Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Former marine exits ‘Death Race’ before finish
Nearly 26 hours into his first attempt at the Spartan Death Race, former Marine Chase Sterling of Fayetteville was knocked out by an ankle injury that caused him to fall short at a timed checkpoint.
Sterling, 27, said he had run out of food and water and was not sure when he would be able to re-supply when his stint in the event, held annually in Pittsfield, Vt., came to an end around 2:30 p.m. Central on Saturday. The race, which pit 238 competitors in a nonstop series of physical and mental challenges, was still being waged late Sunday, according to the event’s web site.
Sterling, who said he could hardly move his legs the day after he dropped out, began his 24-hour drive back to Arkansas with his parents, Fred and Rebecca Sterling of Pearcy, and sister Rachel mid-day Sunday.
“It was definitely the most difficult thing I’ve ever done,” Sterling said. “Much more difficult than even Marine Corps boot camp.
“I could barely move this morning. A walker would help.”
Sterling said the most difficult portion of the three-day Marine boot camp, a closing event called “the crucible,” could not compare to what he just endured.
“This would make the crucible cry,” Sterling said.
A few unexpected twists added to the difficulty level of the death race this year, Sterling said. The first was the inability in his first 24 hours to restock his supplies, an opportunity that was available every several hours in previous races.
“I packed for being away from the tent for about 12 to 14 hours,” he said.
The addition of a lengthy group challenge — carrying long PVC pipes over their heads and kayaks through forested, hilly terrain, for nearly 12 hours — was a curve ball.
And perhaps the most strenuous departure: a continuous stream of misinformation from the race organizers regarding destinations, course lengths and check points, that fit in with the theme of “betrayal.”
Sterling said his prerace training did not include enough hiking with weight in his backpack.
Sterling was able to complete 40 to 50 miles of hiking, a blind crawl through a culvert with rushing water in his face, a swimming course and other tasks, including the treacherous group challenge.
“Carrying that kayak was ridiculous,” he said. “We were carrying it through trails that you’re not supposed to carry a kayak or anything through.”
Sterling said he was in the lead pack when he twisted his ankle, forcing him to fall back and move at a much slower pace during a hike.