- Name:
Steven DellaCroce
- What is your day job, and do you have other hobbies?:
I am a dad first! I’m retired. I spent a few years overseas first with the Army and then again as a private contractor. On October 10, 2011, I was injured and sent home because of my injuries. I am currently enrolled at New England Institute of Technology as a nursing student. My hobbies are reading, CrossFitting, hiking, meditating, and anything outside and physical. I love to challenge myself physically and mentally.
- Age:
36
- When did you start obstacle course racing? Tell us about your first race.:
My first OCR was 2012 Amesbury Spartan Sprint. I went as part of CrossFit 508 team and was instantly transported back to my military roots. Here was the piece of me that was missing since I left the military/contracting world. The challenge, the mud, and the camaraderie was a piece of life I had lost. I was fortunate enough to have no clue what to expect, I arrived with 10 minutes to go before my heat. I got off the bus, got my number and went to the starting line and was off. I was cleared to start “light mobility work” roughly two weeks earlier due to my injuries. I figured “light mobility” translated into Spartan Race in my head. The race was challenging and all new to me. I was hooked instantly like so many fellow Spahtens. I look forward to this year to see how much I’ve improved. Elite heat? Possibly.
- What was your biggest accomplishment at an obstacle course race? What made it your biggest accomplishment (overcame a fear, injury, disability etc?):
- What attracts you to obstacle course races? Why do you keep coming back?:
First and foremost, I’m attracted because I have to challenge myself and really live. Sitting still is torturous to my soul. I have to participate. Secondly, the family! My girls, the NE Spahtens, and everyone else I have met have literally saved my soul. I’m also drawn to the type of people who complete in these events. I like to surround myself with likeminded and driven people. They keep me motivated and make me work harder, not to beat them, but to beat myself.
I come back to these races to support the people around me, to see if I’m improving, to challenge myself, and to be an example to my girls! I’m always looking for the next challenge while enjoying the journey!
- What are your training and/or diet routines? Do you have other athletic pursuits?:
- Were you always athletic? If not, what athletic changes have you made to keep up the obstacle course race lifestyle?:
- Who, alive or dead, would you invite to run an obstacle course race with you?:
- Tell us a fun fact about yourself that we may not know!:
I can’t/won’t pee in urinals! Oh, and I’m the youngest of 13 children.
- What are your goals? Next race, next season … what’s in your future?:
Continue to grow and improve. I ran the Amesbury Sprint and the Fenway Time Trial last year. I’ll have the Tri-fecta this year, as well as run the Marine Corp Marathon in October and several other races of varying distances. I would love to do the Death Race and International Death Race this/next year. I’m signed up for the Dopey Challenge in Disney next January and I will be back to finish the Boston Marathon in 2014. I’m doing a Spartan race in Montreal this year and next year I’m hoping to do one in Australia.
Outside of training and the OCR world I hope to graduate March 2014 with my RN and use it to return overseas to help where help is needed. Yes, help is needed right here in my own backyard but overseas it is genuinely needed. I won’t get on my soapbox but for those of you who know me, know that my heart is overseas.
