Death race lives up to its ominous name

It's the break of dawn in a little town in Vermont. Two Norwich cadets have trained for months and now it's time to compete. Only few have survived to finish this "death race."

"It's a crazy race, so we are doing a lot of crazy stuff to train and prepare," said Ryan Davis, a 21-year-old senior from Fort Washington, Md., majoring in psychology. "We work out six days a week, two times a day."

"We are pretty hyped for this race, I know it sounds crazy," said Davis. "But we like to do crazy things!"

This adventure race, known as the Death Race, takes place in Pittsfield, Vt., on June 24 and is hosted by Peak Races.

Contestants must endure trials like crawling through mud and barbed wire, running two miles through moving water and climbing hills while lugging bicycle frames and tree stumps.

"We heard about it from a couple of friends on campus, who completed the race," said Phillip Brown, a 21-year-old senior from South Carolina majoring in history. "They said it is a big challenge, and we like challenges so we want to see how we do."

Everyone from Norwich who has competed has completed the race. Tom Worthington, a senior who graduated two years ago, won the race, according to Brown.

The race is so brutal that entrants are required to sign a fatality waiver beforehand, acknowledging the possibility that they might expire during the up to 24-hour-long torment to which they'll be subjected, according to Discovery Company.

"We believe that it's really overrated with the fatality waiver," said Brown. "With right training and a strong mentality, we know we can finish the race."

Swimming, weight-lifting, plyometrics, and running in the snow are some of the different workouts that Davis and Brown have done to prepare.

"We use other challenges, like Bulldog Challenge, Levy Challenge and Best Ranger, only to prepare along with other workouts," said Davis.

According to Brown, there is also a mental part to this race. "It's real mental, because some parts of the race is set-up to where your body can't really take it, unless you stop and think about what you are doing," said Brown. "Otherwise you'll give out, and it's long so you have to keep going and not let your mind give out on your body."

Contestants are also forced to perform various mental feats, such as memorizing a list of U.S. presidents or reassembling a bunch of Lego pieces in a precise configuration, according to Discovery Company.

"You have to have a goal or drive to really complete the race," said Brown. "You have to have a mind-set that if you are going to work out hard and determination then you'll finish."