancy Culp. Dr. Pipia acknowledges that there are many avenues to healing but highlights Spartan Race and DEKA as unique paths to profound personal growth accessible to individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. The healing and enhanced well-being gained through these sports serve as a beacon of hope in the ongoing battle against substance misuse
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Pipia, Ph.D., is an avid Spartan Race and DEKA competitor, earning numerous podium finishes in age-group races and world championship events. She is an adjunct professor at Sofia University and a certified ICF life coach, personal trainer, and Spartan SGX and DEKA coach. Dr. Pipia also has a distinguished military background, having served for 10 years in the New York Army National Guard, with her final position at the Department of the Army Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Throughout her service, she received multiple awards and honors, including a Bronze Star for her service in Afghanistan. Her mission is to introduce Spartan and DEKA training in rehabilitation centers and provide opportunities for members to volunteer and participate in events.
More about author
Dr. Tara Pipia, Ph.D., started as a high school physical education teacher and adjunct faculty member at a community college in Middletown, NY, the city of her birth. With a bachelor's in English, she transitioned in 2002 to an editing and sports writing position at a local newspaper in the same town. In 2009, Dr. Pipia embarked on a new chapter, joining the Army National Guard. Throughout her 10-year career, she held many positions, including logistics officer at the Pentagon, Afghanistan convoy commander, and officer candidate school senior instructor.
Her leadership was recognized with several medals and awards, including the Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and multiple Army Achievement medals. Dr. Pipia's commitment to personal growth extends beyond the academic and military realms.
After relocating to California in 2018, she established a personal training business in the Bay Area. Her dedication to fitness is evident in her numerous certifications, including Army Master Fitness Trainer, Spartan Group Training, DEKA Fitness, and Parkinson’s Regeneration Training. In her spare time, Dr. Pipia pushes her physical limits by competing in Spartan obstacle races and DEKA events at the age group levels, earning multiple local, national, and international podiums.
Her determination and physical prowess were highlighted when she placed third in the world in her age group at the Spartan Trifecta World Championships in 2022 and earned the same ranking at the DEKA FIT World Championships. Most recently, she earned 5 team podiums at the 2024 DEKA FIT World Championships in Ocala, Fla. Dr. Pipia's unwavering commitment to personal growth and professional development is inspiring.
During the challenging times of COVID-19, she seized the opportunity to return to school, earning a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology and an ICF Leadership and Transformative Life Coaching Certification from Sofia University in Palo Alto. One of her greatest honors was being selected to give the commencement speech at the doctoral graduation. She is now an adjunct professor, teaching psychology at the master’s level for her alma mater and is continuing her education to become a certified addiction counselor.
Dr. Pipia aspires to guide those in recovery from various addictions on how to maintain sobriety and thrive through physical and mental fitness. She recently published a book SOBER UP Spartan Style: Recovery through Racing.
“Sober UP is a great book for a Spartan racer or anyone considering joining the Spartan tribe. Spartan races can change you within and can help with personal challenges, including substance abuse. The sport has helped me overcome obstacles in my own life, and it can do the same for you. Dr. Pipia's research and transformational stories show us that overcoming obstacles on the course teaches us how to overcome them in life.”
- Heather Gollnick, co-author of Triathlete EQ, 5x Ironman
Champion, and Spartan Pro and Age Group champion
“Dr. Pipia hits the mark with what is essentially a success story. Her text shares an often overlooked solution to addiction from which we can all learn and better ourselves. It's not always what we want to hear, but easy choices make a hard life, while hard choices create an easier life.”
- Jay Jackson, B.A. Psychology, Stanford University and author of
Up to the Challenge
“Sober UP illuminates how being part of something meaningful and rewarding and competing alongside others can be a powerful tool for sobriety and navigating life. The book beautifully showcases stories of Spartan competitors finding fulfillment through conquering Spartan’s epic challenges. The compelling true stories will captivate and immerse readers. You’ll know at the finish line!”
Yancy Culp, Co-Creator and Senior Director of Spartan DEKA, and Founder of Yancy Camp