Ten days until showtime! This time we have DR veteran Neil! For the full article on his 2018 DR experience, check out the article here.

Q: Have you ever done any events similar in length and difficulty before?

A: Aside from last year’s Death Race, I’ve done a couple GORUCK heavies and the Georgia Death Race twice now (not affiliated with Spartan Death Race).

Q: What do you think your strength is for this event?

A: My attitude. I recall moments during last year’s Death Race where I was actually fighting back tears - not of pain but of bliss. My mindset is that I’m ridiculously lucky to be out there, and I’m super excited that I’ve finally stopped doubting myself and went for it. I’m coming into this year with the same mindset. For more on that, just scroll back up at my picture. I’m smiling and scarfing down food like Frank Reynolds while everybody behind me is showing their poopie faces :)

Q: What would be your weakness coming into this event?

A: I’m not the strongest, nor the fastest… but I know that I can suffer more than anybody at this thing. It’s hard to pinpoint a weakness until it’s right in front of you. Last year it was when I was stuck at the back of the line at the elimination low crawl round and I had to get top 12 against some really short and fast crawlers (I lost). My lower back and shoulder strength suffered a lot last year so I’ve been working on those areas on the nights that I lift as well.

Q: What brought you to this event?

A: Ever since I heard about this event back in 2012 I thought that it was something I could have never even attempted. I saw incredible athletes catastrophically fail at this event back when I could only run a 5k. Mile by mile, hour by hour I’ve been training myself for this very event for the last seven years.
Everything has brought me to this event.

Q: Who is your teammate ?

A: The man who dared to mile at freaking GORUCK Selection - Wil Daniels! I asked him to be my DR partner first because I saw him encounter his greatest weakness, fail at it, and at the same time I saw that light bulb go off in his head. I saw myself back in 2013 when I got my chip pulled at the Killington Ultra (an event he finished) for missing the cutoff by four minutes. He’s experienced failure when he’s so used to winning and he has let that refine instead of define him. That’s the mindset I need alongside me at this event. He’s practically fireproof from all the hell that he’s been through already.

Q: Do you and teammate have any unique strategy?

A: Don’t get frustrated. Smile when others are frustrated and bring other people up. If we’re hurting big time and somebody asks how we are doing - we freaking lie. Never admit it or it’ll become too real of a burden to handle.

Q: What was the most difficult event leading up to the DR?

A: Definitely the Death Race of last year. Getting 50 hours into it took it’s toll on my body but I’m happy that my mind was still incredibly sharp.

Q: What is your WHY for the DR?

A: I’ll let my personal write-up do the explaining on that one.

Q: Do you have any other big events after the DR?

A: Beating my records for past events that I’ve done. I want to podium my AG at the Killington Ultra and finish the Georgia Death Race in under 20 hours. I’ve also got my eye on some full ironman events as well as a few 100 milers here and there.