Seacoast area man enters Death Race in honor of his mother

Robert Gagnon of Rochester NH & employed in Hampton NH at Route 1 Kettlebell, has decided to step outside his comfort zone, WAY outside his comfort zone. He has decided to enter an annual endurance race called The Death Race. There are millions of running races, thousands of marathons, hundreds of triathlons and dozens of ultramarathons, but there is only one Death Race. 

Held annually since 2005 in the small town of Pittsfield, VT, the 2014 Death Race is scheduled to begin on June 27, with just 300 elite endurance athletes given the chance to test their mental and physical prowess like no other event on earth. Last year, just 10% of the registered participants were still standing after the event ended after nearly 70 hours. The theme of the 2014 Death Race is “The Explorer.” According to race organizers, competitors can read the exploits of Sir Edmund Hilary, Shackleton and Lewis & Clark to prepare for their journey. Past themes have included; gambling, religion and money. Competitors are also provided a gear list or more than a dozen items weighing in excess of 50-pounds in advance of the race. The obstacle and challenge-driven race requires competitors to complete numerous 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; complete a 30-mile hike with rocks and weighted packs; build a fire from scratch; cut a bushel of onions; or after 24-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 -- miss a word and you get to do it again…and again.. and again. 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 48-72 hours. For an endurance athlete, not knowing where the light is at the end of the tunnel can be sheer torture. “Just like life, the Death Race is designed to push and aggravate people to such a point that even the most stoic eventually fail,” said Joe De Sena, co-Founder of the Death Race and the Reebok Spartan Race Founder. “Only those people possessing incredible discipline under the most insane and even delusional circumstances can call themselves a finisher. These athletes are willing to complete the journey at all costs. The fact that people endured for 70 hours to see what they are made of, is just remarkable and awe-inspiring.”

So the question remains, why would someone want to do this? When asked this very question, Robert Gagnon's answer is almost as unique and interesting as the race itself. 

“Why would I do this? Frankly, I'm not 100% sure. I think I find myself drawn to this race because of my mother. My best friend”. In October of 2013 she passed away after an incredible battle with Cancer. Her courage was nothing short of incredible. When she was diagnosed, she was only given 18 months to live, it was a crushing blow to her and the rest of the family. She battled the disease with great voracity. She did a round of Chemo Therapy, which nearly killed her in and of itself. She then did radiation treatments not once, but twice. Even against the doctors better judgment in doing the radiation a 2nd time, but she insisted. She lived over 5 years with the battle. She spent many wonderful days during that time enjoying life as much as she could, spending as much time as possible with her family and youngest grandson. During the summer of 2013, her last year a alive, in VT a crazy “race” was being held. The Death Race was in full swing and the “racers” were being made to create an amazing stone stairway all the way to the top of a mountain. The race came and went and the stairs were built. In late summer 2013 a beautiful woman named Michelle Roy (an endurance athlete) decided to create the Stone Stairs Project. Robert learned of the project and asked Michelle to create and place a stone along the stairs for his mother to honor her ongoing battle, which she did. Michelle took a picture of the stone and sent it to Robert. “I believe it was the first time I actually cried when it came to moms cancer” said Robert when speaking of seeing the photo. “That photo was visual proof that hit me hard. It made me realize that mom was really sick”. A few months passed and Robert went to Killington VT to participate in an Obstacle Course Race called “The Beast”. A 14 mile race through the woods and mountains of Killington, VT. Something he had never done before. Upon returning from his race in late September 2013 his mother became very ill and hospitalized. She wanted nothing more than to die at home. Believing that she had less than 48-72 hours to live, her doctors sent her home to live out her days as she wished, at home. However, Carol was not quite ready to go just yet. She continued to battle her illness and lasted 27 more days. During this time Robert and his father were with Carol 24 hours a day. Caring for her and spending time with her they talked and remembered their lives together. Incredibly inspired by her courage and battle, Robert gave his mother his medal that he won at “the Beast”. She wore the medal her final 14 days on this earth. She never took it off. She could be seen and heard throwing her arms in the air yelling “I'm a beast, I'm a beast”. Eventually she did succumb to the illness in late October 2013 and Robert was left without his best friend. “I still think of mom daily. I struggle and try to make sense of my life without my mom. In doing so, I am continuously brought to the thought of the Stone Stairs. For some reason, I feel like I need to be there. Whats worse, I feel like I need to push myself to do the Death Race. I don't know if it's because it's often done on the mountain where the Stone Stairs are or what, but I'm drawn to it. I know my mom will be with me! I'm planning to carry her picture (shown here) and the beast medal she wore in her final days. If I can just show ¼ of her courage regardless of what happens at the race, I feel that Im a winner before I start!”

To learn more about the Death race, please visit: http://www.peak.com/death-races/summer-death-race/