Obstacle Race Magazine Issue 17

VENTURES UR MUDDY AD YO LL A H G U YOU THRO SUPPORTING

/NOV ‘16 £4.95 ISSUE #17 OCT

R E T N I W RACE PREP freeze Get ready for the

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS ROPE TRAVERSE ING TRAniIquN es to safely the tech crossing traversing a rope

17

9 772053 949001

G ADAPTIN TO THE COLD thermia be don’t let hypo ievement your next ach

FEATURE

HEAD TORCH RUNNING be safe when darkness falls

FAMILY OCR FUN

ed mud is best shar

OCR MUMleSof

the strugg ing racing and train as a busy mum

SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY DIPLOMA LEVEL 3 GYM INSTRUCTOR PERSONAL TRAINER DIPLOMA OUTDOOR CIRCUITS

FEEDBACK:

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“I have done two courses through body aid and I can't recommend them enough.

The course tutors are amazingly helpful and their knowledge is outstanding.

They are very passionate about teaching and the fitness industry, always on hand to answer emails fast and sort any questions or issues I had. I have another course booked already and plan to do plenty more with them!!”

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Managing Director Kevin Newey kevin@obstacleracemagazine.com 07932 411592

Designed By RAWWW www.rawww.com 0845 371 0993

Editor Carl Wibberley carl@obstacleracemagazine.com 01246 241780

Published By Spuddy Media Ltd, 370 Wheelwright Lane, Ash Green Coventry, CV7 9HL

Subscriptions Caroline Newey caroline@obstacleracemagazine.com 07827 962542

Printed By Warners Midlands Plc The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH 01778 395 111

CONTRIBUTORS Dave Peters (Gods among us), Pt emz of bootcamp revolution (Sore as hell), Michael Cohen (Winter race planning, Rope traverse) Kevin stevens (Team talk) Samantha doughty (OCR mums)

PHOTOGRAPHY Epic action imagery for front cover, The Nuclear Race photography team Nuclear blackout, My bib number for Man vs Mountain, Game face media for Tough Mudder

Every effort is made to ensure that the advertising and editorial content in Obstacle Race Magazine is supplied from reliable and reputable sources and is contributed with integrity and accuracy. However no warranties or claims can be made against Obstacle Race Magazine in respect of the contents OR the views of individuals who do not necessarily represent the views of the Magazine, Spuddy Media Ltd or the Publisher

Summer time racing is fast becoming a distant memory and the Autumn and Winter cold weather is here.

In this issue you’ll find articles to help you prepare for cold water and conditions you’ll face in this winter’s coming races. Nothing can ever truly prepare you for race conditions without replicating them as much as possible in a controlled environment. Whether this is by adding cold showers to your wash routine to help prepare your body for the shock, or by just continuing your training runs in your summer shorts and t-shirts.

Mudnificent 7 came and went and was a huge success. We can’t believe it was already 2 months ago! The date is set for its third instalment - 12th August 2017. To sign up for as little as 35 or for more information, go to www.mud7.com.

Struggling to find the perfect gift for your mud loving partner?...then you’ll love our Christmas guide on pages 106-109 which are packed full of wonderful ideas to inspire that perfect present purchase.

See you in the mud

Ca rl

CARL WIBBERLEY (EDITOR)

ISSN 2053-9495

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CONTENTS

REGULARS

38 OBSTACLES EXAMINED A closer look at the industries best obstacles.

56 HEALTH HACKS The little pieces of kit and nutrition that can make a huge difference to your racing and training.

62 MUDTREST WALL The pages of the magazine that let you share your muddy adventures.

FEATURES

74 RECIPES PAGES Cook up the perfect fuel for your racing and training with the ORM recipes pages.

8 GODS AMONGST US

REVIEW

Dave Peters write about how the elite obstacle racers really are from another planet.

76 INDUSTRY NEWS Delivering you the news from all corners of the industry.

12 PLANNING FOR COLD WEATHER RACES

16 DASH OF TITAN

12 Hours of OCR fun and frolics.

78 LETTERS PAGE

With the help of coach Michael of Wild Forest Gym, we’ll help you prepare for the worst Winter can throw at us.

28 TOTAL WARRIOR

Share with us your stories and adventures on the letters page.

Find out what the Total Warrior team have in store for you at their events.

20 TYRE TRAINING GUIDE Grab a tyre and give your body the workout it deserves.

88 KEEP MOVING FORWARD

24 TEAM TALK

When Winter hits and the going gets tough, just keep moving forwards.

Get your mind race ready.

42 NUCLEAR RACES - BLACKOUT

When a day time OCR just doesn’t cut it anymore. Add in the darkness of the night, a nuclear bunker and a few flames. Prepare for Blackout.

58 MAN VS MOUNTAIN

32 HEAD TORCH RUNNING

One of Rat Race Adventures Sports toughest challenges just got tougher as mother nature decided to throw the event a curve ball.

As the shorter daylight hours set in, its time to invest in a head torch and make the most of some night time training time.

90 STRONG VIKING

36 FLASH BACK We bring back a stand out image from the past.

We see what Strong Viking has to offer when Steve Fox takes on their event in Denmark.

40 OCR MUMS

94 GREAT ESCAPE

A glimpse at what an obstacle course racing mum has to do to be able to juggle work, family, racing and training.

What happens when you cross a classic war time film and OCR event. The Great Escape Race that’s what. Think barbed wire and army officers.

48 THE PERFECT RACE EDIT

100 OCR FAMILY WEEKEND

Turner Videos share their hints and tips on getting the most from your race recording.

96 POWER BAGS

50 ROPE TRAVERSE

Could a power bag workout be your new go to class to inject fitness back into your OCR workouts.

Coach Michael of Wild Forest Gym teaches you to be more Monkey than Human when it comes to traversing a rope.

54 GOAL SETTING Get ahead of the game and find out how to set realistic and achievable goals to set you up ready for the new year.

68 SORE AS HELL Even when we have to slide down the stairs on our bums the days after a brutal event, what makes us keep going back for more.

80 OCR TEAMS We bring together a list of just a fraction of the teams who come together to get the challenge done.

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84 TEAM ORM What have our team of lovely ladies been up to since last issue?

86 10 SECOND RACE ROUNDUP A quick glimpse of the races we weren’t able to fully review from the past two months.

110 EVENTS LISTING All the events coming up over the next few months

114 BOOTCAMP LISTING Listing of some of the best places to train for your next race challenge

When your family are looking for you to spend a little extra time with you, why not share a weekend muddy adventure with them.

102 TOUGH MUDDER

What happens when Tough Mudder decide to go made with the mud.

PROFILES

66 BIO SYNERGY

We chat to the founder of Bio Synergy about why he’s chosen OCR as one of the sports he felt the company should be supporting.

66 RACE DIRECTOR INSIGHT

We grill the race organisers from Rocket Race to find out what happens when your business partner is also your life partner.

TESTING

106 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE We’ve brought together tried and tested Christmas gifts any obstacle racer would love to unwrap Christmas morning.

83 CHIA CHARGE - COMPETITION Win yourself a full case of these delicious bars to fuel your racing and training.

Obstacle Race Magazine 7

FEATURE : GODS AMONG US

FEATURE : GODS AMONG US

INTRO

AS A KEEN OCR RUNNER MYSELF I HAVE SPENT THE PAST 4 YEARS OR SO TRAVELLING THE COUNTRY CHALLENGING MYSELF TO TAKE ON BIGGER, HARDER AND LONGER RACES.

GODS AMONG US WRITTEN BY DAVE PETERS OF RUMBLE FITNESS

8 Obstacle Race Magazine

Many of us follow the same journey. The same Obstacle express. It all started with a 7km jaunt around The Nuts Challenge course in Dorking. 2 years later I found myself entering the 4 lap version searching for a challenge that breaks me. 6 months later I plunged myself into water at 2 degrees in temperature at the same course attempting the same thing, again to try and break me, and it did. The winter Nuts Challenge made me work harder than anything before and it utterly destroyed me physically and it caused my only ever DNF. So why is it then that on that same day a man called Jonathon Albon was able to cruise round and finish just after I had started my first lap. Why was it that two years later a man called Conor Hancock was able to lap me as he finished his 4 laps? It’s not just the top level athletes that manage it either. I see people who have been injured and unable to train come back and make massive achievements happen. I watch professional level sports and see the athletes excel beyond their commonly believed potential. I see achievements of friends and acquaintances from all over the

OCR industry doing it every weekend, taking on massive challenges and succeeding and yet still I hear of failure rates being far higher than success rates. For every person that completes the 28km winter Nuts Challenge there are probably 5,6 or maybe 10 that do not. So what is it that makes these people able to take on a challenges such as these and not only succeed but obliterate competition. What is it that keeps people going through all of the pain and the suffering to complete the Relentless challenge?

What is it that continues to make someone keep pushing to carry on in the marathon des sables? Are these people just Gods among us who have a superhuman ability and fitness or is there something bigger to contribute to the reasons why?

People argue that it is because these guys are superior athletes physically and are able to cope with the physical demands better, and to a point yes I agree, that is a big part as to why they do so well but is it the only reason? How did they become superior in their physical attributes? I myself used to train hard, I trained until I felt sick sometimes so I know they couldn’t be training

harder? So what makes them different? Why do they get to be the best and not me? The answer to this question for me doesn’t rely upon the question of what are they doing as much as to ask why are they doing it?

People like to point to the methods of training that people use as the reasons why someone becomes successful. Conor sits in a river so that he can condition his body to deal with low water temperature. Coaches advise on conditioning your body taking cold showers, reducing temperature in your house to do something similar. How many of us do it and is this actually the best method of coaching to the masses to give someone the confidence to go and achieve their goals? How many of us actually spend the time focusing on these smaller details? How many of us go and sit in the river in the early hours of the morning? Or would our time be better spent getting into the finer details of the psychology behind what we do and why we SHOULD do those things, not by convincing us but by empowering us and helping us to believe we can do these things, helping people to believe in themselves a little

Obstacle Race Magazine 9

FEATURE : GODS AMONG US

more and have true goals that they believe in and want. Don’t get me wrong we as coaches must educate people as to the correct ways and methods of doing these things but surely it is our responsibility as coaches to try and instil confidence, provide success and belief in the people we try and help as well as the technical knowledge and practices.

I do rate these people along with many others as Gods among us but not because of their physical capacity or ability. Not because of their achievements even. I rate them as Gods among us because they have an unwavering passion and dedication to their cause. They have the motivation each day to get up and not train harder but train smarter and with more consideration. It is easy to train harder. It is not easy to believe you can do so. It is not easy to accept that you must sit in the freezing waters to condition your body, it is not easy to train when the challenge in front of you scares you or makes you believe you cannot do it. They have a goal and a vision so clear to themselves they are willing to make sacrifices, build their lives around and concentrate on the small details to work so hard to achieve their success.

For me it all changed a couple of years ago when I completed my first parachute jump. I have never experienced freedom like it. I have never felt more in control of my own world and have never cared less for anything in my life during those 4-5 minutes it took me to land back on solid ground. I chose to jump from that plane and while I was in freefall and descent no other thoughts went through my mind other than how beautiful our world looked, how fresh the air seemed and how alive I felt.

Upon landing you start to consider it more and all of the thoughts you had before the jump or nervousness, worry, fear and apprehension disappear. They disappear with the reality that actually no matter how hard, how scary or difficult it may seem that anything is possible. A good friend of mine once said to me that fear is his friend. Fear teaches him to be cautious,

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FEATURE : GODS AMONG US

to plan and to be mindful, but fear does not tell in your vision and you know it is the right thing him to stop. It ensures he does those things to do for you. I believe that without failure you necessary to make it safe. To make it achievable will never truly feel what it is like to succeed. and prepare himself for whatever challenge lies If you have only ever succeeded you still ahead. From the day of the parachute jump I haven’t reached your true potential and there have never been afraid to try. I have never been is so much more to experience. I have had the afraid to challenge myself and I have never been pleasure of meeting and speaking with the likes afraid to fail. of Jonathon Albon, sports professionals and As I sit and write this article I am leading up similar and they all hold one thing in common. to my next challenge. One that by the time you Not one of them is afraid to fail and every single read this I will have succeeded in. September one of them has done in the past. the 3rd I take on Man vs Mountain and on In my last article I talked of the Obstacle September 4th I will complete 4 laps of the express and the journey that it takes us on. No Nuts Challenge along with several of my team matter how far along that journey you are never mates raising money for our local hospital while give up and stop trying. You will fail, you will we do. The one thing that will help our team have set backs, you will have naysayers trying succeed in this challenge outside of support to convince you that it isn’t possible or you is the belief and motivation I have to get this could never do something. That is life and it is done. The one thing driving me forward is that something that we all must contend with. It is I want to do this. I truly want to test my body your ability to override that and keep believing in this way and see just what am I capable of and want to do something that will give you the achieving. When I landed from that parachute ultimate success. But it must be true, you must jump I realised just why there are those people believe and you must trust in yourself. Then you in the world who want to be the ones throwing will to complete your challenges. You will then their parachute out of the door of the plane push your boundaries with confidence and then and then jumping to chase after it. It is because the success. I have changed my beliefs and seen they want to see what what I am capable of. I they are capable of have seen my clients, AS I SIT AND WRITE THIS and experience the team mates and friends ARTICLE I AM LEADING UP TO euphoria that comes change theirs and now MY NEXT CHALLENGE. with succeeding. Now they too are in my eyes while I wouldn’t share also Gods. No matter that feeling I can relate to the want and the how big or small their achievements if they are motivation to find just what can I do? You can now of the opinion that they can do anything override your perceived fitness with the will they believe in, if they are willing to work so and commitment to succeed. You can outlast hard towards their goals and they are willing to your competitors if you work hard and commit put a side failings and the fear of failing in order yourselves to the finer details required to give to experience a success. They too are a God you the edge. Set your goal and have a vision among us. Once you have achieved this you that you truly believe in. Make sure you realise will realise there are many people who you will what success is for you and that you accept inspire, motivate and push to become better for that success no matter how big or small. Do not themselves. There is no greater feeling to your be afraid to fail and do not be afraid of making own success to that of the feeling that you have decisions. Fear of failure will ensure you never managed to help someone else become a God push yourself. Do things because you believe among us too.

Obstacle Race Magazine 11

REVIEW : PLANNING FOR COLD WEATHER RACES

REVIEW : PLANNING FOR COLD WEATHER RACES

PLANNING

FOR COLD WEATHER RACES WRITTEN BY: COACH MICHAEL OF WILDFORESTGYM

For those of you who raced at last years OCRAUK Championships you will know only to well what I am about to say. The temperature plummeted the day before and there was an icy chill! So many people suffered because the weather had been so mild up until then and were not prepared or kitted out.

As Winter fast approaches lets not make 2016 a repeat of last years mistakes. So ORM asked Coach Michael of WildForestGym who is an expert when it comes to Cold Water & Cold Weather Acclimatisation Training to help you to prepare for cold water and cold weather conditions in your winter OCR races.

EARLY is the key word to preparation for your winter races. Although we have experienced mild winters for the last 3 years we must not forget that UK winters can hit hard. Back in 2012/2013 it was –8°, the reason I remember it was because I was running Tough Guy on January 29 2013 it was -10° in the water and the ice was a sold shin splitting 2cm thick! So don’t be deceived by the last 2 winters, plan and prepare for the worst, and you will be in a good standing for all your winter OCR races.

Just note we don’t need frosts for the water temperature to rapidly drop. Similarly when going in and out of the water the wind chill factor can really affect our comfort zone and can lead to cases of hypothermia. Also do not underestimate how the temperature of the lakes, ponds and rivers will slowly drop from early September.

The following is an over view of the WildForestGym Cold Water & Cold Weather Acclimatisation Training Plan. This plan over the last 2 years has been used by hundreds of OCR racers. It’s tried…it’s

12 Obstacle Race Magazine

tested…and it works. Most importantly it’s FREE to all ORM readers!

WHY ACCLIMATISE? In theory anyone can dip their foot or body into cold water.

However when it comes to obstacle racing you are either having to fully or partly submerge your body on numerous occasions.

That alone is challenging. What is more of an issue is the time you spend out of the water, running in between each immersion.

If your body isn’t acclimatised then you can go into shock, experience hypothermia or increase your risk of injury from being cold or fatigued.

THE THERMOSTAT Your body has an internal thermostat. Depending on the country you were brought up in will have an affect on your thermostat and your perception of heat and cold. Here in the UK we are notoriously bad at adjusting to temperatures and therefore our tolerance levels are lower. By undertaking acclimatisation training will train your body on a physiological level, mind and energetic level, so that you will be able to cope with cold water and cold weather exposure.

Obstacle Race Magazine 13

REVIEW : PLANNING FOR COLD WEATHER RACES

WIND CHILL

Suggested Kit

Wind chill is one of the greatest factors when it comes to the risk of experiencing hypothermia. This is exasperated by 1. Being in and out of water 2. Neoprene has been considered the best option for winter racing.

However neoprene was not designed for use out of water. Therefore when you are out of the water the wind chill factor will cause the body to cool rapidly as it sucks the heat out of your body. Therefore the right kit including a windstopper top layer over your neoprene top is key to slowing down the body from cooling.

Kit is possibly more important than any other factor when it comes to potential risk of hypothermia. There are lots of products out there that will support your cold water and cold weather training. I am very much a tried and tested man and offer my experience of suitable kit for cold water & cold weather training and racing that has been used by me and some of the elite runners who train at WildForestGym. Base top – Neopene sleeveless compressor top. Ideally 0.5mm to a max of 2mm. This thickness of neoprene acts as a good insulator, but you don’t want it to be too thick as it will restrict your running. However you will need to allow time to get used to wearing a tight compressor top. Have a look at the Tribord and Gul ranges.

COLD WATER IMMERSION By working with a cold water training plan, it will take you through the transitioning stages of cold water immersions. This will have a profound physical and psychological affect on your body’s perception and internal thermostat of how you experience and perceive hot and cold environments. The key here is to transition and not to shock the body, otherwise the expected outcome will not be achieved.

THE RISKS Be assured there is nothing that will beat cold weather acclimatisation training under coached supervision. Please note cold-water acclimatisation training should not be looked at lightly and neither should it be attempted without coach supervision to reduce the risk and incident of accidents, illness, hypothermia or even death.

PREPARATION

Outer Top – It is important to wear a windproof top over your base layer to shield you from the wind when you are out of the water, otherwise the cold weather will continue to draw the heat out of your body. Ideally a very thin ripstock zipped running jacket would be ideal as you can take it on and off and scrunch it into your shorts if necessary.

Gloves – The most important items when it comes to kit. It is your outer extremities that will feel it first i.e. your fingers. We use the 2.5mm neoprene gloves, which have good sticky grips on the fingers. This thickness still gives you good dexterity with the fingers and hand. Absolute maximum thickness I would recommend is 3mm otherwise you can’t grip so well. Also try and get a pair that have grips on the palm and fingers.

Base shorts – Thermal compressor shorts are invaluable. They tend to keep the crown

REVIEW : PLANNING FOR COLD WEATHER RACES

jewels as warm as is possible. They are also fast wicking.

Shoes – Trail shoes with good tread. DO NOT get waterproof or water resistant shoes as they will hold the water in. You want fast draining shoes so that you aren’t splogging around in your shoes and your feet getting colder. Check out Inov-8 (check heal to toe drop), I-Rocks, Icebug, More Miles (budget).

OPTIONAL KIT Swim Cap – Is an extra layer of protection when your head is immersed in cold water. Speedo is the best £3 you’ll spend. It can easily be stored in an arm pocket.

Hat - A beanie hat that has thermal insulation/ fast wicking material. However, they are not suitable for water immersion as you will freeze your head thereafter.

Arm Compressors – I use arm compressors.

Reason why I wear compressors is that depending on the temperature I can slide them up and down my arms. Plus they give you extra protection from the obstacles and terrain.

Calf Compressors – Good compressors are fast wicking, keep you calves and shins warm and offer protection from scuffing your legs.

Whereas running tights tend to keep your legs cold once wet.

Socks – My preference is not to wear socks as they just soak up the water. If you are not accustomed to not wearing socks then you slowly transition, so as to reduce sores and blisters.

COLD WATER & COLD WEATHER TRAINING PLAN Plan outline The following is an outline as to what your FREE Cold Water Training Plan includes. To register for your 4-week FREE WildForestGym Cold Water & Cold Weather Acclimatisation Training Plan visit wildforestgym.com Duration Commencement Difficulty Dangers

4 weeks Minimum of 4 weeks prior to winter race.

Demanding & challenging High risk from accident or hypothermia or even death

Step 1: Clothing – Day to day clothing.

Step 2: Heating – Adjusting your thermostats in your home and workplace.

Step 3: Going Out – Dress code.

Step 4: Cold Shower Training – Time to reduce the temperatures.

Step 5: Circulation Techniques – Bring back blood flow.

Step 6: Acclimatising to your kit – Luxury!

Step 7: Thermoregulation – The ins and out to reducing your risk of hypothermia.

Step 8: Wet n Run – Exciting.

Step 9: Cold Water immersions – Thrilling.

WARNING This training should only be undertaken under the supervision of a coach. Please tell other people at home what you are doing so they can be aware and help. Signs of your body going into shock is that you can’t get your words out, feeling of nausea/claustrophobia, purple and numb body parts. Always seek medical assistance if you do not make a full recovery within 10 minutes of showering. Always wear the recommended, or similar kit.

ORM WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR ARE RACE SAFE & RACE READY So we have once again partnered up with Coach Michael of WildForestGym to give every reader a FREE 4-Week Cold Water Training Plan.

TO REGISTER NOW VISIT WILDFORESTGYM.COM PLUS FREE registration to the Cold Water Masochists Facebook Group!

Using this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwatermasachists/

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Obstacle Race Magazine 15

REVIEW : DASH OF THE TITAN

REVIEW : DASH OF THE TITAN

DASH OF THE TITAN 12 HR

Reviewed by: KATY AGGUS Photography by: FILM CITY

16 Obstacle Race Magazine

SOMETIMES

IN LIFE, YOU MAKE SEEMINGLY STUPID DECISIONS. ONE OF THOSE, I THOUGHT I WAS DOING AS I SIGNED UP FOR A 12 HOUR OCR SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. YES, I LOVE OCR, BUT WHY WAS I SIGNING UP FOR 12 HOURS OF OCR? COULD I POSSIBLY COMPLETE 12 HOURS OF A RACE? Fast forward a few months and I arrived at the site next to Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire: Kit bag and a cooler full of the food that I thought would get me through the next 12 hours.

With dew still on the ground, I saw several familiar, dry robed figures and said “Hi” before checking in. Registration was a quick process and it was good to be given our race numbers on wrist bands rather than bibs, which are usually statistically likely to come off during the race. I was given the race number 1. Cue lots of jokes and ribbing from my fellow racers.

The race was due to start at 8am but the race director, Alan, announced that the medical team were stuck in traffic, the race would start a little later. No problem, as we’d all rather wait for medical support rather than an irresponsible RD allowing a race to start.

What was interesting was that everyone had different expectations of the day. Some wanted to run a few laps in the morning and chill in the afternoon, some had a goal in mind, some wanted to have fun on the course and not worry about the total distance. That is the beauty about OCR- everyone can get out of it what they want to. There were no expectations from the race themselves, which meant there was no pressure on anyone during the day: creating such a good atmosphere.

At around 8:20am we were gathered at the start line and were ran through safety points. No

warm up, but I’m of the opinion a runner can get themselves warmed up, everyone has their own routine and it often felt forced.

We were all given a tyre to cross the start line with, some wondered if we would be taking our tyre around the whole course. Thankfully we had a short run; a crawl under barbed wire and a long blue net and under two hurdles before leaving our tyre behind- until the next lap of course!

The tyre carry was followed by a series of sheep dips under wooden logs- tough going at 8:30 in the morning! After that came a short run and 3 sternum checkers and 2 low wooden bars to crawl under. A couple of tyre flips and a run down the path heading into the woods. We were then met with a cone carry- now when you are settling in for the long haul, you have to entertain yourself- I decided to name my cone Fredrick and made the marshal promise to look after him until the next lap. A couple of walls into an old tank section approached, but I decided not to attempt as we were told it was a concrete floor below the visible mud and I didn’t trust myself in the landing. Eventually, later in the course, the walls were closed due to this fact- the right decision in my eyes.

After the wall section, came a pond crawl/ walk through followed by an extended trail run down a lane and up an extended incline- which looked fine, but was deceptively mean!

Heading towards the sounds of the event village, we were faced with a rope climb- made more difficult by the ropes not touching the ground, or even close! After that came a slack line traverse followed by two tyre mangles. At

this point, we were running around the side of the event village and were able to survey the last section of the course before heading back out for another trail run in the woods.

The last obstacle before the final section of the course was a mean monkey bars with rectangular rungs which dug into your hands.

Ouch.

Heading in the main event village was a series of deep ditches to clamber out of, which, for most of us, needed a helping hand to get out of. This was followed immediately afterwards by a series of 7 smaller ditches, a run to the end of the field and back and then back into the 7 ditches. What was next was Dash of the Titan’s signature: straw bales. A series of 8 straw bales with another run to the end of the field, followed by, yes you guessed it, another set of 8 straw bales. Simple enough to jump and roll over but energy sapping nevertheless! What is perfectly clear about the race is that it was not an overly technical course, but perfectly designed for its purpose of being an endurance event. Finishing off with two overhang walls and the tyre carry from the beginning of the lap.

And in the words of Fatboy Slim: ‘Eat, Drink, Change, Repeat’. It was time to check my number onto the result board and begin again.

I took the strategy of running 3 laps and then having a break but during the break I realised that by stopping, I was starting to feel the cold.

So I made the choice to get back out as soon as possible. When doing an endurance event, it’s about your strategy. Everyone has their own way of doing things, you could read endless advice on various Facebook groups, but you know you best. Follow your own instincts. Mine told me to keep going. Stopping for a mere minute in between laps for a quick energy drink; a peanut butter sandwich and jellybeans (not together mind you: though there’s an idea not

Obstacle Race Magazine 17

REVIEW : DASH OF THE TITAN

tried before…).

As the day progressed, I was joined by my good friend Laura for a couple of chilled laps.

It did me good after rolling my ankle on lap 2. Once it had clicked back into place (oh the sweet release!), I was able to get a couple of flying laps in. As the afternoon went on, we were joined by the 5k racers. After doing a lap on my own, it was such a relief to be joined by so many high energy, fresh runners! It was so nice to receive their encouragement and to cheer each other on.

Unfortunately, the typical English bank holiday weather kicked in and we were greeted with driving rain around 3pm. This didn’t let up for the rest of the event, which was such a shame. This was when the mental game kicked in. When you are cold, tired and probably hungrier than you realise. Heading out for what would ultimately be my final lap in the gradually fading sunlight and temperature in the driving rain was more of a mental game than a physical one. To entertain myself I decided to sing to myself to keep myself going and to hide the ever increasing pain in my glutes, back and hips. For some reason the first song which popped into my head was ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. No idea why and what that says about

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REVIEW : DASH OF THE TITAN

me? This was followed by a rousing rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, which took me to midway through the lap (yes I sang the guitar solo as well!). I was confident in my pace, time and physical ability to hit the 10 lap mark and told the marshals so. I had ingeniously used Fredrick as a hat in the cone carry and knew my spirits were still lifted. As I began the final section of lap 8, I began to lose feeling in my fingers and hands and I started feeling a bit ‘weird’. Sensing that I may have been heading down a bad route, I made the difficult decision to finish my race at the end of lap 8: my original target. I received my medal and retreated to my tent for the very painful process of removing my wet clothes and attempting to get warm. I ended up under a hoody, blanket, dryrobe and sleeping bag and was still shivering. I knew then I was right to stop.

After an hour, I felt that my temperature was regulated more and I returned to civilisation to cheer the final few runners before heading home for a hot meal and a very warm bath!

I’m so glad I signed myself up for this event.

Despite my initial reservations about my ability, I was so pleased at my performance and am definitely ready to push for 10+ laps if the event goes ahead next year!

What should be noted was the enthusiasm of the marshals. Sadly, the event was let down by a lot of marshals in the late shift, which meant there wasn’t anyone out on the course towards the end of the day, which factored as part of my decision to stop. There definitely needs to be a wider discussion about marshals and lack of as this is becoming a problem across many events. The marshals who were there from 8am through to at least 5pm were amazing, so thank you to them!

Around the course, there was a small event village but free car parking and key drop. The transition area was a table at the end of the course, it was easier for those of us with tents to put our stuff in. The bling was a simple medal, which as a certified bling whore, I was a bit disappointed it made no reference to the 12 hours and there was no specific event t-shirt.

I received an identical t-shirt from one of their previous events. However, this should not mar an otherwise awesome event. A well worthy addition to everyone’s event calendar next year!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BOOK DASH OF THE TITANS NEXT EVENT GO TO: WWW.DASHOFTHETITAN.COM

Obstacle Race Magazine 19

FEATURE : TYRE TRAINING FOR OCR

FEATURE : TYRE TRAINING FOR OCR

TYRE LUNGES

INTRO

TYRE TRAINING FOR OCR Training by: AARON LANE PERSONAL TRAINER

WHEN YOU THINK OF OCR, WHAT SPRINGS TO MIND? ROLLING AROUND IN MUD... GETTING VERY WET... COLD AND DIRTY... ALL WHILST THROWING YOURSELF OVER AND UNDER VARIOUS OBSTACLES. Anyone who takes part in OCR regularly will know that it is never that simple and in fact, courses are getting more and more challenging.

You now see a lot of exciting obstacles incorporating tyres… not just car, but also lorry and even tractor tyres. I myself have carried a tyre during obstacle races and I’ve seen fellow competitors carry a tyre throughout the whole race just to add more of a challenge.

As a personal trainer who competes in and trains specifically for OCR’s, I can show you how to prepare for any challenge by just adding the tyre we’re so used to seeing out on the course to your workout ...

All you need is a tyre which you can get at most garages for free, then just follow my simple exercise programme.

TYRE TAPS

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LET’S START WITH A WARM UP Tyre Taps Stand with the tyre laid flat on the ground to the front of you. At a jogging pace tap the top of the tyre with each foot in a quick alternating motion continuously for 2 minutes.

Tyre Side Jumps Stand with one foot outside the tyre and the other foot in the centre of the tyre. Keeping your knees up, and as fast as you can. Side jump in and out of the tyre one leg at a time for 2 to 3 minutes.

Make sure that there's always one foot in and one outside of the tyre at all times.

Tyre Lunges Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and raise the tyre above your head so that your arms are fully extended.

When you are stable, step one leg forward bending your front knee and lower your hips until your rear knee touches the floor.

All of these leg exercises work your quads, hamstrings, glutes and core stability; whilst also improving balance, co-ordination and proprioception. These are great exercises to help drive your legs through thick mud; whilst running, walking or crawling, and create power for jumping throughout the obstacle course.

TYRE SIDE JUMPS

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FEATURE : TYRE TRAINING FOR OCR

TYRE TRICEPS EXTENSIONS

TYRE EXCERCISES

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and raise the tyre above your head, rest the tyre on your fingertips so the tyre is behind you. Make sure your arms are extended and then slowly lower the tyre down (making sure you only bend at your elbows and keep your shoulders stationary). Return to you starting position by straightening your elbow and bringing the tyre back above your head.

This is a great exercise for targeting the triceps, but also engaging your shoulders, chest, lats and forearm muscles. Improving your strength here will help with that push on the top of any wall and on the up and overs.

Tyre Press Ups - Place the tyre flat on the floor in front of you. Complete a press up with the following hand placement positions...

TYRE TRICEPS EXTENSIONS

• Press up with both hands in the centre of the tyre • Press up with one hand in the centre and one hand on the tyre • Press up with both hands on the tyre

TYRE BURPEES

Place the tyre flat on the floor in front of you. Place both your hands on the tyre in line with your chest and push the tyre forwards.

As you do so, lunge your legs forwards alternatively, ensuring you drop your back knee to the floor and push through your foot as you drive forward.This quad and glute builder will strengthen your lowers limbs ready for any obstacle course and will improve your acceleration as you impel through the mud or water and sprint up hills.

The exercise my clients love to hate…

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Once completed, repeat backwards so until you return to the centre of the tyre.

All the variations of press up with the tyre will help strengthen your shoulders, chest and back muscles. This will help with crawling through mud and under various obstacles and give you the strength to climb ropes, nets, walls and any other crazy climbing obstacles.

TYRE EXCERCISES

TYRE PUSHES

TYRE PUSHES

• Press up with one hand on the tyre and one hand on the outside • Press up with both hands outside the tyre

• • •

In standing squat down and place your hands on the tyre that is front of you Leave your hands on the tyre and jump both feet back, so you are now in a plank position Drop to complete a tyre press up, bringing your chest as low as you can to the tyre and return to a plank position

•

Jump the feet back towards the tyre and as you return to your standing position, bring the tyre up and hold above your head

This full body exercise will test your cardiovascular system and strength to the max, it will build your stamina ready for completing any obstacle course. It will give you that edge to get you over the last few walls, fences, nets or ropes. But most of all it will make you feel at home when handling the tyres on the course.

TYRE BURPEES

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REVIEW : TEAM TALK

TEAM TALK

REVIEW : TEAM TALK

APOLOGIES FOR STATING THE OBVIOUS, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT OCR THAT BRINGS OUT THE TEAM PLAYER MENTALITY IN ALL OF US, EVEN WHEN I RUN SOLO I’VE NEVER EVER FELT ALONE ON A COURSE, EVERYONE’S YOUR TEAM MATE REALLY, IF IN THE REST OF LIFE, WE ALL ACTED WITH THIS ATTITUDE THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH NICER PLACE TO LIVE. A couple of years ago with the dual goals of injecting a little bit of the OCR spirit into my work place and kick starting a local OCR team,

the idea of the ‘Park Street Ramblers’ was born.

At this point in time within the company there had been no history of OCR involvement so getting people interested and building a team presented numerous challenges (I was going to use obstacles here, but that would just be lazy punning, and I’m entirely above that sort of thing!) and I’d like to share some of my own personal experiences and the lessons learned over the first two years of Park Street Ramblers life.

Personally I think it’s important to try to build local OCR teams; it’s a great way to expand the OCR base and create local demand to feed regional events outside of the large population centres. In the long run it might well be local demand that gives the smaller races a chance thus creating a diverse range of race product for us all to enjoy.

THE KEY CHALLENGES 1) It’s a hard sell, OCR is not an easy thing to do and there is no historical precedence within the organisation 2) A large number of people who could and would enjoy completing an OCR don’t think they can, I.E there is a popular misconception you need to be a cross fitting, iron pumping, long distance running fitness machine 3) Building Team Spirit 4) Giving the Team a Goal 5) Takes Time and Effort to Organise

WRITTEN BY: KEVIN STEVENS

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Obstacle Race Magazine 25

REVIEW : TEAM TALK

TACKLING THE CHALLENGES Selling the Idea Whilst researching this article I looked back on some of the emails I sent out for our first year, whether by accident or design I very much concentrated on those with a history of this sort of thing, triathletes, regular runners, martial artists and generally active sort of people whom I knew were involved in other sports.

I actually worked a small section quite hard, putting most of my effort into those most likely to commit and with a little cajoling and a good deal of email bombardment lead to a healthy starting team of 22 to or so that eventually whittled down to a solid 15 fully committed souls. In season two we had much better response from a broader range of people, so If there’s a lesson to be learned here it’s for the first team to focus your efforts on those most likely to commit and then broaden your base as you can credibility.

So Yes it’s a hard sell but it is beginning to get easier if your selective to begin with, after all OCR is close to reaching saturation point, most

REVIEW : TEAM TALK

physically active people will have someone within their social circle that has completed an OCR and generally these experiences will lead to positive feedback to your target market.

With this in mind your first event will be easier to sell if it’s with a major brand, this gives you the advantage of instant brand recognition, because having to explain what a race is and what it involves is going to be an additional complication you could do without, Don’t underestimate the power of brand recognition, ‘Oh Phil did one of these and he loved it is’ is worth its weight in gold too you.

We plumped for Tough Mudder*, I mean it was on GMT every day for a month so you can’t get much more mainstream than that!

Now with the advent of the Tough Mudder half you have almost the perfect race for a first team event, with both brand recognition and a manageable race distance, we didn’t have that at the time, we made the mistake of picking the first Tough Mudder of the season which actually lead to two mistakes rolled into one.

1) Don’t pick a race that’s too long or too hilly,

we picked the Windsor Tough Mudder, nearly 13 miles over hilly terrain, with varying fitness levels it took us 5 hours to complete and it felt akin to the Bataan death march near the end 2) Don’t pick an early season race, its cold and with a biggish team you won’t be moving very fast So a key point is to pick the right race at the right time for where you are with OCR within the organisation, try to make it a summer race if you can, there are solid reasons behind this, people generally don’t like the cold and it takes experience, training and the right kit to safely complete a cold weather OCR, plus it’s going to make it harder next year to sell the idea of the race if there’s a commemorative bench in the communal smoking area dedicated to Ken in finance who died of hypothermia whilst trying to raise £200 for diabetes UK. Season two was much better, we picked a Rocket Race which is lapped, we could do this for season two as we had built up credibility from season one as the event was very fondly

remembered by those that took part and the pictures were widely circulated.

Choosing a race with laps was a big plus, being lapped meant we could do one lap as a team and meant the distance was manageable for most, once the team lap was completed then the racing snakes and long distance guys could fly around or grind out a load more laps, meaning everyone got what they wanted.

Convincing People They Can Do This This proved so much easier in season two than season one, in season two we had the

photos from the first run and good word of mouth. People could also see that the first team was made up of members with a wide variety of fitness levels and that the race was tackled as a team and that we had a lot of fun along the way. To get season one up and running though we had to make some promises and stick to them;

1) We complete the course as a team, you’re were going to be part of a team and never alone

2) As team captain I promised to be the last person across the finish line

3) No one gets left behind

Without the benefit of previous history, you need to work hard to communicate that the team ethos is at the centre of everything and that as captain you will be back marking the whole way, we constantly reinforced this message through the teams’ communications and during training.

BUILDING A TEAM SPIRIT I work within a large organisation, this is great because it offers a large number of people to attempt to build a team from, bad because large organisations tend to be disconnected.

Our answer to this was to train together as a team and again for the first season we made some really basic mistakes.

Switch the training day’s and times around, if you have shower facilities and somewhere nearby to train or safely run together then make one week a lunch time session the next week after work, try to give everyone a chance to attend otherwise you’ll end up marginalising Jill from accounts because she can’t attend any session because she has to pick the kids up on Tuesdays after work!

Choose a Summer race, Now again this feeds back to the previous point about choosing

the date of your race carefully, we chose a spring race, which meant we were training throughout winter, starting early January! To put it bluntly more than once a session was bloody horrible, -5 with the Wind-chill factor and pitch black for the first training session!

Season two we ran a summer race, training in spring and the early summer, training in the sunshine was pure bliss after the depravations of the first seasons training.

Choose a training strategy or trainer carefully, For the first season we choose a personal trainer, we picked him carefully and knew he was a Tough Mudder Season pass holder. Still the training just never quite worked, he just didn’t quite get what was required to get this particular group ready for a Tough Mudder and wasn’t able to adjust his

standard training plans.

The other disadvantage with hiring a trainer is the additional overhead of having to organise training and getting payments together, plus there was also the additional cost to the rest of the team.

For season two we managed our own training sessions and found that running regular ½KM loops followed by a set of body weight exercises proved much more effective for training the entire group plus there were no additional costs.

Make use of social media, Facebook groups are a great and free tool to use to not just disseminate information but also to build rapport within the team, the conversational nature is so much better at encouraging banter than group emails

GIVING THE TEAM A GOAL It’s important that there’s a goal behind the team. In season one we raised money for a local hospice, this was quite personal to us as one of the team members parents had been well looked after by the hospice before they sadly passed away earlier in that year.

For season two we carefully chose our

charity and picked Walking with the Wound, a big part of this is that for every £1,000 donated the charity takes a serviceman off the streets and facilitate a re-entry into society. This makes the impact of the donation very real, you can feel you’re making a difference.

Every year we have awarded trophies for

various deed’s, best fundraiser (AKA The Mother Theresa), best/worst technique (The Tekker’s) Award and the premier prize, The Hero award for best team spirit, these are awarded at an after race party. These awards and the planning of the after race party help give the team focus and goals.

TIME AND EFFORT TO ORGANISE If you try and do this all on your own its going to prove to be a lot of work and your own training and focus will suffer, try to delegate as much as possible to people on the team you can trust. I make someone else responsible for training, someone else run’s the fund raising and liaises with the charity and someone else will arrange the kits etc.

Even with this you’re going to have to answer a lot of stupid questions and deal with some people who seem so incapable of organising themselves it’s a wonder they can dress and feed themselves.

You can get ahead of the game here a

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little bit by supplying check lists for race day, supplying links for suitable articles on race kit (do make sure it’s appropriate though, as what’s involved for prepping for winter nuts would scare the crap out of people) and training suggestions, even with all these you’re still going to need to prepare yourself to answer some stupid questions.

My Favourite Stupid Questions So Far, whilst preparing for Tough Mudder, Will I really get muddy? Is it tough? Do I really have to do any training for this?

On receiving a pre-event email, Do I actually need photo ID? Do I really need to sign the

waiver? I didn’t get a ticket through the post, do I really need one?

Every year someone on the team will forget everything on race day having not really trained hard enough and turn up wearing inappropriate clothing no matter how many time you tell them not wear cotton! It’s annoying and every year I say never again, but every year I track back on this because of the guy’s efforts and attitude on the day and the memories we make together as a team, the bruises will fade, the cuts will heal but you’ll never forget the day you had and the smell of that mud!

Obstacle Race Magazine 27

REVIEW : TOTAL WARRIOR EDINBURGH

REVIEW : TOTAL WARRIOR EDINBURGH

EDINBURGH REVIEWED BY: LOUISE BALLANTYNE

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT AFTER OVER A YEAR OF BEING AN OCR ENTHUSIAST, I HAVEN’T DONE A TOTAL WARRIOR RACE. ESPECIALLY AS THERE IS ONE THAT TAKES PLACE IN EDINBURGH, AS ITS PRACTICALLY ON MY DOORSTEP. As I entered the post code into my Sat Nav, I was slightly concerned that it would take us to the complete opposite end of Balgone Estate (I was running late as per, and didn’t really have time for that!) However, it was accurate and it wasn’t long after turning off the main road that we saw the clear signage directing us towards the car parking. The car park was flowing well; ground underneath hard straw, therefore no scope for getting stuck.

We headed into the main festival area; a nice, clear set up with each area marked well.

Off we popped to registration. We were greeted by two very helpful ladies who sorted us out with race packs and looking over to the rest of the main registration area, it too, seemed to be flowing very well.

We headed back to the car to get changed before going back to the festival area for a

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wander around and a pre-race cuppa. There were a few food options, a massage physio tent, a Run 4 It pop up shop and the Total Warrior merchandise tent. Bag drop and changing were also very clear and visible, and although we didn’t use them, (parking was very close and we had DryRobes to help us!) both looked very organised.

At 9:55am after a pre-race wee, we realised we should really get our skates on and head to the start line. Wait a minute… where was the start line?! If there’s one comment about the festival area, it’s that the start line was very much hidden down the hill, out of the way of the finish and the rest of the festival area. We asked another racer, who also didn’t have a clue, before asking a member of the Total Warrior team and making our way, just in the nick of time to join the start corale. I feel they missed out on something here, if the start had been closer and more linked into the main festival area, the start line ‘hype’ for both runners and spectators would’ve added to the overall atmosphere.

The start line crawl of commitment was a great touch and after a brief wait at in the start area, we were off up and down those slalom hills; very aptly named “Leg It’”. My legs were like rubber by the end of that and it was only the first obstacle! Over some hay bales and onto a

running section before we hit the first of the real mud, aptly named The Cement Mixer. Probably the muddiest race I have done this year, and I know it slowed lots of racers down but I thought it was absolutely great! What’s an OCR without getting stuck in the mud right?!

From the thick mud, right onto Death Valleya steep and slippy natural terrain obstacle with a net thrown over the muddy incline to help us up, then to Swinger or Straight; a more technical incline style wall with the option of climbing wall grips or hanging ropes to help you across.

I chose the ropes- it was free and I found it tough! A great technical obstacle, which I think challenged everyone, well, everyone who actually attempted it!

At this point, I feel like I have to go off on a bit of a tangent. I just don’t see the point in signing up for an OCR if you won’t even attempt things like this. I mean, the clue is in the name, OBSTACLE COURSE RACING. I was hugely disappointed to see people running right past even the hay bales, and then to reach something that will actually challenge you and not even look at it but run right past and then claim a podium victory- I just don’t get it!

Anyway, sorry about that! I won’t go off on one again! What I think I loved the most (see, I’m being positive again!) was the great mix of obstacles. There was just the right amount of

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REVIEW : TOTAL WARRIOR EDINBURGH

balance between climbs, crawls, walls, water and mud and the next obstacle Pole to Pole, allowed us to cover some ground with a series of over and unders before reaching You Tube; a tunnel crawl, then an incline wall at the Hangover. It was constantly varied which kept it enjoyable as well as challenging as we worked every muscle group. There was also a perfect amount of water which I felt suited everyone and every ability. I’ve recently developed this bizarre and irrational fear of landing in water, but the obstacles here made me feel at ease.

The Human BBQ should’ve been a mental challenge for me, but seeing others jump over the fire and almost instantly coming up and being able to wade out made me realise there was nothing to be worried about. This was a brilliant take on the more traditional fire jumps that I’m used to!

Another run and a couple of smaller obstacles and we reach The Alps. Two walls to scale before a longer running section towards the Sprint King; a 100m sprint section which I feel although was a great addition, another marshal there to explain what it was would’ve helped racers to ‘go for it’ and get the best time possible! It was then onto the one obstacle that I said right from the start that I just would not do- The Plunge. As you know, I’m not one for deliberately missing obstacles and am

renowned for giving myself burpee penalties even when they’re not required, but this obstacle will remain the only one I simply refuse to try, well at least until I do an OCR in a tropical or exotic location where the temperature is above 30 degrees! Having suffered from severe hypothermia on various occasions and knowing the effect and impact it has on me, my brain just wont allow me to knowingly do something which I know is likely to have that effect on me! This race was no different, we weren’t moving fast today, we were running for fun and it certainly wasn’t the warmest day in Scottish history. I was already shivering so as predicted, decided against it, even with the marshal trying to convince me that ‘It’s not that cold!’

From there, we were onto another very muddy section, a crawl under barbed wire then round towards the log carry over a couple of four foot walls. I say log; I actually think it was polystyrene decorated as one. The lightest carry I have ever done in an OCR! Most racers weren’t complaining, nor was I really.

From there, we headed up and down some straw fields (a real calf burner) before reaching the top of the next hill for the slide, which I loved! I tried to race my friend down and lost sorely, but as always, a fun addition to have as we neared towards the end of the race! It led on nicely to another fun yet challenging obstacle;

Dunkin Donuts, which required strong grip and core strength to avoid submerging yourself into the muddy water while remaining on top and crawling across the top of the inflatable rings.

As we emerged out of the wooded section we could see and hear the festival area again, realizing we were very close to the end. Monkey bars, which were very small and hard to grip with water below, then an uphill backwards crawl before a short run round to the final Total Warrior obstacle; Peaks of Pain, and we had reached the finish line!

Overall, a fantastic course, making the most of the land, mixed terrain and variety of natural and built obstacles with something for everyone! I’d have liked just a few more obstacles but the mix of fun, challenging and technical obstacles was fantastic. The lightest logs I’ve ever lifted, the muddiest I have ever been and the most fun I’ve had at a Scottish OCR for a while! One last thing- I did miss my medal. The t-shirts are great, the Cliff bar was so tasty but for most of us, it’s the bling that adds to the pride and bragging rights of every OCR runner whether you’re in it to win it, or for a fun weekend!

I’D SAY IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ON EVERYONE’S TO DO LIST.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHERE YOU CAN BOOK ON TO THE NEXT TOTAL WARRIOR EVENT GO TO: WWW.TOTALWARRIOR.CO.UK

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FEATURE : HEAD TORCH RUNNING

FEATURE : HEAD TORCH RUNNING

HEAD TORCH

RUNNING

Autumn and Winter are quickly setting in, so the available hours to train in day light hour are quickly disappearing fast. But don’t despair, investing in a trusty head torch will solve this problem giving you hours of extended training time and a few adventures along the way too.

Whether you’re planning on training into the darker hours of the winter months or racing through the night, investing in a head torch is a bright idea. Here we’ve put together a few tips to help you choose your perfect head torch and also the best tips to make you a more confident head torch runner.

TIPS ON HOW TO BE A CONFIDENT AND SAFE HEADTORCH RUNNER KEEP IT TOPPED UP: Always test your head torch especially if it’s a disposable battery powered type, try and carry spare batteries. If it’s a rechargeable version, then make sure you have enough power left on it for the run you’re planning.

GET THE RIGHT FIT: We all have a different shaped heads, so if you can then it’s always best to try on the head torch before purchasing.

Single strap head torches suit some people, but a lot find that they need the extra strap across the top to stop the torch slipping down.

Also the band may irritate your skin due to the sweat so maybe think about using a buff/ wrag to protect yourself.

LEFTY LOOSEY: Not ensuring that your strap is tight but not over tight is asking for a headache in more ways than one. A poorly adjusted head torch if too loose will bounce around causing at worst friction burns on your forehead and at best it’ll make it impossible for your eyes to adjust to the path of the light in front of you.

LEAVE A NOTE: When training at night in your torch always let someone know where you’ll be going or carry a phone in case of emergency. A simple test to someone letting them know you’re off out could be a lifesaver.

BRAIN DRAIN: Whether racing hard or training easy your brain will certainly get a real workout trying to take in all your surroundings in the tunnel of light you are allowing it to have. So be prepared to be mentally fried when you finish.

FIRST TIME RACING AT NIGHT: If it’s your first night time OCR try and stick close to the person in front as you’ll get lots of hints on what’s coming up by their reactions and yelps.

WHERE TO LOOK: Depending on your running speed keep your gaze about four feet ahead of you. This will give you time to react to anything coming up. Also don’t forget to have a little glance ahead every now and then to check for low tree branches waiting to take your head off.

WHICH ROUTE: Try and run on a trail you know pretty well from your day time training. This will give you a little less to think about on your first few night runs as you’ll already have a good idea of where the nasty tree roots are.

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Obstacle Race Magazine 33

FEATURE : HEAD TORCH RUNNING

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A HEAD TORCH Run Time: High powered LEDs and Hybrid units run at full power and can drain batteries very quickly, whereas single low powered LEDs will happily run for weeks at a time.

You’ll need to pick one that will see you through your chosen training and racing times.

Light levels: Don’t forget you aren’t trying to light up the whole course so anything from around 80 lumens will be sufficient. Go too bright and you risk everything appearing super white to your eyes thus losing a lot of detail of your surroundings. Or if using the torch for racing then the person in front won’t thank you for adding floating white

RECOMMENDED HEAD TORCHES HOPE TECH R1 High end head torch but with a high end price tag. If you want something that can literally turn night into day when needed, then the R1 is the head torch for you. It comes with a box full of attachments to go on everything from your bike to your helmet. Extremely durable head torch which will survive any adventure.

• • • •

Battery life 2.5 hours on max / 50 hours on low Lumens 620 on max power Weight 250grams Rechargeable YES

RRP £150 WWW.HOPETECH.COM

ALPKIT GAMMA & PRISM (Editor’s choice) You won’t get a better head torch for your money. With all the simple functions you’ll need.

• • • •

Battery life 4 hours on low,1 hour on max setting Lumens 88 / 100 Weight 118grams / 101grams Rechargeable No

RRP £15 / £24 WWW.ALPKIT.COM

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spots to the obstacles they have to overcome on the course.

Weight & Size: this can vary immensely, some ultra-compact head torches with CR2032 batteries will weigh a matter of grams.

Hybrid head torches will have battery packs that are situated to the rear of the head in a separate compartment, with cables attaching to the front unit – all adding additional weight and bulk.

Fit & Comfort: where the batteries sit can play a big part on the comfort of your head torch. Always try the unit on, preferably with batteries in situ so you know how it will feel when in use. Bigger head torches will have a strap over the top of your head to stop them sliding down whilst in use, lighter units only usually need a strap around your head.

Beam Focusing & Angle Adjustment: Generally the smaller units have less features available when it comes to adjustment, work out your needs before purchasing.

Waterproof Levels: most head torches are showerproof, with small seals around the light unit and battery compartment. You’ll need a fully waterproof head torch come race day, so choose one which has an IP (ingress protection) of 9 (on a scale of 0-9) as this will be waterproof to 1 metre for at least 30 minutes.

Ease of Use: is the head torch going to be fiddly to operate in the cold and wet with numb fingers? Can you operate it with gloves on? Is the unit sturdy enough to stand up to the rigors of race situations?

FEATURE : FLASHBACK

Flashback

The 2013 Spartan Race season was a very memorable one, but the best memory we have is of double amputee James Simpson taking on all three distances on his way to his Spartan Trifecta.

His courage and determination was unbelievable, and he inspired lots of people to take up OCR on the back of his story and images like this.

FEATURE : FLASHBACK

REGULARS : OBSTACLES EXAMINED

REGULARS : OBSTACLES EXAMINED

NUCLEAR RACES

HELIX

Rolled out in 2015 at Nuclear Races Fall Out event and the inaugural OCRA UK Championships. Helix is a technical twist of the traditional monkey bars that are seen as a staple of obstacle racing. The bars are attached at the beginning and end of the obstacle by rotation bearings allowing the whole of the monkey bar structure to turn.

But that’s now the only twist, literally, the bars are then curved around in a spiral shape which causes the rotating motion to be amplified by your movements. As you move along the Helix your grip on each part of the bars of the Helix causes the structure to rotate thus putting your grip strength to the test.

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Obstacle Race Magazine 39

FEATURE : OCR MUMS

FEATURE : OCR MUMS

OCR Mums!

OCR Mummies have their own set of issues. Apart from finding the time, and childcare, to get our much needed training, and of course mud fix in, we have a number of other factors to considered.

CLOTHES.

HAPPY MUMMY.

The real problems hit when you are required to dress ‘smartly’ either to go to work or a night out on the town. Dresses and shirts just weren’t made for our bulging biceps and sculptured lats. If we wear fitted clothing we run the risk of having a ‘Hulk Moment’, and not just when we are angry!

When we laughingly state we are OCR addicts, it’s actually true. Physical exercise produces endorphins which inhibit the transmission of pain signals; they also produce a feeling of euphoria similar to that produced by other opioids. So we are happy, but don’t come near us when we are injured!

BEST MUMMY IN THE WORLD. There may be some draw backs to having an OCR addiction but there is one amazing positive. Your children think you rock! You are the Mummy that plays in the playground with them, you are the Mummy who is proud when your children are a muddy mess, you are the Mummy who they boast about to their friends, and most importantly you are the Mummy they want to be like when they are older.

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HOLIDAYS. Every day is a training day, and holidays are no exception. Holidays are planned around Parkrun venues, or fantastic camp sites that happen to have OCR courses (Cliff Lakes, you rock!), any excuse you can think of in order to get your fix, because we all know how we turn into an unfit mess if we miss even one day!

SCHOOL COLLECTION AND PICK UP. Fitting work, family and training in means clever time management, so it is normally squeezed in either side of a school run. This means, I’m normally waiting for my loved ones looking a sweaty mess in my gym gear. This is enough to raise an eyebrow among the non-athletic parents, but when I also have bruises in different states of repair, various other injuries, such as a limp; colourful KT tape ‘bandages’ and bigger muscles than most of their husbands, you are soon considered a bit strange and therefore they don’t feel the need to hide the fact they are whispering about you at the school gates.

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REVIEW : NUCLEAR BLACKOUT

REVIEW : NUCLEAR BLACKOUT

NUCLEAR BLACKOUT REVIEW BY: SIAN HILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY: NUCLEAR RACES PHOTOGRAPHY

ARRIVING AT THE VENUE WITH JUST MINUTES TO SPARE BEFORE THE 7PM START OF NUCLEAR BLACKOUT MY HEART WAS RACING, HANDS SHAKING AND NERVES RUSHING THROUGH MY BODY. WHAT HAD I LET MYSELF IN FOR? A quick warmup with loud up-beat music to get everyone ready eased my nerves and Kerrie, the obstacle course pro, reassured me and my friend that we had nothing to be scared of and to just enjoy it! Blackout was the first OCR for my friend and I so we were clueless as to what to expect yet so excited to find out!

3,2,1, Go! We set off full of energy and met our first obstacle after a short run.

Straight into waist deep water followed by a 7 ft wooden wall. As darkness drew in the mud became deeper and thicker and we found ourselves struggling to wade through it. Thankfully we weren’t the only ones in difficulty so a big group of us laughed together whilst pulling

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each other along.

A funny moment was when my friend needed help pulling herself out of a trench by a rope. I pushed her up with all my strength until she was steady at the top unbeknown to me that she hadn’t held on meaning I pushed her up by myself! Luckily for me the person behind me was kind enough to push me up too!

My favourite part of the OCR was by far the muddy slide into a lake. I screamed the whole way down and the chilly water was surprisingly refreshing.

The 5km course took us the full 2 hours to complete which despite being a slow time compared to most, I was just glad to have crossed the finish line!

You couldn’t have asked for more helpful or encouraging athletes and stuff. The athletes were keen to help and all of the staff were cheering us on and talking you through the obstacles if you needed it. The dry robes at the end of the race were my saviour along with the complimentary tea, we were all warmed up in no time. The atmosphere throughout the course was phenomenal.

Despite having a useless head torch and being lapped by Kerrie I thoroughly enjoyed the whole race. Nuclear Blackout 2016 has been the start of an addiction and I can’t wait to do my next obstacle course race!

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REVIEW : NUCLEAR BLACKOUT

A FUNNY MOMENT WAS WHEN MY FRIEND NEEDED HELP PULLING HERSELF OUT OF A TRENCH BY A ROPE.

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PROFILE : BIO SYNERGY

PROFILE : BIO SYNERGY

BIO SYNERGY

There are a number of supplement companies who are seen as the choice supplier of the obstacle racer. But the one that stands out amongst them all is Bio Synergy.

Bio Synergy have been supporting racers and races for a number of years. One such race is the Suffering Race series, and if there’s any race that you wanted to be topped up and ready to go for, these are those. We interviewed Daniel Herman the founder of Bio Synergy to find out why he started the company.

Why did you decide to found Bio-Synergy?

As a child I battled with weight and bullying during primary school. I went from being really underweight & finicky with food and not participating in sports (which caused my parents many sleepless nights).

Whereas at secondary school, I became a vegetarian and in part due to the lack of healthy vegetarian options and a sweet tooth, became very over-weight and had real body confidence issues which meant that I not only bunked PE but games too, which ultimately compounded both my weight gain and bullying.

As with many in their teens I then underwent what most people would describe as a growth spurt, so by the time (at the age of 13 I was 5ft and by 17 was 5ft8) I reached university had reverted to my former very skinny self.

At university in Manchester I spent my fresher year living with some tough sports & gym fanatics, who although did not bully me as such, certainly gave me a hard time over my physique (lack of) and erratic eating habits. It was at this point I finally succumbed to exercise and began following rigorous training regime and began blending my own Rocky inspired shakes they included raw eggs, Horlicks, peanut butter, milk and almonds.

By the time I left university in 1995, I had become a convert to fitness and whilst working in the City decided to enter the Gladiators as a contender. This meant that not only did I take my training to the next level but began using supplements too.

Much to my disappointment not only did I find that the products did not meet their promises, but tasted pretty bad too.

Following a run-in with the owner of one of these supplement companies, who was un-helpful to say the least I decided to leave my City job and start a sports supplement company, so I qualified as a PT, SAQ coach and nutritionist.

Suffice to say I never did become a contender on the Gladiators, but some years later we did supply the show.

Back in 1997 the market was dominated by bodybuilding brands and many of the products were not suitable for professional athletes or the regular fitness enthusiasts, so our goal was to make effective (research backed), clean and easy to use high quality range ideal for the fitness lover and professional sports person alike.

With so many supplement brands in the fitness market, how is Bio-Synergy different?

What makes it stand out?

Since 1997 Bio-Synergy has exclusively manufactured in the UK and was the probably the first brand to offer supplement testing for athletes, which is why as far back as 2002 Bio-Synergy was the official supplier to the Commonwealth Games.

In addition to this Bio-Synergy has often been at the forefront of innovation.

Launching the first all in one in 1999, first ready to drink protein in 2000 and have bucked the trend of many other brands at lowering the protein content of their powders by increasing ours to over 90% and 100% from isolate.

Finally, I think what differentiates BioSynergy is our commitment to quality and understanding that different consumers have different requirements, so rather than have a one sizes fits all approach we have developed different products & ranges to meet different needs.

What would you say is the go-to supplement for obstacle racers looking to improve their performance?

If I had to choose one supplement from our range and based on the end user exercising at least 3 times per week it would be Creatine Plus.

What are the key ingredients Bio-Synergy use in their supplements? Why are these important?

The key ingredients vary depending on the product and its purpose however the most widely used are Whey Protein Isolate, BCAA’s Chromium, Creatine Monohydrate, Beta Alanine, B vitamins, Arginine and HMB. These ingredients are important as over the last 20 years’ research has supported their effectiveness and the objective of all our products are to deliver results.

What is the ethos behind Bio-Synergy?

In 1997, Bio-Synergy was founded out of a passion for health and fitness and a desire to create the clean, effective and high quality range of sports nutrition, to the support the goals of athletes and fitness enthusiasts to fuel their performance and make it happen.

Since its launch, over 4 million passionate sports and fitness enthusiasts have chosen Bio-Synergy to achieve their goals and fuel their performance. Bio-Synergy sports supplements have been used by many of the world’s most respected athletes and teams, in fact, it could be said that Bio-Synergy is the best kept secret in sport!

In fact, our range of sports nutrition may well have fuelled more Gold medals, PB’s and World Cup wins than any other brand! Join the revolution and #MakeItHappen.

How important is taste when it comes to supplements?

Taste can be a tricky one as it can be very important, but is also subjective and very personal. If possible we opt for capsules over powders as this removes this issue and in many cases offers greater convenience and results. There are products however where taste becomes secondary over results and the fact that it is free from. A good example is the paleo diet protein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.BIO-SYNERGY.CO.UK/ PTPROGRAMME.HTML OR CALL 020 7569 2528 OR MAIL PT@BIO-SYNERGY.CO.UK

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FEATURE : THE PERFECT RACE EDIT

FEATURE : THE PERFECT RACE EDIT

We all love to watch a good obstacle racing video, whether it be a racing highlights video or a techniques training video. We can sit for hours watching video after video. The tech we use for recording is extremely simple to use, but no matter what, a keen eye for a good shot goes a long way to making a fantastic film.

Someone who knows all about this is Mark Mud Mad Turner, a self-confessed OCR addict and adrenaline junkie. He’s been running events with a GoPro camera forever by his side for the last one and a half years. If you’ve ever watched a Muddy Race video, then it will likely be one of his you’re watching. Due to his growing love for the art of video editing, he’s now decided to take the leap and create a hobby business called Turner Videos which is based around the filming and editing of footage, especially for those who have all the gear but not really the time or idea to create a cracking video edit.

To help you get the best footage to edit as possible Mark from Tuner Videos has put together a few tips that he feels will help you get a ton of interesting video footage, perfect for editing:

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Before you even attempt to start filming, put all the equipment together, throw on your running gear and go for a couple of training runs in it. Practice turning it on and off, and also make sure the fit is comfortable.

A head strap or selfie stick are what I have found to be the best options for filming.

These give you the opportunity to be most versatile with angles because they allow you to take them off without too much fuss.

Invest in a float! The amount of GoPros sat at the bottom of lakes and rivers is incredible. Your equipment is no use down there and the likely hood of you getting it back is slim to none. So for the sake of a few pounds it’s really not worth the risk.

Most important of all, don’t go mad and film the whole time! If you go mad and record the whole run this will make finding the really good bits when editing a nightmare.

It will also help to preserve your battery life so you can film all the good bits without running out of juice.

Buy the best memory card you can for your budget. This will ensure quality and also uninterrupted data storage. A cheap card will sometime corrupt data and no one wants to lose a race full of memories!

Recording clips of 10 – 30 seconds are perfect to snip down to find the golden footage.

Try and visualise which obstacles and

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angles are going to make the best footage.

Keep a look out for stand out moments.

If someone is in costume, then film them floundering around in the mud. Don’t forget to mix up your types of views too.

For example, film yourself going down that MASSIVE slide in first person view, as well as footage of others coming down the slide too. This gives people a clearer view of what you’ve just done and helps immerse them in it.

Have a think about which music will fit the feeling of the day as you’re running round.

Music can make or break a video. Watch out for copyright infringement!

Keep the camera as still as possible when filming. This is obviously not always possible, but, for wider shots taking in obstacle action, it's best to keep it still. If not, the shaking will just make people watching the final cut feel ill.

Wipe the lens constantly (but not with your tongue... you may get ill) but seriously wipe your lens throughout the run; a shirt, shorts or even a friendly marshals sleeve will be invaluable to keeping your footage nice and clear.

Don’t film big running sections. People know it’s a running event, they don’t need to see miles of green grass or plowed fields.

Turn off the sound on your device, you won’t need it and it will just use valuable space on your memory card. The odd water splash is nice to hear, keep that... Oh and a nice slap from a high five!

Some race videos are best kept in order so the viewers can see the course in ALL ITS GLORY, but sometimes putting clips in random order can make the video more 'edge of your seat'.

Cut ALL frames in time to the music. So if for example it’s a Drum and Bass track, you'd cut to every 2-4-8 barr... (remember those Technic 1210's #DJ).

Try not to have random frames all different sizes. Also any logos/titles that are being used - keep these the same size too.

If you're going to use slow-mo etc. that's cool! But not all time, keep this special.

Forget about speeding up long frames like running - just chop it in to tiny little frames to get from A to B When merging frames, only use a Crossfade when it’s the same frame. I try and not use it too often, it’s just more to hurt the eyes.

Sometimes though, it can get you out of bother, like if the footage goes shaky and it still needs to be in time with the music!

So now you have all the gear and a clearer idea of what to do with it. But of course, failing all that, if you just can’t be bothered to edit it then drop me a message and arrange to send me your footage! Or even better if you’re planning an epic mud run then I can even film you as you go around!

For more information, either email Turner videos at: TURNERVIDEOS@HOTMAIL.COM Or search for us on FACEBOOK under the name TURNERVIDEO

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FEATURE : ROPE TRAVERSE

FEATURE : ROPE TRAVERSE

TRAVERSE TECHNIQUES

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TECHNIQUES THAT CAN BE UTILISED FOR TRAVERSING A ROPE CROSSING.

COMMANDO CRAWL

ROPE TRAVERSE WRITTEN BY COACH MICHAEL COHEN OF WILDFORESTGYM

Rope crossings are becoming a more regular obstacle in races. You’ll find they usually involve a river crossing, meaning a nice refreshing splash landing if you fail. This can be quite daunting challenge for any racer. The chaos and hazards of having to cross whilst other contenders are sending you off balance can be nerve wrecking.

Training brings with it efficiency and effectiveness that leads to speed and power.

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MONKEY CRAWL TECHNIQUE

This technique involves mounting the rope with your foot hooked on top of the rope and the knee bent close to the buttocks; the downstream leg hangs straight to maintain your balance. The military forces more often use this technique. It is very effective and you can retain control as you traverse and it doesn’t exhaust your grip and arms.

Is it effective for obstacle course racing?

NO. Firstly, the technique involves sliding the supporting leg and the stomach along the rope.

As most obstacle racers wear light weight tops and shorts this is going to cause rope burns to the stomach, legs and ankles. Secondly, it can be a very slow technique. Lastly it is very easy to be knocked off balance by other contenders who are also on the rope, and rope regains are a nightmare.

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THE LOW HANG -PICTURED

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This technique is where you hang below the rope suspended by your hands with both heels crossed over the rope. This is often seen as the quickest way to traverse a rope crossing.

Firstly, you are in total control and other contenders do not hugely affect your stability.

Secondly, if done correctly there should be no friction or ankle burns. You can really maximise output with a little power, speed and technique.

And more importantly you can save yourself from a potential cold water plunge.

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This technique requires you to suspend yourself by your hands and both heels crossed over the rope.

The direction of movement will be backwards i.e. head first.

Your right hand is in synch with your left foot and visa versa.

The arm movement is most effective and faster if there is a bend in your arms.

Contract your abdominal muscles so as to prevent your back from drooping (this also makes your body feel lighter rather than hanging heavy). With a solid core it will be easier to keep you body close and inline with the rope. This is fast and efficient.

DO NOT slide your feet. You WILL get ankle burns, even through your socks!

Lift each foot instead.

Each step with your foot should land ahead of the other foot on the rope. Do not allow your legs/ankle to land on each other you will get knotted up.

Stay relaxed and remember to breathe.

LOW HANG STRENGTHENING EXERCISES Monkey crawling fundamentally is about being able to efficiently and effectively carry your own body weight upside down. Here are

some upper & mid section body strengthening exercises to develop the technique.

Pull-up / Chin On bar Classic pull-up and chin-ups will help you to build strength in your arms.

Leg Hang These exercises will develop your hand grip, forearms, upper arms, deltoids and latimus dorsi muscles. Literally hang for 10 seconds and slowly increase the length of time. When you grip the bar or rope cup your hands all the way over the top otherwise your hands can slide down the side. Try different hand grips i.e. hands facing towards you, away from you, one hand towards and one away and side on…

Leg Raises Always use variations to the technique to develop multilateral development of your core abdominal and oblique muscles. So feet up in front, feet to the left, feet to the right, feet half way up, legs straight at 90 degrees. Advanced technique is to take feet up to the left.

Holding onto the core sweep the legs under the bar and up to the right in one move.

Finger Strength It doesn’t matter how big your biceps are if you have weak finger strength then your biceps are worthless. Try out the Prohands Pro. I have been using it on and off for a few years and they are effective and easy to carry around in your pocket.

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REGULARS : TOP 10 SUPERFOODS

REGULARS : TOP 10 SUPERFOODS

DIETITIAN’S TOP 10 SUPERFOODS & ANTIOXIDANTS Antioxidant supplements have been touted by manufacturers as a means for athletes to perform better, recover more quickly and fully from vigorous exercise, or allow them to train more strenuously. Solid evidence supports the contribution of the following supplements to general wellbeing: vitamins C, E, and A; bioflavonoids.

Athletes certainly have nothing to lose by increasing their intake of superfoods. Making sure you are eating enough antioxidants and phytochemicals may be the path to ensuring you recover from your training efforts efficiently, and perhaps staving off disease.

FOODS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM Goals to Promote Immune Function

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Ensure adequate calories, protein, carbohydrate, and fat to maintain energy balance and support exercise energy expenditure.

2. Consume carbohydrate before, during, and after long training sessions to offset the suppressive effect of exercise on immune function.

3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants (colourful fruits and vegetables) daily to combat oxidative stress.

4. Select lean protein foods, especially those that contain iron and zinc, to support immune function.

5. Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids that possess anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Ensure Vitamin D adequacy to promote immune defense.

7. Choose foods that contain probiotics to enhance gastrointestinal and immune health.

Which Foods can help..... Fruits rich in antioxidants: oranges, cantaloupe, papaya, berries, apples Vegetables rich in antioxidants: sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, spinach, bell peppers, asparagus, onions, beets Protein sources: chicken, turkey, fish, beef, dairy, eggs, legumes, soy foods Sources of omega-3 fatty acids: salmon and other cold-water fish, nuts, seeds, plant oils Vitamin D sources: oily fish (salmon, sardines, tuna), fortified foods (milk, orange juice, tofu, soy beverages, some cereals) Foods that contain probiotics such as Lactobacillus and

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Bifidobacterium: milk, kefir, yogurt Dietitian’s Top 10 Superfoods

1) AVOCADO Avocados are high in healthy monounsaturated fat and have a rich source of glutathione – a powerful antioxidant known to block over 30 different carcinogens (a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue).

Avocados are also one of the most nutrientdense foods; high in fibre, potassium, vitamin E, and magnesium.

2) SEEDS are an excellent source of magnesium, a mineral that may help lower blood pressure promote bone health, and improve PMS symptoms. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds also contain significant levels of zinc and vitamin E, nutrients that help maintain healthy eyes, hair, and skin.

Zinc, in particular, helps maintain collagen, which keeps your skin smooth, supple, and firm, and zinc also keeps your nails strong.

Along with vitamin B6 and biotin, zinc contributes to healthy hair.

3) SPROUTED SEEDS SPROUTS are a powerhouse of nutrients, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, anti-aging constituents and enzymes. Eating sprouts regularly can result in an enormous improvement in general health, boosting the immune system, revitalizing and strengthening the body, improving digestion, combating tiredness and stress.

4) VEGGIE JUICES help to hydrate you as they contains lots of water, as well as vital nutrients. They are great for cleansing the body and help to maintain a healthy bowel. Due to the high level of vitamins and minerals they are great for giving you a quick burst of energy.

5) OATBRAN Ideal for breakfast as hot cereal or mixed with yoghurt. Oat bran contains soluble fibre, which reduces the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), otherwise known as the "bad" cholesterol. Once consumed, oat bran enters the digestive tract where its soluble fibre absorbs water and forms a gel-like substance, creating a feeling of fullness.

6) BLUEBERRIES extracts have also been reported to have anti-inflammatory

characteristics and help prevent contagious bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder, urethra and gut. Impressive. These are a potent antioxidant. Blueberries are said to help with memory loss and they contain flavonoids which can help eradicate dangerous free radicals which can cause damage to cell walls and DNA.

7) QUINOA is known as a super grain. It is considered a complete protein because it contains all eight of the essential amino acids we need for tissue development and contains almost twice as much fibre as most other grains. It is gluten-free, high in amino acids, protein, vitamin B6, B1, B2, B3, and potassium. Plus it is a great source of copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, and folate. Quinoa is also a source of calcium, so useful for vegans and those who are lactose intolerant.

8) EGGS are one of the most nutritious foods money can buy - they are a natural source of many nutrients including high quality protein, vitamins and minerals. A medium egg contains less than 70 calories. Eggs are naturally rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium and iodine.

They also contain vitamin A and a number of other B vitamins including folate, biotin, pantothenic acid and choline, and essential minerals and trace elements, including phosphorus.

9) OILY FISH – SALMON, MACKEREL, TROUT, HERRING, FRESH TUNA Oily fish is important because it’s rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are especially useful in warding off heart disease. Most oily fish contains protein, zinc, selenium, vitamins A and D, and some B vitamins. Omega 3-rich seafood might help slow down macular degeneration (a common cause of age-related blindness), protect against the build up of cholesterol on the artery walls which can cause heart damage, and help reduce the impact of arthritis.

10) COTTAGE CHEESE is a low-calorie, high-protein source of essential nutrients like calcium, iron, folate and vitamin A. Cottage cheese contains all the essential amino acids needed for it to qualify as a complete protein. One cup of cottage cheese has 23g of protein.

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FEATURE : GOAL SETTING

GOAL SETTING WRITTEN BY: Nutritionist Danny Webber of www.nutritionx.co.uk

FEATURE : GOAL SETTING

Goal setting is a vital part of every athlete’s training plan and overall performance outcome. Goal setting varies from athlete to athlete and will likely change throughout the year to suit a particular season. Nutrition and training programmes will also be different for each athlete even though the desired outcome may be the same. This will be tailored to the individual’s body composition, training levels specific to that time of year, and personal preferences.

1 UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF GOAL SETTING – PROCESS, PERFORMANCE AND OUTCOME Goal setting can lead an athlete to be solely focused on one thing…achieving the objective. However, there are different types of goals to consider that are all important for successfully achieving any set goal.

Outcome goals – these are the focal point for a competition in which an athlete may set sights on winning a tournament. This is the overall goal and can only be achieved with successful application of the following 2 goals. Andy Murray’s outcome goal this summer is likely to be to win Wimbledon for a consecutive year.

Performance goals–specific performance-related objectives tracked by various statistics in order to achieve the outcome goal. One area of performance that Andy Murray may need to improve on is his serving and needs to achieve a better first-serve success rate. He may therefore set a performance goal in training of hitting 90% first serves in, to better his current average 80% success rate.

Process goals – the execution applied during training to improve performance. With the performance goal to improve serving success rate by 10%, the process could be to apply too same routine and technique for every serve, therefore making it more likely to consistently serve accurately.

Focusing on process and performance goals rather than outcome goals can help an athlete to control their actions, and ultimately, perform better.

An athlete’s body is designed for performance in their chosen sport and this may require improvements in body composition relating to increase in muscle mass and/or reductions in body fat levels.

Other performance goals may include endurance, explosive speed and strength, technical or mental skills.

On the other hand, an athlete may currently be injured or undergone surgery, therefore recovery and rehabilitation

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is another key period for every athlete with specific training and nutritional requirements, and also psychological support during these difficult times.

Goal setting can be quite easy…its achieving them which can be hard. Below are a few things to remember when it comes to goal setting to improve your chances of achieving them. All you have to do is take the leap.

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BE ‘SMART’

BE MEANINGFUL

Specific – the What, Where, When, How, Who and Why. Pinpointing a specific goal by answering these questions is important to know what you want to do, and how you’re going to do it.

Any goal that you focus on should be important to you and nobody else. This will help you to maintain motivation and be more likely to succeed. On the other hand, training goals may be set for an athlete by a coach to help them augment performance and develop as an individual. Although this has not directly been set by you, it should be something you agree with and is equally important for you to achieve this goal, as ultimately it challenges you to be a better athlete.

Measurable – breakdown your goal into different elements so you can quantify your goal once you achieve it. Losing body fat is not measurable; adapting diet so you eat less by cutting out a daily chocolate bar, focusing meals around lean protein foods and vegetables, and training for an extra 10 mins each session, is.

Attainable – is your goal realistic?

Are you asking too much of yourself? Setting sights too high and failing to achieve your goal can have a negative impact.

Relevant – is the goal relevant to you and will this help you improve your performance?

Timely – if you have a competition coming up and need to be at your peak then what time-frame do you have? This typically applies to make-weight athletes who need to hit a certain weight in a short amount of time so they can compete.

4 SEEK HELP You’re never alone. Don’t think you have to do something on your own, especially if you’re an athlete. If you’re in need of help and support then, if it’s not already available to you, then seeking help from professionals in a variety of sports science fields can be valuable.

Not only is it important to consult a professional if needed, but sometimes the best people to go to are your friends and family. Every athlete goes through a tough spell e.g. injury set-back, shock defeats, but having people around them is vital to keep on fighting and improving.

CONTENT FROM LEADING PERFORMANCE NUTRITIONIST DANNY WEBBER; ONE OF THE EXPERT TEAM AT INFORMED-SPORT APPROVED SPORTS NUTRITION BRAND NUTRITION X. FIND OUT MORE AT @NUTRITION_X @DANNY_WEBBER WWW.NUTRITIONX.CO.UK

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REGULARS : HEALTH HACKS

REGULARS : HEALTH HACKS

HEAL H HACKS OMEGA 3 SUPPLEMENTS

by SMART FISH Recharge your batteries and keep going for longer with the latest Omega 3 sports recovery drinks from Smart Fish. Smart Fish recovery drinks are packed full of Omega 3 fatty acids(DHA & EPA) in a synergetic formulation, with a healthy blend of berries, fruits and whey proteins, to aid muscle recovery, immune response, inflammation and brain function.

RRP: £1.40 AVAILABLE FROM: SMARTFISHNUTRITION.CO.UK

GREAT TASTING IRON BOOST

by BLUEIRON

COCONUT FLOUR

by THE COCONUT COMPANY

3 IN 1 PROTECTOR SPRAY

TOUGH HANDS

by EXCILOR’S

by DU'IT

BY THE PROTEIN WORKS

Do you spend a lot of time in the gym or around the swimming pool. If the answers yes then you’ll know that every so often you’re bound to pick up some sort of nasty on your feet. Excilors new 3 in 1 formula is an ideal preventative treatment to use before either a gym or swimming session. The spray on formula also protects from Athletes foot and nail fungus. Lasting a whole eight hours you know it’ll get you through a session.

An amazing product which is ideal for anyone using their hands a lot when training, or training through winter. Tough Hands provides a glove like barrier, ensuring hands stay protected from the winter elements and by moisturising already dry, cracked hands.

The industrial strength balm is ideal for anyone who suffers from really dry hands, or uses their hands for a living. It can even be used to mend blisters on the feet.

Do you love the idea of baking your own healthy treats but don’t have a clue where to start? If yes then you’ll love the Protein works baking kit.

Available as a Raw Caramel Slice Kit or Chocolate fudge brownie these home bake kits are a quick and easy home bake solution for the ultimate, great tasting and natural sweet treat. Packed full of nutritious ingredients including organic coconut oil, raw cacao powder and white hemp protein, this is the perfect healthy, all-natural substitute for the sweet tooth’s out there.

RRP: £9.99 AVAILABLE FROM: BOOTS , SUPERDRUG

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RRP: £8 AVAILABLE FROM: TESCO

HOME BAKE KITS

RRP: £9.99 AVAILABLE FROM: THEPROTEINWORKS.COM

Coconut water and coconut oil may have shot to nutritional stardom over the last few years, but another coconut ingredient could prove to be far more beneficial for those involved in health and fitness.

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Obstacle Race Magazine 57

REVIEW : MAN VS MOUNTAIN

REVIEW : MAN VS MOUNTAIN

MAN VS MOUNTAIN Reviewed by: Christie Wright PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MYBIBNUMBER

FIRST UP

LETS RE WRITE THE TITLE - THIS IS DEFINITELY A STORY OF WOMAN VS MOUNTAIN – BY #MKCHRISTIE It was 4:45am and the sound of my alarm filled the tent. Rousing from a deep slumber, I struggled to find the snooze button in the pitch darkness. Today was the day I was going to run up a mountain and I needed every second of extra sleep I could get! Sticking my head out from under the duvet, I tested the air temperature before making the uphill journey to the campsite toilets.

Slipping on my flip flops the ground was boggy underfoot. The smell of sheep and wet grass filled my nostrils as I made my first accent of the day up to the shower block, distracted by the stars I didn’t even notice the mud seeping between my toes until I reached the light of the toilet block. Following an amazing shower in recycled Snowdon rain water (unbeknown to me much more of which I was about to experience in just a few hours…) we gorged ourselves on morning porridge and rushed down to the bus stop to catch our bus to the start line.

Greeted by smiling Rat Race staff, we were prearranged into waves and boarded the buses in our groups.

Ultra-organised, unlike our morning rush, we made it safely to the start line at Caernarfon Castle. Towering walls of ancient stone enclosed the starting area which began to fill rapidly with competitors and spectators, the hum

58 Obstacle Race Magazine

from the crowd growing as the start time drew near. After multiple selfies, pre-race toilet stops and friendly good luck hugs we were ready to race. Unfortunately, due to the predicted rain and 60mph winds at the summit, an announcement was made that the start would be delayed by 30 minutes whilst the mountain course was rerouted to cut out the summit section of the course for safety.

At the time, this was met with disappointed sighs and annoyed mutterings, however, just a couple of hours later we were to discover for ourselves just why this precaution had been enforced and I can assure you it was most definitely the right decision.

So, half an hour later than planned, we were lined up on the start line and eagerly anticipated the countdown to the race. With the legend of the mountain, David Hellard, on my right and Karina, Laura, and Jordan to my left, I was feeling awesome and ready to run. Three, two, one… We were off and out through the castle gates.

Road running for the start felt incredible, a gentle warm up for the joints, it was the perfect introduction to what was going to turn into an incredibly challenging race. Supporters lined the streets cheering and waving, some even holding homemade banners

proudly displaying names of loved ones competing against the mountain that day. I couldn’t stop smiling and enjoyed the run. My choice of trainers, the Hoka Challenger, minimising the impact of my feet on the tarmac.

I ran and I smiled, and I ran some more, chatting to people along the way as for me this was a race to complete, not a race to win. Falling into a steady pace, the tarmac and supporters continued, then we hit the trail… Puddles, mud, hills and sheep. The terrain gradually climbed as the scent of crisp mountain air filled my lungs and a gentle breeze tickled my skin, beautiful downhill sections gave respite to my glutes and hamstrings enabling me to break away from the main group of runners. With the terrain changing to a narrow stone path we continued up the mountain, it was at this point the wind and rain began to set in.

Fuel stations from this point on were few and far between and I was glad of the banana, shotblocks and cup of electrolyte water I had hastily consumed earlier in the race. People overtook me and I overtook others. You soon realise that racing a distance of this length gives you highs and lows that vary from competitor to competitor and highlight your strengths and weaknesses as a runner.

Positions chopped and changed

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REVIEW : MAN VS MOUNTAIN

frequently. I was in awe of every runner who jogged past me as I walked up some of the hills.

The rain got heavier and the wind stronger as I approached the boggy marshland before the base of the semisummit. Then through the watery haze a man came racing towards me, David Hellard was on his descent and he was flying! After losing myself in cheering the front runners, I regained my focus and with my head back in the game started the final ascent. My glute strengthening work paying off as I powered up the rocks, using my hands as I needed to make it to the top.

Reaching the marshals at the turning point was anticlimactic in some ways as the views remained obscured behind the driving rain and the lack of summiting was hard to ignore; however, a sense of euphoria still bubbled within my stomach as I took a moment to recognise the enormity of what I had just achieved let alone the fact that at that moment I looked to still be in the women’s top ten.

Gathering my thoughts, I then began my descent. My absolute favourite part enhanced further by the Hokas and the cheers of the other runners passed on the way down.

As I slowed for a spot of congestion, I noticed a man to the side of the track, his face gripped with pain, his calf obviously in spasm with cramp. Kneeing down on the wet grass I asked if I could help. Through gritted teeth he nodded, and I gently began massaging his calf.

Kneading the rock solid lump of muscle with my fingers and palms, I used trigger point work to try and get some movement back. A passer-by offered us both salt tablets and gradually his pain subsided. Wishing him luck, I continued on and smiled at the marshals as I rounded the bend at the marshland we were being sent back through. This time it was not as pleasant.

Luckily for me it was at this point that I remembered the invention David Hellard had given me. A small piece of elasticated rope that clipped onto the front of my

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REVIEW : MAN VS MOUNTAIN

pack and the back of another runner to along a disused mining track. Little did I help make hill runs slightly easier. Little realise for me this was going to test my did I realise that when I stopped a couple mental ability beyond anything I had of guys to ask if they would help me test ever experienced before whilst racing, his invention, I would be the one doing and I decided to distract myself from my the towing! A lot of laughing and giggling throbbing glutes by counting the steps. I pursued as we made our way through got to 253 steps before cramp made me the marsh and back onto the stone track. stop, the emotional impact of this race From there, I waved them off and we was beginning to test me now. I knew the continued on our separate ways. end was in sight but my body just wasn’t The next section was a pleasure to willing anymore. Getting my head down, run. It was downhill nearly all the way to I continued on still managing to smile in the next aid station through grassy fields between the spasms of pain. Reaching and stone tracks, the sheep stopped to the top, I told the marshal my race stare as we ran by. Swiss roll, chocolate number… now it was all downhill. cake, flapjack and cliff bars adorned On the descent back to the finish the aid station, but I ignored all of this line, there were a number of obstacles preoccupied with the need for salt as I too complete: a walk the plank into a could feel the initial signs of cramp began surprising warm lagoon surrounded by to niggle within my glutes. Luckily for me, sheer rock face on either, an abseil down I was offered another salt tablet which I the quarry face into the freezing cold river took gratefully. below, and A new lease a slide into I REGAINED MY FOCUS AND WITH that same of life ensued MY HEAD BACK IN THE GAME as I continued river which on through the managed STARTED THE FINAL ASCENT. downhill woodland, to take my crossing some small breath away roads I realised that we were coming when we were required to cross it on close to civilisation and therefore possibly multiple occasions, including to reach the the end of the race. Spotting what looked bag drop. like a bag drop, I followed the signs Soaked through to my core, I collected towards where I was instructed by the my bag and removed my waterproof marshal to leave my bag and continue jacket (which by now wasn’t very the race without it. Always doing what I waterproof). I picked up my pace as the am told, I dropped my bag and continued end was in sight. No amount of cramp out of the drop site and onto the road. or pain was going to stop me getting As my feet hit the tarmac cramp there. Surprising even myself, I flew over gripped my glutes, so intense was the the 10ft wall and A frame obstacle Rat pain it stopped me dead. I was cold, Race had so kindly put between me and soaked through and bag-less, but I had the finish line. My arms were feeling to finish, quitting was not an option. fresh compared to the state of my legs.

Through gritted teeth, I walked on Sprinting forward and with a beaming performing trigger point work on my smile, I crossed the finish line completing glutes whilst moving to help relieve the the longest distance I have ever run and seized up muscles. Then it was time for the furthest I have run since fracturing my the vertical kilometre. femur last year.

For those who do not know this In January, I couldn’t walk pain free is a section of the course which is and the idea of running again was just a individually timed; a race within a race day dream. But on the 3rd September, I for those with enough reserve left to try took on the mountain and I beat the hell it. One kilometre of steps and steep trail out of it!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHERE YOU CAN BOOK ON TO THE NEXT RAT RACE MAN VS MOUNTAIN EVENT GO TO WWW.RATRACE.COM Obstacle Race Magazine 61

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Obstacle Race Magazine 63

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Obstacle Race Magazine 65

PROFILES : RACE DIRECTOR INSIGHT

RACE DIRECTOR INSIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: KEVIN NEWEY

PROFILES : RACE DIRECTOR INSIGHT

Rocket Race has in the relatively short time it’s been around made a real name for itself in the OCR community. Its Race Directors David and Kerry are known for being passionate and driven people who put a whole lot of love in to the community. Based in the South West of England this gem of a course can feel like a bit of a trek to get to but we can assure you its worth the drive to this stunning part of the Country and well worth making a weekend of it (every mile clocked up getting there).

Hello David and Kerry, thank you for agreeing to give up some of your time during your busy course build schedule. Things must been full steam ahead with your next event just around the corner. How is prep coming along?

D: Dare I say it but it feels like we are slightly on top of things for Discovery, finally! I’ve had lots of time post Mud7 to tweak and play with the course, introduce a few new obstacles, which we tested at Mud7, and also plan a new route so it’s all coming together really nicely and I think it’ll be our best course yet.!

What would you say makes Rocket Race Different to other races on the market?

K: Well we don’t take ourselves too seriously for a start, we do this because we love it and want other people to get the same enjoyment from running that we do. David has a brilliant obstacle brain and some of the stuff he dreams up is quite special. VEXED has become a signature of ours, and StarCatcher was a huge hit at Mud7, and several other race directors said it couldn’t be done!

D: Like Kerry says, I’ve got some great ideas for builds and we stand out from many other races because our 5k (ha ha!) course is so obstacle heavy; there’s barely a 200m stretch of running between obstacles! After all, it’s not a trail run, is it!

We also pride ourselves on introducing so many #vanillarunners to the world of OCR, and for me that’s really special.

K: Racers love how much we pack in, and we’re always told people can feel the passion we pour in to each and every inch of our course. Along with the blood, sweat and occasional tears! Our awesome bling is fairly unique too!

What made you decide to start organizing your own Obstacle Course race series?

D: I’ve been running OCR’s for years and whilst the big boys like TM and Spartan hold a special place in my heart, I always loved the unique independents.

The Midlands and South East have lots of

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great events, but OCR’s are few and far between in the South West and so when the right team appeared, and the perfect site, it felt right to take a great leap and put on an event. I hope we bring something different to the market and fill a niche gap in the region.

Would you say it’s a hard job running an event organistion like Rocket Race?

D: It’s certainly not easy, but the feeling you get on and after race day is more than worth it. I get a real buzz from designing and building a new obstacle, testing it, tweaking it and then watching the first racer tackle it in a way I didn’t even imagine! Luckily I’ve got the support of Kerry and a great team of volunteers to support me with everything that wraps around an event.

K: What some people forget when they see us buzzing on race day is that we’ve had no sleep for the week, been manically taping the course, stressing over tshirt orders, dealing with emails and registration changes. Yes, it’s hard and you wouldn’t put yourself through it if you didn’t really love it – and we do!

It helps, I think, that we are such a good team, because we do live, sleep and breathe Rocket!

D: We have to remind ourselves quite often just to be David and Kerry!

What are your plans for the Rocket Race brand over the coming years?

D: I want to push some bigger distances out of our course, but keep with the obstacle heavy theme. In an ideal world, we will continue to grow as we are, and I can continue to build the obstacles I dream of! Being ex-military I’ve also got a few plans up my sleeves for 24hr events, OCR sprints and OCR nav-ex events – so definitely watch this space!

K: We are really happy with the way we are growing, and have such a group of loyal racers behind us. For me I’d like to bring the after party to Rocket and encourage people to join us for the weekend. We are in such a beautiful part of the world – everyone should stay and share a pint of scrumpy with us post-race!

What would you say is the best part of being an event organiser?

D: Getting to do what I like the way I like it! Kerry and I both have strong visions, and luckily they compliment each other. Running our own event means we can make our dreams a

reality, and we get to share our passion with hundreds of racers. I like to be able to look at something, be it an obstacle, a team completing a challenge or an individual trying OCR for the first time and go, ‘I did that’.

You’re known for your unique videos documenting the build on the run up to your events. These are a huge hit with the racers and give them a real insight into how much work goes into a course build. What made you start to do those?

D: Ha ha, honestly, Kerry nagging me for Facebook content initially!

K: Rude! But true I guess. When we first started, David would spend hours on site building and to be honest I was jealous and wanted to know what was being built. So text and pictures turned in to video, and these became a perfect way to start spreading the word about us on social media. I never knew they’d be such a hit.

D: It’s a standing joke now with some other RD’s but I think its really important that we include our Rocketeers in every aspect of what we do Where do your ideas come from for your obstacles and do you have anything exciting coming up that you can share?

D: I usually build the obstacles that I want to be facing when I race, and they are a combination of crazy ideas, clever maths, racers inspiration, obstacle evolution, and just occasionally, an obstacle is born from the offcuts of another obstacle! Wherever we go I’m always looking at things wondering ‘what could I build from that’. For Discovery, our most exciting creation is probably the IMPOSSIWALL, a convexed wall that’s about 10ft high and a real struggle to get over! We also have a quarter pipe and a couple of cheeky little challenges that we couldn’t possibly give away!

Where can people find out more about Rocket Race, and when are your next events?

K: As well as teaming up with the South West group White Star Running to put on a unique trail event, and working with other South West races on an exciting project, we have two big events of our own next year. Rocket Race will be back on Saturday 22 April and Saturday 4 November and bookings are live now on www.rocketrace.co.uk To really be kept in the look, and to see David’s mug on video, follow us on Facebook too!

Obstacle Race Magazine 67

FEATURE : SORE AS HELL

FEATURE : SORE AS HELL

SORE AS HELL...

AND BACK FOR MORE! WRITTEN BY PT EMZ OF BOOTCAMP REVOLUTION

INTRO

EVERY WEEKEND, OF EVERY MONTH, RIGHT ACROSS THE WORLD, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, SIZES, ABILITIES AND FITNESS LEVELS GATHER. They prepare in a variety of ways, from donning lucky pants, to ritualistic yogic practices, as they await the countdown that set's them off across the start line for another OCR! Distances vary, intensities range, obstacles differ. Every age, every size, every shape and every ability will run. They will all feel pain, suffer and hurt in different ways, and in ways they may have never felt before. But there is one thing all these people have in common. THEY WILL RETURN! We've all seen the social media posts; the OCR kisses, the broken smiles on the finish lines, from the ones that say "I'm a champion!" to those that say "Thank God I'm still alive, how the hell did that happen!" Many of you will know the feeling of pre-race fear, 99.9% of you will have felt that post race muscle pain, many of you will have hit a wall mid race, and we have all nursed an OCR bruise of varying intensity some time along the way!

Why? Why do thousands and thousands of people put themselves through a world of pain.... only to do it all again the following weekend?

I have, of course, answered this from a personal perspective, but this is only my opinion, so to fully explain why us lunatics take our bodies to hell and back, and enjoy it, I also decided to interview some of the OCR community for their answers to the most cryptic of muddy questions!

Since my first race, over 7 years ago, I realise I have a set thought process, and it goes a little something like this; T-minus 30 seconds: Wow, I'm excited, check out the masses, the vibe and the smiles!

3...2...1...and we're off!

0-5 mins: Damn, I hate running (note to self, must run more!!)

5-10 mins: Ok, nice pace settled, feeling strong, let's do this!

First Obstacle: Easy! (Note to self, must run more!)

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10-20 mins: and a few more obstacles: Feeling good, strong and happy. Have helped a few people along the way, made new friends and bashed my weak knee on a high wall, but sod it, adrenalin is sooooo good at helping the old pain threshold!

30-60 mins: Open swim completed, few litres of H20 taken on board (not through choice!) legs starting to feel like jelly (note to self, MUST RUN MORE!!)

60 mins plus: finish line in sight, blood pouring down knee, lungs burning, legs aching, but a whole heart full of happiness Finish line: Euphoric. Hugs. Smiles. Beer. Bling Ok, so this is the edited version, there's a whole load more thoughts that run through my insane brain while racing, from 'why am I doing this', to 'I love this', to 'NEVER AGAIN!' ... But I always go back for more!

OCR's teach us a lot about ourselves and the one thing I heard most from those I interviewed was: I achieved what I thought was not possible!

Obstacle Course Races do something incredible, for every participant. They provide a sense of achievement like no other activity, and offer an opportunity to everyone to do something amazing and be someone, they never thought they could be!

To those preparing for their first OCR, the seasoned racer is something of a super hero, and most new comers, are filled with a doubt and fear, and the finish line seems like the muddy holy grail!

But for those that take the plunge, no matter how long it takes them or how hard they find the distance, when they finish the race and that bling is placed over their heads, they know, life will never be the same again!

OCR is an addiction. It's like a drug! From a scientific aspect, adrenalin is a natural high, which our bodies go crazy for, and this

Obstacle Race Magazine 69

MUDNIFICENT 7 OCR & EXPO

FEATURE : SORE AS HELL

is supplied in huge amounts while we race! But OCR also gives us so much more! It provides a community where people, who are poles apart, become best friends, and a support network is offered to one and all. Events create a gathering of like-minded people, where muddy friends reunite and new friendships are forged. Fears are faced, PB's are achieved and personal, mental obstacles are overcome!

One lady I spoke to explained how a terrible personal experience had caused her to suffer a range of mental issues from anxiety and depression, to the fear of strangers. To hear her explain how Obstacle Course racing has changed her life for the better, truly humbled me and made me realise, every one of you in the OCR world have given this lovely lady and her family a new lease of life, providing her with a positive, safe environment in which she now can flourish and recover. That is something beyond amazing!

For the elite racer, only a small percent of the above applies! They have no fear of the obstacles, no concern for the course that lays ahead. For them, they see podiums, they see PB's and they see World Champ Qualifications.

But beginners and elites alike, they also feel the

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sense of unity. On many occasions, I have seen a first place winner, celebrating the last person across the finish line, because they know what that person has accomplished and what it means to finish a race!

Many of the people I spoke to described the sense of liberation they felt when racing.

Most of us live our daily lives, suited and office based, as parents, professionals, and acting in the manner that adult life expects of us. But at weekends, we become nothing short of a super hero, shedding the exteriors of conformity and reverting to childlike characteristics, rolling around in muddy puddles, laughing until our bellies hurt and hugging strangers in a way that is not allowed in normal, everyday society!

OCR's allow us to be children again! And what else gives us that freedom? Nothing I've ever encountered, that's for sure!!

During my interviews, there were many that mentioned the same, fun positives; the opportunity to get a new muddy faced profile picture, and explaining to workmates that their husbands hadn't beaten them, that they had in fact completed a gruelling race at the weekend, but above all of these reasons, there was one that shone through more than anything.

A sense of personal achievement! Each and every one of them did something spectacular!

OCR's provide everyone with something different. Every participant finds their own reason to go back and suffer all that pain and effort again.

I love Obstacle Course racing for my own reasons, as you do for yours, but one thing is for sure, OCR is something unique, the feeling it creates is undeniably amazing and you are part of something truly incredible.

And if this hasn't convinced you as to why we keep coming back to OCR's, I will leave you with the favourite reason I heard in an interview while researching this article! Gav from The Elite BC Revolution Pride Team has a very unique reason for coming back to OCR's... And it is this "I do OCR's because I'm preparing for the zombie apocalypse. It will come, and I will be ready!"

So whatever your reason is for doing it, and whatever you gain from each OCR....please don't stop, your life may depend on it!!

HEART PARK , WARWICKSHIRE 12TH AUGUST 2017 Enter from just ÂŁ35

WWW.MUD7.COM

RECIPES

RECIPES

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WWW.MOUNTAINFUEL.CO.UK These are delicious recipes in their own right and perfect fuels to take to your events.

ORM’S

FAMOUS CHICKEN SOUP

The soup where it all began. Anyone who has been around OCR long enough will know that this soup was an absolute life saver for so many at the very wet and cold Spartan Beast in 2013. ORM publisher Mark shares with you his recipe for the best soup in the world, just in time for the winter thermos flask So here it is…

YOU WILL NEED: 1 whole chicken (or a pack of thighs/ drumsticks) 1 medium butternut squash 4 really nice thick carrots 2 single sticks of celery 1 tin of sweetcorn 1 heaped teaspoon of love (salt and pepper to taste).

METHOD: Cut the chicken into 4 and put it into a large saucepan. Just about cover the chicken with a kettle of boiling hot water. Whack it on the hob turned up high to boil hard for a good 20 minutes.

As the chicken is boiling away, peel the butternut squash, half it and remove the seeds – then dice it into about 1cm square cubes. Put all of the butternut squash in with the chicken. Add a little more water if it gets low so that it covers the Chicken and veg.

PROTEIN BROWNIES Why don’t you beat everyone else to it and start your resolutions now, especially if yours is to trim a few pounds. But before you sign up to the next fashionable shake based diet let’s just think about this.

Do you really have to go down this route or could you just clean things up?

YOU WILL NEED:

What we have here is a best of both worlds recipe that can act as the reward you’ll be craving after a hard hour’s exercise. These brownies that have all the tasted of any other but with the benefits of a nice healthy protein kick, just don’t eat them all in one serving. Each brownie has over 20 grams of protein per serving.

1/2 tsp sea salt

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1 cup chocolate protein powder 1/3 cup of sugar 1/2 cup natural peanut butter 1/2 tsp baking soda 2 eggs 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ¼ cup coconut oil Nutella

METHOD: Preheat oven to 350 F or 180 C degrees.

Mix together all the dry ingredients: Protein powder, sugar, baking soda and salt.

Whisk all the wet: Eggs, vanilla & milk together (start by adding 1/2 a cup on the milk).

Add the wet mixture to dry mixture and then add the coconut oil and peanut butter. Mix thoroughly.

If the mixture seems a little too dry and doesn’t seem to be coming together, just add a little milk until it is nice and smooth/thick.

Pour into an 8 x 8 greased baking tray and bake for 18-20 minutes.

Wash, top and tail the carrots. Then cut them into slices (like chocolate coins). Wash the celery and chop as small as you can without including any finger tips or finger nails.

Go back to the boiling chicken and using tongs, remove the chicken from the pot and put onto a plate – leaving the butternut squash boiling away in the chicken stock. Make yourself a cuppa.

After a brew, get a masher and carefully show the butternut squash who’s boss as it continues to boil away – it should start to break down and thicken the stock. The idea is to help it along but you don’t need to go mad – a few lumps are fine.

The chicken should be cool enough to remove from the bone and chop into small pieces. Discard the bones and add the chicken, celery, carrots and the whole contents of the tin of sweet corn (juice as well) into the bubbling saucepan.

Return to the boil for 10 minutes then switch off.

Allow brownies to cool for 1 hour. Cut into individual slices and add Nutella to taste.

DONE IN LESS THAN AN HOUR AND GOOD FOR 5 DAYS IN THE FRIDGE.

A pinch of salt and a twist of black pepper.

Obstacle Race Magazine 75

REGULARS : INDUSTRY NEWS

THE

REGULARS : INDUSTRY NEWS

WS NE Y INDUSTR

g industry All the news that you need to know from the Obstacle Course Racin

WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Saturday, September 17th 2016, saw the inaugural World Team Championships (WTC) for Obstacle Course Racing take place. The event, sponsored by registration software provider ACTIVE and supported by Survivor Race Spain, was hosted in Pippingford Park, near London, UK – known for its beautiful landscapes and challenging hills.

A select field of elite runners from Europe and the UK competed for the honour to become the first ever OCR World Team Champions. The coveted title was won by Los Vengadores from Spain, consisting of Cristhian Zarta Muñoz, Omar Eduardo Ruda Orozco, Jesus Montoto Vázquez and Alberto Dos Reis González, who exceeded their own expectations by completing the 10km course in just over 50 minutes.

Race Director Tony Campbell was happy with how the day turned out: “We welcomed an outstanding field of international competitors to battle it out on Saturday. Race day was great – the teams all fed back how much fun they had, how challenging they found the team-required obstacles (especially

76 Obstacle Race Magazine

the team tug traverse) and how they enjoyed the concept of obstacles that are only possible to complete when working together.

Teamwork is the main idea behind the WTC. The rules of the event are simple – in order to compete for the podium, teams of 4 must start together, complete the obstacles together and cross the finish-line together.

The WTC prides itself in being an inclusive event, with all-female / allmale and mixed teams starting off on an even footing. Spectators were especially inspired by Dutch team No Limits (John de Haan, Tamara Janssen, Jacco Middelvelt and Floor Latijnhouwers), who would have given any Paralympic team a run for their money and accordingly took first place in the Mixed Team category.

The teams are already fired up to challenge for the OCR World Team Championship title in Valencia next year.

The Elite Results are: 1st - Team Los Vengadores - 50:02 2nd - Team El Naturalista - 56:46 3rd - Team Spartan Fit One - 1:01:23

UK OCRA ANNOUNCE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The United Kingdom Obstacle Course Racing Association have recently announced that they’ll now be adding a UK team championships division to the UK Championships event. Heres a little more about what they had to say.

At Pippingford Park we settle the debate - which OCR team has assembled the fastest and best OCR athletes in the country?

OCRA UK is proud to announce a team competition to find the best competitive (Wave 1/age group) and Journeyman teams at the OCR Championship 2016.

Taking part in the team competition is absolutely free, and will be based on the cumulative time of your fastest runners who have completed all obstacles. Trophies will be awarded to the winners.

As a new concept in OCR we will be confirming how many team members will be needed to score in the team competition and whether the prizes will be gender specific or mixed in the athlete guide. This is to enable us to review your team selections and ensure both a fair and competitive team event.

For more information go to: http://www.ocrauk.org.uk/

DOUBLE WORLD

CHAMPION Reigning World OCR Champion, Britain’s very own Jonathan Albon is off to Canada to try and claim a hat-trick of wins in the Blue Mountains.

It promises to be an even more hotly contested race this year with Ryan Atkins, Hobie Call and Conor Hancock all with their eyes on the main prize. October 1st saw Jonathan relinquish his Spartan Race World Championship title with a still very respectable 4th place in a stacked field at Lake Tahoe in the US. Hobie Call became the new Spartan World Champ, with Ryan Atkins and Robert Killian finishing in 2nd and 3rd respectively. The ladies title was won by Zuzana Kocumova of the Czech Republic, followed by Canadians Lindsay Webster and Faye Stenning in 2nd and 3rd. We’d like to wish Jonathan and all the UK athletes representing the best of luck – go and show those Blue Mountains who’s boss.

TOUGH GUY CONFIRM

LAST EVER EVENT

Since the last issue of ORM we heard the sad news that one of the founding events of OCR has confirmed that they will no longer be putting on events.

Tough Guy have confirmed that the next Winter Tough Guy in January will be their last. With the industry growing all the time, the number of participants have decreased at Tough Guy over the past few years and with large costs of a

permanent course to maintain, it could just be the reason why Mr Mouse has called it a day. When news of this being the last ever event broke there was a huge influx of obstacle racers signing up to experience the brutality of the winter for one last time. The Killing Fields will be sadly missed by the OCR community and we wish Billy Wilson and all the Tough guy crew all the best for the future.

Obstacle Race Magazine 77

YOUR LETTERS

YOUR LETTERS

Letters

PAGE

Sponsored by

SEND US YOUR LETTERS AND WIN £50 TO SPEND AT

Hey ORM,

BIO-SYNERGY.UK

Had a great time at Mud 7 sporting the ORM colours. Some of the highlights being the lovely tyre carry and the colour run guys. Think I sport the yellow look well!

Thanks, John Jenkins

Thanks for your letters and photos, we always look forward to hearing what our OCR fans are up to. We’re just sorry there isn’t room to include them all.

If you would like to in with a chance of winning then please send 100 words and a picture of you in action to

letters@obstacleracemagazine.com

HI ORM, So I'm Mental Matt I started OCR because of a rough break up which spurred me on to want to challenge myself. I decided on the Spartan Race Trifecta. After this is was well and truly hooked on mud. Here began this years challenges. I’m always the silly one doing charity stuff in fancy dress. I'm trying to run 2016km in 2016 it's all for Autism, as my son is autistic so its something close to my heart.

Hi ORM I thought I’d share this pic of me and my 2 girls age 4 & 6 wearing the ORM wrag that we cut into headbands, we all did the Spartan this year and are already training for next years event Debra

78 Obstacle Race Magazine

I'm an endurance runner, I love to run long distances in the mud. Suffering Race, 4 laps of mudnificent 7, ram run 60km weekend and DOTT 12hr race 54km where I think I ended up wearing 6 outfits during just that one race. I’ve done 1319km so far and 40 OCR’s. The support from Race Directors has been fantastic, they’ve given me cheap or even free runs to help my challenge. Lots of amazing racers have also donated money or races which is amazing. I really tried to make it fun with the fancy dress.

If you can help please donate here: Www.justgiving.com/Matthew-Balding2

Hi ORM

Hi ORM,

I wanted to put forward my 16 year old son Harry’s picture. He has autism and OCD when it comes to being clean believe it or not!!

Ithought I'd submit this photo of my daughter Esmé doing her first Spartan Sprint (but not first OCR, she started in 2013) she turned 14 earlier this year. She didn't actually see the photographer, he caught her switching from rolling to crawling by chance but I think it makes a great pic & it's about time the juniors in this sport were seen!

Since starting OCR the difference in his confidence and social skills have been amazing, out on the course he turns into a different person!

Thanks Kate Warren

She's part of The Nuts Challenge Team and UK Mudd Queens.

Love the magazine by the way, keep the great reads coming!

Many Thanks Annalise Inglis

Obstacle Race Magazine 79

FEATURE : TEAM WORK

FEATURE : TEAM WORK

TEAM WORK TO MAKE

THE DREAM WORK

TEAM NAME: TEAM NUTS FORMED: APRIL 2014 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: CURRENTLY 63 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: An all inclusive team that had elements of both.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Dorking and train at The Nuts Challenge course.

TEAM NAME: TOTAL MUD RUNNERS FORMED: 2013 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 90ish 35 regular OCRers HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Both, we have members qualified for Brits/ worlds and other that just have a great laugh WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Total Sports & Supplements, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

After the explosion of OCR in the adventure sports market we saw something special about it right from the very start. Team work.

Although it’s seen by many as a competitive sport, one huge thing that’s apparent out on most courses is that the sport is a great enabler of team work. Whether you’re out on the course with a group of work colleagues or out there as a solo runner you can always bet your left shoe that’s there’s someone around that will work with you as a team to conquer any obstacle.

To help emphasize just how huge the team work aspect of OCR is we’ve put together a list of just a fraction of the teams racing on a course near you.

TEAM NAME:TEAM OCR NORWAY FORMED: April 2016 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: Around 150 in sept 2016 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Our team is both! We have some Of the best racers in Norway, but at the same time we always have place for the new runners, the ones just started working out and the ones just out after having a good time.

TEAM NAME: #TEAMKBA FORMED: January 2016 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: around 100 members HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We train with Regiment Fitness and our team is based on having fun but challenging and reaching new goals.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Bedford, Kempston, Ampthill

TEAM NAME: TEAM BRIGHT HAMMER FORMED: 2013 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 40 and rising HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We have a mixture of competitive runners and people who run for the challenge/fun.

Either way they all share a competitiveness with themselves and try to out-do how they did at their last race!

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Hertfordshire but with members from as far away as London and Sweden!

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: We have members all over Norway, but mainly around Oslo.

Yeah...and our one honorary member from Wales UK!

TEAM NAME: MUDDA FUDDERS OCR TEAM FORMED: January 2014, just after Mud'n'Madness in the pub NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 66 that race/run regularly HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We are a mixed team made up of all abilities and ages, some love to compete some just love to play in the mud.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Sunny Essex, the majority of the team are Essex based. We have a few outsiders from Luton, Coventry, Cornwall and Hawaii.

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TEAM NAME: TEAM RAM FORMED: January 2015 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: We have around 80 members based in the UK and the Netherlands HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: The team includes a mixture of serious + fun runners, some competing for trophies and some just for fun.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: We are based at Stoneleigh Fit Gym, Stoneleigh Park near Coventry- home of the Ram Run

TEAM NAME: CHEESES HIGH FIVERS FORMED: October 2105 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 15 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Fun (with a competitive edge) WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Nantwich - Cheshire

TEAM NAME: TEAM ROCKET FORMED: April 2016 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 20 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Both we aim to cover the whole spectrum of a race with some in elite and some in a group, the idea your not alone weather cheered by the sidelines or helped by the teammate next to you WHERE ARE YOU BASED: South West HQ is Rocket Race

TEAM NAME: MUDD KINGS FORMED: 2015 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 750 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: FUN IS THE NAME OF THE GAME WHERE ARE YOU BASED: We’re based wherever there is mud to tread and obstacles to conquer, the group was first formed when Arthur pulled the mighty Excalibur from the sacred stone of kings

TEAM NAME: TEAM REAPER FORMED:The team was formed during 2015 by the RD’s of Reaper Events and is continually evolving, bringing together friends and family from the OCR community.

NUMBER OF MEMBERS:There are around twenty members of Team Reaper, small but perfectly formed!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We have a lovely balance of fun loving OCR’ers and those that like to be competitive (on certain days!). We pride ourselves on our strong sense of community within the team and towards other OCR'ers, hopefully bringing a smile to the faces of all those we encounter.

Team Reaper are also fortunate enough to have The Obstacle Gym (aka “TOG”) available to us 24/7 (with the aid of head torches!), which is where we get to see all the crazy new inventions from the Reaper RD’s and give them a go. There is a weekly team training session at TOG, which always entails some ingenious challenges from this slightly mad OCR team.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Reaper Events is based in the Midlands, with the Reaper OCR itself taking place in Coventry, whilst The Obstacle Gym in situated in Lutterworth.

However, the team come from far and wide to be part of this OCR family.

TEAM NAME: TEAM LSF FORMED: May 2016 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: currently 7 active racers!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: definitely fun, with a designated chat group for the team to help motivate each other for training sessions, nutritional tips, advice and general chit chat. We tend to 'race' together in a group and have as much fun as possible.

When an individual wants to be competitive, we try to help pace each other and still work as a team, even if it's just two of us, in order to gain the best result possible.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Suffolk, and we do most of our training at The Playground obstacle training facility in Barrow.

TEAM NAME: SONS OF MUDARCHY OCR TEAM OR MORE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS MUDCRO FORMED: The team was originally formed in New Jersey in 2014. The UK chapter started in June 2015 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: We have nearly 500 on the facebook group but around 100 dedicated members. We also now have chapters in Denmark, Germany and 4 other states. We are looking to start a chapter in Australia next. As far as I can tell, we are the only OCR team that is truly international.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We have nearly 500 on the facebook group but around 100 dedicated members. We also now have chapters in Denmark, Germany and 4 other states. We are looking to start a chapter in Australia next. As far as I can tell, we are the only OCR team that is truly international.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: We arent based anywhere in particular. We have members in all corners of the UK from Somerset to Scotland, Wales to Norwich and just about everywhere in between.

Obstacle Race Magazine 81

FEATURE : TEAM WORK

TEAM NAME: TEAM URBAN FORMED: 2015 HOW MANY MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE: 100 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Mixture of fun and elite runners WHERE ARE YOU BASED: South London

TEAM NAME: KGBOOTCAMP ALTHOUGH WE NOW ALSO HAVE VESTS SAYING KGB OCR TOO! FORMED: KGBOOTCAMP was formed in Jan 2014 - at the time it was only Gary (husband) and I doing ocr and now everyone of our members have done at least 1 race and all the kids get involved too NUMBER OF MEMBERS: I'm proud to say around 35 Campers race and train in our vests HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We like to use the term 'felite' - mixture of fun and elite but we're all constantly improving be that against our physical or mental barriers.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Hailsham, East Sussex

TEAM NAME: OBSTAFIT FORMED: 2014 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 30-40 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Mainly fun though we have a few who like to compete too.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED: CARDIFF

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TEAM NAME: TEAM MUDDY KIT FORMED: 2014 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 7 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: One of the UK’s most competitive race teams. Representing muddykit.co.uk WHERE ARE YOU BASED: All across the uk

If you haven’t heard about the Chia Charge range and their fantastic flapjacks, protein bars, nut butters, trail mix and chia seeds You are missing out. Designed to be exactly what every runner needs to fuel their adventures.

If you like the sound of this then have a go at the competition below to win a whole case of them. Their delicious products are so moreish that you’ll find yourself running just so you can justify your next fix.

TEAM NAME: THE MICHAEL SMITH TRUST FORMED: Sept 2015 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 125, largest team at a race was 85 at reaper HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Fun- all about team work, getting people to face fears and get fit whilst having fun WHERE ARE YOU BASED: Loughborough- Leicestershire

TEAM NAME: TEAM ORM FORMED: 2016 NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 9 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: We’re a group of lady ambassadors representing Obstacle Race Magazine WHERE ARE YOU BASED: We are spread all around the UK

TEAM NAME:LYNX MULTISPORT TEAM FORMED:November 2014 NUMBER OF MEMBERS:Nearly 1000 in sept 2016 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TEAM: Even tough we are the biggest OCR-team in Sweden we do not se us self as just a OCR-team. We encourages our members to train and compeet also in other sports such as CrossFit, Fitnessm Triathlon for exampel.

Everybody is of course welcome in Lynx.

Both elite and beginners.

This is just a fraction of the teams that race in the Obstacle Course Racing circuit. So if you’re looking for that extra bit of motivation and drive to take you to the next level then why not join a team.

ASK AROUND AND FIND YOUR NEAREST ONE. YOU WON’T REGRET IT.

HERE’S MORE ABOUT CHIA CHARGE FROM TIM, THE FOUNDER OF THE COMPANY AND ITS YORKSHIRE PRODUCED PRODUCTS. So how come we decided that sports nutrition should be nice to eat as well as help your active lifestyle? Being active is a positive lifestyle choice and you should be rewarded with good stuff to eat that makes you smile, not grimace.

I’m Tim; man turned chef turned NPD Food Technologist turned runner, turned chia enthusiast. It is my belief that food - in particular sports nutrition - should be more than just fuel to keep the body going. Having

tried a few sport nutrition and energy products I came to the conclusion that whoever makes these things was at the back of the queue when taste buds were handed out! Sitting down to a delicious meal is easy enough, so why shouldn’t sports food be delicious too?

I soon came to realise it doesn't have to be this way. A few years ago I started developing my own formulations in the kitchen at home. I wanted to create food that tastes delicious and helps you perform, the result of which was Chia Charge. My company, which started from humble beginnings under the name of ‘Running Food’ harnessed the powerful nutritional value of Chia and made it delicious.

If you see me at one of the many events across the UK (and you most probably will) be sure to come say hello.

Alternatively you can find me on my personal Twitter at: @runningtimt and I respond to all emails at timtaylor@ chiacharge.co.uk

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INGREDIENTS - Cashews, sultanas, cranberries (cranberries, pineapple juice ), dates, soya protein isolate, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, cacao powder, goji berries, cacao nibs, vegetable glycerine, cacao butter, sea salt flakes.

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COMPETITION Would you like to win a case full of Chai Charge protein bars?

Then All you need to do is answer this quick questions:

IN THE ABOUT US SECTION OF THE CHIA CHARGE WEBSITE HOW MANY MARATHONS DOES IT SAY TIM THE FOUNDER RAN LAST YEAR? Find the answer on their website at Chiacharge.co.uk Send your answers into CARL@OBSTACLERACEMAGAZINE.COM Competition closes 20TH November 2016

Obstacle Race Magazine 83

REGULARS : TEAM ORM

REGULARS : TEAM ORM

TEAM

ORM

Becky Lockwood #ORMBex Ever since starting the magazine its always been a goal of mine to have a team of representatives running in the magazine colours at races. Fast forward a few years and it was decided that the time was right. In step Team ORM, a group of ladies whose enthusiasm and love for the sport of obstacle racing knows no limits. Here’s where we let you know what adventures the ladies have been having in the last couple of months.

Written by: CARL WIBBERLEY

Louise is going to China next month to take on the 60 hour Spartan Agoge at the Great Wall.

Louise Ballantyne

Kerrie Fisher

#ORMLouBal

#ORMKez

Marathon series.

She's been training hard to prepare herself for the endurance and mental side of the event and this weekend is taking part in 3 very different events in 24 hours as well as a series of mentally challenging tasks in prep for the big event.

So far she's competed in a CrossFit competition, she ran The Gathering Dusk till Dark OCR and is about to do the Edinburgh 10km as part of the Scottish Half

In between all that she's not slept as she's been practicing packing and unpacking her kit, tying knots and attempting the worlds hardest jigsaw puzzle.

All of this, and the main event is to raise money for The British Thyroid Foundation. Her story and link to donate is here: www.justgiving.com/LouiseBallantyne6

August and September have been bloody hard work but good fun for me. I completed the Hawaii Spartan trifecta weekend over 13-14th August, earning a championship coin and my first trifecta of the year along the way!

was the toughest course I've done to date, yet strangely I enjoyed it and felt massively satisfied when I crossed the line over 8hrs later having achieved the 4 laps I'd set out to do!

Peterborough for the Spartan Sprint on 2nd Sept (the second race of my UK trifecta) which I considered to be a nice little warm up for the Nuts Challenge the following day when I would be attempting 4 gruelling laps! It was my first time running Nuts and it didn't disappoint! It

Finally, on 17th Sept I completed 2 laps of Nuclear Blackout, finishing as 3rd female. I was pleased with my result, capping off two of the most enjoyable, yet physically gruelling two months of obstacle course racing since I started this crazy path in my life 3 years ago!

TO FOLLOW MORE OF THE LADIES ADVENTURES YOU CAN FIND THEM ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE AT

facebook.com/teamormladies OR BY SEARCHING THE HASHTAG

#TeamORM 84 Obstacle Race Magazine

The past two months I've cracked down on training ready for the World Championships. My training has become more focused and I'm absolutely loving it! Amongst all my training I've also done two laps of mud 7, 1st one I came 8th female and the second lap I did with others from the team as a sweeper and loved helping the racers overcome fears. I completed the 18k dirty dozen which for me was a huge challenge and I'm not a distance runner and that

course was a lot of running so I'm very pleased with a top 20 finish.

And most recently I did Nuclear Blast, still can't beat a nuclear race! This race was my final OCR before worlds so it was game on and focus. I took on board what my coach had said and I felt very strong and finished feeling rather proud of my performance. Now it's on to the biggest race of my life. I'm off to Canada to compete in the OCR World Championships.

Bring it on!!!

Alexandra Samantha Duesbury Doughty #ORMAlexa

#ORMSammyD

#ormalexa had a busy couple of months, notching up the miles in preparation for her biggest race to date, Equinox24! Completing Tough Mudder Yorkshire, Mud7, earning a Dirty Dozen medal of honour completing all 3 distances in one day, the Spartan Super, Sprint and Tough Mudder North West...finally it was time to take on Equinox 24-hour race! Aiming too complete as many laps of the 10km course as possible, Alexa ran, non-stop, day and night with only a few minutes’ break for a quick coffee between laps and managed to complete 15 laps, totalling 150km and finished 8th place female! Alexa absolutely loves doing, and is looking forward to tackling even more ultra-distances in the coming months!

#ORMSammyD has had a varied time over the past two months.

13/14th August she took part in Spitfire Scramble, a 24hr endurance run in Hornchurch as part of a small team completing 7 laps of the 10k course. 20/21st August she attended Muddy Race Fitness Weekend and enjoyed a taste of different activities and delicious food near Silverstone.

3/4th September she took part in Spartan Sprint & Super @ Elton Hall coming first in her 45-49 age categories in each race, and therefore qualified for the Worlds. 17/18th September she supported #ORMAlexa at Equinox24 and enjoyed shouting encouragement to everyone who took part.

Chloe Fairburn

Louise Clifford

#ORMChloe

#ORMLouise

August was a fun month for me as had no serious competitive races, first being the epic Mud7 and MuddyRace fitness weekend.

September was when things got more serious with the world championships leading ever closer, devil mud run a fantastic local race to me, where I finished 1st woman and of course Men's Health Cardiff, which is one of my favourites placing in the top ten women. Now all training is focused on the worlds. See you there and good luck everyone.

#ORMLouise The last few weeks I've been busy doing lots of training, running, swimming and core work. I loved the Peterborough Spartan Super, that bucket carry was a beast!

I completed my last Tough Mudder of the season at London South running with a large group for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Had an amazing day with the loveliest people, it was a really good way to end the season.

Jordan Foster #ORMJordan So for me the standout highlight of the last couple of months has to be the Dirty Dozen weekend back in August... 3 distances 18k, 12k and 6k, so of course I decided to all 3! The first highlight of the day was that I finished 3rd female in the 18k (my first ever podium!) but that got trumped later in the day when my other half Craig, PROPOSED to me at the finish line! It was our one-year anniversary and it was the race we met at, so it really couldn't have been more perfect!

It's going to be pretty difficult to top it that's for sure.

Becky Frostick #ORMBecky #ORMBecky enjoyed running Mudnificent 7 twice, once for time and managed a fantastic 3rd place, this she puts down to the obstacle heavy Reaper section. She then went out again with her the ORM girls. They had so much fun playing on obstacles and helping others to complete the race. Becky also ran her first ever Tough Mudder with the intention of being able to legitimately comment on it, but ended up loving it. Another volunteer shift is booked with them for next year. Her focus now is firmly on the upcoming World championships in Canada where she is running all 3 events.

Obstacle Race Magazine 85

REVIEW : 10 SECOND ROUND UP

REVIEW : 10 SECOND ROUND UP

ORM WRITERS

GRAIL QUEST

10 SECOND

Medieval tents adorned the field with people dressed in armour and weaponry as far as the eye could see. The race began with a proper warm up from a local military fitness instructor, something that is too often overlooked. We started the race on our bellies as we watched two knights battle on the start line, one with a burning sword, and away we went! My five companions and I, mostly dressed in our best knightly fancy dress, began the 10k race, banging together coconut shells as we went to make sure all knew we were gallant horse-back riders.

Obstacles were creatively made from items found around a farm. We

RACE ROUND UP TOUGH MUDDER – LONDON A "last minute" decision to attend with a 160 journey starting at 4am. Did TMLS disappoint? No! With directions signs out from around 5 miles out, finding the location was a breeze. As was parking and registration. After bag drop (£3 donation to charity) we were all set for the warm up and TM pledge. The course itself seemed shorter and quicker than usual (just over 10mile officially) and the layout was perfect for spectators as very much a "clover leaf" with the village and major obstacles towards the centre and the mudder legion running out and back. All the major obstacles were there including King of the Swingers, Block Ness and Everest.

Unlike North West, this was a relatively clean course with little mud (apart from Mud Mile) with KOTS and BlockNess coming last, meaning you finished quite clean with no need for the rinse station.

Kudos on the obstacle positioning! If you consider yourself to be an OCR'er and haven't done a TM, then you really need to sign up in 2017 and see why other mudder legion keep going back for more.

WIL CHUNG

had muddy bogs, slides and walks, hay bale mountains, tyre flipping and dragging, carries of all sorts including what must have been a one kilometre sack carry. Taking us back to our youth was a sack race where you had to jump, not shuffle, in a sack around a course - trust me, this is not what your legs need to do at the end of 10k. All in, this was the most I've laughed at an OCR the atmosphere and welcome was hugely friendly. Fancy dress was very welcomed and embraced. The set up was incredibly professional, from the branding, to the organisation, and the marshalling.

Going again on 9th September 2017.

SIMON HOSKINS

NUTS CHALLENGE – SUMMER After having my first DNF in the winter one this year, I was determined to beat the course this time. It was an early start on a sunny day after a few days of rain. I was looking forward the new obstacles that the team had announced (new monkey bars, rope transverse...) some of them I suspected they will be part of the mandatory obstacles to qualify for the UK and World Champs.

BEAR GRYLLS – CAMBRIDGE I did the 10k Bear Grylls in Cambridge. It was probably the first race where I didn’t get muddy and wet which makes a change! The terrain involved lots of running and hauling objects like sandbags and atlas stones around. We also did shooting and starting a fire, which were firsts for

me as this was different to all the other races I've done. It’s great to take away these new survival skills. On that day we all wore red in memory of Hughie Pringle, so there was a strong sense of togetherness amongst us.

To be honest though, I prefer mud… lots of mud…because I am a mucky cow ;o) YVONNE LEE

WOLF RUN The less muddy of the Wolf Run locations. Great organisation, extensive event village with lots of food options, a bar and music. A great trail run course, with water crossings, mud holes, hills, a proper swim, a huge fast slide and big obstacles: Walls, cargo net A-Frames (very high), monkey bars, tyres, bales and much more. No timing. Tech shirt, wrist band, water and a Cliff Bar in the goody bag. £5.00 to park (goes to a charity). Free key drop.

Good for spectators. Photos pricey. Loads of marshals.

Lots of medial cover. Proper water safety marshals where required. Suitable for all abilities and all about fun.

The new obstacles made the laps harder and slower, but with the approx. 3000 nut runners from the day before this made the mud the harder obstacle to beat this year. I can say now that I finished the course with a huge smile and a battered body. One of the hardest things mentally that I've done so far and the support from everyone was key to my success.

JAVI GIL

JOE TOWEY

BORN SURVIVOR

This year’s Spartan Super lived up to its name.

The first part high & low walls leading nicely into challenging terrain and obstacles.

With barbed wire, log carry, rope climb and Spartan spear throw, it was packed with punches. The ‘brutal bucket brigade’ being my favourite. With enough mud and water, the Super had all I had hoped for adding the atlas stones, concrete drag and z walls to name a few. Down towards the finish line, the men’s hoist complete, high walls and epic photo finish over the fire pit to claim the new 2016 medal. One-word EPIC!

Located just 8 miles from my house (8.1miles) meant I had to do this one. Having done Born at the lakes I knew the military style obstacles I would face. Short 10km course with over 30 obstacles meant very little running between each one. I took 3 newbies with me who absolutely loved it and want to do another. That sums up the quality of Born. The course was fairly easy (especially compared to the Lake District) pretty flat but still had some good terrain, water and mud.

Registration was quick and simple. Event village was low key but pleasant. The course plan was excellent. Into water after you'd done a mud section so whilst still getting muddy you stayed relatively clean. I'd recommend doing a Born but probably won't do one as my only criticism is no bling. No headband and not even a free drink at the end. The juniors all had medals so they could be done. All in all, a great race though that gets a 7/10 from me. Would be an 8 with bling!

LISA CASWELL

GARY D THOMAS

SPARTAN RACE – SUPER

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Obstacle Race Magazine 87

FEATURE : KEEP MOVING FORWARD

FEATURE : KEEP MOVING FORWARD

KEEP MOVING

FORWARD INTRO

DO YOU WANT TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST WINTER OCR RACE? HERE ARE 10 LIGHT-HEARTED WINTER OCR TIPS. THESE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING FROM FOUR LAPS OF NUT CHALLENGE THROUGH TO THE ORIGINAL TOUGH GUY. PLEASE SCALE THESE PIECES OF ADVICE TO SUIT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND RUNNING ABILITY.

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Make sure you incorporate some sort of running through water and water submersion into your winter training. Wading through rivers is always fun in January or even if you have to sit in a bath of cold water and then go running then so be it! Sounds obvious but you always hear someone crying with shock after the first water obstacle in the depths of Winter.

Keep moving.

Pick your clothing wisely. Less is often more. The more clothing you are wearing, especially if it isn’t the correct materials for the job then you’re just asking for trouble. Remember, skin will dry a lot quicker than clothing. Topless for the men is therefore always an option, a little hardcore but the option is there! Neoprene hat (if you have to submerge), gloves and even socks can make even the toughest conditions pleasant.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Keep moving Consider putting on a little more body fat over winter. The skinnier/ leaner you are the more you are going to feel it. Fat is an insulator after all. However if you’re running topless, completely ignore this because you will want to look ripped for the photos!

Keep moving Accept you are going to get cold.

This will happen, you may start to shake and your lips will almost certainly go blue. Just try and remember you have paid for this!

Keep moving If you are travelling with someone, make sure they put the car heaters on a full 10 minutes before you finish. Get out of your clothes immediately and sit in the car with as many layers on as possible,

this is not the time to pose for photos (well 1 may be acceptable) or to have a chat. If you can talk at this stage, well done, 90% of people are shaking so badly at this stage they will struggle to hold a hot drink. Remember it’s not embarrassing being undressed by your mates, I'm sure they have seen it all before. of the first words you will 10. Some say once you have finished may include; "never again", "That's it, I'm retiring" or "help", you will however have completely forgotten about all of this by the next day and be there the same time next year. It never looks as painful in the official photos.

FINALLY ENJOY IT AND TRY NOT TO DIE BECAUSE THAT JUST PUTS THE PRICE UP FOR EVERYONE ELSE!

Obstacle Race Magazine 89

REVIEW : STRONG VIKING

REVIEW : STRONG VIKING

STRONG

VIKING Review by: STEVE FOX

In a bid to do a race with a difference, two friends and I earlier this year decided to cast our eyes eastwards to do a race in Europe. After dutiful consideration we chose Strong Viking, principally because of the images it conjures up and the irony of making the reverse trip to the invading hordes of the ninth century.

Strong Viking has races in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Denmark – we chose Denmark because that’s where the Vikings came from. We booked a hostel in Roskilde (race venue) flights and car hire from Copenhagen. The hostel cost £55 for a family room whilst flights cost £175 each, although we did spoil ourselves by using British Airways from Heathrow. Car hire was £97 for three days.

The drive to the hostel in Roskilde on Friday took about 30 minutes. We had an evening meal of the Danish traditional

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dish of Stegt flæsk – fried pork belly with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce – and limited ourselves to two beers. We turned in for an early quiet night and shared a breakfast table with some members of the Belgian OCR team.

One of the many things I love about our sport is its inclusivity; there is no separation by sex or ability. I can now add nationality to that list. We encountered participants from Germany, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and of course Denmark. In the UK we often view ourselves as a bit different from “runners” or “cross-fitters” - in Europe we are definitely not alone.

Now I don’t know if it was a case of stereo-typing Scandinavia, however we anticipated a cold race. Fortunately I packed for either as race day was in blazing sunshine, warmer than the

weather we left behind in the UK. We drove the short distance from our hostel to the venue Roskilde Musik & Kræmmermarked where the annual music festival is held. Parking was well signposted and was free.

We entered the Beast (19km), however there are two other entry levels being Warrior (13km) and Lightening (7km). We arrived the recommended hour and a half before our wave time of 10.20am and registration was immediate and quiet. I’m not sure if this is because we were in the second wave of the day (shorter waves were still going off after we had finished) but we could have arrived a little later if we had wished.

Having registered, we decided to take in the atmosphere. There was a predominance of teams running by nationality with many race shirts

Obstacle Race Magazine 91

REVIEW : STRONG VIKING

REVIEW : STRONG VIKING

We then come across the first rig that started off with moving between alternate suspended ropes and rings for your feet, then to monkey bars, before changing to suspended metal piping and cannon ball - I made it all the way across, just. It was here that we bumped into our friends in the Belgian OCR team and we decided to complete the rest of the race together.

The course then split and those of us on the Beast took a turn for the stamina sapping quarry zone - this is the stuff I weirdly love. This included a wooden Viking shield and sword carry up and down high sand dunes – harder than it sounds. Shortly after was the sandbag round the neck carry again up and down the dunes however due to their steepness with no leveling out, this was one of the toughest carries I’ve done.

A refreshing lake swim followed that provided no small amount of rejuvenation before arriving at the Weaver that I’ve seen pictures of but never come across in a race. Its a lot harder than it looks and my technique can only be described as a work in progress.

We now arrived at the Strongman Wall – a

reflecting national colours. Thumping Europop blared from the speakers, finally in an environment that seemed entirely appropriate.

There were two German MCs psyching the crowd up giving instruction in several languages including English – not the only instance of shame at our reliance of other countries speaking our national language as well as we do.

Having checked our bags in (free) next to the showers (free) we viewed obstacles near the start finish area. “Storm the Castle” was a quarter-pipe about the same size as Everest but the one that drew my attention was the Urban Sky rig similar to the pictures I’ve seen of what I’ll be confronted with in Canada in a few weeks.

So to the start line where the warm-up was conducted to more bouncing Euro-pop before we took the Strong Viking oath – very similar to Tough Mudder with emphasis on challenge rather than race with your free beer at the end being consumed in Valhalla. One nice twist that I really liked was that everyone had to get over an eight foot wall before they could enter the start pen. This really did emphasise the principal of everyone is there to help everyone else that we are all so familiar with.

The first three or four kilometres were as often, run heavy designed to spread the field out. Early obstacles were the fairly straightforward stuff such as rope climb, balance bars and carry-a-Viking (piggy-back). One of the balance bars had a fun spin with it being a wooden shield and hammer fight with another racer, the first faller condemned to ten burpees.

Things now started to get fun with mud hills seemingly higher than usual but the water reassuringly cold and dirty. This was followed by the mandatory barbed wire crawl and then

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by Thor’s hammer throw – launching a large wooden mallet at a target about five metres away that I missed meaning the now familiar ten burpees.

Next was Hammer Banger - a very large tree log supported by a wooden bracket that allowed the log to slide. The aim was to move the log from one side of the bracket to the other using a large wooden Viking hammer that you had to wave in a big arc to create the necessary impact force. Ten burpees beckoned if you failed to

very simple concept but one of my favourites.

It is a nine foot wall on stilts but the bottom starts four feet from the ground so you have nothing to brace against. Hand holds are cut out at seven foot. You have to jump to secure your hand holds and then reach with one hand to the top of the wall before reaching with your other turning the action into bit of a muscle up before dropping down the other side. Simple but ingenious.

A succession of incline, straight and inverted walls followed with a horizontal salmon ladder where you hung from a pole lying on scaffolding from which you had to swing to get it to inch to the end. Another rope climb was a bonus but this was Rope XL where the rope was four times wider than normal meaning no traditional foot locking.

Urban Sky was the final obstacle before the finish. This started with one bit of Dragon’s Back, before morphing into monkey bars before morphing into slightly offset rotating wheels, before morphing into rings on pegs before morphing into a peg board. I got three quarters of the way across and I definitely need to blow the rust off my ring work before Canada.

One of the Urban Sky’s lanes was closed when we got there as it looked like someone had taken a nasty fall. Medical attention was prompt. The marshalling all day was low key but ever present and I always felt that any misfortune anywhere on the course would be dealt with quickly.

Strong Viking not only has races in four countries but has different Editions: Mud, Hills, Iron (42k) and Water. So if you like them there is plenty of variety. I’d sum it up by saying Strong Viking is as much fun as and similar in vibe to Tough Mudder but nowhere near as expensive. £75 for a 19k race feels about right, particularly when you take into account free parking, bagdrop and showers. There is no medal but a wrist band, a t-shirt and a beer.

Will I do another Strong Viking? Yes, I will but first I need to plan next year’s trip to our Mud Brothers in Belgium where I’ve been assured of fun hard racing and “proper Belgian beer”. Further proof that people who love OCR aren’t strangers; they are people that I just haven’t met yet.

move it the required distance within twelve hits which I thankfully achieved on my last one.

Now one of the highlights, the Fjord Drop – a sixty foot water slide with a kicker that gave some spectacular air. The slide was one of the steepest I’ve done and given my residual fear of some heights, I was glad there someone to give me a little push on Go. Swiftly following was Storm the Castle that I completed on my second attempt followed by fairly standard monkey bars.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STRONG VIKING GO TO

WWW.STRONGVIKING.COM

Obstacle Race Magazine 93

REVIEW : GREAT ESCAPE

REVIEW : GREAT ESCAPE

THE GREAT

ESCAPE REVIEW BY: MARK ROGERS

As a well-seasoned obstacle runner I’ve had the pleasure of taking part in many events, from well-established and new to the scene runs. The Great Escape was a fantastic themed event to add to my collection.

On the 30th July I pulled up in a free car park in Henley to take part in the first ever Great Escape run.

I wasn't sure what to expect other than a run themed around the classic 1963 film.

My wave comes and we are rounded up by Joel the owner of Intrepid Events and we received a short brief on what we had to come.

Joel's briefing complete and around the corner marched three German guards with a dog that looked like it wanted to eat us for its lunch. The Guards proceeded to march us to the very impressive prisoner of war camp, complete with barbed wire and even guard towers to look over each wave of escapees.

Once every one was filed into the camp, the guards then proceeded to put us through our paces with some military style drills as a great warm up.

It was time for the off, with a series of sirens, bangs and smoke grenades it was time to start our escape.

First up was the escape through a tunnel, it obviously wouldn’t be the Great Escape without a tunnel crawl being included. Once we broke into daylight it was time to make our escape on to the 10k course. The use of natural obstacles on the run was key to its success

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in pulling off the theme in my eyes, plenty of running in wet muddy trenches along the side of fields broken up with a few cargo nets, rope sections and what OCR is complete without a sand bag and log carry to make us suffer a little along the way. Around the route were some fantastic signs that helped to add to the feel of the theme throughout the course, this was a really nice touch and immersed you just that little bit more.

Obstacles complete and freedom from our captors was in sight, the run finished off with a nice stretch of our legs into a field where we were met by Hilts (Steve McQueen) or (a man a motor bike) who escorts you to "the border" a great swing on a rope across a river and we had escaped.

Overall a great first time event from the intrepid events team with a very friendly feel. A really nice medal from the organisers obviously in dog tag form, how could it be anything else. The to grab a free beer in a tent setup overlooking the finish line added to what was a well thought out event with plenty of atmosphere. I'm already looking forward to next years and am hoping they build on the success of the first Great Escape.

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FEATURE : TOTAL POWERBAGS FITNESS

TOTAL POWERBAGS FITNESS With the amount of different training options growing and growing, we sent Caroline with her 12-year-old son Cian off to Total Powerbags Fitness in Nuneaton to see why more and more local OCR runners are going there to get fit. Here’s how she got on.

FEATURE : TOTAL POWERBAGS FITNESS

After falling off the fitness ladder some time ago, our heads were full of excitement and trepidation of what we were letting ourselves in for. The journey was soon brought to a halt when we hit a traffic jam just outside Nuneaton, and this is when we could have turned around and gone home, but will power kicked in, we turned around and took an alternative route.

In the past I’ve had some PT sessions, been to Bootcamp and have dabbled in Parkrun, but there’s nothing yet that I’ve managed to stick at. Situated at North Warwickshire & Hinckley College, it was easy to find and there was plenty of parking. We got out of the car, memories of my college years came flooding back as it hasn’t changed in the past 20 years!

Total Powerbags Fitness, is a circuit based fitness class, devised by Lee Welland, and our class was taken by Jason Molloy.

One of the main reasons I wanted to give Total Powerbags Fitness a go was because I could do it with my 12-yearold son. I’d watched some videos on their Facebook page, and saw younger children doing it, so I knew it wouldn’t be beyond us. The cost was just £4 for adults and kids were free, and we were instructed to bring a drink and a towel.

Walking through into the dance studio in the Sports Centre, A.K.A The Sweat Pit, it was nice to see some familiar OCR Facebook faces in attendance – always helps you feel more

at ease even if you’ve never spoken to them before. Total Powerbags Fitness help to sponsor a number of OCR athletes including Stefan Martin, Grant Pearson, Ryan Bennett and Monika Lampart. They also sponsor Neil Ruff, a GB triathlete and 18 guys from the charity ‘Georgie’s Gift’ who are climbing Kilimanjaro in October in memory of Georgie Hall who died of meningitis.

We joined around 16 others in the line-up ready for the warm up and were told to take everything at your own pace, but to push ourselves a little. Pairing up, no turning back now!!

Now, I know we need to warm up before exercising, but this was like no warm up I’ve ever done in my life. It was high intensity with the music beating out, but the endorphins started to kick in. Squats with power bags, jogging, running and sprinting on the spot, high knees….and although already exhausted (at times I struggle to run a bath!), I was looking forward to what was next.

After a short drink break, we then started the main session with one person working on their abs, while the other person worked with the bags. The bags varied in weight from 5Kg and went all the way up to 40Kg. Cian started with the 5Kg, while I pushed myself with the 7.5Kg. You’ve got to start somewhere!

A real mix of exercises with and without the bags, in short bursts, made it a really enjoyable session. Although we’re swimming in the depths of fitness

levels, the class wasn’t altered down to our ability, or lack of it, we all pushed until we were spent. I’ve never sweat like this in my life, and I could see why the venue was known as The Sweat Pit!!

With a loyalty card you get given (get your card stamped at 10 classes, get a free session), free supplement offers and trainer of the week prizes, which was awarded to me this week!!, it really is a class that encompasses all ages and fitness levels and I can’t wait to go back and see how I progress over the coming months – that’s if legs will allow!

We were made to feel very welcome and there was no-one there to judge.

Starting a new class can be intimidating, but it just wasn’t the case here. I loved seeing Cian push himself, and for once enjoy exercising – if kids enjoy it, then that’s half the battle. It finally looks like I have found something where he won’t moan! Seeing him pushing through exercises, pushed me to keep going, where the old me would have stopped!

Nothing was out of our comfort zone, just hard work. This fitness class definitely gets the thumbs up from Cian and I. Would highly recommend anyone to give it a go, especially for kids to get them involved.

It’s now the morning after – what has happened to my legs? Struggling to bend down, climb up and down stairs, looks like progress was made.

Total Powerbags Fitness NWHC, Hinckley Road, Nuneaton, CV11 6BH Cost £4 per session, (£3 gym member) Children FOC Sessions: Monday 6-7pm/7-8pm, Thursday 7-8pm www.facebook.com/powerbags georgiesgift.org

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Obstacle Race Magazine 97

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REVIEW : OCR FAMILY WEEKEND

REVIEW : OCR FAMILY WEEKEND

OCR FAMILY

WEEKEND

IF YOU TAKE PART IN OCRS ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEN YOU’LL HAVE FOUND THAT MOST WEEKENDS ARE TAKEN UP WITH EVENTS AND YOUR SPARE HOURS DURING THE WEEK CONSIST OF LOTS OF TRAINING. This can leave you in the dog house with family. Have no fear - here’s where OCR family weekends away can save your bacon. These events are specifically designed with families taking part together in mind. With everything from camping to racing included, these events provide the perfect quality time with family.

One such company that’s put together one of these events is Mud Monsters. With Mud Stock, their aim is to bring families together to enjoy a muddy weekend away with each other.

So who better to tell us more than Teresa Pringle who is an OCR addict and went along with her family to this year’s Mud Stock. So take it away Teresa…

We arrived on the Friday afternoon and pitched up our tent around the main communal/congregation area. The atmosphere created by Mark and Becky was

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one of a weekend camping trip with friends with lots of fun, laughter with great exercise classes.

The site facilities were as advertised and we really didn’t really need any more than that. We had the use of a lovely camp fire, BBQ, a very well stocked buffet breakfast every morning with Danish pastries, ham, cheese, toast, etc. The very cute Split Screen Coffee Co were on site providing great coffee and tasty sweet treats alongside Fab’s Fabulous Pizzas if you didn’t fancy cooking.

A great timetable of exercise classes taught by very well respected coaches/ PTs in OCR including Insanity, Box n Burn, Yoga, Callisthenics, Rope Clinic, Bootcamp, Wall Masterclass, Running Techniques and Zumba.

The kids had their own timetable too with great activities such as OCR Academy, Den

Building, Nerf Wars, Eye Spy, Craft Corner and the kids OCR course: Mission Mud. The Family Mud Run gave everyone a taste of the epic awesomeness that is the Mud Monsters Run mud. Cue lots of muddy grins, shrieks of laughter and trademark OCR finishers photo posing!

Final activity for the weekend was the utterly hilarious Family School Sports Day involving fun relay style races that showcased everyone’s athletic abilities, team work and what we shall call, ahem, ingenuity. To sum it all up Mudstock 2016 was immense fun, well organised and really chilled out. Can’t wait for next year!

For more information and the date of the next Mudstock event go to: www. mudmonstersrun.co.uk

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REVIEW : TOUGH MUDDER

REVIEW : TOUGH MUDDER

TOUGH MUDDER

REVIEW BY: Alexandra Duesbury IMAGES BY: GAMEFACEMEDIA

Tough Mudder… two simple words that can prove extremely controversial… and quite easily spark debate amongst the OCR community.

Whilst many, including myself, have entered the OCR world through the gateway of Tough Mudder, there are equal numbers sceptical of the company for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it’s not a race. Tough Mudder, still shunning the competitive edge of the OCR world, focuses their marketing upon the mental grit, solidarity and teamwork that their courses promote. They make it clear that there is no winner, no medal, and no clock, just a team-oriented challenge for some muddy good fun, encouraging participants to chant “I put teamwork and camaraderie above my

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course time!” at the start line. So what exactly do you get for your money?

In September I attended Tough Mudder North West at Cholmondeley Castle – I’m no stranger to this event, having run my first ever Tough Mudder here back in 2012, attending every year since then for two main reasons: the stunningly beautiful venue and the mud, which I still believe no other obstacle race or mud run can compete with. As always, this element was plentiful, with lashings of gloriously thick mud in abundance.

Of course, the event itself has changed dramatically since my first visit, the scale and structure of the obstacles hugely impressive, as Tough Mudder continue to push the boundaries of obstacle innovation, including obstacles tried and tested at their huge 24-hour endurance event, Worlds Toughest Mudder.

Tough Mudder’s overall event organisation is second to none. Yes, there is a car parking charge, one which can be easier to swallow when car sharing,

but in return you find yourself driving into the event on huge metal panels to ensure no delays. Cost is quite often a gripe often heard when Tough Mudder is mentioned, and there ARE ways to save money. When volunteering, car parking is free. Not only that, but camping is also free! If you volunteer you can cut your entry cost dramatically – volunteering for a full day lands you a code to run for just £15, whilst volunteering for half a day gets you a run of the course for £30.

The season pass however, includes all UK and European events, and you can do as many laps as you want at each.

If you notch up a fair few runs at each, that’s a lot of miles for your money!

Upon entering, the event registration is slick, straightforward, and you are always greeted by an onslaught of volunteers and staff cheerful and enjoying their work for the day, often excited at the promise of their own run later on in the event weekend. Directions are clear, and excellent sound systems ensure that it

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REVIEW : TOUGH MUDDER

REVIEW : TOUGH MUDDER

is clear to all where and when to head to the warm up zone and the start line. Miss your start time? Don’t worry. Tough Mudder are swift and capable of adapting to both large and small waves, which ensures nobody gets left behind or denied a start.

The atmosphere at Tough Mudder is electric – with a large and exciting event village actively using their sponsors, it manages to maintain crowds long after the event and during the event the implementation of MC’s on key obstacles makes it an excellent spectator friendly day out. The start line sees participants hyped up by the ever-enthusiastic Gil – getting the blood pumping, engaging the audience and creating a huge sense of determination for the course ahead. Amongst this, Legionnaires (returning Mudder’s) are celebrated, called out and used as role models to the first timers. This is clearly a fantastic way of ensuring repeat custom through offering different coloured headbands, brand loyalty clear through the hundreds of participants who return again and again.

With the air thick with excitement for the course ahead, setting off from the start line after a countdown I found myself surrounded by conversations – some excited, some apprehensive for the obstacles in store. Tough Mudder’s large and unique obstacles ensure that there is often something which incites a sense of fear in people…an aspect of the event which is truly wonderful: allowing people to challenge their fears alongside their team mates. After a series of “over-unders” on natural obstacles built within the castle grounds, over the first set of overhanging walls, noticeably taller than most events and so, requiring teamwork, we found ourselves at the first big obstacle, new in 2016, the Blockness Monster. Mudder’s find themselves working together to push and pull themselves over huge, slippery, plastic rotating barriers immersed in fairly deep water. This is undoubtedly a fantastic obstacle, one that makes people laugh, but is also surprisingly hard work and exhausting!

After a fair stretch of running in warm sunshine, having only just increased body temperature, one of the most notoriously psychologically difficult obstacles was in sight: Artic Enema 2.0. The new Artic Enema is on a huge scale…huge dumpsters surrounded by lorries, excitedly smiling volunteers continuously packing ice into them, tall metal ladders climbing upwards, ready for a slide down inside a cage to ensure a high speed entry and full immersion into the icy depths.

Once in, you must grab hold of the board in front, pull yourself under once again and emerge to climb out – by this point difficult as the body numbs with shock. There are plenty of cries; endless encouragement from volunteers, but the race off from the obstacle with both adrenaline and in an effort to get warm ensures that the next obstacle soon arrives.

Soon after are a number of favourites: Kiss of Mud, crawling under low barbed wire through thick, sludgy mud. Cage Crawl, one that easily throws the claustrophobic, as Mudder’s find themselves submerged up to their faces in water, using their hands to pull themselves backwards under a cage, gazing through the wire at the sky as the cold water surrounds their ears, and Birth Canal, a crawl through a muddy tunnel, underneath a liner heavily weighted with plenty of water continually pushing you back down. Following this, a Cholmondeley Castle exclusive: Island Hopping…large black, slippery islands across the lake which Mudder’s must jump across to reach the other side. As this is the only event that has this obstacle, it is always a favourite and surrounded by onlookers with picnics and cameras. The run continued, weaving participants through a quad-burning course up and down the hillsides in Killa Gorilla.

Across a mixed terrain of trail, some concrete, plenty of mud, cobbles and bouncy, green woodlands, along the way taking on the slippery 10ft Hero Walls, wading through thick, sludgy marshlands in Creek Crusade, carrying logs, and even carrying one another on Hero Carry.

Next came Mud Mile: Tough Mudder’s

crowning glory. This was a special one...endless rows of huge hills of slippery mud, followed by deep pools of thick sludge that sees Mudder’s sliding, laughing, working together and igniting the camaraderie within the course. Not only that, but as the course doubles back on itself, you take it on twice. If you were hoping to finish clean, there was no chance, as the course was missing its usual later King of the Swingers water obstacle. This also set the precedence for all following obstacles, increasing the difficultly dramatically. Pyramid Scheme, a slippery Perspex incline to push and pull each other over, is usually a teamwork obstacle, but following the mud bath it became extremely difficult, requiring Mudder’s to work together in large groups to heave each other over the now even steeper height. Of course, in true Mudder spirit, nobody gets left behind, and as always participants helped one other for long periods of time, summarising the core morals of the event in one obstacle. Whilst some of the usual obstacles were missing from this course, and there were a fair few long stretches of running, before the end Tough Mudder managed to cram in a few more – crawling through the dark tubes of Sewer Rat before plunging backwards from a height into water and using upper body strength to scale the height of Liberator, clambering up using pegs inside holes on wooden boards, with a harder version for Legionnaires. Due to the scale of the obstacles, backlogs weren’t an issue…until the swamp. A yearly success at North West, the swamp was of course, included. Thick, clay mud makes this swamp nearly impossible to wade through, decreases movement so that from a distance it would appear that everybody was moving in slow motion, but don’t be fooled – this was definitely hilarious, albeit exhausting! And not forgetting Funky Monkey – incline ascending monkey bars, followed by a metal swing and a long decline bar to inch your way down – if your grip or upper body fails you…straight into the drink!

Approaching the finish line with the promise of the coveted orange headband and an ice cold Kingston Press, the mood often drops slightly amongst first timers, with the small matter of two huge, and honestly, terrifying obstacles. Firstly, Everest. A 15ft quarter-pipe, greased, slicked and doused in mud with a curved top and little handhold aside from the arms of strangers dangling down in hope. It was nearly impossible with the amount of mud, but sure enough, hordes of people crowded at the top, crying at fellow Mudder’s to “sprint” and grabbing frantically, hauling one other over the top, whilst others slid dramatically back to the bottom. Once over, the final hurdle: Electroshock Therapy, now with an optional bypass if you’re a Legionnaire, instead taking on the Frequent Flyers Club. Electroshock is a short sprint that feels truly miles away, you battle through dangling wires delivering 10,000 volts of electricity…and you hope that you don’t slip in the mud or get stuck. It’s certainly one that stays with you for a while!

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FEATURE : CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

FEATURE : CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

DRYROBE ADVANCE

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

ASICS LB CALF TIGHT

RRP £94.99 WHERE www.dryrobe.com

RRP £75 WHERE www.asics.co.uk

We’ve brought together tried and tested Christmas gifts that any obstacle racer would love to unwrap Christmas morning. There’s something to meet every budget in the gift guide.

Whether it be something for a hardened racer or someone running their first OCR you’ll be able to find them the perfect gift in this collection.

VIRUS PERFORMANCE MEN'S STAY WARM COMPRESSION V2 Tech Pant

RRP £74.99 WHERE Muddy Kit, Origin Inspired, Cliff Lakes

GARMIN VIRB ULTRA RRP £449 WHERE www.garmin.com/en-gb

KITBRIX

RRP £48 WHERE www.kitbrix.co.uk

OS1ST FS6+

(performance foot and calf sleeve for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and shin splints) RRP £44.95 WHERE www.simplyfeet.co.uk

THE ROADSTER FROM TIGER TAIL RRP £25.00 WHERE www.triathlonstore.co.uk

FEETURES! ELITE MERINO RRP £15.99 WHERE www.run4it.com

KT TAPE CONSUMER PRO RRP £22.99 WHERE www.kttape.co.uk/store

INOV-8 X-CLAW 275 RRP £110 WHERE www.muddykit.co.uk

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Obstacle Race Magazine 107

FEATURE : CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

ARMADILLO COMMANDO 100% MERINO WOOL SOCK

FEATURE : CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

ALPHAWOOLF SHOES Tri/road/urban trail RRP from £75 WHERE www.fenlandrunner.com

RRP £15 9/10 WHERE www.armadillomerino.com

NEW BALANCE MINIMUS 10V4 TRAIL RRP £85 WHERE www.newbalance.co.uk

VIRUS PERFORMANCE MEN'S STAY WARM Functional Fit Long Sleeve RRP £64.99 WHERE Muddy Kit, Origin Inspired, Cliff Lakes

VIRUS PERFORMANCE WOMEN'S STAY WARM COMPRESSION Full Pant RRP £74.99 WHERE Muddy Kit, Origin Inspired, Cliff Likes

9/10

FITNESS TREE RRP From £299.99 WHERE www.fitnesstree.co.uk

INOV-8 ALL TERRAIN KITBAG RRP £80 WHERE www.inov-8.com

MUD SWEAT & TEARS STAINLESS STEEL

PUSHING THE LIMIT STAINLESS STEEL

RRP £34 WHERE www.runnerswall.co.uk

RRP £46 WHERE www.runnerswall.co.uk

SPLASHMAP WEARABLE MAPS GARMIN FENIX 3 HEART RATE

RRP £25 (including p&p) WHERE www.splash-maps.net

MULTIPOWER 53% PROTEIN BAR RRP Box of 24 for £51.99 WHERE www.multipower.com

NUTRITION X THE ULTIMATE 'ENDURANCE' BUNDLE RRP £84.97 WHERE www.nutritionx.co.uk

RRP £469 WHERE www.garmin.com/en-gb

SALOMON SPEED CROSS 4

INOV-8 X-TALON 225

RRP £124.99 WHERE www.muddykit.co.uk

RRP £100 WHERE www.inov-8.com

ALL TERRAIN 3 RRP £20 WHERE www.inov-8.com

SHAKESPHERE 2.2L WATER BOTTLE

BIO SYNERGY INSANITY PRE-WORKOUT RRP £34.99 WHERE www.bio-synergy.uk

RRP £9.99 WHERE www.shakesphere.co

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Obstacle Race Magazine 109

EVENTS

Events page

October - November ‘16 For a more comprehensive list of upcoming events go to

22 Hell Up North 10/12 miles

31 Mens Health Survival of The Fittest, The Muddy One 10km

40 The Muscle Acre, Mud Slog 5/10km

15th October 2016 Delamere Forest, CW8 2HZ

29th October 2016

Surrey, GU3 3HB

www.hellrunner.co.uk

Manchester, M11 3FF

www.muscleacre.com

From £32.50

www.mhsurvival.co.uk

From £31.50

See Website for details 23 Reaper Run Day & Night 5/10km

WWW.OBSTACLERACEMAGAZINE.CO.UK/EVENTS

8 Spartan Beast 19/22km

15 Tough Sh!t 10km

1st & 2nd October 2016

2nd October 2016

8th October 2016

Hampshire,

Windsor, SL4 2HT

Merseyside, L38 7JE

www.ridge-runner.co.uk

www.spartanraceuk.uk

www.toughsht.co.uk

From £45

From £100.00

£40.00

2 The Bigfoot Weekender 6/12/18km

9 Warrior run No.8 7/14/21km

16 Brutal 10 Woolmer 10km

1st & 2nd October 2016

2nd October 2016

8th October 2016

Kent, TN15 0RX

Brighton, BN6 9BQ

Hampshire, GU33 6AZ

www.bigfootchallenge.co.uk

www.warrior-run.co.uk

www.brutalrun.co.uk

From £40

From £56.00

From £18

3 The Royal British Legion Major Series

10 Muddy Mayhem 5/10km

17 Fuddy Mud Sucker 5km

5/10km

2nd October 2016

9th October 2016

1st October 2016

County Durham, TS21 2DN

Hampshire, SO30 2GH

Kent, TN3 9HS

www.durham.gov.uk/muddymayhem

www.fuddymudsucker.co.uk

www.majorseries.com

From £35.00

From £45

11 Holy Grit 6/12/24km

18 Muddy Mayhem 5km

4 Autumn Ram Run 8-24km

7th/8th/9th October 2016

9th October 2016

1st & 2nd October 2016

Newquay, TR8 5PW

Reading, RG4 7TR

Warwickshire, CV8 2LG

www.holygrit.co.uk

www.muddymayhem.co.uk

www.ramrun.co.uk

From £45

From £27.57

12 Bear Grylls Survival Race 5/10/30km

19 OCR World Championships

5 Xrunner, Wild Warrior 5/10km

8th & 9th October 2016

14th-16th October 2016

1st October 2016

Enfield, EN4 0PS

Canada

Derbyshire, DE6, 3BN

www.beargryllssurvivalrace.com

www.ocrchampionships.com

www.xrunner.co.uk

From £40.00

From $179 20 Mucky October Madness 5/10km

6 Spartan Sprint 5-6km

13 Royal Marines Commando Challenge 4/10/17km

1st October 2106

8th & 9th October 2016

Essex, CM7 4NJ

Windsor, SL4 2HT

Devon, EX9 7BL

www.muckraces.co.uk

www.spartanraceuk.uk

www.commandochallenge.co.uk From £40

From £32

From £72 7 One True Grit 5/10km

14 Mens Health Survival of The Fittest, The Wet One 10/20km

From £45

From £40

From £54

2nd October 2016 Hertfordshire, SG7 6RW www.onetruegrit.com From £39.99

110 Obstacle Race Magazine

8th October 2016 Nottingham, NG2 2EH www.ratrace.com/mhsurvival2016 From £55

15th October 2016

21 Tough Sh!t 10km 15th October 2016 Surrey, GU15 1PS www.toughsht.co.uk £40.00

41 Zombie Evacuation 5km

15th October 2016

32 Trailtroopers, Trick or Treat Zombie 2/6.66km

Coventry, CV7 8DX

29th October 2016

London, NW4 1RL

www.reaperevents.co.uk

Dumbarton, G82 2SH

www.zombieevacuation.com

From £32

www.trailtroopers.co.uk

From £30

From £9/£23 1 Ridge Runner 10km

6th November 2016

24 Enter The Dragon Mountain Challenge 12.5km

6th November 2016

42 Winter Monster Race 5/10km

16th October 2016

33 Rock Solid Race 5/10/15km

North Wales, LL55 4UR

29th October 2016

Wiltshire, SN16 9RX

www.enterthedragonchallenge.com

Milton Keynes, MK18 5LJ

www.monsterrace.co.uk

From £50

www.rocksolidrace.com

See Website for details

From £48 25 The Royal British Legion Major Series 5/10km

12th November 2016

43 Nuclear Fallout 6/12km

16th October 2016

34 Discovery Rocket Race 5/10/15km

Leeds, LS23 6LT

29th October 2016

Essex, CM15 0LA

www.majorseries.com

Somerset, BA8 0PH

www.nuclear-races.co.uk

From £40

www.rocketrace.co.uk

From £60

From £40 26 The Wholehog 4.5/7 miles

12th November 2016

44 Commando Series 6/12km

16th October 2016

35 Weston Park Obstacle Challenge 10km

Suffolk, IP12 3PQ

30th October 2016

Kent, TN8 7NG

www.wholehograces.co.uk

Shifnal, TF11 8LE

www.commandoseries.co.uk

From £45

www.kickassendurance.co.uk

From £35

From £44 27 The Royal British Legion Major Series 5/10km

12th & 13th November 2016

45 DeadDrop: Special ForcesUltimate Hell Day

22nd October 2016

36 The Wolf Run 10km

Warwickshire, B49 5NJ

5th & 6th November 2016

Central London

www.majorseries.com

Leicestershire, LE17 6DH

www.deapdropfitness.co.uk

From £40

www.thewolfrun.com

See website for details

From £39 28 Newcastle Stampede - 10km

12th November 2016

46 Shropshire Mud Run Series Round 5 - 10km

22nd October 2016

37 Dash of The Titan 5/10km

Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 5HP

5th November 2016

Shrewsbury, SY5 6HG

www.newcastletsampede.com

Newark, NG22 9EP

www.fitnessexperience.co.uk/events

From £30

www.dashofthetitan.com

From £30

From £60

12th November 2016

29 Mens Health Survival of The Fittest, The Hilly One 10km

38 Reigate Rampage Run 3.5/10km

23rd October 2016

5th November 2016

Hampshire, GU11 1PZ

Edinburgh, EH2 2HG

Surrey, RH2 8LB

www.brutalrun.co.uk

www.mhsurvival.co.uk

www.reigaterampagerun.co.uk

See Website for details

From £30

From £18

30 Total Grit Xtreme 10km 29th October 2016

39 Back 2 The Trenches, The Big Push Winter 6/12/24km

Yorkshire, HD3 3FR

6th November 2016

www.totalgritextreme.co.uk

London HQ, RH1 4EJ

£25.00

www.back2thetrenches.co.uk

47 Brutal 10, Spider Hill 10km 12th November 2016

Continue on page 112 Map of locations on page 112

From £55

Obstacle Race Magazine 111

EVENTS

48 The Winter Beast 5/10 miles 13th November 2016 Leicester, LE14 3PF www.thebeastrun.co.uk From £35 49 Guts 'N' Glory 5km 19th November 2016 Leicestershire, LE65 1SB www.muckyraces.co.uk From £38 50 King Of The Hill 8km+ 19th November 2016 Daventry, NN11 6LW www.muddy-furlong.co.uk From £35 51 Cakeathon 2.5km 19th November 2016 Daventry, NN11 6LW www.muddy-furlong.co.uk £15.00

29

52 Run Forest Run 11km 20th November 2016

32

Chiddingfold, GU8 4QA www.run-forest-run.co.uk £25.00 53 The Lunacy Run, November Nutter 10km

10

20th November 2016 Lincolnshire, DN37 0SW

28

www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/event/ LunacyRun2016234 £22.00

25 53

30 15 22,31

24

46

37

14

5 35

23 27,36,48,49,50,51

4

33

7 12

6

18

8

42

38,40

11

52

9

1 16, 17,47

112 Obstacle Race Magazine

26 43

41,45

21

13 34

20 39

2 3,44

BOOTCAMP LISTING

Bootcamp

LISTING

SOUTH WEST

11. HODGE HEALTH & FITNESS BRISTOL 07855 465 872

hodgehealthandfitness.co.uk Facebook: hodgehealthandfitness

SOUTH EAST

12. WILD FOREST GYM OBSTACLE TRAINING CENTRE Nuclear Races, Brentwood, Essex 08454561336

Find your perfect OCR place to train situated near you with our handy listing.

Would you like to be included in this listing? For more information on how you can do this contact carl@obstacleracemagazine.com

wildforestgym.com Facebook: Wildforestgym 13. WELLFIT OUTDOOR FITNESS

NORTH

1. UK OUTDOOR FITNESS “BOOTCAMPS AND OBSTACLE TRAINING” Leeds, Bradford, York, Sheffield, Castleford, Huddersfield 0796 478 7981

ukoutdoorfitness.com Facebook: UK outdoor Fitness / UK Indoor Fitness

NORTH WEST

2. PRIME HEALTH & FITNESS Ellesmereport CH65 1AE 07885764077

info@primehealthandfitness. co.uk Facebook: Prime Health and Fitness 3. Origin Inspired Origin OCR South West Manchester 0161 973 6479

www.origininspired.co.uk

114 Obstacle Race Magazine

MIDLANDS

4. THE OBSTACLE GYM Lutterworth 0726912988 info@reaperevents.co.uk

Facebook: The Obstacle GYM

WEST MIDLANDS 5. O.P.T OUTDOOR PHYSICAL TRAINING Redditch, Bromsgrove, Rubery, Alcester RFC, Droitwich RFC 07885 416446 outdoorpt@hotmail.co.uk

outdoorpt.co.uk Facebook: O.P.T Outdoorphysicaltraining

EAST ENGLAND

6. FORTITUDE FITNESS CENTRE Highfields Farm, Caldecote, Cambridge, CB23 7NX 07876635234

fortitudefitnesscentre.co.uk Facebook: Fortitude-Fitness-Centre

7. Fit 4 OCR Hertfordshire SG7 5EN

WALES

8. STEVE WALL PERSONAL TRAINING & MOTIVATION Rhondda, Merthyr Mawr Dunes, Caerphilly

14. SAM WINKWORTH ACADEMY “BOOTCAMP EXTREME” The Vine Cricket Ground, Kent 07817403398

samwinkworth.com

Brentwood, CM15 0 07515 413906

theptbarn.co.uk Facebook: The PT Barn

NATIONWIDE 20. FIT CAMPUK Ltd

Redditch, Wythall / BIrmingham, Edgbaston & Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Lichfield , Barton / Burton Upon Trent

21. BRITISH MILITARY FITNESS Outdoor sessions in 140 Parks Nationwide 020 8996 2220

britishmilitaryfitness.com Facebook: britishmilitaryfitness

15. IMMORTAL FITNESS MARLOW/HAMBLEDEN/HENLEY

immortalfitness.co.uk Facebook: Immortalfit

SE London

07963202339

07584 414206

5

guardianfitness.co.uk 17. SPARTAN GROUP X ORPINGTON

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

ORFC Leesons Way, Orpington, Kent, BR5 2QB

07592750709

02037315351

mud-runners.co.uk Facebook: EnergiseMudRunners

toughlove.mobi/sgx Facebook: sgxorpington

1

3 2

16. GUARDIAN FITNESS OCR TRAINING

Rayne, Essex

10. ENERGISE MUD RUNNERS LTD

Kelvedon Hatch,

fitcampuk.co.uk Facebook: Fitcampuk

wellfitoutdoorfitness.com Facebook: Wellfit outdoor fitness

07792 881255

bootcamprevolution.co.uk Facebook: TheBootcampRevolution

19. PT BARN

07966 638 009

Facebook: Steve Wall

9. BOOTCAMP REVOLUTION OBSTACLE COURSE

fivestarbootcamps.co.uk Facebook: 5STAR BOOTCAMPS

07886 035773

07940 343387

SOUTH

07525 843326

Turnbridge Wells, Kent

07720 82611

www.fit4ocr.com Facebook: Fit 4 OCR

18. 5 STAR BOOTCAMPS

4 7

6

10

9

8

18 11

16

15

17 14

12

19

13

Obstacle Race Magazine 115