Alumnus attempts “world’s toughest race”

Photo Courtesy of Guillermo Sadir

Esra Erdogan/Life! Editor

esra.erdogan@fiusm.com

Photo Courtesy of Guillermo Sadir

When reading a description of the Spartan Death Race, one may question the sanity of the participants.

According to their website youmaydie.com, “200 ultra-endurance athletes” will fight each other out for the title in a competition that shares almost the same odds as “The Hunger Games”: only 15 percent will complete the race. University alumnus Guillermo “Rhino” Sadir plans to be part of that 15 percent.

“Everyone I know has come to expect me to attempt crazy and unexpected adventures, however, I have never attempted to do such an extreme physical and mental challenge [as this] and some cannot begin to comprehend what is involved in competing at this level.

‘Crazy’ is usually the first word that comes to their mouth,” said Sadir, who has three degrees from the University including a master’s in Human Resources. The Spartan Death Race is a 40-mile course that takes place in the mountainous woods of Pittsfield, Vermont. Contestants are challenged by 15 to 20 obstacles, physical and mental, that they must complete before the deadline of 48 hours.

Some of the types of hurdles that “Death Racers” can expect are chopping wood for hours, carrying heavy rocks for hours, building a fire, sprinting through dangerous woods, or memorizing a Bible verse and then repeating it after hiking a mountain.

While other obstacle courses may involve similarly brutal physical tasks, the Spartan Death Race takes it to another level by adding in tests that challenge participants’ mental faculty. Another factor that makes this race different from the rest is that no contestant is aware of what is to come until they are already in the race; the developers keep the maps and challenges a secret.

In order to complete a race like this, contestants must train vigorously. Sadir is no newbie to races and extreme obstacle courses. Since turning 40, he has taken on several triathlons and half iron distance races.

This year he completed the North Miami 8-Mile Super Spartan Race. During the registration process for the race, he saw the URL for the Spartan Death Race and registered for it blindly.

But Sadir knew he could not enter the race without the necessary preparation and began training. He and his partner and friend Alan J. Potash meet every morning at the gym at 5 a.m. Because Sadir’s job requires that he works around the world frequently, he often has to work out in gyms abroad during his travels.

“Being confident enough to know we will finish a challenge, where 90 percent of the participants are expected to fail is enough adrenaline to keep us motivated to meet every morning at 5 a.m. at the gym,” said Sadir.

But Sadir must train mentally, as well as physically. In order to control his mind, he will be using a technique that most men would likely look over.

“When my wife was pregnant with my first child and we took a Lamaze class, they teach that you must use your mind and concentrate to control pain. They teach you to focus. So I guess I’ll be practicing some Lamaze techniques to help me get through the toughest parts of the race,” said Sadir.

“He is very funny, always making me laugh at the things he thinks of. I guess Lamaze worked for me, so hopefully it will work for him,” said Tiffany Sadir, his wife.

Completing a race like the Spartan Death Race will require more than physical and mental training. In a race where 200 individuals are working towards the same goal, you wonder whether competition overrules camaraderie. Sadir believes that treating the competition like competition may be a misstep.

“In such a long race, I have no choice but to help my colleagues, because I might need their strength at some point,” said Sadir.

Even more than help on the way to the finish line, Sadir also finds that friendships developed during the race are memorable and meaningful.

“In last year’s race, a US Marine and a British Special Forces officer met up a few yards from the finish line after 30 hours of racing, they looked at each other and realized this experience was more than just about winning but it was about winning well. With few words, they marched side by side and stepped over the finish line together,” said Sadir.

As another source of motivation, Sadir has collected almost a thousand dollars for St. Jude’s Children’s hospital. He and his wife have become long time contributors after spending time in the Target House at St. Jude’s and meeting with some of the young patients.

Racing for charity is not required, but Sadir took up the additional challenge and hopes his story will open up people’s hearts and wallets so he can give more to the hospital.  Sadir’s family has benefited from his new passion for racing.

“I am very proud, but also amazed at how he finds new things to find to be active. The last three years have been great for him [and] also our family. My two kids, ages eight and 10, have been doing triathlons and competing in races for the last two years and I even just did my first triathlon and hopefully I’ll be part of some of his crazy races,” said Tiffany Sadir. With the race on June 15th, Sadir has only a few months left to prepare for the challenge of a lifetime.

“I’m hoping I challenge myself to the breaking point and come ahead, so that the second I cross the finish line, I can start thinking of my next challenge, and I already have a few in mind,” said Sadir.

After seeing the story of a double amputee named Scott Rigsby who finished the 140 mile Kona Ironman in Hawaii, Sadir was inspired.

“What excuse can I ever come up with for giving up?” said Sadir.

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