Death Race; Travel Channel Scheduled To Cover Launch Event in Burlington, VT

Spartan Race Heroes To Advance to Death Race; Travel Channel Scheduled To Cover Launch Event in Burlington, VT

PITTSFIELD, VT, April 14 ˆ The Travel Channel is scheduled to cover the May 16, Burlington, VT, kick-off of the international adventure Spartan Race Series (www.spartanrace.com)  that will feed qualifiers into the now-infamous Death Race (www.peakraces.com)  held annually in Pittsfield, VT.

After Burlington, Spartan Race Series fans out to Montreal, Toronto, New York, Chicago and two locations in the UK. The US races benefit St. Jude Children‚s Hospital in their battle against cancer; additional partner charities for Canada and the UK will be announced.

A Spartan Race is a much shorter version of Death Race that many say is amongst the toughest races on the planet, renowned for its 24 hours of relentless physical and mental challenges and utilizing the gnarly mountain terrain and cornpone tasks of rural life to push competitors to their breaking point and beyond. Ninety percent who enter falter in the opening hours of the race. 

In a Spartan Race, adventure racers of all stripes will hurtle, climb, crawl, muck and spear throw through more than a dozen obstacles over a two-mile course that takes its inspiration from Spartan and Navy Seal training, American Gladiator and adventure races. The overall winner of each Spartan Race will receive an authentic Spartan helmet with second and third place receiving traditional Spartan spears and the chance to test their mettle in the world championship race.

Whereas 300 Spartan warriors marched into battle with the Persians, race organizers anticipate hundreds of competitors with different goals in mind, from the elite athlete seeking something more to test his ingenuity and physical prowess than the average triathlon, to the weekend warrior looking for a thrill that stretches beyond the video console.

Though the Spartan Race draws its inspiration from the fierce, disciplined and ascetic Spartans, it does so with tongue firmly implanted in cheek. Competitors are encouraged to arrive donning their finest tunics, sans weaponry, and whatever else will stoke their spirit of adventure while they still have the time of their lives.  And as, at least in the imagination of Hollywood, the brutal Spartan Warriors of old all maintained perfectly rippled abs, the race will offer prosthetic spray-on versions for those who find themselves a bit soft in the middle at the starting gate.

Additional festivities for the spectators will include live entertainment, feats of strength, Spartan models, archery, mud wrestling and a tug of war. Once the top Spartan warrior is crowned, a post race party with a live band and DJ hosted by Nectar nightclub and Long Trail Brewery will ensue including a spit roast barbeque, food, beer and revelry. Each competitor will be rewarded with two free beers.
Check in at the Burlington competition begins at 8 a.m. with heats of up to 250 people starting at 30-minute intervals.  The event is at the Catamount Outdoor Center at 592 Governor Chittenden Rd., Williston, VT.
Participants may register online and for more information visit: http://www.spartanrace.com