Abruzzo to tackle Spartan Death Race

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Ben Abruzzo's family is no stranger to adventure.

Known for flying high in hot air and gas balloons, Ben is choosing to stay on the ground.

But what he and two of his friends are about to do is just as dangerous.

It's a 48-hour competition called the Spartan Death Race.

"It just looked intriguing you know,” Ben Abruzzo said. “I think people don't push themselves enough and I’m always out there trying to find the next thing to take it to the next level and it seemed like a good way to do it."

Outdoor and extreme sport enthusiast, the 33-year-old and a few of his buddies signed up for the Spartan Death Race held in Vermont.

It takes competitors through grueling challenges both physical and mental, but no one knows exactly what they'll be up against until the race starts.

Which was part of the draw for Abruzzo.

"Unknown distance, unknown time you don't what you're going to do…they send you crazy emails and tell you to quit…only 10 percent of the competitors even finish every year,” Abruzzo said.

Amid all the unknown, there are a few constants.

Abruzzo says competitors always have to carry really heavy things a really long way.

"They almost always cut wood…they are always in the water…normally at night when you're cold,” Abruzzo said.

Abruzzo says knowing those things have helped shape how he trains for the race.

"For events this long you've got to put a lot of hours in and a lot of miles,” Abruzzo said.

Abruzzo says he and his friends are ready to go adding that he's confident he'll be one of the 10 percent that finishes the race.

"Having something that seems so out of reach and then actually doing it umm just kind of makes you feel alive,” Abruzzo said.

Abruzzo and his buddies take off for Vermont on Thursday.

The race begins on Friday.