Kaleidoscope Tour pg. 1-4
Matthew O’Leary Editor in Chief
Your Gateway Drug to Fitness pg. 27-28
Laurie Hale
Getting Dirty Podcast
Double Runs pg. 11-16
Roger Smith PhD. Writer/Author
Resolve for Change pg. 17-18
Holly Berkey
MuddyMommy.com
Altitude Training Mask
And epic tale - I mean fail pg. 19-21
?
OCR Guru
http://mudfireandbarbedwire.com
Disease Dash Just Run With It pg. 23-26
Neil Murphy
Regiment Running
When I hear the word Gimmick I feel some negative emotions. It makes me think of being fooled into buying something. Tricked into finding value in something that might appear interesting from a glance, but later I will be burdened with buyers remorse. The Color Run is NOT a gimmick. Let me tell you why. As a participant in all the goodness that this magazine represents I enjoy a variety of runs. Don’t misunderstand me. I enjoy that the industry is a hodgepodge of interesting things to do. I know I only speak for a few hundred thousand of you (sorry runners), but if you asked me if I wanted to go run 3 miles Saturday morning I would stare at you uncomfortably wondering if you were serious. Heck NO I don’t want to go running. I do that during my workouts, not for fun! Fun runs changed that for me. Do I want to run? No. Do I want to do something fun that involves running.
Heck YEA! Thats a good time and exercise! I get to goof off and feel good about myself afterwards. Operating a fun run can be a hard gig. Just coming up with something different and interesting to persuade people to come to your race when there are so many others on the same weekend is tough. And then if you come up with something good everyone mimics you. But that stress also forces the people behind these races to come up with some new and interesting ideas that keep me entertained. The Color Run decided to do something different this year. They created the Kaleidoscope Tour. But what is a Kaleidoscope tour? Do we all get kaleidoscopes in our bags ? Are we expected to run through the course staring through a little tube?
Here is some text from the their website http://www.thecolorrun.com “Kaleidoscopes demonstrate the beauty of motion and change. Little shifts can add new depth and color to everything we see. ... remembering what it feels like to just “run for fun”, the Kaleidoscope Tour will be an unforgettable event... ... Think it’s cool to look into a Kaleidoscope? Wait until you run through one! ” Now again I know I am not speaking for everyone, but your telling me I get to run through a big Kaleidoscope? Pshh, Heck YEA!
I think The Color Run honed in on something here. They recognize that everyone wants to have some great pictures with their friends doing something fun and memorable so they save it, remember it and share it. I haven’t done this race yet, but I will and I can’t wait to see what the inside of a kaleidoscope looks like.
The Color Run, let me just say I really enjoyed your website. I can tell just from 5 minutes of browsing that you have a team of artistic people who are passionate about providing a fun and healthy experience. Its your types of races that have put so many of us non-runners into running shoes and Hybrid Runner appreciates the creativity and good nature that comes across in your events.
I encourage everyone to go check out http://www.thecolorrun.com for some killer photos, interesting recipes and of positive message that this company advocates.
http://www.SpecialOpsSeries.com/trek/
Early this September and mid October you can participate in something different from your everyday OCR. Different, and a lot of fun. Each group of participants is lead by an instructor. The group is initially taught new skills including how to properly carry difficult items, knot typing, creating a transport system and rappelling.
Later, groups are broken up into teams to compete against each other in war games. Competitions include mini-challenges and task completion like mini-workouts, geo-locating markers and constructing an apparatus. This is all done over a 3 - 5 mile course of orienteering over various terrain, negotiating hills, culverts and streams. This course is as much a mental challenge as it is physical. By the end of it you can expect camaraderie, team building and some new friends.
Checkout the drinking game on the next page
by Roger Smith, PhD
We paid for all three races with the all day running pass. If you ended up dying The Zombie Run
encouraged people to run a second time. -Courtey
You are lining up for a mud run
entire course twice or maybe
and notice that the person next
even three times.
to you is wearing wet clothes and has mud smeared on their arms
But should this be allowed by the
and legs. They don't look like the
organizers? Is it a good business
clean, eager racers around you.
practice? Is it good for the sport?
If you ask, "What happened to you?" the answer will probably
There are at least three different
be, "This is my second time
perspectives on these questions
through the course."
–the experienced runner, the novice runner, and the race
For novice racers who run once
organizer.
or twice a year, this sounds like insanity. They finish a race completely spent of energy and a little battered and bruised. It is time to kick back with a beer, not line up for a second loop through the course. These events are seriously
challenging.
They
push you to do things that you don’t think you can or that are actually frightening. Who could go through that twice in a row in the same morning? Welcome to the world of the fanatic mud runners. They will enter a race every weekend if there is one within a hundred miles (or even further). They train for these competitions like they were making a living at it. And they arrive at the race with more energy and experience than can be satisfied by a short 3, 4, or 5 mile race. They have conquered the single race and are pushing themselves to complete the
Experienced Runner Everyone enters these races for the personal challenges they present. Some races are 5K's made for newbies and novice teams; others are 6 to 8 miles for the experienced runners; and finally there are the 13 mile and longer for the serious competitors
I entered the running world a few months ago, a time when I was used to siting on my
couch watching TV or in my
office, unaware that running
would come to inspire me. It would change me completely and change the way I see
life! I remembered the first time I ran with a friend of
mine. After a half mile I wasn’t able to breath right and began sweating like crazy. By the
first mile mark I vomited and
went to the ground! but i loved it, and realized that i Love to
and professionals.
Run! That was the beginning
But once a runner has graduated
months after, I was running
to the 8 mile races, should they stop entering the local 5K races? Are these events part of their past or is there still something attractive to them? Do the race organizers want to keep these experienced runners in their events? There are plenty of organizers and runners who want to see each other at any and every event. The runners want the thrill of a mud run every weekend. The
of my training. A couple of
my first Half Marathon and a
series of the amazing Spartan
Obstacle Races. I am Hooked with Running in Trails, Roads,
Mud etc.. Running has become
a part of me now, and I’m just starting! I will continue training to improve my timing and
stamina, and of course I will
Continue Running for the Rest of my Life!!!
Christian Guerrero
organizers want the revenue
part of a wave filled with novice,
how to hold the spear to increase
from registration, as well as the
casual and less experienced
the likelihood of its flying straight
excitement
experienced
runners. But, since they are not
and sticking in the target.
runners bring to the pack. Who
usually competing on this lap,
would want to skip the run and
they can take time to encourage
Providing this kind of help to new
the party just because they had
and advise the novice runners on
runners is something that we all
mastered a 5K race like Mud
the course. On a tricky obstacle
learned from the experienced
Titan, Hog Wild, Mud Endeavor,
they can demonstrate to a dozen
runners that came before us
Superhero Charger, or Monster
people how it should be done
and who gave us the same
Challenges?
successfully. They
spot
assistance. That is the spirit of
runners who need assistance.
the sport. I believe that having
Experienced runners get to push
Some of the services I have
experienced runners in later
themselves to their limits with a
provided on a second lap include,
waves increases the number
second loop through the course,
Mud Titan. A woman in her first
of times that this spirit can
making these races just as
race was genuinely stuck in
propagate during a race.
challenging as they were years
the mud and could not get out.
before.
Neither could her novice friend
Race Organizers
dislodge her. I was able to reach
Race organizers want to get as many people as they can to sign-up and run safely through the course. They want novices, experienced, and elite runners attending their events. A novice runner may enter one or two races a year. But an experienced runner will enter one race every single week if possible. This makes them a valuable and reliable customer base for any race. To attract the novices organizers have to "out market" the national races to be noticed. But for experienced runners, they just have to post the event on a popular race calendar like MudRunFun and registrations will roll in.
that
can
There are also cases where
under her foot and lift her free,
experienced runners post that
then assist her to the edge so
they did not attend a race
she could keep going.
because it was too easy or too short. That means lost revenue
Hog Wild. A man had sprained
for the organizers and lost energy
an ankle jumping into a water
for everyone on the course.
pit. He was not sure how badly it
Maybe a double run would draw
was hurt, but was afraid to keep
them back to these shorter races,
running. Just a quarter mile away
to the benefit of the organizers
I found the medics and sent them
and the novice runners.
back to check on him.
Novice Runners
Rugged Maniac. A group of girls
On their first lap experienced
could not figure out how to get
runners will be in an early or
up the final wall leading to the
competitive wave. They will be
water slide. I showed them how
neck-and-neck with other people
to hop from one support beam to
who are pushing to beat their
the next to work their way up the
personal best or to achieve a
wall.
winning place in the race. But, on their second lap they are
Spartan Sprint. I showed a couple
Organizers want the excitement of having a full competitive wave
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Spartan Elite Racer David Liggett
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Made In The USA
800-213-9950
to start the day. They want the
congestion, the double runners
all. Hopefully the sport and hobby
local elites and heroes to show
can actually reduce the lengths
will be here for years to come and
up and validate that their race
of the lines by demonstrating to
will preserve the fun and energy
is worth running. When these
those waiting how to conquer it.
that exist today.
experienced
a
This may speed people up more
second lap they are making the
than a single racer slows them
If you are an organizer, create
contributions described above,
down.
events that meet the needs
racers
take
which is like having additional
of runners at all levels. If you Attracting experienced runners to
are
an entry level race and allowing
contribute to the positive energy
But organizers also worry that
them to run twice may add more
and camaraderie of the race.
having people run the course
than it costs the organizers.
If you are a novice, enjoy the
twice contributes to the long
Organizers could also create a
experience and keep coming
lines at the obstacles, as well
new product around the double
back because it only gets more
as the wear and tear those
runner by creating a special wave
fun as you do more races.
obstacles take. They are even
and t-shirt for sale– the "Double
more frustrated when a double
Hog", "Double Titan", or "Double
Double Run Etiquette:
runner takes a second medal or
Monster".
Runners
a second t-shirt. These are the
Balance
Provide
volunteers on the course.
an
experienced
runner,
encouragement
and
assistance to the novice runners
major expenses for a race and
on the course.
the items that most often run out
The entire field of runners,
before everyone has finished.
especially those who are new,
Since, an organizer must place an
benefit from the double runner
Do not take a second medal or
order for medals at least 4 weeks
when this person is there to
t-shirt.
before the race based on an
encourage them and to give tips
educated guess at registrations,
on how to accomplish difficult
Consider skipping an obstacle if
it is easy to miss the number and
obstacles. The organizers benefit
you are just contributing to the
end up very close to running out
from the energy they bring and
backup.
of medals. When a double runner
the assistance they provide on
takes a second medal it costs the
the course. But they need to put
Organizers
organizer money and threatens
a stop to the medal and t-shirt
Open waves to runners going a
to take a medal away from the
hogs.
second time.
bad for the novice, bad for the
Mud and obstacle racing is still
Offer double run waves and
organizer, and bad for the sport.
young and inventing itself. It's
merchandise.
last finishers of the day. That is
important that everyone work on When it comes to obstacle
standards of behavior that benefit
Set clear rules for double runners.
Roger Smith is an avid obstacle and mud runner living in Florida. Professionally, he is a researcher at the Florida Hospital studying surgical robotics and improving surgeon performance. He holds a PhD in Computer Science, which is not useful for completing a good mud run.
Mud & Obstacle Race Logbook available at Amazon.com.
pg 16
The story begins differently for
despite these facts, I continued on
everyone. We encounter our own
my path of destructive living, gaining
unique web of life circumstances
pound after pound, wallowing in my
which will ultimately lead us to the
own misery.
very same precipice that will force us to make a change. We tiptoe
But finally, FINALLY, enough was
anxiously to the edge of the cliff,
enough. I’d had it with making
peeking over at the cavern below
excuses, with continuing the cycle
that promises the unknown as we
of unhealthy living, and with refusing
mentally weigh out our options. Do
to accept that I could actually make
we stay perched up high where it
a change if I made the effort, I was
is comfortable and safe, even if we
simply unwilling to do it.
may not be 100% happy with how we look or feel about ourselves? Or
I stood on that precipice of life,
do we descend into the unknown
the unknown beckoning with the
with the hope that we will finally be
promise of redemption, and I took
able to make the positive change
the plunge. It wasn’t easy at first,
we yearn for, with no guarantee
and to be honest I still struggle
whether we will succeed or fail.
from time to time to this very day. In the beginning it’s hard to get up
Then it happens. We take a leap
early when your bed is so incredibly
of faith. The yearning for change
warm and comfortable. Early on
outweighs
for
muscles ache, stomach’s growl,
comfort, and into the abyss we
and the results don’t seem to come
tumble forward into the unknown.
quickly enough. It’s frustrating,
I found myself in this exact position
it’s uncomfortable, and giving up
not that long ago.
seems so tempting.
After years of not taking care
Thankfully, I didn’t give up, and
of myself, of opting to be lazy
although I was venturing forward
instead of lively to feel restored, of
into the unknown, I was determined
eating for fun instead of for fuel, I
that I was not about to throw in the
came to the realization that I was
towel on something that I was so
actually quite miserable. I hated
determined to finally accomplish
how clothes looked and felt on
for myself. Not only did I want to
my body, I despised how I looked
lose weight, but I wanted, for once
in pictures and avoided cameras
in my life, to finally feel good about
at all cost, and all I wanted was to
myself.
the
inclination
feel confident in my own skin. Yet
It’s been a few years since I took that fateful plunge, and although I had to arrive at a complete and utter state of despair, it was the desire to be a better person that brought me to where I am today. Yes, it’s difficult. Yes, it’s a struggle. But yes, it is so very worth the work! I’m not perfect, but what makes my choice different is that even when I stumble, I never give up. I now strive to help others gain this same sense of self worth by cheering them on as they also work toward results that they never thought they’d have the faith in themselves to achieve. It makes me so very proud when I’m able to witness a person made that fateful decision to forgo the comfort of their current path in life, to step off the cliff, and to begin a journey that, with dedication and a resolve not to quit, is so incredibly rewarding. If you have yet to take this plunge, what are you waiting for? There’s no better day than today to strive toward healthy, happy, confident living. You can do it, and there’s a huge community that will support you. So take that step forward, venture into the unknown, and start your journey of finding the full potential that life can give you when experienced by way of fresh air, active movement, healthy food, and a happy heart. You’ve got this, and I’ll be cheering you on!
MuddyMommy.com
By OCR Guru Written for HYBRID Runner June 2014
Its been a few years since I first
So let me briefly explain where
being applied to your body,
saw the ALTM. I didn’t think much
my point of view is coming from.
from now on we will call that
of it at the time because it made
I majored in physics and spent a
PSI. 14.7 PSI also represents 1
absolutely no sense to me. Kinda
good portion of my life working
atmosphere of pressure, 1ATM.
reminded me of the Suzanne
underwater as a commercial
Being a diver, underwater this
Somers “Thigh Master” – as
diver, underwater welder and
is incredibly important since our
seen on tv… Just a bad joke,
Instructor. What does that have to
body reacts to pressure. Every
IMO. This review will surely piss
do with the price of tea in China,
33ft of seawater sitting above
off a lot of believers and even
you say? Everything, since the
my head represents another
some real professional athletes
same laws of physics that we put
atmospheres worth of pressure,
that swear by it. So before I jump
into practice underwater apply
14.7psi. When I am at 33ft, there
off into why these are a waste
to you standing on top of Mt.
is 29.4PSI or 2ATM being applied
of your money, let me say this.
Everest. Its called Dalton’s Law
to my body, I just doubled the
I am only reviewing the claim
and it would take several hours
pressure. So what happens?
that this mask will simulate
to thoroughly explain… I will do
Well the law of Partial Pressure
altitude, prepare you for altitude
my best to keep it as simple as
“Dalton’s Law” along with a few
or replace the benefit or even
possible, so I don’t lose you in
other physics laws come into
simulate training at altitude. It is
3 sec.
play that I’m not going to fry your brain with right now. Basically,
scientifically impossible and thats Basically what it all boils down
the percentage of oxygen you’re
to is pressure being exerted on
breathing increases and it takes
You may be asking yourself,
your body. Right now for 98%
twice as much air (which has
who the hell is this guy and what
of you there is roughly 14.7lbs
been compressed) to fill your
F@*! would he know about it?
of pressure per square inch
lungs at that depth. For example
a fact!
if you were breathing what we
you go, the less atmospheric
literally start to boil up in your
call standard air 21% Oxygen
pressure
being
veins and muscles. You would
78% Nitrogen & 1% trace gases
applied to your body. It’s called
die in a very short period of time
at a depth of 33ft your actually
decompressing or off gassing.
if the contents of your body were
breathing 42% oxygen, and the
We as divers decompress on the
not put back under pressure…
whole piece of the air pie just
ascent after every dive. Your body
doubled its capacity to 200%.
right now is completely saturated
So
Now if you don’t believe me and
with oxygen and nitrogen, which
understand how pressure affects
that makes no sense to you, go
is directly proportional to the
your body. Athletes like to train
get certified to Scuba dive using
pressure being exerted on your
at
Nitrox and you will thoroughly
body. At altitude, say around
6500ft. Because, there is a slight
understand why. – For you
4000ft you start decompressing
reduction of pressure which
master divers out there, please
(equalizing to relative pressure)
decreases the partial pressure
forgive me for not talking in terms
to the point where oxygen is
(%) of oxygen and they have
of partial pressure, only so much
leaving the body and it becomes
to adapt to performing with less
can be explained in this article…
harder to do things as you exert
oxygen in their body. It’s not that
yourself (barely noticeable at this
the air in Denver is different than
So what does have to do with
Alt). Keep going up and reducing
Miami, it’s just that there is less
altitude? The same law, applies in
the pressure and more oxygen
pressure in Denver than Miami
reverse. Its really simple math. If
will leave the body and you will
due to Altitude. When athletes
we reduce the ambient pressure
eventually start to notice it. Go up
return to their normal altitude,
even slightly, it effects the partial
too high/too fast, like in a space
their
pressure (%) of oxygen (PPO2)
shuttle without pressurization
only for a short while. It’s not a
we’re breathing. The higher up
and the oxygen/nitrogen would
permanent thing. It only takes a
you
have
hopefully
altitudes
you
between
performance
kinda
4000-
increases
few days (technically 24hrs) to
outside pressure on your body
for a few more seconds…
acclimate and after returning,
without
Sorry to burst your bubble
those benefits leave relatively
pressure to your lungs, like we
quickly. That’s why a lot of
use in scuba diving. So if you
fighters will go train up at Big Bear CA right before a fight down in LA. Some just stay up at altitude, to keep an edge on the lower elevation fighters. You cannot replicate the physics of altitude by restricting air flow, you would have to reduce the pressure. That is a scientific fact. Go ask any physics teacher at any college… What these masks do, contrary to rumor mill, is strengthen the diaphragm. Meaning
you
breathe in easier under direct
can
the
aid
of
artificial
OCR Guru
ba r e were sitting at the bottom of a 6ft ow tan l deep pool trying to breathe off a is d l a a garden hose, this type if training su ly I u un ical o would certainly benefit you. y Typ s int g, That or if you ever get r ve s. ort lin into a fight with an un sp ow the g r b or n i d ize anaconda you eth mu gor and ed f ikin f m just might so out cate gol serv ad b ts b ple ses: , re e ro ar a last d eo clas ple hil tial o ol p r a t m , w ar a e ye w in d ag exa olks m ugh or er f ixed tho es ish no mu d f 0 d t ) 4 este new ettle old d m ften thle ce h w a ra n eo ug inv ’m a ve s ne e a o r r r c y l d I o ge ( u pl sis, I I ha afte rtib l m e a n m l e i ou are And As n, d fe cr iast. aces onve ike a e y a ? m d- li thus dy r ed c es l in th e So old nner c r i en ud us m n or ru pe kla men sto ve m c a e ru the les, r ne of bie th ct-ta ha d s I on irsty athe ster rom ws. i z e du rop at e ha d le e po berc indo a l an th A w th re
from the readers
I am a diabetic and have always been told that id never be able to be athletic and that my diabetes would always get in the way. I’m a few months away from my third and fourth mud run. Ive always found it motivational to know that diabetes could either be a crutch or a way to prove to other people that if I can do this and have fun with it then there is nothing that should be able to stop anyone from achieving the same goal if they want to accomplish it.
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Leo
I’m lying in a bed with an IV
5k, but after being in the race
dream of delivering the most
consistent of almost every drug
preview group for the Disease
unique experience that the OCR
known to man using voice-to-text
Dash and being the sole survivor
community can offer! Having the
as I write this. I am in this situation
of said group I’d venture to say
lowest registration cost of $0.01
because I have got every disease
we’ve got a new up-and-coming
(but a mandatory insurance cost
known to man coursing through
winner in the OCR scene!
of $42,000), the Disease Dash offers a double dose of pain and
every fiber of my existence. As I look up at the ceiling through a
Originally
Jenny
pestilence as you trudge through
veil of mucus and cataract-laden
McCarthy as a means of proving
countless obstacles designed to
eyes, I feel nothing but pride and
that you don’t need vaccines,
infect your weak and vulnerable
accomplishment in my heart. All
the plan backfired when the
husk of a body in every way
of it was worth it.
The medal
only vaccinated person in the
possible.
around my braced neck was
group (me) made it out alive.
worth every ounce of suffering!
That however did not stop the
Right as I got to the nondescript
You’ve heard of the X rated
race
anti-vax
venue that appeared to be a
run and even the broken glass
community from continuing their
toxic waste dump, the friendly
funded
directors
by
and
hazmat-suit-wearing staff was
Casting aside the slight nausea
me in line with the exciting and
quick to direct me to my free
that was building in my gut I
challenging course. I didn’t hear
(free!!) parking spot right near
ran through a brief thicket of
many of the other runners by this
the starting corral. I checked in
black widow spider webs and
point. It turned out that some of
my bag where I was given my
on to the race’s version of the
them opted to just let the Shock
rusty barbed wire wristband and
ice bath.
The clever name of
Sherpa ™ knock them out as
a ticket stub for a free garbage
“ebola enema” gave the hint of
they deliberately ran off course to
juice lager. As they fastened the
what I was waist-deep in, but it
avoid obstacles such as the AIDS
Shock Sherpa ™ onto my neck, I
was nothing compared to the
carry and hepatitis hoist. Sissies!
knew this race was going to be a
pure joy and elation experienced
The sounds of ambulance sirens
unique experience! I met up with
at the salmonella slide! Instead
and vuvuzelas thrumming in the
the other volunteer runners – all
of water, the hazmat volunteers
distance gave me the hint that
of whom were wearing costumes.
would open up bloated cans of
I’m almost done. But like many
I felt like such a weirdo being the
food and use the juices from
obstacle races, there was always
only person not wearing a gas
that to fuel the exciting and
a series of obstacles waiting
mask and eye protection! I guess
slippery
covered
for you at the end – a trend
I missed the memo that we were
the entire mountainside of the
that the Disease Dash wasn’t
doing this run on a Breaking Bad
landfill. Remember that ‘pigs fly’
intent on forgetting. I noticed a
theme or something.
GEICO commercial? That was
similar structure near the finish
me going down that bad boy.
line that looked a lot like the
WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
electroshock therapy you’d see
We lined up at the starting corral
slide
that
at “probably the toughest event
uniquely designed as a stagnant pool of water laden with malaria
The fun didn’t stop there! After
on the planet”, but the wires were
mosquitoes – an obstacle right at
another nuke-water station there
wet and purple. It turns out that
the start! The foghorn blared and
was another low crawl called the
instead of electricity, the hung
we slogged out of the malaria
“crabs crawl”.
I’m not talking
man-o-war jellyfish at the top of
hot tub and onto the course.
about pinch-pinch crabs, either.
the structure and had people run
Mud was in short supply, but its
The itch-itch I’m feeling now is
through the tentacles! Talk about
replacement of toxic waste and
proof of that... The SARS sprint
exciting! The jellyfish jive led
sewage runoff utilized the same
was another memorable devil
towards the wall climb obstacle
effect of slowing you down and
of an obstacle that consisted
that was adorned with discarded
reminding you to tie your shoes
of Toronto natives standing in
surgical gloves. After the wall
tight. Those who lost their shoes
a line as they coughed and
climb the finish line was just a
quickly
OCR
sneezed on you. They were
fire jump away! The curiously
newbie mistake as the occasional
talented little buggers, too. I got
green flames emanating from the
rusty screw or nail littered the
a nice little rope of mucus that
burning plastic and other various
refuse and made quick entry into
landed right on my eye on that
chemicals wafted into my senses
their bodies. The tetanus trudge
one! Mile markers whizzed by
as I gracefully hopped over them
was a tricky one!
me as the Shock Sherpa ™ kept
and ran towards the hazmat
regretted
their
volunteers holding the petri-dish
Barbed Wire Wristband handed out at the beginning of the race.
medals. The
cheering
and
coughing
crowd erupted in happiness as I put the medal around my neck and helped myself to some bananas and raw chicken laid out at the finishers corral. The garbage juice lager went well with the food so much that I came back for a second drink thanks to the extra beer tab that another runner quickly gave me before the race. The transportation and crowd control was second to none – they gave us ambulance rides! Talk about an elaborate chauffeur to take you where you need to go! Fast forward a couple of days (or weeks, I don’t recall much after that) and here I am. I can’t wait for this race to go mainstream! I hear they are in the works to have ESPN4 cover their ‘world championships’ in Miami, too! Overall I give this event a 9.5/10. I didn’t give them a perfect ten simply because there was one bottleneck on the course on the rabies rope climb. I mean c’mon, who just puts ONE rabid raccoon at the bottom of the pit with ONE rope to climb up?
The only rabid raccoon at the bottom of the rope climb area.
Your Gateway Drug to Fitness “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –Arthur Ashe Ask any hybrid runner how they got started, and each one will give you a different answer. Whether you start out as a traditional road runner or a walker at a Color Run - there is no wrong way to get started. No matter where you are in your fitness journey there is an event out there that you will find appealing and enjoyable, and it may be your gateway to trying something new. Depending on where your ability is on the running spectrum, the easiest way to transition into other types of races is to start out with a distance you are already comfortable with or a little shorter than what you are used to. This way you aren’t setting yourself up for failure. If you find yourself too far out of your comfort zone you may be more inclined to give up before trying a new type of event. If you are not a strong runner, or like to power walk then start with a fun run like The Color Run. This will give you a great feel for how these events are laid out. There is no competitive angle to these races at all – they are all about fun. Many people complete their first themed race with little to no previous training. This isn’t ideal, but a reasonably healthy person can walk 3.1 miles with minimal issues. Once you have one of these races under your belt you may want to move into something more challenging like a mud run. Mud runs will require more training and a little more planning before you get out on the course. You get a completely different feeling when participating in a race that occurs off the pavement and it will have you doing things you don’t normally
get to do in your everyday life. A lot of people love mud runs because it reminds them of their childhood. Participants are encouraged to get dirty, act silly and just have a good time. If you find that mud runs are your gateway you can move into more challenging obstacle races. These can range from three miles to half marathon distances. The obstacles themselves also have varying degrees of difficulty and the possibilities with the obstacles is only limited to the imagination of the course designers. So many people find that the diversity within the obstacle racing community is so vast that they can do a different race every weekend and be physically challenged in unique ways at each race. There are many people who love all types of running events and it is not unusual to see overlap within the running community at all different types of events. You may see a runner at a color run with their family one weekend, an obstacle race with friends the next weekend and aiming for a new PR (personal record) at a half marathon the following week. This just shows how much diversity there is with running, and how a hybrid runner can find joy in some or all of them equally. With the right mindset and proper training you can interchange any of these types of races to find out which ones you enjoy the most. You may surprise yourself and fall in love with something you never imaged you could actually do. The most important thing is to have fun and don’t underestimate what you are capable of.