Meet the founder of the Dead End Race.
The Dead End Race is an obstacle race in mountain of 5 km to 7 km to be held on 2014 May 11, at Mont Habitant, Saint-Sauveur. According to the organizers, it will offer the largest number of obstacles on the market. You will climb, slide, crawl, run, sweat and maybe even cry… But you’ll love every moment! In a “post-apocalyptic” atmosphere, you will negotiate with intense obstacles while ascending and descending the mountain. Meet the founder, Brian Townsend.
How, one day, you decided to start a big project like this one?
I am ambitious I guess, always thinking big and creating epic projects. I have always been creative and thrive on challenge. I was one of the youngest entrepreneurs in Canada to own and operate multiple chain-stores in major shopping centers across the province and have always created innovative new businesses which were all based on my personal passions as well as the potential market at that time. I have been waiting for 4 years for the next big thing to come around and this was it! I am passionate about obstacle races and as I was running through the mud on my very first race, within minutes I knew what my next project would be. I was planning the details on my way home and that same evening the logo and basic concept for The Dead End Race were born! My business life is based on the idea that you first have to enjoy what you are doing and if you want to be the best, you have to come up with new concepts yet to be developed, take those ideas to another level and do things other people aren’t willing to do.
Could you explain the concept of the Dead End Race in few words. I read on your website that people choose between making a 5 or 7km run, could you give us more details?
We wanted to create a race that caters to all levels of participants from the novice to elite racers without having to run marathon lengths before hitting the obstacles. The way we do this is by creating a 5k race that includes 30 obstacles. Upon arriving at the final obstacle the participants have the choice to cross the finish line or go back up the mountain for more… another 2 km loop with 10 additional obstacles! Either way, you have surpassed your limits and have conquered all we could throw at you!
Participants will ride up on the chairlift as a team and as they make their way up the mountain they will pass over the main obstacle course and see what awaits them as well as seeing all the action below! We chose to add this feature due to the biggest complaint from most obstacle racers which has been the long and tiresome initial uphill run (which usually ends up as a walk) at the start of most races before finally getting to the first obstacle. We decided to be innovative and start our race on top of the mountain in more exciting controled heats. Participants will jump right into the obstacles in a post-apocalyptic atmosphere! Sirens, explosions, smoke and much more! The Dead End Race is a 5-7k so they will run for sure… but not 1k uphill before seeing the first obstacle!
With all the competition around, making its place in the world of obstacle races in 2014,I guess it’s not easy?
I have always done my own thing despite what the competition is doing. Every minute spent worrying about what the others are doing is that much less time spent focusing on your own project and concentrating on it at 100%. Competition is both good and bad. On the good side it creates visibility for the sport as well as a growing demand but on the flip side it sometimes lowers expectations for participants by having lower-end events with poor organization, lack of atmosphere with lots of running between small and unimaginative obstacles. In all honesty, the shortcomings and lack of detail of the other events enable us to take the sport to the next level and produce the best events in the country. When the Dead End Race will take place on May 11, 2014 it will be on a whole new level. Like I stated above, if you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people are not prepared to do.
ıf I had to choose between the Dead End Race and another obstacle race, why should I choose yours?
What sets the Dead End Race apart from all others is that we will deliver the Ultimate Obstacle Race Experience. We have examined and conceived our race from the point of view of the participants. Original obstacles within flowing traffic, the option of a 5k or 7k race, amazing media coverage including professional photography and videos of the event for that perfect souvenir, plus starting out on top of a mountain after riding up the chairlift!
Our race is designed around the obstacles which are created by a team of professionals that caters to all skill levels: Beginner, intermediate and advanced racers. Our course will have 6 obstacles per kilometer and will be multi-level. An example of this is our wall –vs- the typical wall. Ours will have multiple heights so the novice racer can attempt the standard 8′ wall which will be attached to higher walls for the more advanced racers to tackle! Our rigs will also have this feature with different diameter bars for all skill-levels. We offer elite-level obstacles and lots of them!
We are also hosting a 1k kid’s race in collaboration with the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation that will have real obstacles for children ages 5-13. Once again the obstacles will be multi-level so that all the kids feel challenged. Participants in The Dead End Race will get an amazing medal, electronically timed course and all event pictures are free for the participants as well as access to all videos! Obstacles and atmosphere!
What is your medium-term strategy? In other words, how would you like to see the Dead End Race evolve in the future?
Our strategy is simple. Present the best obstacle race event in the country on May 11th, 2014 and then follow up with multiple events of varying designs, lengths and locations. Once racers have participated or have seen coverage of our inaugural event, they will without a doubt want to make one of our following events their next muddy destination.
Visit her website for more infos: http://www.deadendrace.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DeadEndRace
par: Louis Charland
Révision and correction:Stephane Carbonneau