Newark Teen Joins "Death Race" to Test Endurance

What Noah Falck wants most for his birthday is to break a record and he plans to do that this weekend.

The avid runner and recent Newark Memorial High School graduate will face his most challenging race yet: the Death Race.

And the name speaks for itself.

On Friday, the 17-year-old will be among 200 athletes who will test their endurance in a multi-day race in Pittsfield, Vermont, that will test their physical and intellectual capabilities.

The obstacles they will face can range from chopping wood for hours, building a fire, crawling under barbed wire and memorizing political leaders and biblical verses through a 40-mile course, according to the website.

His only goal for the race is to finish. If he does, he’ll become the youngest person to complete the race. Noah turns 18 on June 28.

Only 15 percent of participants finish the Death Race,  according to the website.

So why did the teenager decide to join the race?

Noah said he wants to challenge himself and prove he can cross that finish line.

“It’s the first type of race [I’m joining] where you have to think through it,” Noah said.

A four-year member of the cross country and track teams, Noah has participated in numerous races and triathlons, including the San Jose Marathon and the Surf City Half Marathon.

Noah began joining race events in sixth grade when his mom encouraged him to participate and he won prize money. He began loving the sport because of the test of endurance one partakes in during long-distance running.

“It’s what we’re made to do as humans,” Noah said about running. “And it’s a mind game of challenging yourself.”

While at this weekend’s race, Noah said he feels his experience with testing his own endurance during long-distance events will help him through.

“It’s not just all about that strength,” Noah said. “It’s not just about who can lift the most or run the fastest, but it’s about who’s mentally tough.”

And Noah has already started on training himself to be mentally tough.

“I don’t like to quit – in everything I do,” he said. “I’ll shut everything off and not think. Just go.”

To learn more about the Death race, visit www.youmaydie.com or www.facebook.com/spartanrace.

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