Will he survive? – Spartan Death Race

Courtesy Photo | Capt. David Kriegbaum, the assistant aviation maintenance officer for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, runs on a dirt trail during a marathon in 2009. Kriegbaum has competed in marathons for 10 years and is now preparing for the Spartan Death Race. This 48-hour endurance race is comprised of mud runs, obstacle racing, trail racing, physical challenges and mental challenges. The race is scheduled for June 2011.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, UNITED STATES

05.11.2011

Story by Sgt. Deanne Hurla 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - There are several types of ultimate races across America, but only one can be called the Spartan Death Race. One Marine from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is crazy enough to participate in this 48-hour adventure race.

The Spartan Death Race is designed to present its challengers with the totally unexpected and the totally insane, according to www.youmaydie.com. This endurance race is comprised of mud runs, obstacle racing, trail racing, physical challenges and mental challenges. Ninety percent of participants will not complete this endurance race and are encouraged to only consider this adventure style race if they have lived a full life to date.

Even with the warning, Capt. David Kriegbaum, the assistant aviation maintenance officer for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, decided the race sounds like a grueling time and is planning to compete this summer.

“While deployed, I was looking at another marathon website and saw a picture of a lady holding a sign with a skull. The sign said a participant had completed the death race, and it peaked my interest,” said Kriegbaum. “I looked into [the race], and it sounded like a bad idea, so I figured why not.”

Kriegbaum and a friend, Capt. John Fletcher, regularly compete in marathons and previously competed in an obstacle course run, while attending the Naval Academy.

“We were on an Infantry Skills Team, and every year we would train for a race at West Point,” said Fletcher, the aviation safety officer for Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161. “The course was probably seven miles long with stations including rafting, shooting and rappelling. Then at the end there would be a surprise challenge.”

With this small glimpse of what the death race may hold, 31-year-old Kriegbaum is now preparing for the race, scheduled for the end of June.

Since returning from Afghanistan in December 2010, Kriegbaum has completed three half marathons, one full marathon, two 80 mile races and a 50-mile race, explained the Littleton, Colo., native. In two weeks, he and Fletcher are competing in a 160 mile race. This series of events will constitute as the bulk of his training. He also does CrossFit training and mostly runs on trails and up hills.
Kriegbaum hopes his 10 years of marathon running will aid him in the death race, and though he has not yet completed the race, he is determined to finish.

• Date Taken: 05.11.2011
• Date Posted: 05.11.2011 12:31
• Story ID: 70217
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US