If there’s one thing the Death Race taught me, it’s how to endure. How to push forward when everything inside me is screaming to quit. How to navigate obstacles that seem impossible. How to accept suffering as part of the journey and still find the will to keep moving.
That kind of endurance isn’t just for the mountains, the mud, or the endless physical trials of an ultra-endurance event—it’s for life. And right now, life feels a lot like the toughest Death Race I’ve ever faced.
The Unexpected Obstacles
When you sign up for the Death Race, you expect pain, exhaustion, and the kind of challenges that make you question your own sanity. What you don’t expect is just how much uncertainty and chaos will be thrown at you. No set course, no clear timeline—just a series of gut-punching surprises designed to break you.
Sound familiar?
Since the start of this new Trump administration, every day has felt like another unexpected blow. Policies stripping away rights. Corruption that no one seems able to stop. Communities suffering under cruelty and indifference. It’s exhausting, it’s frustrating, and at times, it feels like there’s no way through.
But if there’s one thing endurance racing has taught me, it’s this: when everything feels hopeless, you just take the next step.
Pushing Through the Pain
In a Death Race, quitting is easy. The option is always there. Just say the word, and you can sit down, rest, and walk away from the suffering. But those who make it to the end are the ones who refuse to let the pain dictate their actions.
Right now, there are plenty of reasons to throw our hands up and say, “What’s the point?” It’s tempting to disengage, to let exhaustion win. But that’s exactly what those in power count on. They want us to be too tired to fight, too disheartened to resist.
The Death Race teaches you to reframe suffering—to see it not as a signal to stop, but as proof that you’re still in the fight. That’s where we are now. Every moment of outrage, every battle we engage in, every voice raised against injustice—that’s the pain of pushing through.
But pushing through doesn’t just mean enduring. It means taking action.
How to Fight Back
The difference between an endurance athlete and someone who burns out is strategy. You don’t just charge forward blindly—you find ways to conserve energy, move efficiently, and focus your efforts where they matter most. The same applies to resisting injustice. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s where to start:
1. Call Your Representatives
Politicians work for us, and they do pay attention to public pressure. Call their offices, leave messages, send emails, and make it clear where you stand. If you don’t know what to say, organizations like 5 Calls provide scripts on key issues.
2. Show Up at Town Halls and Public Meetings
Face-to-face pressure makes an impact. Attend town halls, ask tough questions, and hold officials accountable. If they don’t show up, call them out publicly.
3. Support Grassroots Organizations
Big national movements are important, but local organizations often have the most direct impact. Find activist groups in your area that are fighting for the causes you care about and support them—whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading their message.
4. Protest and Make Noise
Peaceful protest works. It shifts public discourse, pressures politicians, and builds solidarity. Whether it’s marching in the streets, showing up to city hall, or even organizing a local demonstration, physical presence matters.
5. Vote in Every Election
Every race, from city council to Congress, matters. Research your candidates, support progressive policies, and show up at the ballot box. And don’t just vote—help others register and get to the polls.
6. Talk About It
Silence is compliance. Have conversations with friends, family, and coworkers. Share information. Push back against misinformation. Normalize political engagement so more people get involved.
7. Take Care of Yourself and Others
Activism is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout helps no one. Rest when you need to, support your mental health, and lift up others who are struggling. No one fights alone.
The Only Way Out Is Through
There’s no shortcut to the finish line. The only way out is forward. In the race, that means embracing the uncertainty, trusting your training, and just focusing on one step at a time. In life, that means staying engaged, refusing to back down, and continuing to fight for what’s right—even when it feels impossible.
The Death Race trained me for suffering. But more than that, it trained me for resilience. For endurance. For the understanding that no matter how hard things get, we are capable of more than we think.
This is our endurance race now. And we keep moving forward.