Obstacle Race Magazine Issue 31 - Spring Edition 2019 by Obstacle Race Magazine

ISSUE #31 SPRING EDITION

2019 £5.95

M A G A Z I N E

KIT BAG • T-Shirts • Shorts • Change Robes

TOUGH MUDDER

PRESIDENT

INTERVIEWED

GRIP UPGRADES

TOUGH GUY testing

your

M I N D & BODY

WIN

• Dryrobe • Xtenex laces

T H E N O .1 M A GA Z I N E F O R O B S TA C L E A N D A DV E N T U R E R A C E R S

SPARTANRACE.UK

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Co Founder, Editor & Chief

Carl Wibberley carl@obstacleracemagazine.com 01246 813249 07808852033

CPW DESIGN

Co Founder & Sub Editor Kevin Newey kevin@obstacleracemagazine.com 07932 411592

Customer Services & Subscriptions Manager Caroline Newey caroline@obstacleracemagazine.com 07827 962542

Published By NEWCO MEDIA Ltd, 48B Victoria Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire,, PE16 6AP Printed By

It’s a new year and in keeping with tradition I’ve been working on a brand new look for the magazine to keep things fresh. Although this year its a little different because we’re turning back the clock and bringing back our original logo for our sixth year.

THIS ISSUE: I’ve really enjoyed putting the first of our new seasonal issues together. This theme allows me to focus on what challenges we face at particular times of year, suggesting kit and also how to prepare.

BUYMYPRINT

Right now we’re just slipping into Spring and although

Earlsdon | Coventry www.buymyprint.co.uk 024 7671 2248

the weather is warming up it’s still not a given as to what conditions we need to be ready for on race day. Its time to get our bodies and minds ready for a busy race season ahead. I’d love to know what you think of the new look of the magazine, please get in touch on any of the channels below.

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

FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: TONY JARVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

TAKEN AT:

Ca r l

THE WINTER NUTS CHALLENGE

CARL WIBBERLEY EDITOR & CHIEF @CPWADVENTURES @CARLWIBBERLEY CARL@OBSTACLERACEMAGAZINE.COM

integrity and accuracy. However no warranties or claims can be made

ISSN 2053-9495

against Obstacle Race Magazine in respect of the contents OR the views of individuals who do not necessarily represent the views of the Magazine, NEWCO Media Ltd or the Publisher.

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Contents TRAINING

ISSUE #31 - SPRING EDITION - 2019

NUTRITION

FEATURES

20 A

8 STAND OUT

Key elements of training explained.

Great recipes for you to try at home.

The best pictures captured at events.

66 SWEET

36 MUDTREST

Create a solid foundation.

Cut down your sweet treats or you could be cutting your life by half.

SOLID TRAINING PLAN

FOUNDATIONS TRAINING

64 GRIP

STRENGTH Give your grip the squeeze.

RECIPES PAGE

PHOTOGRAPHY

TOOTH

WALL

68 POST

52 G SERIES

WORKOUT REFUEL

Fill your tank with the right stuff.

Our favourite pictures of you from the last few months.

Why Graphene change the face of trail running.

78 OCR DIRECTORY

Find OCR shops and training centres around the UK.

80 EVENTS DIARY

Find your next challenge in the coming months.

Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

ADVENTURE

10 SPARTAN

58 SUMMIT

Check out who made it into the Spartan UK pro team.

Join us on our adventures in the hills.

PRO-ROSTA

14 RACE IN

FOR THE WEEKEND

PICTURES

The Nuts Challenge

60 SUMMIT FOR THE

26 TOUGH MUDDER

The recommended kit for your adventures in the mountains.

INTERVIEW

We speak to the new president of TM.

46 TOUGH GUY

MENTAL BATTLE

Is the biggest obstacle on the course your mind.

70 TOUGH GUY THE PHYSICAL BATTLE Will your body get you through.

WEEKEND

62 REASONS TO TRY ADVENTURE RACING

We give you a push towards a new type of challenge.

KIT BAG

12 CHANGE ROBEs

Are they worth the investment?

18 SALOMON

SPEEDCROSS 5 Tested and reviewed

T-shirts

A selection of T-shirts up to the task of OCR.

32 SHORTS A selection of race shorts perfect for spring.

38 DRYROBE COMPETITION

Enter to win a Dryrobe.

kit bag upgrades

Equipment youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to get your hands on.

54 INOV-8 MUDCLAW 260 G Tried and testing.

Obstacle Race Magazine

STAND OUT PHOTOGRAPHY THE PHOTOGRAPHER: Name: Richard Burley Photo group – Founder and Director of Epic Action Imagery Interesting fact – Once spent an autumn touring the UK with George Best and Rodney Marsh as part of a team supporting a Sporting Night to Remember theatre show. Located – Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, UK

THE PHOTOGRAPH: Where was the photo taken? Windsor Great Park When was it taken? Spartan Sprint, Saturday 1st October 2016 (08:30 wave) Kit – canon 1DX (mk1), Canon 24-70mm (at 32mm), f5.0, ISO 640 and 1/6400s Why stand out? The Saturday morning started very early and when I arrived on site around 5:30am, the fog was a bit of a pea souper and I remember the long trail of car taillights making the trip from the main gate into the event car park, I was capturing images at the start line for the first few waves and after the 08:30 wave went out, I turned to watch them running into the park when I saw the lifting fog had created a sunburst effect through one of the trees close the start line. We’d had similarly foggy conditions at Pippingford the year before, but the start line wasn’t in a location where the sunburst could be framed, so was keen to capture this one. I didn’t have long as the racers were already making their way to the left to follow the course and I knew that for the next wave, the sun would be a little bit higher and fog may have lifted completely. I shot 2 quick frames of the scene and just got on with the rest of the day. When I was processing the teaser gallery for uploading to Facebook I realised the image was a bit more spectacular than expected. It remains a firm favourite of the images I’ve captured when covering races. I’d not seen conditions like this in the previous 6 seasons and sort of hope that the wait for the next time won’t be so long!

EVENT REPORT

SPARTAN PRO-ROSTER 2019

Series Events al on gi Re e th in ng mpeti team who will be co and World Championships. er st Ro oPr er ev t an r firs have launched thei & Ireland in the 2019 Spartan Europe d an el Ir & K U n ta Spar e UK from d Female athletes on and represent th an go e to al M m e ai it e El th 0 h 0 it 2 w an recognising more th story. ly al ci fi of d ar w to ly are working er in Spartan hi al st ob Ro gl on Pr ta al ar ob Sp gl 9 y rst trul For 201 is will create the fi Th . ld or on the Roster. w e em th th nd g in arou ud cl in by tries more than 30 coun om fr es et hl at al o-Roster team, glob Pr e is er gn ev t co rs re fi r to ou al go uded on It is our hletes who are incl at g in w llo fo e th ce are proud to announ eals both on and off the course. d an el Ir & K U n ta id Spar tan ent the best of Spar all of whom repres

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10 Obstacle Race Magazine

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EVENT REPORT

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NAME: ANDREA AGE:

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IG ACLE: MULTI R FAVOURITE OBST S: 5 SPARTAN PODIUM 2018): 3rd SERIES PLACING(

Fancy taking on the Pro Roster members ? Why not find your perfect proving ground at : WWW.SPARTANRACE.UK/EN

Obstacle Race Magazine 11

CHANGE ROBES Are they worth it ?

Whether you’re a fan or not you can’t deny that those over sized insulated rain coats are now everywhere we look in events areas. A towel, a tent, a rain coat, all combined with a healthy dose of insulation, make up a little bit of heaven for keeping you toasty. Although obstacle course racing was a pretty early adopter of change robes they had already been warmly welcomed into the Surf and also Triathlon communities. The sports that have adopted change robes now include: • Open Water Swimming • Surfing • Obstacle Racing • Triathlon • SUP Along with them now being a favourite for spectators especially for touch line sports and also a fantastic edition to a car boot for emergencies.

s t e k c o P e g u H Wa ter pro of

Windp

roof

KIT BAG

So should you buy? Rather than thinking about the cash you’ll need to part with to purchase a change Robe, why not think about it as an investment. They’re hardwearing and will take being thrown in the boot of the car for emergencies, being ready for you on race days and even the odd trip into the motorway services for that post race fast food feed. Prices range from around the £100 mark which isn’t cheap but compared to a good quality waterproof jacket with insulation its a drop in the ocean.

The only real question is which one to go for................

Long o sleeve r short o pt i o n s Wallet

& MP3 Po c ke t Quali

Fleece lining

to m o o r f o Lots nside change i

t y Th ick Z ip

TECH SPEC

RRP - From £70.00 www. - Dryrobe.com

Obstacle Race Magazine 13

S E R U T C I P N I E C RA The Nuts Challenge is well known for being beautifully brutal. A lapped course each lap measuring 7kms. 4 laps are well known for being a real test of mental and physical Grit, especially in Winter. Each lap involves more obstacles than you can shake a stick at. The first run taking place on the course in 2014, and the first Nuts challenge in its current format taking place in the Summer of 2010.

Many obstacles on the course aren’t really what you’d describe as technical but the sheer volume of them makes sure that they’ll truly test your endurance and mettle.

14 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

Gripping on to a rope swing like your life depends on it. After your first lap youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to spend as little time in the water as possible.

When the cold hits your body and your co-ordination starts to waiver something as simple as making your way across tyres becomes a slow and deliberate task.

Simple yet effective is the theme throughout the Nuts Challenge course. Every obstacle on the course slowly but surely chips away at your reserves.

Obstacle Race Magazine 15

EVENT REPORT

Water water everywhere, but not a drop to Drink..........well not that you’d want to purposely take a sip of anyway. There’s enough water spread across the course to make you wish you’d been born with gills.

A course designed by an Ex Para was always going to involve a little free falling at some stage.

16 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

Your knees will take a real battering. Luckily during your time on the course you’ll probably be so cold and numb that you won’t feel it. It won’t be until you’re sat in the services tucking into your KFC that you start to feel the effects.

If The Nuts Challenge course looks like something you’d like to take a shot at, why not enter their Summer event at the end of August. More information can be found at:

www.thenutschallenge.co.uk

WORDS BY: CARL WIBBERLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: TONY JARVIS PHOTOGRAPHY

KIT BAG

SALOMON SPEEDCROSS 5 When the Speedcross range was launched in 2006 (13 years ago) Salomon expected to sell around One Thousand pairs. Fast forward to 2019 and as the Speedcross 5 goes on sale, Salomon now expect to have sold around one million Speedcross in the European trail market alone. This is pretty impressive by anyone’s standards. This is the fifth iteration of the Speedcross model. The Speedcross 3 hit the market at a similar time to the huge boom taking place in the OCR market. This timing made them one of the two go to shoes for racers looking for the all important traction, the other being the Xtalon 212. The Speedcross 5 when put on the scales is a touch heavier than its predecessor the Speedcross 4. Although the Speedcross don’t pretend to be in the lightweight bracket they do more than make up for what they loss on the scales with their durability and impressive twenty four month warranty. Although its not a skinny sprinter of a shoe it does offer a plethora of features that make it the RollsRoyce of the trail shoe world. Arch support, cushioning, protective toe box, 1o mm drop, hard wearing rubber sole. This is without even mentioning features like the Speedlaces and new higher padded collar of the shoe.

18 Obstacle Race Magazine

gs u L 7mm

The upper of the Speedcross 5 has gone through a bit of a transformation with the addition of a new much more supple material, compared to the old ripstop style material used on the Speedcross 4. Will this make a different to durability…. only time will tell, but what I can say is that out of the box it certainly makes a real difference to the feel of the shoe. As race days are starting to really hot up, the better breathability of the new material will really pay dividends on race day, it will add drainage benefits to the shoe also.

Brand Lug pa new ttern

KIT BAG

For those of you who have previously ran in the Speedcross 4’s you’ll have noticed that sometimes after a really muddy session they can become a little stiff and crispy the next time you reach for them, but the next upper material should help counteract that also. The higher collar of the Speedcross has always been a favourite feature of its fans, and those fans will be happy to hear this has actually been added to and now offers a little more protection around the back against your achilles. On to the nitty gritty of the grip. The lugs of the Speedcross 5 have had a overhaul and in the best way for obstacle racers. The Lugs have been made not only wider but also deeper, this equates to maximum traction and stability gains.

Speed laces & Pocket

THE ROUND UP: If you’re looking to potentially trade in your Speedcross soon then the Speedcross 5 and its updates and tweaks are well worth shelling out the extra twenty or so pounds you’ll be paying over the now discounted Speedcross 4. With the added bonus of the mid foot also feeling a little wider it’ll mean more racers will be able to enjoy the benefits of the shoe. The Speedcross 5 just became a real contender for a shoe you can truly use for all your racing and more importantly training needs. Great work Salomon.

r e p p u New al i r e t a m TECH SPEC

Protective To e b o x

WEIGHT - 320g DROP - 10mm RRP - £120 LUGS - 7mm www. - salomon.com Obstacle Race Magazine 19

TRAINING

HAVING A SOLID TRAINING PLAN When it comes to planning your training, it’s important to look at the big picture. Being able to break your year down into training cycles, means you can then focus on when you need to train harder and when you need to make the most of your recovery periods. For example; if you know during May - October is the main race season, this is the time you need to have built your training and fitness up. Therefore, November - April is when you’ll be putting in all the hard work and building that strong foundation. The traditional elements to look at when planning your training are to build up from endurance, hypertrophy, strength then power work. This way your muscles learn to adapt and get stronger in a progressive way. With my clients I like to add in a few different elements to include mobility and balance work, core and recovery training. By taking a progressive approach to your training you’re ensuring you reduce your risk of injury in the long term especially during the race season.

20 Obstacle Race Magazine

TRAINING

The Key Elements Focused On In Training at Fundamental Sports and Fitness Strength and Core - Improving these areas will mean your muscles are able to withstand the pressure you’re putting on them. By being strong you’ll be able to lift heavier weights and will help get your own body weight over any obstacle. Improving your core is going to help reduce your chances of getting lower back pain, improve your posture and reduce injury risks. Mobility and Balance - When it comes to running these two elements are important as you want to make sure your hips and glutes have got plenty of movement in them so you can get stronger, reduce your chances of getting knee and ankle pain. Lots of obstacles require balance so making sure tackle single leg exercises will help you. Power and Plyometrics - As these movements involve jumping, leaping and bounding and using weights with speed you need to make sure your muscles are ready for the extra pressure being applied to them. Once you can master this you’ll find your speed will increase and be able to run faster. Recovery - You can’t keep exercising to the same level all the time. This’ll lead to burnout and injuries as your not allowing your body time to adapt and recover. Your recovery doesn’t need to be a day of relaxing, although this can be great, it can involve a complimentary activity like yoga, swimming or cycling.

Obstacle Race Magazine 21

Mobility - Groiner Get into the press up position with your arms extended, make sure your hands are under your shoulders and head in in front of your hands. Slowly bring your foot off the floor and leg out and round to the side, ideally you want to be able to place your foot by your hand. Hold it there for a couple of seconds and then return to the start position and repeat with the opposite leg. Throughout the whole movement keep your body in a straight line with your abs braced.

Balance - Single Leg Deadlift Hold a weight in one hand, the side that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re holding the weight in is the leg youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to lift of the floor. Hinge from your hips and slowly raise your legs backwards and bring your chest towards the floor. You want to keep your back and hips straight throughout the action.

22 Obstacle Race Magazine

TRAINING

Strength - Squat Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and bend your knees as you lower down, brace your abs and squeeze your glutes through the action and rise up. Aim to keep your chest and head looking forwards throughout the action.

Core - Dead Bug Lay on your back with your arms and legs in the air. Tilt your pelvis so your back is flat on the floor and brace your abs to help you push it down. Slowly and in a controlled manner extend the opposite arm behind you and leg out in front of you. The more you can extend both of them the harder it will be. Slowly return to the top and repeat with the opposite side.

Obstacle Race Magazine 23

TRAINING

Power - Kettlebell Swing Start with the Kettlebell on the floor and start the initial swing between your legs, hinging from your hips and keeping your back flat. Quickly and powerfully thrust your hips forwards to a standing position with your arms level with your chest acting as the pendulum during the movement. Again make sure your abs and glutes are tight during the exercise.

When planning your training always think about the basics firsts, if you can include squats, deadlifts, chest press and rows into your routines and master the basics needed for OCR, you can then progress onto the different variations and make them even more specific. For example lower body squats can progress to squat jumps or box jumps which will help power you up a wall at full speed. For your upper body you can progress press ups and add in rotations to put more pressure on your shoulders which can lead nicely into the swing for the rings and monkey bars. No matter all the different equipment and exercises out there if can master the basics youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be ensuring you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get injured. Written by: Gemma Spackman Head Coach at Fundamental Sports and Fitness gemma@fundamentalsportsandfitness.co.uk 24 Obstacle Race Magazine

The Unique Beach-based Obstacle Course Race

INTRODUCING

AMPHIBIRUN AT BODYPOWER EXPERIENCE A 40M INTERACTIVE OBSTACLE COURSE RACE, WILL YOU TAKE IT ON?

OUR Y T E G S T E K C TI FROM

W W W. B O DY P OW E R . C O M / T I C K E TS 1 0 T H -1 2 T H M AY, 2 0 1 9 | N E C , B I R M I N G H A M , U K

V I S I T W W W. A M P H I B I R U N . C O . U K / B O D Y P O W E R F O R FA S T T R A C K C O U R S E E N T R Y

The good ship Tough Mudder has a new captain president at the helm Tough Mudder is one of the few brands that has managed to establish itself in locations all around the world and is also recognised outside Obstacle Course racing circles. It’s always been thought of as a power house and industry leader, but have recent events shaken their foundations? Unless you’ve been shying away from social media or living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that in recent months, Tough Mudder has been negotiating a few obstacles outside of the ones on their courses. Now the dust has had a little time to settle for the organisation, and there’s a new man at the helm, we wanted to take this opportunity to see what was on the horizon for this global brand. Will Dean has always been recognised as the man at the top of the tree in terms of Tough Mudder as a brand since it was founded in 2010, but as recent events played out, he stepped away. We’ve been lucky enough to speak to Kyle McLaughlin who is taking the presidents chair and also Giles Chater one of the masterminds behind the running of European operations.

26 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

Q. For those out of the loop, could you possibly clarify some of the misconceptions and exaggerations that are circulating about recent changes and what they mean for Tough Mudder in the future? It’s funny you use “loop”—that’s a word that carries a strong reaction for 2018 Tough Mudder participants. The punch line is: “don’t believe everything you read online.” The simple truth is that we’re in a great place to deliver a full season of 2019 events, with a better-than-ever set of obstacles and festival experience, and we’re looking ahead to 2020. We’ve transformed much of the inner workings of TMHQ to be better poised to deliver great experiences for our Legionnaires and new Mudders in 2019 and beyond. Q. Will Dean will always have a sort of legacy as the person who founded Tough Mudder along with Guy Livingstone. Do you think any damage has been done to the brand with him stepping away from the company? For clarity, Will hasn’t left Tough Mudder, he just transitioned into a different role. He had begun to step back from much of the day-to-day operations of the business in late 2017 to work on his new venture, and as that accelerated he sought to put more time into that. He’s still an involved co-founder and chairman, serves as a Tough Mudder spokesperson, and helps to guide strategy and shares insight with me on a very regular basis.

EVENT REPORT

Q. Could you explain a little about what your short, mid, and long-term plans for Tough Mudder going forwards are? We undertook one of the largest overhauls to the Tough Mudder event product in history throughout the back end of 2018, which launched last fall as our new Tough Mudder Classic and Tough Mudder 5k weekends. We’ve simplified the variety of event products we offer—and reinvested into making that experience better than ever before. We’ve added obstacles to every course—including 10 new or updated for the 2019 season on the Classic course. (For a total of 25 obstacles on the Classic course and 13 on the 5k course). Our biggest goal in the short and medium term is ensuring that we deliver on the promise we made to our customers when we rolled out the 2019 line-up: we heard their feedback, we’re going back to our roots, and customer experience is going to be our number one priority. As we continue to deliver great events—we’re looking down the road at keeping our history of innovation alive and fresh, continuing our international expansion, and exploring new event formats and types that are true to the Tough Mudder spirit. Q. To help people understand the sheer scale of Tough Mudder globally could you tell us how many events will take place globally in 2019, and how are they split geographically? We’ll have over 120 events in 15 countries this year, and that number is growing on a regular basis. We’re still adding events to the back end of the 2019 calendar in North America, and adding new international partners regularly. Q. In 2020 Tough Mudder will be celebrating their tenth anniversary, will you be doing anything special to mark the occasion? Top secret plans are underway. Look for hints and teasers toward the back half of the 2019 season.

EVENT REPORT

Q. Tough Mudder have recently announced they will be no longer offering prize money at their events, but still have a competitive heat listed as part of registration. Apart from dropping this will any other changes be made to the competitive side of Tough Mudders events? Tough Mudder got quite a bit of criticism when it created the competitive events formats a few years back, with many long-time participants alleging that it went against the Tough Mudder spirit of teamwork and not competing against each other. As part of getting back to our roots and staying true to who we are—we want to offer people the opportunity to push themselves to be their best, and part of that may be getting a time. But we felt that the dollars spent on giving cash prizes to the few were best served in investing in the experience for all. We announced this back in January, and the customer feedback has been positive to date—as we suspected, most of our community was not in it for the chance to win a few hundred bucks, but for that larger sense of being a part of something bigger than yourself. Q. Continuing on the subject of the competitive side of OCR. As I’m sure you know Spartan Race are proactively working towards OCR becoming an Olympic sport. Do you feel that Tough Mudder should be putting their weight behind it too, or do you see Tough Mudder following a different path? All ships rise in a rising tide—and we’re certainly happy to see Spartan continue to push for visibility for their version of competitive OCR. But Tough Mudder is fundamentally about something different—unconventional experiences that give you an incredible environment to challenge yourself, feel the power of a team rallying around you to help you succeed, and building the courage to conquer things you never thought possible. We’ll continue to find new ways to create those experiences that are accessible to everyone—not just the elite athletes. Q. You have many die hard members of the Tough Mudder legion who have stuck by the race series for many years. What do you have planned for 2019 that will have them excited to return again? At TMHQ we can’t wait to share everything we’ve had in development; more obstacles, more innovation, enhanced village and fewer loops… Two things, in particular, grew from Legionnaire feedback (we saw the sad faces when Everest was lowered). We’re bringing variable difficult to key obstacles via Level Up Lanes – a significant step up in mental & physical challenge for those craving it. This will also allow us to introduce elements, activity and challenge not practical at scale. Which leads to the next big change – we’re planning to shake up our annual innovation cycle. In practice, this means you’ll see regular updates to obstacles as the season progresses. And, of course, 2019 brings another opportunity to scratch that Devil’s Beard itch! Q. Do you have anything else you feel our readers would be excited to hear about the future of Tough Mudder? Tough Mudder is here to stay, and we’re excited for what we have in store for Mudder Nation in 2019. We know we’ve made some missteps in the past, but we’ve learned, we’ve listened and we’ve reset our focus on delivering amazing experiences for our participants all around the world. Stay tuned for exciting new obstacles throughout the year, the biggest group of sponsors and partners in TM history bringing exciting features to the Mudder Village festival, and great new international Tough Mudder destinations to explore. (including new events in Italy, Poland and Croatia for our European adventurers).

For more information on Tough Mudder events in 2019 visit:

WWW.TOUGHMUDDER.CO.UK

Obstacle Race Magazine 29

KIT BAG SPRING - TSHIRTS

As Spring finally arrives, we can finally think about ditching our base layers and letting our skin see a little sun. We’ve brought together a few options for tech T-Shirt options that can take the abuse we give them out on the course.

INOV-8 BASE ELITE £42.00 INOV-8.COM

SALOMON

AUSSIE GRIT

ULTRA TEE

FLINT PERFORMANCE

£50.00

£39.00

SALOMON.COM

AUSSIEGRITAPPERAL.COM

CRAFT

TRIBE SPORTS

NANOWEIGHT TEE

ENGINEERED S/S

£40.00

£49.00

CRAFTSPORTSWEAR.CO.UK

TRIBESPORTS.COM

30 Obstacle Race Magazine

KIT BAG

CRAFT

INOV-8

NANOWEIGHT TEE

BASE ELITE

£40.00

£42.00

CRAFTSPORTSWEAR.CO.UK

INOV-8.COM

SALOMON S LAB EXO SS £85.00 SALOMON.COM

AUSSIE GRIT

TRIBE SPORTS

RHYTHM

PANELLED T

£55.00

£14.00

AUSSIEGRITAPPERAL.COM

TRIBESPORTS.COM

Obstacle Race Magazine 31

KIT BAG SPRING - SHORTS

As Spring finally arrives we can finally think about ditching our leggings and letting our legs see a little sun. We’ve brought together a few options for shorts that can take the abuse we give them out on the course.

INOV-8 ELITE 6” £55.00 INOV-8.COM

SALOMON

AUSSIE GRIT

SENSE ULTRA

FLINT PERFORMANCE

£80.00

£58.00

SALOMON.COM

AUSSIEGRITAPPERAL.COM

CRAFT

TRIBE SPORTS

NANOWEIGHT TEE

RUNNING SHORT

£40.00

£34.00

CRAFTSPORTSWEAR.CO.UK

TRIBESPORTS.COM

32 Obstacle Race Magazine

KIT BAG

CRAFT

INOV-8

NANOWEIGHT TEE

ELITE 4”

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Obstacle Race Magazine 33

NUTRITION

RECIPES

JAMAICAN OXTAIL STEW This Jamaican Oxtail stew is perfect for the odd chilly day before Summer sets in.

PREP: 10 MINUTES COOK: 2 HOURS YIELD: 6 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS 2 -3 tablespoons cooking oil 1- 2 pounds oxtail cut up medium pieces 1 onion chopped 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme ½ teaspoon smoked paprika 1 tablespoon ketchup /tomato paste 1 Whole Scotch bonnet pepper

2 green onions chopped 5-6 Whole pimento seeds (allspice), 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon curry or more adjust to preference 15 ounces can butter beans , rinsed and drained 1 teaspoon browning (optional) 1 Tablespoon bouillon powder or cube (optional) Salt to taste

METHOD 1. Season oxtail with, salt and pepper. Set aside 2. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat, until hot, and then add the oxtail sauté stirring, frequently, any browned bits off the bottom of the pot, until oxtail is brown. If desire drain oil and leave about 2-3 tablespoons 3. Add onions, green onions, garlic, thyme, all spice, worcestershire,smoked paprika, stir for about a minute. Throw in scotch bonnet pepper, tomato paste, bouillon and curry powder, stir for another minute. 4. Then add about 4-6 cups of water , it’s best to start with 4 cups , then add as needed . Bring to a boil and let it simmer until tender (depending on the oxtail size and preference) about 2- 3 hours, occasionally stirring the saucepan. 5. About 20-30 minutes before you remove from the stove add broad beans. Adjust thickness of soup with water or stock 6. Season with salt according to preference.

470kcal Calories 50g Protein 14g Carbs 22g Fat

RECIPES Guinness beef stew

Hearty comforting stew with chunky hunks of beef slowly cooked and simmered in a rich and flavorful Guinness gravy sauce. Hands off easy and so tender, you can eat it by the spoon!

INGREDIENTS 3 thick slices bacon , (diced) 2 pounds (0.91 kg) stew beef , cut in small chunks ¼ cup flour 2 stalks celery , cut into 1-inch pieces 2 tablespoons cooking oil 1 medium onion , diced ½ teaspoon (1 g) minced ginger 1 tablespoon (2.80 g) minced garlic 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons tomato paste

NUTRITION

PREP: 10 MINUTES COOK: 3 HOURS YIELD: 6 SERVINGS

1 teaspoon bouillon powder beef, chicken or vegetable , adjust to taste (optional) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 2 cups broth/water or more 1 cup Guinness or any dark beer 1-2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar 1-2 pounds potatoes cut in large chunks 2-3 large carrots cut in large chunks 1 cup peas salt and pepper to taste 2-3 green onions , diced

METHOD 1. In a large Dutch over-medium heat, sauté bacon until brown and crisp. This may take about 5-6 minutes. 2. Remove bacon from skillet and transfer to a plate. There will be some bacon drippings left in the pan (about 1-2 tablespoons). 3. Season stew beef with salt and pepper to thoroughly cover all sides. 4. Add about 1-2 more oil .. Add stew beef and brown well, turning once, about 2 -3 minutes per side, until beef lightly browns. Do not overcrowd pan. Cook in batches, if necessary. Remove and set aside. 5. Add onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaf and celery to the skillet. Stir for about 2-3 minutes until onions is translucent. Then add flour and cook for another minute. Pour in about 1-2 cups water. 6. Add, paprika, tomato paste and bouillon. Continue stirring , then add Guinness, brown sugar , brown beef . Add more water or broth to the pot scrape all sides. Make sure it covers the food. Bring to a boil. 7. 20 minutes before stew is ready throw in potatoes, carrots and peas; adjust seasonings according to preference. 8. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender. 9. Remove & garnish with bacon and parsley if desired and serve with bread.

639kcal 60g 36g 25g

Calories Protein Carbs Fat

Obstacle Race Magazine 35

FEATURE

MUDTREST WALL

36 Obstacle Race Magazine

#MUDTRESTWALL

Fancy getting featured on the MUDTREST WALL ?

Use the Hash tag #MUDTRESTWALL on your Social Media profiles. Not on Social Media ? Simply send your picture to us at: carl@obstacleracemagazine.com Obstacle Race Magazine 37

Win A

dryrobe

38 Obstacle Race Magazine

HOW TO WIN A DRYROBE To win simply go over to Dryrobe.com, find the journal from Evan Perperis and tell us what is the name of the Ultra OCR Evan talks about in the first paragraph of the blog post. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found your answer send it over to carl@obstacleracemagazine.com with the subject heading Dryrobe Comp with your answer in the email. The winner will be contacted by email and also announced on our social channels. Entries will close on the 19th of May and the announcement will take place on the 20th of May.

Obstacle Race Magazine 39

“Be general in your foundations so you can be specific in your goals” Ross Edgley, The World’s Fittest Book, 2018

If you are new to the increasingly-popular world of obstacle course racing or an OCR athlete, the one thing we should all have in common is the need for a strong foundation. As endurance athlete Ross Edgley states, once you have a strong foundation in place, then you can start to be more specific with different aspects of your training. For example, if you can’t yet perform a pull up - or even an assisted pull up - how will you pull yourself up a rope and ring the bell at the top? So, what do we mean by building a strong foundation? In my opinion, building a foundation of general fitness is being able to perform the basic movements competently. The key basic movements from my view would be: run, jump, throw, push, pull and squat. You will see that these general foundations of basic movements transfer over to obstacle course racing very easily without getting specific or complicated.

Run - We all know there is some element of running involved in obstacle course racing – you want to hit the finish line as fast as you can!

Jump - During the race, or even at some events to start the race, you are required to jump over something - be it a haystack or wall.

Throw - Spartan races have the spear throw and other races often have an equivalent throwing challenge.

Push - Crawling under the barbed wire and then jumping up onto your feet the other side, will require you to push yourself up off the floor.

Pull - At some point in the race you are going to need to pull yourself up over something, be it a wall, a rope, or anything else those nasty OCR guys can think of!

Squats - Although you may not have to squat with anything during the race, squats make your legs nice and strong. They also will help with the atlas stone carry when you pick it up, and there is some crossover between the hip extension at the top of a squat and your vertical jump. These are the foundation exercises that should definitely feature in your OCR training plan, and they will need to be progressed over your training period in order to get stronger and faster.

40 Obstacle Race Magazine

TRAINING

Foundations Training Plan Here is an example of how you would incorporate the foundations into one of your training plans along side some additional gym work. Running I would personally keep as a separate workout from this so you can keep as much energy to work on the foundations. Make sure you are fully warmed and either stretch or foam rolled before starting the program.

Exercise A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 D1 D2 E1 E2 E3

Rep Range

Poliquin step up Band pull a part Squats Pull Up Push up Farmers Walk Face pulls Front foot elevated lunges Wall balls Box Jumps Burpees

8-10 10-12 12-14 4-6 8-10 100 m 10-12 8-10 each leg 10 6 10

Sets 3 3 5 5 4 4 3 3 5 5 5

A1- Poliquin Step up are a great pre-hab exercise that will strengthen the knees and increase properseption.

A2- Band pull a parts again are a pre-hab exercise

to help strengthen the shoulders and pull them back into position after too long at the desk.

Obstacle Race Magazine 41

B1- Our first foundation

exercise.

ould start as The squat here w uat and then a body weight sq blet squat and progress onto a go squat. then barbell back

B2- The pull up can be assisted using a band. The band loops over the pull up bar and you step into it. At the bottom of the movement you have the greater help and as you reach the top of the pull up you have less help. Start with the thicker bands for more help and gradually work down the bands until you no longer need one. Then you can start increasing difficulty by adding weights to a weight belt or a weighted vest.

C1- Push ups should always be performed

with the knees off of the ground. To make a push up easier simply elevate the upper body by placing your hands onto a bench. To make this harder, lower the height of the bench.

C2- Farmers walks are pretty

simple, grab a set of kettlebells or dumbbells and walk up and down. This will increase your grip strength, leg strength and adds a bit of cardiovascular training.

42 Obstacle Race Magazine

TRAINING

D1- The face pull hits the

upper

se ltoids. This exerci traps and rear de d an se stural exerci is added in as a po e program. adds balance to th

D2- Front foot elevated lunges are great for working the legs and also stretching tight hips. Start with body weight with this exercise and add weights when you feel comfortable with the balance.

o E1- Using a wall baullpositpint up

a deep squat and yo ball up from the squat throw the and drop against the wall, catch back into the squat.

E2- Box jumps are great for

increasing your vertical jump ready for those high walls.

Spartan

ees, t. E3- Burpurite punishmen

t vo races fa practice in, bu to e r v u a o h y t â&#x20AC;&#x2122; t Ge won u o y y ll hopefu day. on the y n a do

END POINT: Once you feel you have built a strong foundation then it is

time to get specific by working on monkey bars, rings, twisters and all the other technical obstacles. WRITTEN BY: CRAIG LIBBY - CRAIGSFTINESS.COM - PT, NUTRITION, MASSAGE

KIT BAG UPGRADES

U P YO U R LA CI NG GA ME Xtenex Elastic Laces are designed with helping runners achieve extra comfort and support while training and racing. The patented knot design allows the runner to adjust the tension at each section of the lacing system and maintain those comfort settings at all times. This means that on every forward stride taken there will be an even distribution of pressure rather than a merging of pressure to the bow end when your foot starts to expand inside the shoe during exercise. Xtenex laces also help to reduce compression for runners with a high instep allowing more freedom of movement and better blood circulation; so that by the time you finish exercising, your feet will feel less tired than before and will recover faster. Once Xtenex is installed, there is no need to untie or retie the laces again. Xtenex laces have been used for a number of years on courses up and down the country by both competitive and fun running obstacle course racers to great effect.

Available at: MATCHFITSPORTS.CO.UK

Price: ÂŁ8.99

44 Obstacle Race Magazine

KIT BAG

G ETTI NG A HEA D STA RT Headsweats are a worlds leader in ultra-light headwear. Boasting a built in Eventure sweatband with super wicking properties that helps you to stay comfortable while running by drawing moisture away from your skin. A top pick to add to your training arsenal for summer time training.

Available at: MATCHFITSPORTS.CO.UK

Price: £19.95

A G L A RIN G DIF F E RE N CE The Supervisor is durable, lightweight, weighing in at just 2oz. Proving extremely popular with runners, it helps keeping the suns glare out of your eyes with the help of the peaks black underside. While the Eventure™ fabric wicks away moisture for optimum comfort and performance. The Eventure terry sweatband also helps with maximum air flow and moisture transfer to keep you cool and dry. All this while being machine washable.

Available at: MATCHFITSPORTS.CO.UK

Price: £19.95

A SU N S HEILD P20 has been trusted by racers for years to protect their skin for years. If your looking for something that wont easily wash off in the mud and water and offers ultimate protect for your skin, we whole heartedly recommend P20.

Available at: P20.co.uk to find your nearest stockiest Price: £15.99

WIN

Fancy winning yourself a set of Xtenex laces ? Simply go to the Matchfitsports.co.uk website and tell us when Match Fit Sports was founded. Send your answer to Carl@obstacleracemagazine.com with the subject heading WIN LACES.

TOUGH GUY THE MENTAL BATTLE

What the hell are we doing here? Why didn’t we stay at home and continue our faux and ultimately self-defeating ‘boycott’ of the event that wasn’t supposed to be on again?

Well… if I could re-marry “the love of my life” (that’s what she tells me) why couldn’t I forgive the genius that is Mr Mouse and his team of beautiful randoms for providing me with an opportunity to ‘love again’? It made no sense to stay away and miss all the best and very worst OCR has to offer and end my journey of personal growth from Muppet to older and colder Muppet. This would be my 11th start at Tough Guy (TG) but that’s the inflated figure because only six have been in winter. If you were exchanging TG medals the going rate needs to be at least 2:1 in favour of winter for the added stupidity it takes to earn one. Stupid decisions are expensive, especially when choosing your gear and not following a well thought out plan to get dry and warm ASAP. But as Mike Tyson is quoted “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face!” TG smashes you in the face, repeatedly. Every ‘review’ of TG has to start with the compulsory process of previewing the weather and talking incessantly about your disappointment that it’s forecast to be relatively mild. Well… until you wake up and see gusts in excess of 40mph forecast and remember a little bit of school boy ‘science’; wind causes evaporation, evaporation causes cooling.

This is going to hurt! A LOT!!! Especially as the new 10Kg lighter me decided I’d be too quick for the wind and wouldn’t need my neoprene gloves or hat this year. Fortunately, the rash vest and neoprene socks made the cut, I may not have finished without them.

On arrival you’re met smiles and directed to the car park, we were privileged to be in the Red Car Park and thank God we were early enough to be on the front row right by the gravel track. Even Mrs Muppet could get the car out from here surely?

EVENT REPORT

(And she did, thankfully, because at the end I was in no fit state to hold and retain the contents of cup of coffee let alone stealthily operate a couple of tonnes of rear wheel driven German engineering). This was the first time I have registered on the day, and it was a doddle. Clear, efficient, friendly and full of similarly excited souls. That said, the full TG experience really ought to include registering on the Saturday and walking the course, checking out new obstacles and new routes for those of us stupid enough to think we know what to expect. It’s a great eye opener for first timers as you’ll be more than a little too distracted to take appropriate notice of the spectacular set up of the unrivalled Killing Fields or appreciate the miles and miles of red and white tape used to mark out the slaloms.

By the end of that walk you’re in no doubt that this place is special and rightly the spiritual home of OCR for the universe and worlds yet to be discovered.

The Killing Fields it starts getting serious, no longer asking if you’re OK it’s a matter of “You need to keep moving or go get dry mate” To be fair, stupidity and driving to Tough Guy isn’t the preserve of the British. One in three competitors are from overseas, the majority of those being German. Those guys and gals are awesome, barking mad, incredibly friendly and epitomise everything that’s great about the ethos of Tough Guy and Billy Wilson.

Oh yeah I know this is supposed to be a course review but…. the very best of Tough Guy isn’t the structures and layouts themselves it really is a case of ‘the whole being greater than the sum of its parts’ and that’s down to human spirit and a love of life and each other. This time I ran as an unofficial but authorised ‘Running Marshal’ just helping where and when I could which usually consisted on the country miles of running straight past anyone with cramp or a minor limp with an “You OK buddy?” invariably met with “Yes mate, crack on”. By the time we hit The Killing Fields it starts getting serious, no longer asking if you’re OK it’s a matter of “You need to keep moving or go get dry mate” Tough Guy is wholly inclusive, regardless of age, birth certificate, surgery or cold affected genitalia you’re mate, dude, buddy, chap. Obstacle Race Magazine 47

“Tough Guy is where men go to hand their egos to the girl in front”. There aren’t any divisions out on course, we’re in this together. A big thank you at this point to the guy who saw I was in real trouble on the final climb and talked me up and over (if I can work out who you were there’s a pint and a burger with your name on it, cheers mate). Right I guess we ought to start running to plan now? My Tough Guy veteran status (yeah, my ego loves the sound of that) affords me a bottom of the hill start. It’s imperative to go out really hard for the first kilometre to get to the first obstacles that surround Gallipoli and avoid the queues. I was obliged not to run too hard though and rob Dan Gill of his long standing Strava segment record to the first corner. So… get to Gallipoli and WHACK!!

Smashed in the face!! The fekkers have sent us right past it and up into rabbit hills for more running to string us out (it’s almost as if 30 or so years of experience have kicked in again and solved the queuing issue, more runners next year???). Anyway, I shed a tear for Plan A and slow right down to get my Heart Rate into a zone I can sustain for 2.5-3 hours, should be comfortable now!! Plan B is looking good as we do a few gentle slaloms, jump over and under some large walls and hurdles before a few cold and muddy water filled pits and head to the real slaloms. These are usually quite testing.

Quite testing? That’ll be another euphemism that destroys Plan B where I take it gentle through there and have one of my new gels (new gels on race day what could possibly go wrong, ‘Paula’?). My first Tough Guy (and first ever OCR) was a wedding present from my second marriage to Amanda, Winter 2012 – I still hold it was an insurance scam that has spectacularly back fired – unlucky sweetheart, I’m still here!! The point being 11 times since then I’ve run, jogged, walked, fallen and crawled those slaloms without fail they destroy your legs and weaken the spirit. So what sort of lunatic extends them even further into what may have been Narnia or Middle Earth? When you go next, or later this year; be sure to thank Pinkiest of Pinky Pink faces you can find for 880m of total climb. Someone else who may thank him might be the sickenly multi-talented and uber nice guy James Appleton who was first to finish in a ridiculously quick 1hr 35mins or thereabouts, his first win in 9 years (I’ve only NOT won it for 7 years so that statistic makes me potentially a better runner right???). Mmmmm What was that bit about Tough Guy being no place for egos? 48 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

“There’s fit, and then there’s hill fit”, but like all good things the slaloms do end and then we’re off into Bear Wood for what now feels like a stroll with some large 3 bar A-frames to navigate before the first drinks station and then onto the relentless Gurkha. The first time the legs and body get to sample the refreshing spa waters, they strip the legs of any motivation to run but you have to, as the wind is picking up and you can feel the cold taking hold.

I swear in Saxon much to the amusement of the German lad I’m briefly with

“Only in England!!” So, we’re back into Bear Wood and a few more bits of running before we hit more water just in the perfect place to soak you before climbing the mahoosive Tiger. I’m not good with heights but I was up and over like an ageing gibbon because it was Freakin’ Baltic up there, exposed to the very worst of the wind. Congrats to the marshals up there for such a warm welcome and encouragement (TBF that’s standard for all TG Marshals). Not having been zapped for a couple of years I assume the electrics off in the curtains to the next A-frame, so I casually sweep them to the side with my forearms, they’re not off!!! So, I swear in Saxon much to the amusement of the German lad I’m briefly with “Only in England!!” (This is his 3rd visit to TG!!). That’s my wake-up call, it all gets serious from here on. It was so seriously cold, I assume I had started to hallucinate as I believe I may have seen someone from the awesome Ghost Squad in a DryRobe??? WTF, this is not good news!

Best take another untested gel (3rd of the day) to make sure I get through the very worst of it as the gusts of wind are hideous and I’ll need to keep moving. Well…. for the next hour The Killing Fields repeatedly smash me in the face, plans are dying at a rate where I might need to construct a new alphabet to get round. The structures are huge and rock solid. The tales of collapse relate to scaffold boards 24 inches above waist deep water. Not great, but jeez we signed up to jump from meters up into deep lakes, get electrocuted, amble through fire and signed a Death NOT minor inconvenience Warrant!!

Obstacle Race Magazine 49

EVENT REPORT

Dead leg swamp I’m still moving, I get through the torture chamber unzapped ‘Huzzah!’ because it’s light and open (gone is the set-up where the audio on a DVD had my 8-year lad old asking “Is that what it would sound like if men could have babies?”). Small crisis as I think I’ve wrecked my Garmin watch strap, if that stops will I have truly completed it??? No one will know how much I suffered, how long or quick I was, what will I post on Facebook???

Again, the wind went up a notch just in time for the plank jump into the next pond followed by my obstacle nemesis the rope traverse over the lake 14 attempts 13 failures (in summer you can get the opportunity to do more than one lap of death). 2019 brings yet another unplanned dunking and swim (neoprene hat in a drawer at home). BUT… I am through… “just the ‘worst’ obstacle to complete and then I am home and dry nothing can stop me” I remember thinking that clear as day. Then I hit the tyres on the stretch home, they are NOTHING but EVERY time I trip and fall because I am old tired and delirious (that’s part of the genius in the layout) but with triple gel power I get through at a decent pace.

Mwahahahahaaa!

Well, I manned up and ran through the tears only to realise I was no longer running, and my hands were painfully cold, but I’d be OK, definitely, of course I would it’s only a bit of cold. Skilfully prioritising fixing my watch strap over my health I loitered in the small pond before the Lollipop Heads to clean out any debris ensuring I would definitely get much MUCH colder!! Regaining a modicum common sense, I knew it was time to crack on and get back ASAP as I was in rapid decline. Lollipop Heads didn’t disappoint, they really freakin’ hurt but I had just enough TG left in me to advise a couple of lads to crack on or risk not finishing.

Tyres done just 5 mins jogging and I’m done. Oh wait!!! What the fekk is that??? Jesus I gotta go and go right now! Stomach is cramping, anus is trying to strangle me in a desperate attempt to protect me from a very and odious public humiliation. I stop, breathe deeply and calmly (thank you Wim Hof ) and realise I am next to the woods, I’ll nip in there – cool! Oh fekk that’s a floppy wire fence with barbed wire on top! Stretching or moving athletically isn’t an option as maintaining rectal integrity is paramount. I know, I’ll do a Paula Radcliffe – not unless I have webbed hands I won’t!

I’m a 53-year-old adult 10-time 100% record finisher, less than a quarter mile from the finish on the verge of tears as a DNF is the smartest option in the face of hypothermia and diaho, dyaho, diarree ahhh, The Squits!! Then I pull myself together and realise “Come on Shea you’re not that smart!!” so I dig in and zombie jog the last of the course whining like a 3-year-old and aided by my a mysterious helper (it might have been a marine named Camouflage).

On the verge of tears as a DNF is the smartest option in the face of hypothermia and diaho, dyaho, diarree ahhh, The Squits!! Then it gets a whole lot worse through more dumbass decisions and not concentrating. Smart enough to get wet shirt off ASAP, dumb enough to leave wet rash vest on and put coat and DryRobe over it. Made use of the 5-star porcelain facilities, whilst degenerating into a mass of uncontrollable shakes. ALWAYS get out of ALL wet clothing ASAP, it’s a non-negotiable law of OCR. Somehow got leggings shoes shorts and socks off and headed back to my rock and wife who’d “Been sat in the cold all day” “Oh!!??? I am sorry sweetheart, love of my life, that must’ve been tough!” That was my awful day at Tough Guy 2019, loved it!! Will be back until my body won’t get me round. It’s too good of an occasion to miss. “They love it here” Tough Guy THE Legend! There’s so many people I ought to thank by name, you know who you are!!! There’s so many more whose names I don’t know, thank you for any contribution you made in the run up to, in the after math of and during what is STILL the very best and worst day on the OCR calendar. YOHIMBE XXX

RACE REPORT BY:

Sheamus Cogan PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Tony Jarvis Photography Obstacle Race Magazine 51

n the next page you’ll be able to see a bold statement from us saying that the new Mudclaw 260 G is “A peek into the future of off trail Technology”, but this is a statement we stand by 100%.

This is where inov-8 have stepped in over the last couple of years by investing heavily in the research of the graphene institute. The results of this research funded by inov-8 so far have been the brand new G series shoes from Inov8 and huge leaps forwards for the institute.

You may remember that in the Summer we 232 prototypes, 20 rubber compounds, were lucky enough to be invited along to the 45 specialist athletes and a huge team of press launch of the G series collection. If you scientists working behind the scenes have haven’t read up on this produced a rubber sole yet then it would be If its a substance that’s that with the addition of well worth investing a graphene boasts grip that little time into taking a is almost too good to be worthy of an look at an article called true. “The Science of Grip” institute being built to on the Obstacle Race There’s always been an age further its uses, Magazine news section old problem when creating of the website. more grip on harder then we’re sure it will surfaces, its meant that off Graphene which is trail shoes have to go with not only change the face used in the rubber a softer compound. But compound of the by going softer this means of off trail running soles on the new the rubber will wear much G-series shoes is one quicker……that is until the but also make huge of the worlds toughest introduction of Graphene materials. By adding to the mix. graphene to rubber break-throughs in many compound mix it Graphene is two hundred more areas. makes it 50% stronger, times stronger than steel, 50% more elastic and this coupled with state of 50% harder wearing, to name the art rubber compound make an unbeatable just three benefits. combination. Scientists have been working incredibly hard over the last 6 years since Graphene was discovered. In particular scientists at the university of Manchesters graphene institute where it was discovered have been researching its potential uses but more importantly perfecting a way to fine tune the process of making the substance without the huge expense.

Inov-8 has huge plans for the future of graphene and we’ve been told it won’t end with rubber compounds. With graphene being not only the strongest but also lightest material at only one atom thick. Imagine what sort of products could be produced with such a strong and light weight substance. The future is pretty exciting where inov-8 and Graphene are concerned.

KIT BAG

INOV-8 MUDCLAW 260 G The Mudclaw 260 G is like taking a glimpse into the future of off trails shoes. If you were asked to draw a trail shoe of the future for a comic book this would probably come pretty close to how it would appear on paper. Bright radioactive green, grip like a tractor and to top it off… bullet proof. What more would a super hero obstacle racer ask for……

Having its general release a couple of months ago and a press release a few months earlier in the summer, why the wait after the press release you may ask……. The simple answer is to ensure they got it right, and a few tweaks later and we feel that they’ve done just that, got it right. Light weight, grippy and responsive were once features of a shoe you’d have to keep for Sunday best. Durability is something that doesn’t ordinarily go hand in hand with those characteristics, but in steps the G series to change all that. Some of the worlds best scientists, a substance 200 times stronger than steel and combine it with a company that pushes the boundaries of the trail running and adventure kit, you get the Mudclaw 260 G’s. Since its launch the bright green Mudclaw has been the talk of the OCR and trail running community. The thought of having a racing shoe that can stand being thrown around an obstacle course but also used for everyday training without wearing out quickly sounds perfect. Grip is obviously hugely important to us as obstacle course runners, we’re faced with muddy water-logged courses and hard flat surfaced obstacles week in and week out. We want nice deep lugs for the mud but we also want sticky rubber to help grip on obstacles.

54 Obstacle Race Magazine

The first time you see the lugs on the outsole of the Mudclaw it’s hard not to stare and analyse them, simply put they are huge! The new tread pattern and the introduction of graphene has meant you now have a much more stable running platform. This platform is aided because the lugs can not only run right up to the edge of the sole but also spill over the edge of it without the danger of the individual lugs breaking off. This is possible due to the graphene enhanced rubber compound which equates to masses of grip and real confidence and sure footing in the shoe. The introduction of graphene has also meant that the lugs will stay in tip top condition offering you best grip possible for the life span of the shoe.

s u n Bo ters Gai

KIT BAG Inov-8 have always been known for being excellent straight out of the box and ready for any adventures you throw at them, and the addition of the extra durability to the upper doesn’t change this in the slightest. Win, win. All the upsides of a heavy weight shoe with the benefits of a light weight race shoe, who could wish for more. Should you invest? Cost has been a factor that’s been brought up multiple times by racers. Its true they are in the premium bracket in terms of the RRP of £140, but they offer huge value in return for your investment. Along with the shoes you also get a really nice set of gaiters. The gaiters are held into place on the shoe with clips that locate into built in eyes on the shoe. This system does away with the elastic loops that used to be used. They are one of the inov-8 fit scale so those of you with wide feet will want to try them on to make sure they are the right fit for you. The toe box isn’t slim and it could be described as quite roomy, it’s the mid foot where the slim profile of the Mudclaw locks in your foot the most.

THE ROUND UP: Simply put the Mudclaw 260 G have so much grip it feels like you could change the earths rotation while sprinting in them.

Huge 8mm lugs

The graphene in the out sole will help keep your grip in tip top condition and working hard for you for the life of the shoe and its cushioning. They give you a bucket load of confidence to go all out on whatever terrain lays ahead of you. Breathable, durable, grippy and lightweight, what more could you ask for.

ed c r nfo er i e R pp U TECH SPEC WEIGHT - 260g DROP - 4mm RRP - £140 LUGS - 8mm www. - inov-8.com Obstacle Race Magazine 55

ADVEN RACING

NTURE

Throughout 2019 we want to take you on a journey that will inspire you to get outside and explore. Each Summit for the weekend piece will allow you to follow in our footsteps as we travel to and take on some of the United Kingdoms most beautiful summits. To help you to follow & share in the journey weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be putting together all the information you could need to make the adventures as accessible as possible. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be sharing everything from the car park co-ordinates, routes we chose, route terrain and elevation, local places of interest and also the kit we recommend to help you to be prepared for a day in the hills and mountains. We hope you join us in our exciting adventures, starting in our Summer issue. Turn over for our guide to the kit you should consider to help you prepare.

ADVENTURE

• • •

LAYERS NUTRITION SAFETY

• • •

RECOMMENDED KIT HINTS / TIPS TECHNOLOGY

• • •

ROUTES POST CODES PLACES OF INTEREST

• • •

GPS DATA PARKING TERRAIN INFO

Obstacle Race Magazine 59

ADVENTURE

If you fancy trying your hand at the Summits weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be sharing in the coming issues, then we hope this suggested kit list will help you to prepare to follow in our foot steps.

ADVENTURE

SHOES

KIT

You’ll need a good pair of shoes to make the few hours you’ll be on your feet as comfortable and also supported as possible. The Roclites are ideal for this.

INOV-8 ROCLITE 345 GTX RRP: £155 www.inov-8.com

These light and fast feel boots are perfect for adventureseekers who are fast packing or hiking. The Graphene grip is made to take on any terrain.

SOCKS Whether the conditions are dry or ideal for ducks. A good pair of socks will wick away sweat and moister away from your skin.

1000 MILE - 2 SEASON www.1000mile.co.uk

RRP: £13.99

COOLMAX fabric will help wick away moister while also enhancing air flow. Heel and additional padding zones help to keep you comfortable while clocking up the elevation.

HEADTORCH You don’t want to get caught-out in the open when natural light runs out. A headtorch is very handy even if only used to load the car on the early morning start.

BLACK DIAMOND SPOT 325 RRP: £40 www.blackdiamondequipment.com

A powerful 325 lumens of light and a huge array of features. Powered by 3AAA with a IPX8 rating you don’t have to worry about the weather.

SHORTS & T-SHIRT If you’re lucky and the weather gods are on your side then you can pack away your waterproofs and let your skin taste a little sunshine. Don’t forget to pack for what the weather could be. Don’t get caught out.

AUSSIE GRIT APPAREL www.assiegritapparel.com

RRP: £39-£58

A T-shirt and shorts you’ll want to keep reaching for again and again. The 2in1 shorts help to ward off chaffing with their comfortable built in baselayer.

EXTRAS You need to ensure you’re prepared for any changes in weather, Lightweight Waterproofs are perfect to fold away and stow in your Pack. They are also easy to pull on while on the move. A first aid kit, map, compass, hat, gloves, safety blanket, mobile phone, power bank & enough food to keep you going for 24 hours are also essential.

TREKKING TROUSERS Light weight and shower proof, perfect for convenience and protection, suitable from the carpark right up to the summit. Great for when shorts just aren’t enough but skies are clear.

SHERPA ADVENTURE KHUMA PANT RRP: £70 www.sherpaadventuregear.co.uk

Nice and light to keep you cool but with enough covering to keep the chill off your legs when approaching the summit. Four way stretch allows lots of range of movement.

ADVENTURE

REASONS YOU SHOULD TRY

ADVENTURE RACINg The term adventure racing can cover a multitude of disciplines, such as running, kayaking, swimming and cycling, or on occasions, all of the above. These are aimed at those who would rather take on a challenging endurance race that requires a steadier level of exertion over a longer span of time – giving them ample time to fully enjoy the experience and the landscape. Adventure racing has foundations long before there were Spartan Races and Tough Mudders to test us. If you’ve been taking part in fast and furious obstacle races and fancy branching out in to other areas of adventure racing while upping the ante a little and lowering your heart rate, here are a few reasons you should take the leap in to adventure racing. Below we highlight some of the reasons why adventure racing is for everyone.

There is no such thing as a typical Adventure Racer. They come from a variety of sports; running, mountain biking, team sports, orienteering, triathlon, climbing and mountaineering. The sport attracts people from a huge variety of backgrounds, with vastly differing fitness levels and a wide range of ages, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Adventure Racers tend to have a base level of fitness, enjoy the outdoors and have a taste for doing something that’s different, fun, challenging and adventurous over the weekend. Does this sound like you?

Theres something for everyone. With lots of race organisations to choose from and each offering up a wide range of distances to challenge everyone from first timers to hardened adventure racers looking to up the ante. You’ll be sure to find your perfect match.

It keeps you on your toes – you never quite know what you might encounter or when and how you’ll have to adapt to the challenge that lies ahead.

62 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE

You don’t have to participate in adventure races to win. Instead focus more on pushing your mind, body and soul in order to relish in the sheer accomplishment of crossing the finish line.

Challenge your whole body. Adventure racing is considered a ‘thought sport’ and as much cerebral as it is physical people often fail to realise that success depends on using both your physical and mental abilities. Imagine running for a few miles, then solving some type of puzzle or challenge. Could you do it? A dozen times?

Explore the great outdoors. You’ll often get to navigate areas of the country that are normally off limits, but with special permissions you can race on them. It’s a bit like an adventure packed with lots of adventures.

If one of your favourite things about long runs is the company of running buddies, then adventure racing is for you; an adventure race can be like a running date on steroids. An adventure racing team can range two to five people, depending on the event. There’s the navigator. There’s the cheerleader. There’s the workhorse, who carries the heaviest gear and grabs your pack when you’re struggling up a mountain.

Expand your tool kit. By taking up adventure racing you’ll have the opportunity to learn to navigate using a compass and map and also learn many basic survival skills.

Think about how your friends and family will react when you tell them that you spent 6, or 12, or 24 hours running around in the woods. Think about what they’ll say when you mention the chest-deep river you had to cross, or the mouse, squirrel, fox, snake you came face-to-face with, or the vicious fall you took on your mountain bike, only to climb right back on and take off down the trail.

If that’s not enough to tempt you into dipping your toe into adventure racing then we don’t know what is.

RACE

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TRAINING

A stronger grip will benefit obstacle racers of every skill level - from someone doing the odd run to racers taking competitions seriously. We’ve brought together 5 tools that can be stored in your office draw or down the side of your favourite comfy chair for when you are taking it easy catching up on your latest Netflix series. These tools will help you to specifically target the gripping muscles of the hand and forearm. Mechanical hand grips -- essentially stout springs with handles on them -- are inexpensive training devices that isolate the muscles important to grip strength and stamina. Do you want to complete a set of monkey bars – climb that rope – complete that hercules hoist – carry that bucket…......... If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to read on.

66 Obstacle Race Magazine

TRAINING

The most common pieces of equipment chosen by racers looking to upgrade their grip. Adjustable resistance so that you can build up over time.

Dead hangs, are simple yet hugely effective training drills. Simply find something to hang from. Ensure its safe and can take your weight, then just Hang..hang and hang some more. One you feel like you can hang forever then add in some knee raises and maybe even a few pull ups..

Grab a towel and grip it like your life depends on it. A towel is a great way to switch your grip and really test any progress youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made with the other tools.

Obstacle Race Magazine 67

KEEP YOUR

SWEET TOOTH IN CHECK

Put down the Haribo and hide the Cream Eggs. Tempting as they may be, we really need to reduce our sugar intake. Heres five diabetes driven reasons why……

YOU MIGHT GO BLIND

Diabetics are much more likely to contract cardiovascular disease, blindness and kidney failure, which are all associated with narrowing and consequent impairment of blood vessels. Going for check-ups, controlling your weight, exercising regularly, and maintaining a well-balanced diet will help prevent diabetes.

YOU’LL DIE QUICKER

Want to live longer? Get your blood sugar checked. 90% of the young are unaware they have diabetes. On average, the life expectancy of a young patient with diabetes will be shortened by 10-12 years.

68 Obstacle Race Magazine

NUTRITION

THE FIGURES

The number of people currently diagnosed with diabetes in the UK is at a record high at 3.8 million, with 3.2 of those residing in England.

WORLD WIDE

The prevalence of diabetes has been steadily increasing for the past 3 decades, mirroring an increase in the prevalence of obesity and overweight people. About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS

The longer a person lives with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, the worse their health outcomes are likely to be. Basic technologies such as blood glucose measurement should be readily available in the primary health-care settings.

Take the Test

A blood glucose test can be done at any time during the day, eliminating the hassles that came with older tests. For more information visit:

www.diabetes.org.uk

MUDNIFICENT 7 OCR &

EXPO MUD 7 is the worlds most unique OCR and the first multi race organisation event. Each year we invite along 7 race organisations who each put together a kilometre of the course - creating a unique 7+km course with 7 completely different zones and 7 sets of each organisations most fun and challenging obstacles in their line up. Naturally every single one of these organisations want to bring along something that will be memorable and stand out, to ensure they make a lasting impression making you want to sign up for their full-scale event. At Mudnificent 7 you’re guaranteed a unique experience full to bursting with obstacles and challenges you’ll love. But not only that we will be putting together a fitness based Expo, with this it gives you a day out you don’t want to miss. Set over a beautifully unique location in the heart of England that helps do this unique race format justice. The Heart of England Conference Centre has every natural element you could wish for with mud, water and challenging terrain in abundance. We want to ensure that anyone coming from anywhere in the country could easily get to us so a central location was a no brainer. The Heart of England Conference Centre located in Warwickshire is a 160 acre site with tons of woodland and lashings of mud to set the race in. It’s situated in Meriden – the most central point in England and is extremely close to the M42, M5 and M6. If this sounds like your cup of tea then keep an eye out on our social media channels by searching Mudnificent 7 for more news on the event. We’ll be revealing race organisations and other details in the coming months. The last two years of the event have seen us sell out so please don’t leave it too late to book. Also if you fancy running for FREE get in touch with Kevin@obstacleracemagazine.com and help us to get to our £100,000 charity fundraising target.

• • • • • • • •

7 KILOMETRES 7 DIFFERENT RACE ZONES GREAT CHALLENGES FUN OBSTACLES MUD & WATER MEDAL & T-SHIRT SPORTS EXPO FOOD & DRINKS AVAILABLE

17th AUGUST 2019

WWW.MUD7.COM

NUTRITION

POST WORKOUT REFUEL

72 Obstacle Race Magazine

NUTRITION

Generally, post-workout nutrition has three specific purposes: Replenish glycogen / Decrease protein breakdown / Increase protein synthesis In other words, athletes/exercisers want to: replenish their energy stores / increase muscle size & muscle quality / repair any damage caused by the workout In doing so, they want to increase performance, improve their appearance, and enable their bodies to remain injury-free.

MUSCLE HUSTLE

Protein gets all the glory, but the idea that muscle building and repair is all about protein Is a big misconception. Carbs are vital too, if you don’t get enough your body will eat into existing muscle for fuel. Aim for 3:1 carbs to protein for a lean physique, and 4:1 is perfect for packing on size.

02 THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

Some refer to this workout and post-workout phenomenon as “the window of opportunity”. During this window, your muscles are primed to accept nutrients that can stimulate muscle repair, muscle growth, and muscle strength. This window opens immediately after your workout and starts to close pretty quickly. Research suggests that while protein synthesis persists for at least 48 hours after exercise, it’s most important to get postworkout nutrition immediately, and within 2 hours afterwards. If you feed your body properly while this window is open, you’ll get the benefits. If you don’t provide adequate post exercise nutrition fast enough — even if you delay by only a couple of hours — you decrease muscle glycogen storage and protein synthesis. As soon as you drop that last dumbbell, you should be consuming some postworkout nutrition.

03 WHAT TO EAT

Post-workout nutrition requires two things, Protein to aid in protein synthesis, Carbohydrates to help replace muscle glycogen (and to enhance the role of insulin in transporting nutrients into cells) You could certainly eat a whole food meal that meets these requirements after exercise. However, whole food meals aren’t always practical. Some people aren’t hungry immediately after exercise. Whole food digests slowly, and we want nutrients to be available quickly. Consuming a liquid form of nutrition that contains rapidly digesting carbohydrates (e.g., maltodextrin, dextrose, glucose, etc) and proteins (e.g., protein hydrolysates or isolates): might accelerate recovery by utilizing insulin for nutrient transport into cells; can result in rapid digestion and absorption; and is often better tolerated during and after workouts.

Obstacle Race Magazine 73

TOUGH GUY THE PHYSICAL BATTLE

“It’s the end of January, Christmas is a distant

memory and the pilgrimage up the M6 to Mr Mouse Farm for unfortunates is undertaken.” Since 2006 I’ve taken part in 3 Summer Tough Guys and today will be my 7th Winter, and is what brought me into the world of OCR in the first place. The weather always seems to have a funny way of turning just before the event, snow, Ice or todays festivities; 54 mph winds… There is always a feeling of trepidation and excitement once you arrive at Tough Guy, the smell of woodsmoke and wet hay, mixed in with the heady combination of Deep Heat and neoprene in the changing barn. Dirty Vikings founder and teammate Adam and I were running together today, we made our way to the top of the hill to the sounds of the Ghost Squad banging their oil drums, the wind suddenly picked up and the Union flags proudly fluttered, we made for the cover of the waiting crowd until the canon fired and we were off, 11’ish as always.

74 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

The race always starts as a mass stampede, those on the hill trying to chase down the Front Squad with smoke grenades and chants, a spectacle to watch. We eased the pace into the Country Miles and felt comfortable going into the slalom which came about reassuringly early when the legs are fresh.

The slalom came about reassuringly early when the legs are freshâ&#x20AC;Ś

A series of zig zags of what seemed like 45% muddy hill running, a little detour at the top around a field in front of millionairesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; row and down into a new section which involved a myriad of trails snaking around woodland. Obstacle Race Magazine 75

We were then back out into the open when we got our first taste of wet feet and my first cursed words for not choosing neoprene socks, as it was only going to get wetter and colder.

Next upâ&#x20AC;Ś

Big Bear Wood with Ramstein blaring out of out a speaker and onto The Ghurkha Grand Nationalâ&#x20AC;Ś The Ghurkha Grand National is a staple of Tough Guy, a seemingly endless set of trenches where you go in the water, up the steep muddy bank, back in the water, back up the muddy bank and repeat. This year they seemed a lot shorter which was great as they really do sap the life out of and keep your feet at a constant chill. 76 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

Turning a corner and its onto the business end of the race; The Tiger, and the start of the famous Killings Fields. The obstacles look like they’ve seen better days, but this is part of the charm of Tough Guy, every telegraph pole, rope, plank, scaffold has seen a lot of action in the 32 years of its existence. The sting of the Tigers tail was in full force with it dishing out electric shocks from a car battery, for the first year ever, I didn’t get stung.

The killing fields always feel more like a survival ordeal rather a race, it’s very cleverly done… The killing fields always feel more like a survival ordeal rather a race, it’s very cleverly done as the ordeal gets progressively more challenging, with obstacles there to cramp you, shock you, freeze you and demoralise you. The Behemoth looms above you before scaling it with a series of ropes, a lot easier if you’re the only one crossing at the time. It’s then onto the Battle of the Somme and fiery holes with flaming haybales and smoke that gets lodged in the back of your throat, although the heat from the haybales is a welcome distraction from the cold of the water filled ditches. Obstacle Race Magazine 77

After the cramp inducing dead leg swamp, a marshal reassures you with water and electricity at the fear tunnels and you want to have a little cry. It’s then the claustrophobic Viet Kong tunnels and a sudden realisation that you need to prepare to get wet, very wet... The marshals, cadets and crowd are especially encouraging at these points, you know the water is coming and there’s nothing you can do about it. The first submersion is under a telegraph pole at the start of the lake which leads to the underwater tunnels. This is the essence of the event in my opinion, water submersions are quite normal now in OCR but at the end of January is quite a different experience. The exhilaration that you feel exiting the lake with the blood rushing to the nerves on your skin is something else, almost heat, I mentioned to Adam that this is how it feels to be really alive and he wholeheartedly agreed; we had to keep moving as hypothermia at this point is on everybody’s tail. 78 Obstacle Race Magazine

EVENT REPORT

The next water obstacle is the splosh pool where you jump back into a lake which at this point doesn’t seem so bad and just when you think you’re home and dry you cross the Dragon Pools, standing on and holding a rope above and below. Working together, this was the first time I had successfully crossed without getting wet. A tyre crossing, a few ditches and some ropebased obstacles and ducking under planks we were near the finish, both choosing to hoist ourselves up the electrified section of the rope pull finish which thankfully wasn’t on, another Tough Guy ran/survived and a gratefully received horse brass to add to the martingale collection.

Finally, there is just one last challenge of Tough Guy - trying to get changed whilst unable to feel or control your hands or feet. Shaking hands and tea spilling everywhere, all part of the experience, shivering but smiling and the long road home until next year, the purest essence of why we do what we do.

RACE REPORT BY: Marc Trussell GoMarc Personal Training www.gomarc.net PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Tony Jarvis Photography

Obstacle Race Magazine 79

Take on the challenge of this military driving course and go where only tanks dare

E L L

FlasH (6km) Legend (12km)

Driffield Camp East Yorkshire

Saturday 14th September 2019 REGISter at herochallenge.co.uk

OCR DIRECTORY OUTDOOR TRAINING CENTRES CLIFF LAKES OCR

Tamworth, Midlands, B78 2DL 07725 544667 www.clifflakes.org Facebook: @ClifflakesOCR

THE OBSTACLE GYM Lutterworth, Midlands 07426912988 www.reaperevents.co.uk Facebook: @theobstaclegym

FORTITUDE FITNESS CENTRE Cambridge, CB23 7NX 07876635134 www.fortitudefitnesscentre.co.uk Facebook: @fortitude-fitness-centre

FIT 4 OCR OCR Hertfordshire 07720882611 www.fit4ocr.com Facebook: @fit4ocr

OCR Play Park

Redhill, Surrey, RH15QL 07802 754624 www.obstacleplaypark.com Facebook: @ocrplaypark

BOOTCAMP STYLE TRAINING BE MILITARY FIT

Outdoor Sessions In 140 Parks nationwide www.bemilitaryfit.com Facebook: @bemilitaryfit

MK FITNESS

Larbert, falkirk 07783157685 www.mkfitness.org.uk Facebook: @M.K.FITNESS

IMMORTAL FITNESS

Marlow / Hambleded / Henley 07792881255 www.immortalfitness.co.uk Facebook: @immortalfit

INDOOR TRAINING CENTRES

OCR KIT RETAILERS

SDR FITNESS CENTRE

MY SPORTS AND MORE

Stockport, SK3 0SB 07914052345 www.sdrcheshire.co.uk Facebook: @sdrfitnesscentre

www.mysportsandmore.com 07805387782 mysportsandmore@gmail.com Facebook: @Mysportsandmore

RUMBLE FITNESS OBSTACLE TRAINING CENTRE

FENLAND RUNNER

FUNDAMENTAL SPORTS AND FITNESS

TOTAL SPORTS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Milton Keynes, MK19 07769351968 www.rumblefitness.co.uk Facebook: @RumbleFitnessandSportsTherapyCentre

Nottingham, NG2 7LE 07756637129 www.fundamentalsportsandfitness.co.uk Facebook: @fundamentalsportsandfitness

www.fenlandrunner.com 01733 601683 john@competitive-edge-global.com Facebook: @FenlandRunnerUK

www.totalsportsandsupplements.co.uk

07769311502

Info@totalsportsandsupplements.co.uk Facebook: @Totalsports&supplements

Events Diary SPRING PLANNER

For a more comprehensive events listing go to: www.obstacleracemagazine.com/events

6th April

5th May

From £49

From £50+

Kettering, Midlands

Kent, St Clere

Punchestown Race Course

www.Uventurerun.co.uk

www.spartanrace.uk

6th April

10-12th May

1st June

Uventure

The General Trail Run

Spartan - South East

BodyPower Experience

26th May

Spartan - Ireland

The Elements OCR

From £17

From £TBC

From £ 40

Winchester

Birmingham, NEC

Kent

www.toughenoughraces.co.uk

www.bodypower.co.uk

www.theelementsocr.co.uk

7th April

11th May

From £31

From £25

Winchester

Kent

www.toughenoughraces.co.uk

www.thelittlewelly.co.uk

13-14th April

18th May

The General OCR 2019

Rough Runner

The Little Welly

Aztec Escape

9th June

Mud Monsters Run From £39.60 West Sussex www.mudmonstersrun.co.uk/sign-up

15-16th June Rough Runner

From £50

From £35

Sussex

From £50

Midlands

www.Roughrunner.com

Manchester

www.aztecescape.com

www.roughrunner.com

27th April

18-19th May

15th June

Rocket Race Apollo From £40 Somerset www.rocketrace.co.uk

4th May

Spartan - South East From £50+ Kent, St Clere www.spartanrace.uk

Rough Runner

Splat Quack Go

From £50

From £25-50

Oxfordshire

Suffolk

www.roughrunner.com

www.splatquackgo.com

25th May

21st June

Spartan - Ireland

Total Warrior - NIGHT

From £50+

From £ 54.95

Punchestown Race Course

Leeds

www.spartanrace.uk

www.totalwarrior.co.uk

22nd June

13th July

15th Sept

Total Warrior - Leeds

Spartan - Midlands

Zombie Evacuation

From £ 54.95

From £50+

From £25

Leeds

Marston lodge, Leicestershire

East Anglia

www.totalwarrior.co.uk

www.spartanrace.uk

www.zombieevacuation.com

22-23rd June

14th July

15th Sept

Spartan - Midlands

Splat Quack GO

From £49

From £50+

From £25+

Worthing Beach

Marston lodge, Leicestershire

Suffolk

www.amphibirun.co.uk

www.spartanrace.uk

www.splatquackgo.com

20-21st July

28th Sept

Rough Runner

Uventure

From £50

From £49

Newcastle

Kettering, Midlands

www.roughrunner.com

www.Uventurerun.co.uk

3-4th Aug

5th Oct

Beach Ballistic

Spartan - Windsor

From £35

From £50+

Aberdeen

Rapley Farm, Berkshire

www.beachballistic.com

www.spartanrace.uk

11th Aug

6th Oct

Urban Warrior

Spartan - Windsor

From £35

From £50+

Herne Bay

Rapley Farm, Berkshire

wwwactivelifeltd.co.uk

www.spartanrace.uk

17th Aug

5-6th Oct

Mudnificent 7

Rough Runner - London

From £37.50

From £48

Coventry, Midlands

Somerset

www.MUD7.com

www.roughrunner.com

14th Sept

9th Oct

Spartan - Scotland

Rocket Race Discovery

From £50+

From £40

Perth, South Inch Park

Somerset

www.spartanrace.uk

www.rocketrace.co.uk

EXTREME Amphibirun

22nd June

Go Insane 3km Fun Day From £ 12.50 Cambridge www.insaneterrainrunning.com

22nd June

Spartan - South West From £50+ Aston Down, Gloucestershire www.spartanrace.uk

23rd June

Spartan - South West From £50+ Aston Down, Gloucestershire www.spartanrace.uk

23rd June

Go Insane 5/10km From £40 Cambridge www.insaneterrainrunning.com

29th June Uventure From £49 Kettering, Midlands www.Uventurerun.co.uk

29th June

The Little Welly From £25 Kent www.thelittlewelly.co.uk

15th Sept

Spartan - Scotland From £50+ Perth, South Inch Park www.spartanrace.uk

To add your event please contact: Carl@obstacleracemagazine.com

T S E T T I F E H LY T

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