T.J. Nomeland, Ultra Endurance Racer

Editor’s Note: Lakeville dentist Thomas "T.J." Nomeland will be taking part in the Spartan Death Race from June 21-23, in Pittsfield, VT. Livestrong.com calls it one of the most extreme endurance races in the world.  

The following article details his thoughts about endurance racing and his inspiration to train and take part in athletic competitions that most of us can’t even imagine.

Q. WHAT IS THE SPARTAN DEATH RACE? 

A. The Death Race organizers pride themselves in not telling its 300-plus participants when the race will start, when it will end or even what it will entail. 

Previous races have included lugging 50 to 70-plus pound packs up and down the Green Mountains of Vermont, chopping wood for hours, solving Rubik’s cubes, bailing hay, hauling gravel, trail running, wrestling a former Olympic wrestling coach, hundreds of burpees and whatever else the organizers can dream up.

Previous races have gone anywhere from 24 to 60-plus hours, completely unsupported.  The race’s website is appropriately named youmaydie.com.

Q. WHY COMPETE IN THE SPARTAN DEATH RACE?

A. When I’m asked why I signed up for such a competition, my response is simple: There is something different about a race where your main goal is to just keep going. With only a finish rate of 15 percent, all you are really trying to do is to not quit. Life is crazy and complicated. The Death Race is simple and uncomplicated. For one to three days, all there is to think about is not dropping out.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION TO COMPETE IN ULTRA ENDURANCE RACING?

A. Getting involved in this type of ultra endurance adventure race came from looking for something as an alternative to road racing. I tried several marathons and eventually decided they just weren't for me. I seem to have a hard time staying active unless there is a goal or event to train for. I entered the Tough Mudder race last summer and had a great time with friends. I stumbled onto the Death Race online and decided to give it a try.  I have been training for this race since last April. 

The people that I have met through the events I have entered have been amazing. A lot of bonding goes on after hours and hours of competing.  I will actually know about five to 10 people that will be among the 350 or so in Vermont. 

Q. HOW HAVE YOU PREPARED FOR THE SPARTAN DEATH RACE?

A. I’ve completed the  20-plus hour Legend of the Death Race Adventure Race in Wisconsin—which I won last fall—and the GoRuck Challenge, a 10-hour military-based overnight event.

Q. HOW HAVE YOU FARED IN RECENT COMPETITIONS?

A. I had attended the first Legend of the Death Race Training Camp in Wisconsin in November, when only five competed and three finished, and I placed first.

This year, 12 entered. It was 21 hours straight ranging from hiking with a full pack,  about 2,000 burpees, miles of bear crawls with a full pack, hours of chopping wood, memorizing bible verses and Confucius quotes and various other exercises.

The last challenge involved six laps of barrel-rolling through a 200-meter course, then flipping a large tire 25 times. After two laps, dizziness and nausea from the rolling caused me to stop. Eight of the 12 made it to the final challenge, and four finished.

In addition to the Wisconsin event, I completed a GoRuck Challenge in April.  

Q. HOW DO YOU TRAIN FOR ULTRA ENDURANCE RACING?

A. Training is a mix of running, hiking with a weighted pack and lots of body weight exercises, mainly burpees. The people who put on the Spartan Races and the Death Race have an unhealthy love of burpees. 

Being able to do hundreds and hundreds of burpees throughout this competition has been a central theme through the years.