ABC Columbia MVP – Mark Wood
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — When you participate in a race or marathon you usually know what you’re getting into and how to get from point A to point B. But Columbia native, Mark Wood, is training for a race that doesn’t have a direct route which also makes you sign a death waiver. This year marks the eighth annual Spartan Death Race in Pittsfield, Vermont. Wood, 43, who is currently training will be taking part in the event for the first time. The race is schedule to take place June 15. The hurdle and challenge-driven race requires competitors to complete a series of 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 two hours, carry a 20-lb stump around for hours, build a fire, cut a bushel of onions, crawl through mud under barbed wire, or after 15-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. To see Mark’s story, click on the video above, and for more information on the Death Race you can visit its website at www.spartanrace.com.
