Guest - Jayd

The Race Space Podcast | Hosted by RA George

Contact info for Jayd - Instagram @ jaaaaaaaaayd

USE Code: JAYD20 for a discount

• Upcoming event

• Tough Mudder - 31st October; register here
• Spartan World Championship at Al Wathba; register here

Episode details

What does it take to become more than an athlete and represent a sport as an ambassador? In this episode of The Race Space Podcast, RA George sits down with Jayd to explore Spartan Race, hybrid fitness events, and what it means to live the ambassador lifestyle.

From conquering challenging courses to building connections within the fitness community, Jayd shares insights into the commitment, mindset, and passion behind obstacle course racing and hybrid events.

Whether you're a seasoned racer, a newcomer, or an aspiring ambassador, this conversation offers inspiration and practical perspective on getting involved, pushing your limits, and representing the sport authentically.

• 🏃 Jayd’s journey into Spartan Race and obstacle course racing

• 💪 The challenges and rewards of hybrid fitness events

• 🏅 What it means to be a genuine sports ambassador

• 🎯 Discipline, consistency, and mindset on and off the course

• 🤝 Building connections within the racing community

• 🌍 Growing the OCR and hybrid fitness scene in the UAE

• 🔥 Inspiring others to take on new challenges

• 📣 Representing brands and events with authenticity

• 🏆 Lessons learned through competition and personal growth

• 🚀 Advice for athletes looking to get more involved in the sport

An ambassador does more than promote the sport — an ambassador lives it. Authenticity, commitment, and community are what make the difference.

Listen, get inspired, and discover what it takes to set the standard on and off the course.

🚨 Forge of Champions: Heat, Endurance, & Hybrid Mastery

⚡️ Ambassador Panel Discussion: Mohammad Bazara & Layton Thomas

⚡️ Date & Time: 01st September 07:00pm - 08:30pm

Host: RA George

Contact details - IG

Mohammad Bazara @mhdbaz Use Code - MOHAMMAD20 for upcoming races

Layton Thomas, @aytonthomass & @mafiamornings Use Code - LAYTON20 for upcoming races

• Spartan DEKA FIT - Registration link here

• Spartan Super and Sprint Al Ain 10th October Registration link here

• Tough Mudder - 31st October Registration link here

Summary

In this episode, we explore the journeys of obstacle course racing athletes and Spartan Middle East Ambassadors, discussing training, event preparation, mental resilience, and the future of the sport in the Middle East. In this episode, we explore the future of AI, training strategies, event planning, and the unique community aspects of obstacle course racing. Our experts share insights on how technology and community shape the sport and personal development.

Key Topics

• Athletes' backgrounds and journey into obstacle course racing

• Training strategies for OCR and hybrid events

• Event organization and safety improvements

• Mental resilience in challenging race conditions

• The role of brand ambassadorship in sports community

• Impact of race formats on athlete performance

• Use of AI in training and race preparation AI's impact on sports and training

• Community and emotional connection in OCR

• Peak performance identification and recovery

• Event planning and location selection

• Innovative training facilities and locations

Takeaways

AI helps in sports by providing intuitive, personalized insights.

Community and emotional bonds are irreplaceable by AI.

Listening to your body is crucial for optimal training and recovery.

Consistent scheduling and location planning improve event engagement.

Unique locations like Al Kutra Yoga Center can elevate race experiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI and Community in OCR

00:15 Introduction of Athletes and Event Overview

01:21 Athletes' Backgrounds and Journey into OCR

02:25 AI's Role in Enhancing Sports and Training

03:10 Evolution of Fitness and Race Experience

05:06 Community Building and Emotional Connections in OCR

05:40 Recent Race Experiences and Event Feedback

07:30 Safety and Organization in Races

08:10 Identifying Peak Performance and Recovery Signs

09:42 Training for Different Race Demands

11:56 Event Planning: Fixing Dates and Locations

12:15 Transitioning from Endurance to Explosive Power

13:20 Resilience in Extreme Conditions

14:49 Role of Ambassadorship and Community Influence

15:47 Training Facilities and Location Recommendations

17:10 Overcoming Race Challenges and Mental Toughness

19:16 Lessons from Near Failures and Injuries

20:03 Future Ultra and Spartan Events in the Middle East

22:26 Discipline vs Motivation in Training

24:17 Advice for Beginners and Aspiring Athletes

25:33 Celebrity and Athlete Predictions for OCR

27:29 Preparing for Races in Extreme Heat

29:57 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

32:51 Integrating OCR Training into Iron Man Preparation

35:16 The Impact of Specific Race Zones on Performance

36:21 The Future of DECA Teams and Race Formats

39:38 Race Day Strategies for Hot Weather

42:22 Use of AI in Training and Race Preparation

📜 THE AMBASSADOR PLAYBOOK: Beyond the Fire Jump 🔥 | Spartan ⚔️ DEKA 🏋️ Desert Racing 🏜️

⚡️ Spartan Middle East Ambassador Panel: Justine Welch, Artem Kremko & Nisha Alagha

⚡️ Host: RA George

Contact info

• Justine Welch @ustine1616fitness
• Artem Kremko @trustkrem
• Nisha Alagha @fit.by.nisha.dxb

• Spartan DEKA FIT - Registration link here

• Spartan Super and Sprint Al Ain 10th October Registration link here

• Tough Mudder - 31st October Registration link here

  🏆 2026 Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship Weekend Registration link here

🏆 Topics: Spartan Racing, DEKA FIT, OCR, Hybrid Training, Endurance, Heat Management, Hydration, Nutrition, Mindset & Coaching

🔥 In This Episode: Justine, Artem and Nisha share their personal Spartan journeys, how they got into OCR and DEKA, the challenges of training in the UAE heat, overcoming mental barriers, preparing for races and what it really means to represent Spartan Middle East as an ambassador.

💪 Key Discussion Points:

🏃 How Justine, Artem and Nisha started their Spartan journeys

🧠 Overcoming fear, self-doubt and mental barriers

🔥 Training and racing in Dubai’s extreme heat and humidity

💧 Hydration, electrolytes and managing fluids during races

⚡ DEKA FIT training and preparing for the different zones

🏃 Zone 2 training and building endurance for DEKA, Hyrox and ultra racing

🏋️ Combining strength, running and hybrid training

🥵 Managing fatigue, recovery and recognising overtraining

🥇 Race-day preparation and achieving peak performance

👟 Choosing the right footwear for different types of races

🤝 Building the OCR, Spartan and fitness community in the UAE

👑 What it means to be a Spartan Middle East Ambassador

🎯 Yancy Culp — Spartan DEKA Co-Creator & Senior Director — asks the panel about celebrating fitness for ALL levels and how DEKA can encourage beginners to start their fitness journey

⚡ How DEKA can make fitness more accessible to people who are new to training

🌍 The future of Spartan and DEKA events across the Middle East

🏆 Upcoming Events Discussed:

⚡ Spartan DEKA FIT — 26th September at Coca-Cola Arena Registration link ⁠here

🏃 Spartan Super & Sprint — 10th October in Al Ain Registration link ⁠here

🔥 Tough Mudder — 31st October Registration link ⁠here

🏆 Spartan World Championship — Abu Dhabi

🔥 The Unbreakable Circle: Heat, Grit, & Mindset for Desert OCR & Hybrid Fitness

🔴 Ambassador Panel Discussion: Haythem, RO, Abdullah & George (Host)

Instagram handle - haythemhosny audiomonkey, abdulla_alfadhul black__incarnation

Ambassador's code for the upcoming DEKA FIT event at the Coca-Cola Arena

• Haythem20
• Roshan20
• Addulla20
• George20

💯 Register for DEKA FIT Dubai @ Coca-Cola Arena here

Follow Spartan Race Middle East

• Spartan Race Middle East - spartanmiddleeast
• DEKA Middle East deka.middleeast
• Tough Mudder Middle East toughmuddermiddleeast
• Spartan Run Club on Starva here

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & THEMES

The Reality of OCR: Grit, Guts, and Community

What does it actually take to be "unbreakable" in the Middle East obstacle course racing scene?

In this episode of The Race Space Podcast, RA George sits down with Spartan ambassadors Haythem, Roshan, and Abdullah. From brutal injury comebacks to surviving the scorching heat of the Liwa desert, they reveal what goes on behind the scenes of the sport—and why raw passion always beats an influencer paycheck.

🔴 The Reality of "Unbreakable": The panel didn't sugarcoat the sport. Abdullah sharing his brutal story of tearing both lats during a Trifecta weekend, Roshan fighting through a three-disc herniation, and Haythem literally crawling on all fours in Liwa perfectly encapsulated the mental grit required.

🔴 Ambassadors vs. Influencers: A powerful segment where the guys emphasized that they do this for the pure passion and community, not a paycheck. They act as the literal backbone and face of the brand in the region.

🔴 Constructive Feedback for Spartan ME: Abdullah dropped some excellent, candid truth bombs about wanting the organization to expand demographically beyond just the UAE to reclaim its true "Middle East" tour status, alongside a call for a clearer, structured ambassador program. Roshan also threw a massive plug in for wanting an Ultra event in the region.

🔴 Tactical Takeaways: Great conversational value for listeners—from the importance of specialized footwear (shoutout to Hoka) and compression socks to the hilarious "what not to do" nutrition tips (like Abdullah's warning about pre-race iced Americanos).

🔴 Subscribe to The Race Space Podcast on Spotify so you never miss an episode!

🔥 Episode Overview

In this episode, R.A George sits down with Hussain to talk about mindset, sustainability in fitness, Spartan racing, hybrid training, and the difference between passion and talent.

From being an extremely skinny child to becoming a Spartan ambassador, Hussain shares the lessons that shaped his journey — and the mindset that fuels his performance.

Upcoming Spartan DEKA event - Use code Hussain20

2026 DEKA FIT Skydive Dubai - Register here

Hussain Alessa’s IG- coach_hussain

Fit Story - YouTube channel here

Fit Story - @fitstiry

DEKA Strong 13th March T27 Roadshow here

DEKA Strong 14th March Spirit Level here

🧠 Key Topics Covered💡 Powerful Quotes🏃 Spartan OCR & DEKA Insights🎯 Advice for Beginners

Key highlights:

• Why most people gain weight during Ramadan (and how to avoid it)

• Sustainability vs extreme dieting

• The turning point that made Hussain become a coach

• Passion vs being “good” at something

• How Spartan racing builds mental resilience

• The 3-second mindset rule before any obstacle

• Favorite obstacle (Monkey Bars) & most hated (Spear Throw 😅)

• Why discipline beats motivation every time

• The danger of obsession in fitness

• Hybrid fitness vs traditional training

• Preventing overtraining with proactive deload weeks

• How to find your peak performance zone

• Why mindset is something AI can never replace

“You’re capable of more than you think.”

“Discipline over motivation — any day.”

“Fitness should complement your life, not take over your life.”

“Most limits exist in the mind before they exist in reality.”

• You don’t need to be elite to start

• Focus on running comfortably + grip strength

• No excuses — you can train with minimal equipment

• Every obstacle is won or lost in the mind first

• Focus on the bigger picture

• 9/10 right is better than chasing perfection

• Recovery is part of training

• Sustainability beats short-term intensity

Hussain Alessa is a certified trainer, Spartan Middle East Ambassador, and podcast host dedicated to making fitness accessible and sustainable. His mission is simple: help people become stronger — physically and mentally.

🔥 Spartan Middle East Ambassadors Panel –Shadi Nasser, Jason Castillo + Fahad Taqi + RA George (Host)

Join George in this power-packed episode of The Race Space Podcast as he sits down with Spartan Race Middle East Ambassadors Shadi, Jason, and Fahad for an inspiring panel chat ahead of the iconic race at Bab Al Shams (April 19).

USE DISCOUNT CODE : FOR 20% Discount

- SHADI20

- JAYSON20

- FAHAD20

-GEORGE20

***For Night Discount 30% use the following codes*** NIGHT ONLY

- SHADINIGHT30

- JAYSONNIGHT30

-FAHADNIGHT30

-GEORGENIGHT30

Spartan Race Middle East - 19th April event - Sign up here Spartan Race The Arena, Bab Al Shams - Dawn 'Til Dusk

• 
  
• Super 5km + 20 Obstacles

Contaxt details for panel members

Shadi Nasser: IG @shadijehadnaseer

Jason Castillo: IG @masterjayson

Fahad Taqi : IG @Fahad_taqi

RA George (Host): IG @black_incarnation

💥 Expect stories, insights, laughs, and serious OCR wisdom from the best in the region!

🏁 Topics Covered:

• Meet the Ambassadors – Personal stories from Shadi, Jason, and Fahad on how they got into Spartan Racing
  

• Most Memorable Races – From brutal 26km challenges to emotional fire jumps and team-based achievements
  

• OCR as a Metaphor for Life – Overcoming physical and mental adversity on and off the course
  

• Advice for First-Time Racers – Training tips, hydration, gear suggestions, and mental preparation
  

• Family and Community Vibes – How Spartan racing becomes a lifestyle, with even kids joining the movement
  

• Spartan Race at Bab Al Shams – Expectations, new obstacles, gear recommendations, and heat preparation for the Dubai event
  

• Hybrid Fitness & AI in Sport – Thoughts on HYROX, DEKA, and the role of AI coaches in training
  

• What it Means to be an Ambassador – Responsibility, passion, and impact on the local fitness community
  

• The Iconic Fire Jump – The emotional moment that symbolizes every Spartan’s journey
  

• Post-Race Rituals – Recovery routines, cheat meals, and how Spartan racing becomes a family tradition

💬 Key Quotes:

“Spartan is not just a race—it’s a lifestyle.” – Shadi

“Just sign up. That’s the first step.” – Fahad

“Being an ambassador is about inspiring others.” – Jason

🎧 Listen if you:

• Are racing on April 19 at Bab Al Shams

• Want to hear what OCR life is really like

• Need motivation to do your first (or next!) Spartan race

• Love stories of grit, teamwork, and personal growth

• Want gear tips, race prep hacks, and post-race rituals
  

🔥 Final tip: Just sign up. The first step is showing up. The rest will follow. 🙌

📲 Follow us on IG: @theracespacepodcast 🌐

🎉 Don’t forget to rate, follow & share with your Spartan crew!

Episode Title: “From Marine to Fitness Maverick: Cyrus Rustom’s Game-Changing Fitness Revolution”

Host: 🤖 AI Review
Guest: 🥊 Cyrus Rustom, CEO of Boxica & Director of The Crucible Athlete

In this unique AI-powered review of The Race Space Podcast, we dive into the fascinating conversation with Cyrus Rustom. From his incredible journey as a Royal Marine Commando to becoming a fitness pioneer, Cyrus shares how he redefined inclusivity and performance in the fitness world.

Whether it’s building a welcoming community with Boxica or creating fair and exciting athletic challenges with The Crucible Athlete, this review explores the transformative impact of Cyrus’s work on fitness enthusiasts and competitors alike.

Contact details

• LinkedIn - https://shorturl.at/ge5n1
• Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@coachcyrus⁠⁠⁠
• Business ventures
• ⁠⁠⁠Boxica ⁠⁠⁠
• Website - https://boxica.ae/
• LinkedIn - https://shorturl.at/dx66n
• Instagram -⁠⁠⁠@boxica⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram - ⁠⁠The Crucible Athlete⁠⁠⁠

• ⚡️ Cyrus’s Journey: How he went from military life to leading the fitness industry.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Boxica’s Mission: Creating an inclusive fitness space where everyone feels at home.
• 🔥 The Crucible Athlete: A revolutionary approach to athletic competitions, focusing on raw performance and fairness.
• 💪 Lessons in Resilience: Practical insights on staying disciplined, consistent, and goal-oriented.
• 🎯 Visualization & Success: How goal-setting and vision boards drive focus and achievement.

• 🪖 Military Roots: How Cyrus applies his Commando discipline to fitness and business.
• 🤝 Inclusive Fitness Philosophy: Boxica’s innovative approach to creating a supportive fitness community.
• 🏆 The Crucible Athlete: Designed to challenge foundational athletic abilities, ensuring a level playing field for all.
• 📈 Adapting to Trends: How Boxica embraces trends like Hyrox without losing its core values.
• 📝 Entrepreneurial Insights: Cyrus’s advice on setting big goals, staying patient, and building consistency.

• “Resilience is about staying consistent and doing what needs to be done, especially when you don’t feel like it.”
• “Fitness isn’t just a lifestyle; it’s a priority that fuels your best self for personal and professional success.”
• “Set bigger goals for yourself and believe in your ability to achieve them.”

Cyrus Rustom is a fitness entrepreneur and former Royal Marine Commando. As the CEO of Boxica, he has built a thriving fitness community in Dubai. Cyrus is also the visionary behind The Crucible Athlete, a competition designed to redefine athletic performance and inclusivity.

The Crucible Athlete 📍 Location: ADNEC Center, Abu Dhabi
This event focuses on foundational athletic movements, offering athletes of all levels an opportunity to showcase their true potential in a fair and supportive environment.

Date: January 25, 2025

Location: ADNEC Center, Abu Dhabi

Registration: https://competitioncorner.net/events/14766

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