Lancaster PA Man to Compete in Spartan Death Race

Online, June 13, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Bill Schlageter is hoping to stare death in the face and come out on the other side.

At least that what his goal is as he prepares to compete in the Spartan Death Race. The race, which takes place June 21 in Pittsfield, Vt., is billed as the ultimate physical and mental challenge. Participants are grilled for two-plus days through crazy challenges such as running up hills repeatedly carrying backpacks of rocks, hauling logs, mud runs, wading through waters and swimming countless laps. On average, only 15 percent of the competitors finish the event.

Even the website, youmaydie.com, warns - in a dark humor way - that it is not for the weak. "Please only consider this adventure style race if you have lived a full life to date," the site said, along with "death sounds cool until you're dead."

Schlageter, a 45-year-old from Lancaster PA has competed in dozens of obstacle races and mud runs across the country. However, the Spartan Death Race is something completely different.

"There is no greater challenge than the Death Race," Schlageter said. "We don't know exactly when the race begins, when it ends or what the challenges will be. About the only thing we know is that it is designed to make us quit.

During previous Spartan Death Races, competitors have been asked to chop wood for two hours, carry a 20-pound stump around for hours, lift rocks for five 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 U.S. presidents.

"I participated last year and dropped on the second day. Carrying a kayak for 25 miles in the mountains of Vermont at night was not something I trained for", Schlageter says with a laugh.

He has intensified his training this year. "I have focused on long, grueling training with a focus on carrying heavy awkward objects over long distances. I know it will not be enough but I am better prepared than I was last year".