Not everyone lives

"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives."
- A.Sachs

Blog about 2008 Death Race from Chris Mitchell

http://ultrabongo.blogspot.com/2008/07/pittsfield-death-division-2008.html

Training Log - June 30th 2009

• Seated elliptical - 20 minutes - Target HR 150, Avg HR 142, Max HR 157, Time in target zone 14 minutes
• Rowing machine - 20 minutes - Avg pace 2:19 /500 meters
• Upright bike - 30 minutes - Avg HR 153, Max HR 176
• Medicine ball overhead throws (kneel) - 10 min w/o break - medium weight
• Medicine ball lateral throws (kneel) 3x30 each side - medium weight
• Knee extentions with knee table - 20# 5x60 each leg
• Pushups using bosu balls (kneel) - 2x15 and 1x12

Also - Visit to Green Mtn Rehab to get right foot worked on, professional number 2 says "no running"

Worth watching

"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching"

Unknown Source

Training Log - June 29th 2009

• Ran quick 5k in the morning
• Went to get foot x-ray (possible stress fracture) ... x-ray came up negative, but they said it may be too soon to see. Doctor says no high-impact activities. Going to gym tomorrow.

Photos from the 2009 Death Race

http://picasaweb.google.com/JackCary/DeathRace09#

Story from Rutland Herald

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090628/NEWS03/906280368

2009 Death Race Summary (at least what I saw)

I'm going on zero sleep so this may be off.. but here is what I remember

1. 8-9 PM FRIDAY
2. Start at Amee farm.
3. Follow glow-sticks in woods.
   
4. Take gear and mandatory bike up 1800 feet to top of Joe's hill.
5. Remove front and rear wheel from bike.
   
6. Remove chain from bike.
7. Hangout by the fire pit and "strategize".
   
8. Race director says: "You will carry your bikes with you for the entire race"
9. 10 PM FRIDAY
10. Pre-Race meeting - Thanks to volunteers, staff, private land owners, and thanks to all the nuts that showed up to the Death Race.
11. Race Director says: "Matches and Lighters are not approved gear".
12. 11 PM FRIDAY
13. Take bikes/gear but not wheels/chain back down mountain to Amee farm
14. MIDNIGHT
15. Try to get some sleep
16. 3:30 AM SATURDAY
17. Head lamps start to come on, people getting out of cars, packing gear including axe.
18. 3:55 AM SATURDAY
19. Race director says: (while holding huge tree stump) "First task will be to find a tree stump with your bib number on it and dig it out of the ground with your axe, or what ever tools you are carrying with you." Reminder, whatever gear you start with, you must take with you the entire race.
    
20. Race Director says: "You must keep roots on stump.
21. 3:57 AM - Race director - when you get your tree stump, you will carry it for the entire race.. with all of your gear and bike... also there are 2 hour task cut-offs. If you don't finish in time, you are out of the race.
22. 4:oo AM - Race start
23. It's pitch dark
24. The next 12 hours went something like this...
25. Cross route 100 get in drainage ditch
26. Crawl uphill in long ditch under barbed wire (about 1 foot off ground) with gear
27. Turn right into uphill clearing full of trees cut off about 1 foot from ground
28. Find the tree with your number, in the dark it could be anywhere
29. Remove your tree from ground with whatever tools you have
30. At least 3 people drop out here or do not make the 2 hour cut-off
31. Once you have your tree stump, carry it with your gear back down hill in ditch under barbed wire
32. Back across route 100 to Amee Farm
33. Take your gear, bike and stump down hill towards river into another ditch under barbed wire.
34. Crawl under very low foot bridge with barbed wire with all gear, bike stump
35. Exit ditch and enter extremely rocky river
36. Rocks are from baseball size to watermelon size, there is no flat ground, water is knee deep. All rocks are very slippery. Walking is very difficult, most people fall in.
37. Walk in river down stream a mile or two.
38. You will see a man.
39. Man gives you a single match (not waterproof) which you must carry with you for another task.
40. Turn around in river and head back upstream
41. Still carrying gear, bike, match and stump.
42. Back into ditch this time uphill under bridge, under barbed wire and back up to Amee Farm
43. Cross rt 100
44. Find pile of 20 large logs
45. quarter/split every log in pile
46. Some larger logs take racers 30-40 minutes each
47. More racers drop out
48. After logs are quatered, stack all but six logs
49. you will carry 6 pieces of wood up to the colton camp
50. Start hiking uphill to colton camp with 6 logs, bike, gear, stump and match
51. Once at colton camp (about a mile up hill) put your logs on the wood pile (keep your stump)
52. Next instruction, hike up very very very steep mountain trail with all gear, bike stump
53. at the top of the trail there will be a list of 10 names.
54. Memorize the 10 names
55. Return down very steep trail to colton camp to recite the names
56. if you forget any names, you must climb up again and again .,. with your bike, gear and stump
57. From colton camp hike back down to Amee farm
58. You will see a pond.
59. Get in new ditch under barbed wire and crawl up hill to foot bridge
60. on the bridge there will be an object made out of Legos ... yes Legos.
61. Memorize the structure/colors exactly
62. run down hill jump into pond and get a bag of Legos from the far end.
63. Take Legos to shore and build the structure that you just saw
64. if you do not make an exact copy, back in the ditch you go under the barbed wire and to the foot bridge.
65. Until you get it right
66. *by the end of this task, 50% of the racers have dropped out or missed the cut-off
    
67. Rain storm
68. Back to Amee farm
69. Back downhill with your gear, bike, stump under barbed wire
    
70. under bridge
71. back into river
72. this time turning right (upstream)
73. Very very long river walk with river rocks carrying everything
    
74. Get to flame/torch in water
75. Get out of river and read instructions for next task
76. drop your bike and pack, and hike up hill to riverside farm
77. find hidden chicken egg in field
    
78. find fire wood
79. bring egg and wood back over hill to the riverside where you left your gear, stump, bike
80. Use your single match and wood to build fire
81. Use old cans (some were dog food cans) to boil water
82. cook egg in boiling water
83. if you crack your egg, you must go back up hill to riverside farm and get another
84. eat egg
    
85. more racers drop out or miss the cut-off
86. It is now mid-day
87. rain starts hard
    
88. pick up gear, stump, bike and head back over hill to riverside farm
89. you will find your bike tires
90. put the tires back on your bike
91. go to pond
92. dive to retreive your bike chain out of pond (not sure how this was done, as i was trying to catch up to race leaders)
93. Put chain back on bike
94. Ride bike around Joe's field and then put your bike in the barn
95. You are done with your bike
96. go back to pond and get weighed on scale
97. grab bucked and fill with 20% of your body weight in rocks
98. take bucket of rocks, gear and stump up a fucking killer hike to Joe's hill
99. Most of the hike is strait up a revine with waterfalls
100. lots of non-trail hiking through thick woods and nettles
101. Close to top of hill (this was about a 2 hour hike) dump your rocks
102. hike up to top of joe's hilla
103. you must now hike back down the other side of the mountain with your stump, gear and empty bucket
104. this hike is very sketchy, branches in the way, a 4 foot drop off etc.
105. at the bottom, you must completly fill your 5 gallon bucket with water
106. then turn around and go back up steep steep hill with full bucket of water, gear and stump
107. oh, and if you spill any water, you have to do it again.
108. this hike up took the fastest racers over an hour
109. Once back at the top of Joe's hill, dump out your water.
110. Head back down front side of mountain
111. back uphill to Amee farm in trench
112. under bridge
113. under barbed wire with your gear and stump
     
114. 20 hours have passed since you hiked your bike up Joe's hill for the first time
115. First finishers cross the line. Most did not make it.
116. It's past 4 PM on SATURDAY ... hardcore.
     

Back from the 2009 Death Race

Details and photos coming soon

Training Log

• Hiked/walked most of the course with the racers, including all hikes up mountains, and a good bit of river walking. No barbed wire for me this year :)
• Stayed awake 38 hours from 6 AM Friday to 9 PM (minus about an hour "rest" in my car)

Pittsfield facts

Because of the town's mountainous terrain, the invention of the one-legged milking stool is attributed to Pittsfield "...as a means of conquering a stern difficulty."

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsfield,_Vermont

When death came

"'I'll just go around this rock and think
About it later.' That's what you said.
When death came, you said, 'I'll go there.'"

--Robert Bly, excerpt from "When William Stafford Died"

(Thanks Aaron!)

Save it and preserve it

"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it." ~Plato

Training Log - June 25th 2009

• Recumbent bike - 60 minutes - Target HR 150, Avg HR 132, Max HR 195 (I think the monitor had an error)... time in 150 zone 20 minutes.
• Rowing machine - 15 minutes - Avg pace 2:25 /500 meters

My feet will like this

Looks like a lot of good information on this site.
http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/

No concern to us

"Death, the most dreaded of evils, is therefore of no concern to us; for while we exist death is not present, and when death is present we no longer exist."

• Epicurus

Training Log - June 24th 2009

• Started walking again in my Vibram Fivefingers . Right foot is feeling a bit better.

How Far

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -T. S. Eliot

Videos

Peak Adventures Death Race 08

Death Race Training '09

Death Race Training Jan 09 - Winter running up icy hill pulling sled

Peak races - Death Division and Ultra Marathoners

Death Race in the news

Misc. Training Advice

Here’s training advice from Andy Weinberg (race director): "I've cc'd my friend Joe. He may be able to give you some advice on training. Seeing you live in Florida I'm thinking you can find some wildlife to train with or you can find a airboat driver who may be willing to drag you through the swamps a few days per week." "check into the florida state prison for 30 days and get in as many fights as possible."

Jack's notes - WTF?

Training advice from Joe Desena (race director): "The best training tip: jog with a sledgehammer and weighted vest."

Training advice from Tracy Cross (barn manager): "and i personally think you should still swing it (the sledgehammer) like a wild man as cars pass...."

Doug Lewis Death Race Training (Joke) :

Do not under any circumstances try to replicate this training. Doug Lewis is a very unique and "special" person and he does not reccomend this type of training for normal people! Peak Races does not endorse these training techniques! This is purely satire!

Death Race Training

Nov 2nd: Using Duct Tape and shards of shale I made a hatchet and cut down a 30 foot White pine and sawed it into 3 foot section. I then peeled off the bark using my two front teeth.

Nov 4th: At 8:00 am, I carried newly cut 3 foot logs up 1400 vertical feet, through a flowing Mad River tributary and piled them onto a rock pile I built at 6:00 am. After lunch I carried the logs back down the 1400 vertical feet and buried them in the ground vertically so only one foot was visible.

Nov 5th: At 2:00am I ran up the Antelope trail at Mad River Glen with no shoes or socks on. I then stripped off the remaining clothing I had on and tried to roll in any Animal scat I could find. I then stayed completely still for 90 minutes crouched in a gulley.

Nov 8th: To recover from Hypothermia from last workout, I put on 7 sweaters, set the heat to 77 degrees and rode my stationary bike for 2.5 hours with no fluid replacement until I finished. I then drank one gallon of water in 4 minutes.

Nov 11th: I sang the National Anthem for 55 minutes non-stop while walking blindfolded through the Winooski river.

Nov 14th: I laid down on a bed of barbed wire on my back and held up a five gallon jug of water for 80 minutes while Kelley tickled my feet with a feather duster.

Nov 16th: I watched 8 hours of "America's Next Top Model" balancing on a physioball without falling once.

Nov 19th: I tied my right arm behind my back for an entire 24 hours. I wore a mitten on my left hand the entire time and had to do a 1000 piece puzzle. The picture on the puzzle was of David Goggins playing badminton in Navy fatigues.

Nov 24th: I killed 40 Turkeys with my bare hands and de-feathered them. Then, donated them to the local food shelf for Thanksgiving.

Nov 29th: I stood in front of a snow gun at Sugarbush for 3 hours with only goggles on my head.

Nov. 30th: Took a bath.

Right on Schedule for June...

Jack's notes - WTF????

What do you mean that was only a pre-race test ?

Race Information

What: Challenging race that may kill you - 10 miles.

Jack's notes - The race is much longer than 10 miles. Cracking your egg (yes you have to carry an egg for parts of the race), forgetting something, dropping a log etc. means repeating parts of the course over and over again. The winners in 2008 took about 16 hours to complete those "10 miles"!

When: Pre Race Meeting at 1:00 a.m.Race Starts at 3:00 a.m.

Jack's notes - Race start time is bullshit, from what I've read in the blogs, the race could start as soon as you pick-up your race packet. Expect to be sleep deprived going into the race... including but not limited to "pre-race fitness tests" in which you run/crawl/carry parts of the course.

Course: TBA - You can expect barbed wire, mud boggin, wood choppin, tunnels, deep water diving, running, crawling, crying, screaming, and sweating. Doubtful you'll finish but be proud of yourself for trying.

Jack's notes - Word on the internet is that you should expect things like getting cement blocks from the bottom of a lake, building a wheelbarrow, digging holes in rocky soil, bringing your body weight in rocks to the top of a mountain, and many other assorted suck-ass tasks. Sounds like bootcamp, a week of farmwork, and a marathon all in 24 hours. I have also read that people do not cheer you on, in fact they tell you that you will fail, and that you should quit. It sounds like a physical beating and a complete mindfu@k.

Packet Pick Up: General Store 6-8 p.m.

Jack's notes: A.k.a the real beginning of the 24 hour race.

Start/Finish: Amee Farm - Pittsfield, Vermont. 1/4 mile north of the General Store.

Parking: Amee Farm - across the street from the General Store.

Camping: We will have camping at Amee farm. This is also the start of the race.

Entry Fee: $75.00

Jack's notes - You are paying for the adventure.

Prize: Breakdown will be announced later. $2000 total.

Awards: Unique finishers awards.

Jack's notes - you probably get a bucket of dirt if you finish. BTW, 75% of people do not finish. Only 30-50 people even sign up for this "race" each year.

Aid: Water and choice of Jerky or Peanuts.

Questions for the Race Director: Andy Weinberg pittsfieldultra@yahoo.com 309-642-2230

Accomodations: Special accommodations available for racers... inquires to tracy@peak.com.

100 on 100 Vermont Relay

It's official, Kristin and I are now on a 6 person relay team for the Vermont 100 on 100 (Heart of Vermont) relay.

The 100 on 100 relay is a team based distance running experience. The event starts early in the morning and most participants finish between 8:30 PM-10:30 PM. The total distance is 100 miles and the course follows scenic route 100 the entire way. Our course displays all the angles Vermont has to offer from small towns and farms, to mountains and lakes. This event serves as a charity fundraiser for Vermont based youth charities that promote active and healthy lifestyles in support of self-esteem development.

The race is August 15th 2009.

Here is the link:

http://www.100on100.org/

This will be my 2nd year in the race. Last year we had a few issues, including but not limited to 1. Only having 5 people. 2. Last minute replacements 3. Shin splints for 2 of the runners. 4. Attitude problems :)

It was hilarious!

Training Log - June 23rd 2009 - New Gym!

Joined the Rehab Gym in Colchester. Had an hour long consult with a PT, learned about the equipment, learned a number of new exercises for endurance and core strength. Amazingly they didn't laugh at me when I said my goal is a "Death Race" a year from now.

Did what I could tonight with my right foot bandaged up.

• Recumbent bike/machine - 20 minutes - Target HR 150, Avg HR 123, Max HR 153.
• Upright bike - 25 minutes - Max HR 152 - Avg HR ~130
• Dumbbell deadlift - 15# - 3x10
• Lumbar hip/knee flex prone w/ball - 1x10 and 1x6
• Push-ups kneel using bosu balls - 1x10 and 1x5
• Stretching 15 minutes.

Training Log - June 22nd 2009

Still unable to run due to foot injury, so I figured I would spend some time in the gym at work.

Very light workout to ease back into non-running exercise.

• Flat dumbbell press - 20 lbs. - 3x14
• Incline dumbbell press - 20 lbs. - 3x14
• Stationary bike - medium intensity - 15 minutes
• Crunches 2x15
• Full body stretching - 15 minutes

Gear

I wonder if I should dust of my old thru-hiking backpack and wear it on some of my runs.

More info on the Death Race this weekend

From the PEAK site:

Pre Race Meeting at 10:00pm
Race Starts at 4:00 a.m.

I want to go spectate, so I think I will show-up at 10PM (which I think will be the actual race start).

Also:

Minimal aid at Amee Farm you need to be able to support yourself for 3-4 hours at a time. Water will be available at some stations.

This means I may want to think about having some Gu/snacks/water in my backpack during the race next year.

Training Log - June 21st 2009

1. Faced my fear of needles today as I got a tetanus shot in my right arm. (pretended it was barbed wire)

2. Had my foot injury cleaned and dressed ( ripped the bottom of my foot down to the meat in yesterday's 10k)

3. Ate enough candy to feel a bit ill. Thanks Kristin!

4. Tried not to scratch my bug bites.

Training Log - June 20th 2009

1. Ran the Burlington 10k "Race for Empowerment" in 50 minutes 12 seconds wearing Vibram FiveFingers.

2. Dug up 8x16 garden with shovel, tore apart 2 pallets with a hammer to use wood for edging, hammered 5 wooden stakes into the ground, moved a few small logs, moved 8-10 medium sized stones, carried 3 full bags of soil/clippings (one at a time) on my shoulder about 200 yards.

Article by Ri Fahnestock

Here is an excellent article from Ri Fahnestock... last year's 5th place finisher and winner of the $10,000 PEAK Ultra Challenge (The Death Race was only one the the races in the challenge)

http://hstrial-cdunn9.homestead.com/DEATHDIVISION.HTML

Saturday June 27th

The 2009 PEAK Death Race is happening next Saturday down in Pittsfield. I emailed the race director to find out if spectators are welcome.

I will be bringing my camera along. Lori (one of our Sunday running buddies) said her husband would be running the race. If so, it will be great to find out just how nuts the course/challenges are.

Here is the reply from Andy:

Jack,

You are more than welcome. In fact, I'm glad you are interested in coming and especially racing for 2010. You should get to Pittsfield by 4 a.m. if you want to catch the start.

Andy

Misery loves company

My friend Patrick will be joining me in 2010... He is training for the Urbanathlon in Chicago Oct. 17th 2009. http://www.menshealthurbanathlon.com/

We are going to try and talk his brother Dan into the Death Race... should not be hard, as I remember Dan is slightly insane too.

Seven Days

Found an article about the Death Race in Seven Days (Burlington's alternative newspaper). Here is the link http://www.7dvt.com/2009race-die

More people (2009)

Looks like close to 50 people are registered for the Death Race next Saturday. http://www.runrace.net/findarace.php?id=09208VT&tab=a3&whosreg=1571

Cut offs

Seems there are cut offs that you must make during the race or face elimination ... here is a quote from the registration site "Very challenging race. Course has been determined. 24 hours to finish with cut offs. The cut offs are reasonably generous but you must make them or you are eliminated from the race. Expect to cry, scream,
barbed wire, wood chopping, mud, water, ponds, etc. $2000 in prize money. Remember - 24 hours to finish the 10 mile course"

First hand accounts

Lots of first hand details in this blog!
http://sherpajohn.blogspot.com/2008/06/rr-2008-pittsfield-death-division.html

Death Race 2008
http://peak.com/view-site.php?site_url=http://peak.com/jkxyz/blog/376/

More coming as I find them...

Pittsfield Weather

http://www.accuweather.com/us/vt/pittsfield/05762/forecast-normals.asp?partner=netweather&traveler=0&zipchg=1&metric=0&month=6

Jack's notes - I bet crawling through a stream with a bucket of sand, in the middle of the night, under barbed-wire, while on the border of hypothermia, kinda makes the weather report less important.

Photos

Photos from Peak Races website
http://www.peakraces.com/index.php?inc=photos-deathrace&albumid=95

Training advice

Here’s training advice from Andy Weinberg (race director): "I've cc'd my friend Joe. He may be able to give you some advice on training. Seeing you live in Florida I'm thinking you can find some wildlife to train with or you can find a airboat driver who may be willing to drag you through the swamps a few days per week." "check into the florida state prison for 30 days and get in as many fights as possible."

Jack's notes - WTF?

Training advice from Joe Desena (race director): "The best training tip: jog with a sledgehammer and weighted vest."

Training advice from Tracy Cross (barn manager): "and i personally think you should still swing it (the sledgehammer) like a wild man as cars pass...."

Doug Lewis Death Race Training (Joke) :

Do not under any circumstances try to replicate this training. Doug Lewis is a very unique and "special" person and he does not reccomend this type of training for normal people! Peak Races does not endorse these training techniques! This is purely satire!

Death Race Training

Nov 2nd: Using Duct Tape and shards of shale I made a hatchet and cut down a 30 foot White pine and sawed it into 3 foot section. I then peeled off the bark using my two front teeth.

Nov 4th: At 8:00 am, I carried newly cut 3 foot logs up 1400 vertical feet, through a flowing Mad River tributary and piled them onto a rock pile I built at 6:00 am. After lunch I carried the logs back down the 1400 vertical feet and buried them in the ground vertically so only one foot was visible.

Nov 5th: At 2:00am I ran up the Antelope trail at Mad River Glen with no shoes or socks on. I then stripped off the remaining clothing I had on and tried to roll in any Animal scat I could find. I then stayed completely still for 90 minutes crouched in a gulley.

Nov 8th: To recover from Hypothermia from last workout, I put on 7 sweaters, set the heat to 77 degrees and rode my stationary bike for 2.5 hours with no fluid replacement until I finished. I then drank one gallon of water in 4 minutes.

Nov 11th: I sang the National Anthem for 55 minutes non-stop while walking blindfolded through the Winooski river.

Nov 14th: I laid down on a bed of barbed wire on my back and held up a five gallon jug of water for 80 minutes while Kelley tickled my feet with a feather duster.

Nov 16th: I watched 8 hours of "America's Next Top Model" balancing on a physioball without falling once.

Nov 19th: I tied my right arm behind my back for an entire 24 hours. I wore a mitten on my left hand the entire time and had to do a 1000 piece puzzle. The picture on the puzzle was of David Goggins playing badminton in Navy fatigues.

Nov 24th: I killed 40 Turkeys with my bare hands and de-feathered them. Then, donated them to the local food shelf for Thanksgiving.

Nov 29th: I stood in front of a snow gun at Sugarbush for 3 hours with only goggles on my head.

Nov. 30th: Took a bath.

Right on Schedule for June...

Jack's notes - WTF????