Pasadena's John Wall To Compete In Death Race Event This Summer

By Amy Russell
When reporters ask the people who know participants why they do it? The common response is: “because they’re crazy.” But that doesn’t seem to matter to 39-year-old Pasadena resident John Wall, who will compete in the Death Race this summer.
A passionate adventure racer, Wall has worked at a Triple Iron race in Virginia as a volunteer for the past several years. That’s where he met Death Race director Andy Weinberg, also known as “The Undertaker.”

“I heard about it through him and I thought it sounded tough and ridiculous… right up my alley,” Wall joked.

The Death Race, a 48-hour Fear Factor-meets-Survivor event, uses what seems like reverse psychology, or a blatant discouragement, to deter, or reel in participants. The event claims to be the ultimate test of physical and mental stamina and requires participants to sign a rumored three-word waiver that says: “You May Die.”

As of now, the only information this year’s Death Racers have is that the event is to be held June 25 in Pittsfield, Vermont. Historically, the event has been a 24-hour race, though this year it’s said to be 48. Even though the website, www.YouMayDie.com, says the race begins at noon, Wall says he has doubts that it’s that simple.

“I heard about one race where the participants were told via email (as all communication for the event is carried out) the starting time was 4:00am, and to check in to the cabin the night before,” Wall shared. “Well, when the racers got there, they were told to start immediately.”

The event naturally attracts the likes of military men - two marines won it one year - but Wall, an electrical designer, is proof that nine-to-fivers are also up for the challenge.

As the event nears, racers will get more information. One thing the racers who’ve done their research know is an email containing a list of equipment will arrive shortly before the race. In the past, the list has included things like a bucket, or an ax. One year, racers had to fill the bucket with 20 percent of their own body weight in sand, rocks or water and carry it up a steep mountain. Chopping logs into fire wood was a task that proved more challenging for some than others, but was no doubt exhausting.

According to the video on their website, one year racers had to carry their bicycle with them. After about nine hours, the racers were instructed to ride their bikes (to prove they were in working condition) for about five minutes, but by that point about half the participants had dropped out.

A challenge of both the mind and body, racers are often sidetracked from the physical beating by the mental challenge. In one race, participants had to climb 2,000 vertical feet, where they found a list of 10 U.S. presidents they had to commit to memory, in order. After hiking back down, racers had to recite the list. Failure to do so cost time and energy in hiking back up and down until they got it right.

Typically, Wall said, racers have to crawl through muddy creeks under barbed wire, and they’re always carrying around some type of weight. Still, nothing can be predicted as the course and challenges change from year to year.

“The staff that runs the race encourages you to quit,” said Wall. “So that makes it more mentally tough, you really have to see how far you can push yourself, see if you can keep yourself together mentally.”

The psychological games don’t stop there though.

“Last year everyone had to carry a Greek translation book, which is very thick and heavy,” said Wall, who explained the race was scheduled to last 24 hours. “Just a few hours under the finish, they had to translate something written under a bridge and when they did they found it said you are almost half way there. I think a lot of people probably quit right there, thinking they couldn’t do another 24 hours, when really they were just a few hours out.”

Those like Wall perceive the mystery the race holds as the hardest part. The Arundel High School graduate has participated in several adventure races, which typically are multi-sport events much like a triathlon and involved orienteering and finding your way through the course with a map and various check-points. “Those,’ Wall says, “are usually 24 hours and go through the night.”
Wall has also completed a few ultra-runs, trail runs, two JFK 50 milers and his most recent escapade, the North Face 50-miler.

“The memory stuff will get me,” Wall says, referring to the U.S. presidents exercise.

For now Wall says he needs to work on training more. “I’m married with an 11-year-old and a six-year old, so my training is really limited to the weekends,” Wall said. “I’ve been running, but I need to concentrate on leg exercises, squats, lunges and that sort of thing to strengthen my legs. I’ll also need to start training in less typical ways, like hiking while carrying 50 pounds or chopping wood.”

A few months ago, Wall participated in a 50K trail run in Westminster to get his endurance up. And even though 200 participants are allowed to register usually only a few finish, according to the website.

“Based on the type of racing I’ve done in the past, I know I’m not competitive enough to win,” Wall says, “I don’t expect to finish at the top, but I will finish and I would like to finish at a respectable level,” he concludes.

Given what it is, just finishing would be more than respectable.