A good friend of mine, Clinton Emerson, has entered to compete in the Spartan Death race. Below is his official release, which is a required step for him to compete, and we’re glad to assist. We look forward to having him on SOFREP radio to discuss the race after he crushes it.

Official Announcement

Clinton Emerson of Virginia Beach is attempting the Spartan Death Race 21June 2013. There are millions of running races, thousands of marathons, hundreds of triathlons and dozens of ultra marathons but there is only one Spartan Death Race.  Held annually since 2005 in the small town of Pittsfield, VT, the Spartan Death Race gives up to 200 ultra-endurance athletes the chance to test their mental and physical prowess like no other event on earth.  On average only 15% of the competitors finish the event.  Remarkable when you consider the competitors are among the toughest and most seasoned endurance athletes on earth.  The hurdle and challenge-driven race requires competitors to complete a series of (15-20) grueling mental and physical challenges throughout a 40-mile course that runs through the Vermont woods.  During the Death Race, competitors may be asked to chop wood for 2-hours, carry a 20-lb stump around for hours, lift 10-30 lbs rocks for 5-hours; build a fire, cut a bushel of onions, crawl through mud under barbed wire, or after 20-hours of racing, memorize the names of the first 10 U.S. Presidents or a Bible verse, hike to the top of a mountain and recite them back in order. Unlike other endurance races that offer a detailed map, Death Racers have no idea what to expect next as the course map and list of challenges are kept secret.  This provides competitors with one of their biggest challenges as the length of the race can range from 24-48 hours. For an endurance athlete, not knowing where the light is at the end of the tunnel can be sheer torture.

Reebok's Spartan Death Race

This announcement was first task to Clinton and it read like this:

“The 2013 Spartan Death Race Media Challenge is REQUIRED FOR FIRST-TIME Spartan Death Race competitors.  Between now and June 17, 2013 all Death Race Rookies must tell the world that you will be attempting the Spartan Death Race by securing a media story about it.  This can include a local newspaper or television outlet.  Since only rookies will be required to complete the Spartan Death Race Media Challenge, the penalty for not completing the task is more serious than ever — the 50,000 lb lift.  This is similar to the first event of the 2011 Spartan Death Race.  You will be required to deadlift 30-50 lb boulders and other assorted items 1,000 times — you will have 5 hours to complete the challenge.  If you do not complete the task you will be eliminated from the race.”

We don’t know about you but this sounds like our kind of race, complete with the kind of mental mind fuck you’ll find in any Special Ops selection course.

First task complete Clinton, kick ass.

-Brandon

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4aM0fpS0IU&w=640&h=385]