Obstacle Race Magazine Issue 29

E L C A T OBS £5.95

RACE

ISSUE #29

LE AND ADVENTURE RACERS

AC NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR OBST

SCOTT SHOES

Tested

BEAT

OCRWC In P i c ture s

The Winter BLUES ADVENTURES

ROOTS ADVENTURES

Get changed. Stay warm.

2018 was huge. Bring on 2019! #dryrobeterritory

RACE

OBSTACLE Co Founder, Editor & Chief

Designed by

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

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, NEWCO Media Ltd or the Publisher

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

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FRONT COVER BY HARM DOMMISSE OCR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

ISSN 2053-9495

WRITE TO US Obstacle Race Magazine, 4 Ringer Lane, Clowne, Derbyshire, S43 4DA

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EDITOR’S LETTER See that plonker above, no not Jonathan Albon, I mean the plonker on the right almost in the fold of the page, grinning like a mad man while capturing Jonathan crossing the line to become the FIVE times OCR World Champion. Yep that’s me lapping up the atmosphere of what was my first World Championships experience. Until this year theres always been something standing in the way of me attending the OCRWC, so this one was special.

Apart from the obvious OCRWC coverage in this issue, we also have articles to help get you beat the winter blues and also keep your fitness levels ticking over in the off season.

In our adventure section we open you up to a whole new world of survival style races, designed to test not only your body but also your mind.

Preparation is the key and a strong mind is essential.

Ca r l

CARL WIBBERLEY EDITOR & CHIEF

Website: obstacleracemagazine.com Youtube: youtube.com/obstacleracemagazine Facebook: obstacleracemagazine Instagram: @obstacleracemagazine

Twitter: @UKORM

MUDNIFICENT 7 AUGUST 17th 2019

A UNIQUE MULTI-BRANDED OBSTACLE COURSE RACE SEVEN ZONES OF PURE FUN

COVENTRY, MIDLANDS ENTER AT: WWW.MUD7.COM

Contents FEATURE

8

SWINGS & ROUNDABOUTS Mental preparation is just

ISSUE #29 2018

32

as valuable to a racer as physical preparation.

12

SPARTAN EVENTS 2019 Looking to take part in your first Spartan, then this should be your first port of call.

18

OFF SEASON BUILDING BLOCKS These simple movements will help you to keep your engine ticking over through the off season.

20

WINTER BLUES

32

A guide to breaking free of

TOUGH MUDDER 2019 PLANS

those Winter blues.

The TM team have some

busy searching out their top

fantastic new challenges in

picks for potential gifts for the

store for you in 2019.

mud lover in your life.

KIT TESTING

30

SCOTT SUPERTRAC TESTING We send out a pair of each of SCOTTS most mud hungry shoes to be tested to their limits.

6

46

Obstacle Race Magazine

30

ORM GIFT GUIDE The ORM team have been

ADVENTURE

40

40

44

Are you looking for that extra something from your next challenge.

Books that are perfect for re igniting your

ROOTS ADVENTURE TRAINING

MIND, BODY, SOUL & ULTRA BOOKS passion for running.

REGULARS

14

R AC E I N P I C T U R E S We recap the Obstacle Racing World Championships.

26 HIIT

Gemma shows you how to get the most from your HIIT sessions.

34

RECIPES PAGE Turbo charge your menu with these mouth watering and

14

tasty recipes.

36

MUDTREST PAGE A place to share your

52

54

56

THE POLLS

OCR DIRECTORY

EVENTS DIARY

Each issue we pose

A place for all your OCR

All your races listed for the

favourite

a different question to

needs. From Kit shops to

coming months of OCR.

muddy race day pictures.

the ORM community.

Training centres.

Obstacle Race Magazine

7

FEATURE

Its all just

SWINGS & ROUNDABOUTS

8 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE Each time I have a conversation with a friend, client or similar about Obstacle racing who hasn’t heard of it before they refer to it as one of 2 things….“Oh like that ninja thing on the tele” or “so you play around like kids would in a playground”. Essentially both have some truths in them but as anyone knows OCR is far more diverse than that, however when I last heard it I couldn’t help but draw the comparisons with so many parts of OCR. “It’s all just Swings and Roundabouts”. These comparisons don’t just draw between swinging around in circles, acting like monkeys and spinning about on obstacles, but also relate to the deeper mindful elements of sport and its affects on any participant within it.

Today is Monday. I have just woken up the day after delivering our OCR World Champs Training day alongside Conor Hancock at the Rumble Fitness barn, completely exhausted still but totally happy and proud of what we are able to produce in our attempts to help create amazing experiences come October 19th through to the 21st.

The standard of runner attending these training days is getting better and better each year and this year was no exception, everyone really did do themselves proud. However during instructing on the day I picked up on the fact that it was quite obvious many peoples concerns were equally about overcoming their own mindset taking on Obstacles, band races and Championships as much as it was about overcoming the physical obstacles themselves.

Many of the technique issues that we were able to iron out became less of the problem and more so the runners approach to the harder obstacles, the fears of some of them and the irrational feelings that come about as a result of a lack of confidence.

We had some amazing people in the room, podium placing performers, 5 year experience, age group winners and many more and yet quite a common problem that we came across was a lack of confidence which was genuinely creating barriers to success. It made me realise that a lot of this came from the pressures of “band racing” and “championship standard courses”.

What is it about competing that can severely block so many runners who would normally ace an OCR. Many of those attending would refer back to “their glory days” or when they used to be able to smash through obstacles no problem and yet now they struggle despite changing nothing in their training. Without going into the details as to just how not changing your training plan can actually affect your performance it was clear to see that those training actually seemed to have more of a mental block with obstacles than they did a physical one. I sat and thought about this quite a lot as I evaluated our training day. What is it about competing that can severely block so many runners who would normally ace an OCR.

Well if we truly worked through this it would take a thesis to explain it due to its enormity but simply put the lack of confidence in your ability can be put down to a number of factors, but by breaking these down into small manageable segments you can easily learn how to overcome them.

“I don’t belong here at a World Championship”.

“How am I going to compete with the likes of these guys?”

Firstly, I feel that the title of the races in question is the most obvious “fear factor”. The Obstacle Course Racing World Championship”. For some this raises nothing but fun and excitable anticipation desperately counting down the days wishing them away faster, but for many it has the opposite effect. The name draws on comparisons to proper athletes, memories of events such as the Olympic games that we only ever get to see on tele or from a grandstand. “I don’t belong here at a World Championship”. “How am I going to compete with the likes of these guys?”

Obstacle Race Magazine 9

FEATURE

Well, if you’re asking yourself that question, you are probably right, how can you? However, take heart, the vast majority of people entering that race simply can not either. The real truth in this is a harsh one. The real contenders at these competitive races are probably able to be listed in less then 10 names.

Jon Albon has won every single OCR World Championship Race that has been held under this banner and by the time this article is sat in front of you in this amazing glossy magazine or APP… probably dominated yet another one and it wouldn’t surprise me if Lindsey Webster has done the same in the Women’s. So you are probably right to ask yourself that question, but that is OK. It actually is OK. So stop making it a big deal that you don’t feel on the same level and do one of two things over the next 2 years. Go out and train and live healthy and hard enough that in 2 years you will be able to, or don’t, live your life and continue to push your training to realistic limits in the hopes that you get to take part in this fantastic area of our new “sport” again the next time.

10 Obstacle Race Magazine

You see as an OCR Instructor I constantly have to assess not just myself and my business but the industry itself. Where is it heading, will it become a sport with paid athletes and sponsorships or will it always be a public supported event that provides a platform for layers of success in exercise?

This has helped me realise that yes, we should definitely be putting ourselves forward for progression and adaptation to the “sport” but actually we should be proud of the fact that we can form such an integral part in the beginnings of one.

Take the pressures off of trying to place a podium or similar and go back to enjoying what we do on what will always be the pinnacle of what we all do for challenge and enjoyment. Believe me when I say that IF this is to become a sport with paid athletes and sponsors, in a few years time the level of athletes taking these challenges on will most likely be far greater and so we may not even be able to qualify to run in them. So take the fear away and soak up every second of attending an event like this. Continue to push yourself the best you can, upgrade your skill set and learn more and more to progress as far as you can within your means. You will always perform better when you remove the fear and replace it with enjoyment, I can guarantee it if and when Jon Albon wasn’t enjoying himself anymore he would likely no longer take part, so be like Jon. Have fun.

Secondly, take away the obsession with the former glory days or when you used to place highly all the time in races. We cannot time travel and nor can we guarantee performance. OCR has moved on. How long ago was it you placed well? When was the last time you ran a podium or came top 5 in your age group? It doesn’t matter. This is a fledgling sport and will continue to move on as much as we can keep continuing to draw in new people, attention from around the globe and be innovative with the creation of obstacles.

So in order to keep up with that we must be able to adapt and progress alongside it, evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and take part in the bits which best suit us, whether that be “Elite”, age group or Journeyman. If you already are continuing to progress but still don’t see as many podiums, as many high placings or similar don’t be too harsh on yourself. Are you doing what you can to keep improving, great, then no problem. Keep working hard and eventually the hard work may pay off, but remember, the “sport” is growing.

More and more people are competing, more and more training centres are opening and more and more experience is out there to learn from. So reduce the stress on your own performance and begin to enjoy the challenge again in training, developing and racing, and see where it can take you.

FEATURE

If it’s a lack of confidence after injuries or time away from OCR this too can be worked on. Injuries and similar take time to heal, but find yourself a good coach or mentor and work alongside a safe realistic rehabilitation program and the world is your oyster, it just takes time. If it’s the lack of confidence built from once being able to complete obstacles but now struggling to be anywhere near the same level assess why? Have you lost strength? Are you heavier than before, do you not train anymore? If there appears to be no reason that is logical then relax a little. Realise that form is temporary but class is permanent. A lack in mental strength or confidence can and will be overcome. When attempting newly difficult obstacles attack them with a clear mind. Eradicate thoughts of failures or previous performances, focus on the task at hand and the think only of the simple key requirements of the obstacle you are attempting. Good grip, strong core, controlled movement or whatever it needs to be. Take away the other distractions and focus on what needs to be done in its simplest form.

When it doesn’t go to plan, smile about it knowing that eventually you will get it done again if you work hard enough on what it is that needs to be done.

In truth the swings and roundabouts of OCR go much further than those of the playground similarities of obstacles and stretch out to our mental resilience, strength, courage, motivation, anxieties and beyond…but by remembering that we take part in this “sport” not only for fun and challenge but at a stage where right now it is accessible to all of us, no matter what level we are at and on the grander scale, we are inspiring a generation. Look behind you, I am seeing more and more children taking up OCR and creating wonderful family memories, gaining physical fitness and engaging with people from all works of life. Never underestimate the impact you can have on a generation of people with through the achievements and role model status you play.

One day we will have to watch the Elite and age groupers from the far distance of our TV screens or the back of the Journeyman wave. So no matter whether you just smashed through the OCR World Championships, are just about to, or have bombed massively for one reason or another…take every positive you can, work on a better version of yourself using OCR as a tool for that success and soak in every second of how privileged we actually are…ride every high and low of the obstacle playground, take on board every bump and bruise, and have fun with your friends and family…after all…It’s all just Swings and Roundabouts.

Written By Dave Peters, Lead Coach at Rumble Fitness OCR

Obstacle Race Magazine 11

SPARTAN 2019 EVENTS CALENDAR

If you’re looking to take your first steps in to the muddy world of OCR or you’re a well seasoned racer looking to take on other competitive racers, Spartan has the answer.

With events all over the United Kingdom

ST CLERE : 4th-5th MAY Let 2019 commence! Our 2019 Spartan Season kicks off here in the heart of the South East ! This is our third year returning to our St Clare venue to launch a new season, and every year it gets bigger and better. So get ready Spartans, St Clare and our 2019 Season is ready for you are you ready for us?!

IRELAND : 25th-26th MAY Ireland is not only just our single overseas Spartan race, it is also hosted at the infamous Punchestown Racecourse! Located just outside of Dublin, in the beautiful Irish countryside with a grandstand where you can see the majority of the course in action - this is the perfect race location! We are very excited to return for the second year and cannot wait for the weekend to be bigger and better than last. Are you ready Spartans?! Because we are.

ASTON DOWN : 22nd-23rd JUNE For the 4th year running Spartan returns to the infamous Aston Down and the notorious Death Valley! This race holds a special place in many Spartans hearts and we cannot wait to leave a lasting mark on all 2019 racers. It is our longest standing race location and we are already very excited for our 4th year. Are you ready for the heat Spartans? Because Aston Down and Death Valley will never disappoint.

FEATURE MARSTON LODGE : 13th-14th JULY It’s time to go home Spartans! An endurance weekend like no other awaits us at Marston Lodge, the home of Spartan Race UK & Ireland.

Prepare for rolling hills, amazing scenery and challenging woodland trail runs. We have conquered this landscape many times before and we are hungry to do the same this year. Are you ready? Spartan is coming home.

SCOTLAND : 14th-15th SEPT Known for its brutal testing terrain and and amazing landscapes. If its a real test you’re after then the Spartan Ultra beast will hit the spot.

26+ Miles over the worst terrain our build team can find for you. Are you brave enough to take it on ?

WINDSOR : 5th-6th OCT Windsor is renowned for being the biggest and best race of the entire Spartan Season! As it’s always been the location for our season finale, this is the most anticipated event of the year hosting more racers in one weekend than ever before.

Additionally, Windsor is our only Trifecta Weekend of our 2019 season! So if you want that Trifecta Weekend Medal, which we know you do, then this is your only shot. Expect big things from Windsor 2019, because we can promise you already it will not disappoint… we are very, very certain on that. Who watches an entire season unfold and then doesn’t see the season finale? Not you Spartan - see you there.

With events taking place throughout the whole of 2019 theres a time and a place for everyone to experience the thrill of a Spartan.

For a limited time is you use code ORM2019 at checkout you’ll receive 20% off any open heat entry.

SIGN UP AT: WWW.SPARTANRACE.UK

Obstacle Race Magazine 13

REGULARS

WO R L D S P I H S N O I P CHAM PICTURES IN

The Obstacle Course Racing World Championships first hit the OCR scene in 2013.

Founded and created with the sole intention to be the sports first independent championship. Fast forwards five years later and the UK has just hosted what was a spectacular weekend of competitive racing.

Jonathan Albon taking first place in the pro wave 15 championships event for the fifth year running.

Lady luck & the sun was shining down on the competing athletes over the whole weekend, with perfect weather conditions for racing.

The ladies field of athletes was the most competitive its been over the last five years. A hard fought battle for the top spots meant positions changed hands numerous times over the course.

14 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

Hosted by Nuclear Races in Essex. Some of their personality shone through with many of their obstacles appearing on the course.

With racers from 60 different nations it was wonderful to see such an amazing line up of athletes in attendance.

The male pros looking pretty laid back before they are about to do battle on the 3km short course.

Is the secret just enjoying what you do.....

Team UK were out in force on home turf.

Dominating the field. Check out page .. to see how Team UK ranked against the rest of the world. Heres a clue we are pretty darn proud.

Obstacle Race Magazine 15

REGULARS

Skull valley was on the final stretch but was also the undoing of so many racers. With the rest of the course slowly breaking down the athletes grip strength the skulls were one obstacle that tipped many over the edge of fatigue. Responsible for taking many bands.

A staple of Britsh OCR events is lashings of mud. It became quite the talking point amongst the visiting the UK for the first time. Many racers never having experienced mud on such a level before.

16 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

Inov-8 were headline sponsors of the event for 2018. They designed and built what was to be the final obstacle of the course. A real test of grit and determination when the huge wall and ropes were coated in mud.

Once again Jonathan Albon dominated the weekend of racing.

Taking first in both the 3km short course on Friday and the 15km pro championship event on the Saturday.

The next event weekend takes place on the

11th -13th of October 2019 More information on how to qualify can be found at

WWW.OCRWORLDCHAMPIONSHIPS.COM WORDS BY: CARL WIBBERLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CHARLOTTE VISUALS

Obstacle Race Magazine 17

OFF SEASON BUILDING BLOCKS

During the off season it can be easy to undo all the good you’ve done throughout a busy season.

These six movements could be the key to maintaining your functionality ready for the next years adventures. As little as 60 seconds of each movement is

all it takes daily to keep you ticking over......

Push ups

The perfect movement to get your upper body muscle groups working together. Slow and steady or fast and explosive....

Cycling Situps Pump your legs to meet your elbows and you’ll have a core of steel in no time....

Plank

How long can you go...Aim for 60 seconds to begin with and see where you end up by your first race of the season.

18 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

Squats Your legs will thank you. How many reps can you manage in 60 seconds....

Dead Hangs

Grip will never be a problem again.

All you have to do is hang around....

Burpees

The perfect movement to deliver a healthy dose of suffering. 60 seconds all out is all you need to finish you off.

Obstacle Race Magazine 19

R E T WIN S E U BL When days are short and working a 9-5 can leave you feeling a little like Dracula, its easy to let the Winter blues affect your day to day mood.

So the ORM team have put there heads together and come up with a few top tips to help you to feel on top form even if you are in the shade.

Besides feeling sad, here are some typical symptoms of winter blues: -Your energy is low and you sleep more than usual.

-You feel apathetic, unmotivated, and bored.

-You are less interested in friends and activities you usually enjoy.

-You feel irritable, moody, and your relationships suffer.

-You overeat, gain weight, and especially have cravings for carbohydrates.

20 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE EXERCISE

A BRIGHTER ENVIROMENT

But don’t take the idea of spending time curled up in front of the fire too far.

It’s important to stay physically active.

In fact, exercise is one of the most important things you can do to stay happy, not just during the winter, but all year long.

So get some physical exercise, preferably outdoors.

It’s not always easy or pleasant to exercise in inclement weather, but even a 15-minute walk can increase feelgood brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and endorphins.

When your body is craving more daylight, sitting next to an artificial light—also called a light box—for 30 minutes per day can be as effective as antidepressant medication. Opening blinds and curtains, trimming back tree branches, and sitting closer to windows can also help provide an extra dose of sunshine.

TURN ON THE TUNES In a 2013 study, researchers showed that simply listening to upbeat or cheery music significantly improved participant’s mood in both the short and long term.

BE ALARMED Tempting as it might be to sleep in on dark mornings, it’s best to stick with a regular sleep schedule — which means waking up at the same times on weekdays and weekends. Establish a routine wake-up time and a soothing bedtime ritual, and if you aren’t already in this habit, allow three or four weeks to get used to it. It’s important to get at least seven hours of sleep every night for your overall health, according to guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation. Also, make sure that your sleeping area is comfortable, slightly cool, and free of noisy distractions.

SUPPLEMENTS Here’s a look at the top supplements for overcoming winter doldrums.

Fish Oil -Fish oil may be the #1 supplement for treating winter depression.

Vitamin D - Unless you live in an area where large areas of your skin get some sun exposure all year long, you almost certainly are not getting the vitamin D you need to keep up a positive mood during the Winter.

Tryptophan -Tryptophan is an amino acid that’s the precursor of the happiness brain chemical serotonin.

Research has found tryptophan to be as effective for depression as antidepressant drugs B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium, either from diet or supplementation are also important. These vitamins and minerals are necessary for serotonin synthesis and are co-factors for Vitamin D absorption. Engage in activities that naturally boost serotonin levels, such as exercise.

Obstacle Race Magazine 21

MOOD BOOSTING FOOD Feeling fatigued, cranky or blue?

Try these four foods to perk up your mood

BLUEBERRIES

EGGS

Try some of these super berries to keep you smiling throughout the day. Already considered a superfood, blueberries have high levels of antioxidants which not only help to boost your mood, but also aid the nervous system, brain function, and combat memory loss. Blueberries make a tasty addition to your breakfast bowl, or as a light healthy snack to be eaten at any time of day.

Eggs have serious mood-lifting powers.

As well as being a good source of vitamin D. They also contain phenylalanine – a molecule used to make dopamine, which helps us feel enthusiastic and driven. So, rather than staying in bed until the last possible minute and grabbing a croissant on the go, try to wake up 15 minutes earlier ad cook eggs for breakfast.

DARK CHOCOLATE

FISH

Not only is dark chocolate a well-known aphrodisiac, it is also full of nutrients that cause the body to release happy hormones, known as endorphins. For a mood-boosting sweet treat opt for dark chocolate that’s over 70 percent cacao. All it takes is a couple of squares to give you that feelgood lift, so try not to hoover up the whole bar!

Essential fatty acids such as omega 3, found mainly in oily fish, help to improve your mood by increasing your levels of dopamine. Include at least one 140g serving of fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, or sardines a week in your diet and this should keep your brain happy and healthy. Try making mackerel on toast in the morning or taking a can of tuna into work to eat for lunch or alternatively, take fish oil supplements such as cod liver oil every morning.

22 Obstacle Race Magazine

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REGULARS

HIIT HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING

INTRO High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a great way to work out if you have a short amount of time. It means you’ll need to work to your maximum effort to feel the benefits of the training.

The training session covered in this article will work on your explosive power. Explosive Power links perfectly into HIIT training as it involves exercises that use maximum or near maximum output from you in a short amount of time.

The idea is you want to move heavy weights very quickly.

However this doesn’t mean you lose sight of the technique you’ll have been building on either.

When it comes to OCR’s a lot of the movement’s will link to jumping, leaping, bounding, dragging and swinging as you’re tackle walls, hurdles, rope climbs, tyre flips and rings. This is great when it comes to training as there really is no limiting factor on what type of explosive exercise to do and it means you can training both your upper and lower body.

This type of training needs to be built on through a structured training programme, building up with body weight or light weights to start with, making sure you’re movements are controlled.

Once you’ve mastered the technique and are using the heavier weights this can be classed as plyometric or ballistic training.

Another factor to link to all of this is your cardiovascular fitness.

In particular your anaerobic fitness. This means you need to work on sprinting short distances and looking to increase your speed.

You need to think about how long you can sprint at your maximum intensity for, if you think of a 100m sprinter, their maximum intensity during a race is under 10 seconds, this shows what a short amount of time you’re aiming for.

We need this type of training to really push your training to the next level. Once you’ve built the strong foundation of endurance and strength work adding in power and speed work will mean your muscles continually have to adapt and develop to meet the needs of your training, which will in turn mean on race day you’ll be even faster and stronger.

You need to make sure the power and explosive exercises you’re doing link into the sporting activities. When planning your training think about which obstacles you need to work on and let those movements dictate which exercises you chose to do.

26 Obstacle Race Magazine

During training set yourself small realistic goals, sprint for 10 seconds and have a 60 second recovery, you can play about with the timings as you get fitter, slowly reducing your recovery time to make it more challenging.

You could add in sprints between your circuits in the gym, or if you’re out for a run use tress or lamp posts as a guide to sprint between.

REGULARS

THE CIRCUIT BOX JUMPS Use a step, box or bench at a height you are comfortable to jump onto.Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, bend your knees and use your explosive power to jump onto the box. Keep your chest up and head looking forwards.

Whilst you are building up your confidence you can step backwards off the box and repeat the action. Alternatively as you progress you can jump backwards or forwards off the box.

QUICK FEET THROUGH LADDERS Start behind the ladder facing down it. Step with either foot into the first square, followed by your second foot into the same square. Keep on the balls of your feet, raise your knees high, move your arms by your side and keep looking forwards.

Obstacle Race Magazine 27

LATERAL SIDE JUMPS OVER HURDLE This is all about speed. You want to jump sideways over the hurdle as quickly as possible. Bend both knees and jump sideways over the box, keeping repeating. Make sure your abs are braced to keep control and look forwards as you’re jumping.

SLAM BALL THROW Hold the slam ball above your head as quickly and as hard as possible throw the ball onto the floor in front of you. Bend down, pick the ball up and raise it back above your head repeating the action.

28 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

WALKING PRESS UP Using the ladders, you’re going to do a press up with your hands between the rungs on the ladder.

After each push up you’re going to move your hands sideways into the next rung on the ladder and keep repeating until you’re at the end. As you’re doing the press up make sure your head staying in front of your hands, and your shoulder, hips and heels are in a straight line.

PUSH PRESS Using a ViPR barbell, you want to be standing feet shoulder width apart and your start position is to be holding the bar to your chest.

Have a slight bend in your knees and at the same time as you push your knees up push the bar straight above your head.

Keep your back straight at all times, it is a good idea to engage your core and glutes throughout this action. As you lower the bar back to your chest, have a slight bend in your knees. This is a powerful and explosive action. You can go slightly heavier with this then a regular shoulder press because you are using your knees.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY: GEMMA SPACKMAN Head coach at FUNDAMENTAL SPORTS AND FITNESS Nottingham, NG2 7LE www.fundamentalsportsandfitness.co.uk Fb: @fundamentalsportsandfitness

Obstacle Race Magazine 29

KIT TESTING Extre

me P rot To e b o e c t i o n x

ler Schoeltion Protec

Soft Compoun d Rubber

rop d m m 8

SCOTT

Supertrac Ultra RC EDITORS THOUGHTS ON THE SCOTTS : You can never accuse SCOTT of being afraid of breaking the mould, the Supertrac range are real lookers even if they don’t fit into the ordinary looks bracket.

Designed with functionality at the top of the list they still manage to tick all the rest of the boxes needed for a racing and training shoe.

SCOTT are one of the most up and coming brands in the OCR & Adventure market right now. With supreme comfort, grip and durability I can see why.

The rubber used on their sole makes for great grip in all conditions, even with the more aggressive lugs of the Ultra

7mm Lugs TECH SPEC

One P iece Uppe r

WEIGHT - 340g DROP - 8mm RRP - £140 LUGS - 7mm www. - scott-sports.com 30 Obstacle Race Magazine

model they still have the grip to go from your door to the road and right to the trails. This was one shoe I was excited to send out to our reviewer and see how it stood up to testing.

REVIEWERS THOUGHTS: When ORM sent me the SCOTT Supertrac Ultra RC’s to test I was more than a little excited to try out this brand new offering. When they arrived it was like Christmas come early, especially with the brand new colour way. I’d always loved the look of the bright green Supertracs, but this red was gorgeous. Although my own OCR season was starting to wind down I made sure I had a couple of events and plenty of training runs to give them a good test. Of the two pairs I was sent the Supertrac ultra felt like the pair I’d feel more at home training in, with its cushioning and support the miles just got swallowed up.

I was worried the shoe wouldn’t be flexible due to the durable fabrics used on the upper, but I have to say there was no need because they felt flexible and responsive at all times. Even with the cushioning offering lots of protection you still got fantastic feedback while running. The grip was just as at home on the OCR course as it was around my local trails. For me these are a perfect all rounder, especially if you need a little support and a healthy dose of cushioning for clocking up the miles.

Tester: Adam Upstone

To e b o x Protec tion

KIT TESTING

Se am les s Up pe r

SCOTT

rop d m m 5

ead 3 6 0 Tr n Pa t t e r

Supertrac RC it F m Fo r n g u e to

2- 5 m TECH SPEC WEIGHT - 250g DROP - 5mm RRP - £130 LUGS - 2 - 5mm www. - scott-sports.com

m Lu gs

REVIEWERS THOUGHTS: Out of the two shoes I was sent the SCOTT Supertrac RC was the one that made me just want to run fast and go hell for leather.

The grip gave me real confidence on even the steepest mountain bike trails, I ran my final couple of OCRs this season with a HUGE smile on my face due to these shoes. When the shoes first arrived and I got to first inspect the tread pattern I really didn’t expect much from it, but I don’t mind admitting I was way off the mark with my assumptions -The grip never failed!

Compared to the Supertrac Ultra this model is like its lighter faster cousin, giving you bucket loads of confidence.

The upper although made using a few different feeling materials from the Ultra it still feels just as durable, I can’t wait to see how it does over the coming year because I have quite a packed calendar already for 2019. I have no doubt that this is going to be my race day shoe for the majority of the challenges I have planned for the coming year. Although the lugs are a little shorter on this model they still felt like they were plenty long enough for even really boggy and steep muddy terrain. The rubber compound used on the sole is a really nice balance between soft and hard wearing. I simply can’t wait to get out in these again.

Tester: Adam Upstone

2019

2019 will bring 10 new & updated obstacles for every Tough Mudder Classic course, giving Mudders all over the UK fresh ways to challenge themselves and their team.

Tough Mudder fans will no doubt be excited to learn that Mudderhorn is the tallest obstacle to ever appear on a course to date, standing at a staggering 25 feet tall. This colossal climb will test Mudders’ teamwork as they come face to face with their fear of heights and clamber up the cargo net to the top.

Challenging the jaw-dropping heights of Mudderhorn is The Gauntlet, the longest obstacle to ever feature. The Gauntlet boasts multiple sections, each designed to test a different skill set, making it the ultimate total body strength challenge. From balance and agility through to core and grip strength, the Gauntlet will be one of the most demanding obstacles ever seen in the UK. Meanwhile, Black Widow is set to be a new fan favourite based on rave reviews by early obstacle testers, where agility and teamwork are vital to negotiating and traversing a tangled spider’s web of interwoven tightropes.

Overall, the 2019 Tough Mudder Classic course offers participants twice as much electricity, 1 million litres of water, 3,000 cubic metres of mud, 125 feet of climbing elevation and more than 150 meters traversed above ground.

Every year, new obstacle concepts are submitted by both the public and TMHQ staff, before being examined in Tough Mudder’s Obstacle Innovation Lab. In 2018, over 500 new obstacle concepts were received, with just 50 making the cut to be tested live on courses during an “Alpha Testing” phase.

A secondary stage of trials took place in September, during a “Beta Testing” phase held in London. Here a select group of obstacle testers, along with the newly recruited Chief Obstacle Tester, took on 35 brand new concepts and participated in a series of feedback sessions. After a final round of testing held in Atlanta, the final 10 new or updated obstacles were selected.

Next year, three of these new obstacles will also feature on the shorter 5K courses, bringing the total number of obstacles at a Tough Mudder 5K to 13. These events are designed to encourage fun, teamwork and camaraderie, allowing Mudders of all abilities even more fun ways to slip, slide and scale their way around the course.

“For 2019 we were determined to increase our Obstacle Innovation more than ever before, so doubled our investment into this area. We focused on developing a suite of new obstacles that test our Mudders in unique new ways, whilst encouraging teamwork and camaraderie” said Rachel Norris, International Product & Innovation.

“We’ve spent months planning, scheming, Alpha testing, Beta testing, and even hiring our first-ever Chief Obstacle Tester, and now, our 2019 obstacles are finally here. By unveiling the tallest and longest obstacles ever, along with some more mental challenges with added electricity, we’re confident Mudders will be put through their paces yet again in 2019.”

“We are look forward to welcoming thousands of new and returning participants to Mudder Nation in 2019 to take on our exciting new obstacle menu. As a global tribe, Tough Mudder is committed to connecting people from all walks of life and encouraging them to work together to overcome our best-in-class obstacles. And now, with Tough Mudder 5K coming to every venue around the UK, we are looking forward to welcoming even more Brits into Mudder Nation.” said Will Dean, Tough Mudder, Inc. CEO and Co-Founder.

FEATURE Mudderhorn Always wondered what Tough Mudder looks like from 25’ in the air? Introducing Mudderhorn.

This colossal climb is the tallest obstacle ever seen on any Tough Mudder course in the UK. Use teamwork to reach the net, but don’t let the vertigo drag you back down. Victory is at the top, and every Mudder is invited.

Black Widow You’ll be wishing you had four extra limbs when you face this web of tightropes suspended over a water pit. Grab on where ever you can and hold on tight as the movement of your fellow Mudders causes you to shake, rattle and roll. Tough Mudder Top Tip: This was the highest rated obstacle at Beta Testing, work on your core so that you can handle the side-splitting laughter.

Entrapment Always fancied yourself as a bit of an action hero? It’s time to embrace your inner Lara Croft as you traverse a 30’ space zig-zagged with electrical wires, that gets increasingly narrow.

Bend and contort your body to avoid the wires otherwise, there’s only one destination - welcome to Shocksville.

Tight Squeeze It’s time to get down and dirty in the smallest space you can imagine.

Don’t let claustrophobia get the better of you as you sink into the mud and drag yourself (and your teammates) through a gap that’s tighter than a tube during rush hour.

Hydrophobia If you don’t like water and small spaces look away now. In 2018 the test version of this obstacle had Mudders facing their most primal fears. In 2019 it’s back as a permanent feature and of course, we’ve upped the ante.

Enter the water pit where you’ll be faced by multiple semi-submerged pipes. Hold your breath, slip under the surface and squeeze beneath the obstruction.

Desperate to gasp for air? You’ll be forced to stay low and close to the water by netting that covers the entire obstacle.

The Gauntlet The Gauntlet is Tough Mudder’s version of a greatest hits album - multiple iconic sections, each testing a different aspect of toughness. It’s where good Mudders find greatness and only the strongest will succeed. Clocking in at over 100’, this isn’t just the longest obstacle of the 2019 TMHQ season - it’s the longest obstacle we’ve built. Ever.

Augustus Gloop 2.0 Back by popular demand this fan-favourite has been updated to be tougher and even more fun.

How do you make this claustrophobic climb trickier? Add more water.

You won’t just be clambering up the tubes of yesteryear either, we’ve updated the ascent with three different types of climb. Variety is the spice of life, right?

Leap of Faith Sometimes, overcoming an obstacle is all about faith.

And you better have faith (in yourself) if you’re going to conquer this monumental obstacle (and stay dry in the process). Run, jump and commit to clearing a 6’ water-filled gap, then grab tight to the hanging rope net and don’t let go. You’re only halfway home.

Physical strength, mental bravery and the encouragement of Mudder Nation will see you through.

Spread Eagle Like Mudders on toast, it’s time to spread yourself.

You’ve got to drop down on all fours and climb like your Mudder credentials depend on it. Because 30’ of quivering, quaking, non-stop shaking slackline isn’t going to let you off easy.

Core strength is key, but teamwork rules this obstacle. Lose your balance and you won’t just go down - you’ll take your fellow Mudders with you.

Texas Hold’em Forget keeping your cards close to your chest, this obstacle demands teamwork and cooperation.

To conquer this see-sawing triangular platform you’ll need to choose a Mudder teammate who can hold your hand and have your back. Trust them to bear your weight, engage your core and shimmy your way to success.

For more information on the 2019 Tough Mudder obstacles visit:

www.toughmudder.co.uk/2019-obstacle-unveil

Obstacle Race Magazine 33

REGULARS

REFUEL RECIPES

Forget about food being the way to a man’s stomach, food is the sure-fire way to any person who trains hards stomach. Motivation can come in many forms and finishing a tough session knowing you can refuel without guilt is a perfect motivator.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE SAUCE: 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger 2 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste 3/4 cup orange marmalade 1/4 cup hoisin sauce

METHOD Preheat oven to 200ºC. Rinse wings and drumettes and pat dry. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with vegetable oil, salt and pepper. Position wings on baking racks in a single layer ensuring that wings aren’t touching.

Bake, rotating pan half-way through, until fully cooked, 45 to 50 minutes.

Remove wings from oven and transfer to a large bowl.

Add the sesame oil and olive oil to a small saucepot over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes until golden brown.

Add the red pepper flakes, orange marmalade and hoisin sauce, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

ORANGE WINGS

FOR THE CHICKEN: 2 ½ lbs chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Pour the orange sauce over the wings, tossing to thoroughly coat, and serve immediately.

If wings aren’t your thing, you can just as easily use this glaze atop chicken breasts and tenders, as well as pork and shrimp.

PREP: 10 MINS COOK: 50 MINS YIELD: 4 SERVINGS

248 Calories 1g Protein 48g Carbs 7g Fat

REGULARS

INGREDIENTS

SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS

FOR THE MEATBALLS:

70 Calories 7g Carbs 1g Fat 7g Protein

1/4 cup breadcrumbs 1/4 cup whole milk 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey, chicken, pork or a combination 1 Tablespoon minced garlic 2/3 cup minced yellow onion 1 large egg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper

FOR THE SAUCE: 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 cup pineapple juice 1/2 cup ketchup 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1 Tablespoon soy sauce 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1 Tablespoon water 1 cup diced pineapple

METHOD MAKE THE MEATBALLS: Preheat the oven to 500°F. Grease 9x13 inch baking dish or mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs and milk and let sit for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, garlic, onion, egg, salt, pepper and breadcrumb mixture, mixing with your hands just until combined.

Using your hands, break off 2 or 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture and roll it into a ball. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.

Bake the meatballs for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are cooked through. While the meatballs bake, make the sauce.

MAKE THE SAUCE: Add the olive oil to a medium saucepan set over mediumlow heat. Once the oil it hot, add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, until golden brown.

Whisk in the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce and cornstarch mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes.

Transfer the cooked meatballs to a large bowl then add the diced pineapple. Add the prepared sauce and toss to combined. Serve immediately.

PREP: 15 MINS COOK: 15 MINS YIELD: 24 BALLS

MUDtrest WALL

36 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

Fancy getting featured on the MUDtrest WALL Simply send your picture to us at: carl@obstacleracemagazine.com Obstacle Race Magazine 37

ADVENTURE INSIDE

ADVEN

ADVENTURE INSIDE

NTURE

INSIDE

ADVENTURE INSIDE

ROOTS

ADVENTURE TRAINING

40 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE Where do you turn if your thirst for adventure is no longer quenched by a straight forward obstacle course race. What options do you have when you finish a race and feel like you still aren’t satisfied. One avenue you may want to explore is to test yourself in a adventure race that’s not only designed to test your body but also to test your mind.

Roots Adventure is one such company that has designed events to take you outside of your comfort zone while also helping to expand your knowledge. Ranging from 12 through to 24 hours these events will help teach you multiple of survival and navigational skills you’ll need to ‘survive’ their events.

To learn more about what ROOTS has to offer we caught up with the founder Matthew Talbot to find out what it is he feels makes ROOTS unique and how it all began.

It all started a few years back after a busy few years of chucking my self-round a variety of OCRs all around the country. Like thousands of other mud loving crazies, I had run, jumped and crawled my way around most courses available at the time, constantly looking for longer, harder challenges to test myself against. Then on the suggestion of my good friend Ben Kirkup, I stepped it up a gear and started to add endurance events to my already busy calendar.

These quickly got out of hand too, becoming longer, heavier and harder as I was still looking for that event that would put me on my arse and make me look up wide eyed and confused with exhaustion. I wasn’t satisfied by simply enduring hardship for a given amount of time. I had proven to myself I could stay awake for days on the move and chip away at any task put in front of me while keeping my sanity and finding something to smile about.

“Head down covering ground and solving problems to stay alive and make it home safe” What I was looking for was an event that forced me to stay in the moment and focus intensely on the task in hand, not an event where I could switch off and drift away to a happy place and simply put one foot in front of the other until I was given some bling and a pat on the back.

I was tired of events where the goal posts were moved simply to prolong the event; I wanted something more emotionally engaging, something that would reconnect me with the genuine hardships encountered by all those historic adventures I learnt about as a kid. Head down covering ground and solving problems to stay alive and make it home safe.

Well it simply wasn’t available here in the UK so I invited a few OCR friends to come and take part in a race with a difference on a cold January morning back in 2016.

The idea was to put on an event that wouldn’t just beat people up for hours, that’s too easy. We wanted to add purpose and meaning to the hardship so people left better prepared to deal with life and look to start setting their own goals and challenges. Our events are hard work but we never move the goal posts; if it takes us 18 hours to finish then it takes us 18 hours, no short cuts, no quitting, it takes as long as it takes. That’s why we provide accommodation with our events.

Patience - Logic – Strength

The format is to break down the event into chapters and have a teaching point for each chapter.

This would allow racers (seeds) to get to grips with a survival based skill and then use that skill to solve a problem and complete a task against the clock. Let’s say the chapter was titled ‘Suspended’, we never like to give too much away, surprises are fun to deal with. The challenge would be to hoist a large weight off the ground suspending it in the air. Seeds will receive a short demonstration on how to tie the appropriate knots or how to use an axe to make pegs and pins. They will then be given a time to complete the task in and the countdown will begin. Tick tock; the team will have to work together to formulate and execute a successful plan to avoid the ridiculous forfeit we have devised to help them remember their mistakes. It sounds harsh but we do it with a smile on our face so it’s not all bad. We most definitely are not a shouty get up in your grill type of event, we focus on the building of abilities not the destruction of them.

Over the years I’ve managed to rope in many of my friends, all of whom are outdoor professionals, to help deliver ever more elaborate scenarios to test seeds with. Last year for the first time we managed to add an abseil in to the DAY event; giving people the opportunity to learn how to make their own harness before giving it the ultimate test, off the top of a cliff. This chapter was about nine hours in to the event, they’re fatigued, we had been running hills and ridge lines, getting wet raiding caves and tunnels and carrying heavy stuff for hours all against the clock.

Now we were asking them to focus on a new skill that would untimely determine their ability to stay alive. Genuine lifesaving skills learnt and proven against the clock. That’s the event I was looking for. To be pressed mentally as well as physically and be forced to engage with my surrounds for my own preservation. Danger is a great mental marker and really helps you focus on remembering something. We could see the fear forcing seeds to practice their harness over and over again in the cave before we climbed to the top.

It’s my personal experience that mental fortitude is the foundation for any personal best performance. It’s all too easy to find an excuse not to do something, only when we are mentally fixed on success will we achieve it.

For that reason we pick on people mentally as well as physically. I don’t mean we call you names, shout at you or tell you, you smell bad, we are not like that. I mean we provide a situation where forgetfulness and carelessness will only make life harder for you. Don’t panic, navigations skills are always chapter one. Learning to read an OS map and use a compass is ROOTS events 101. It’s the foundation of learning to adventure safely.

We like to lay heavy on the mental ability of all our seeds.

After all, you carry all your most important items of equipment in your head. Doing press ups is all very well and good but without the skills you simply won’t survive in the wild. All ROOTS events are self-navigated so runners are constantly being asked to verify their location and bearing as well as answer questions on other runners and lessons they have already been demonstrated.

Sooner or later civilisation as we know it will crack and it’s only a matter of time before we all go mad max. It’s our belief that there is a colossal amount of skills humans have spent thousands of years perfecting and passing down through the generations to survive in the wild. Skills that we have managed to discard in just a few decades.

Spending time outside training instead of in the gym helps those forgotten skills come back to us.

We want to help people set their own adventures and challenges safe in the knowledge that they have the necessary skills to cover ground, solve problems and make it home safe.

I love a good OCR, it’s a great way to get active and meet people in similar situations as yourself who get out there with a get stuck in approach to all the muddy miles and arduous obstacles is great physical and mental training for the less exciting aspects of our lives. Whether our goal is to be faster or stronger or simply make it to the finish line, being outside and active is indisputably good for you. Well we believe that it’s even better for you to be alone and outdoors. Outside of the course tape without medics on stand by or aid stations to break up the miles. We believe that all humans have a primal instinct that lies dormant as we flounder in our own convenience. Lets leave the phones behind, head out in to the wild and get back to our ROOTS.

IF THIS HAS SPARKED YOUR ADVENTUROUS SIDE YOU CAN FIND more information about roots adventure training and their adventure race series AT:

W W W. RO O T S A D V E N T U R ET RA I N I NG. CO M

ADVENTURE INSIDE

DAY

12 HOUR ADVENTURE TRAINING The DAY is an entry level event into the world of adventure racing. Learn new skills and meet like minded people looking to explore the great outdoors. Traverse the course alongside the marshals and receive nurturing advice and support every step of the way. Come and spend the weekend away getting back to your ROOTS. Get some fresh air and exercise, learn basic FITNESS: navigation skills, receive equipment tuition, learn how SURVIVAL: to use an axe correctly, what knots to use and why, how to light a fire using flint and steel NAVIGATION: and even rope safety and climbing skills.

ENDURANCE:

LOST

24 HOUR ADVENTURE TRAINING LOST is the next step in development outdoor skills. Negotiate the DAY and then learn to deal with the night as you camp under the stars. Learn to navigate in the dark and how to make you and your tribe safe and secure when out in the wild. Experience self sufficiency as you and your tribe tackle the ROOTS adventure course.

Get plenty of fresh air and exercise, learn basic FITNESS: navigation skills, receive tuition on intermediate navigation SURVIVAL: skills, advanced equipment skills, advanced equipment selection, emergency survival, NAVIGATION: how to self rescue, navigate in the dark and how to carry ENDURANCE: and use safety lines and rope systems.

NIGHT

12 HOUR ADVENTURE

RACE

The NIGHT is a self-navigated check point race that will cover around 50 miles. You will have 24 hours to cover the distance and complete all the tasks set by ROOTS along the way. You will receive no help or support from ROOTS during the race. Seeds are expected to be 100% completely self-sufficient from start to finish.

This is not a training exercise !

FITNESS: The lessons learnt during the night will be self taught. Self motivation, self discipline, self SURVIVAL: control. Find out what your strengths, your weaknesses and most of all a giant dose of NAVIGATION: humility.

ENDURANCE:

ADVENTURE ADVENTURE INSIDE INSIDE

BOOKS FOR

, Y D O B , D N I M SOUL & ULTRA

A collection of books to spark a desire for going beyond the ‘norm’ for any passionate runner.

“DANGER - this book is seriously addictive.”

At the heart of Born to Run lies a mysterious tribe of Mexican Indians, the Tarahumara, who live quietly in canyons and are reputed to be the best distance runners in the world; in 1993, one of them, aged 57, came first in a prestigious 100mile race wearing a toga and sandals. A small group of the world’s top ultra-runners (and the awe-inspiring author) make the treacherous journey into the canyons to try to learn the tribe’s secrets and then take them on over a course 50 miles long.

With incredible energy and smart observation, McDougall tells this story while asking what the secrets are to being an incredible runner. Travelling to labs at Harvard, Nike, and elsewhere, he comes across an incredible cast of characters, including the woman who recently broke the world record for 100 miles and for her encore ran a 2:50 marathon in a bikini, pausing to down a beer at the 20 mile mark.

RRP: £7.19

“Filled with beautiful images capturing the action and drama of the races” The sport of ultra pushes the legs, heart and lungs through some of the world’s most incredible locations, testing both body and mind to the limit.

Ian Corless has travelled across the globe to document the stunning beauty and incredible routes of some of the world’s most iconic ultra trails. From a hard, technical route through the Grand Canyon to the snow-capped peaks of Italy’s Dolomites, the physicality and intensity of the sport are brought to life through this stunning collection of photographs.

RRP: £17.22 44 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE “A out-of-shape average Joe to one of the world’s best endurance athletes” On the eve of his 40th birthday, Rich Roll was in bad shape. His days were filled with work, stress, and junk food, and his nights were spent on the couch, remote in hand.

Taking out the trash was the closest he came to exercise, and, at 50 pounds overweight, a walk up the stairs left him winded. He decided it was time to make a change. After undergoing a diet detox, adopting a vegan lifestyle, and pushing his fitness regimen to undreamed-of heights, he was profiled by Men’s Fitness as one of the world’s 25 fittest men. Among Roll’s many jaw-dropping athletic feats: he completed the unprecedented “Epic 5”--five back-to-back Ironman-distance triathlons on five different Hawaiian islands in under a week--an achievement many said was impossible. This is the story of that remarkable transformation, a complete physical and spiritual rejuvenation that proves that anyone can “find ultra” if they know how.

RRP: £11.78

“A Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness” In Eat and Run, Jurek opens up about his life and career as an elite athlete, and about the vegan diet that is key to his success. From his Midwestern childhood of hunting and fishing to his slow transition to ultrarunning and veganism, to his epic, record-breaking races, Jurek’s story shows the power of an iron will and the importance of thinking of food as fuel.

In 1999, as a complete unknown, he took the lead in the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile jaunt over the Gold Rush trails of America’s Sierra Nevada. He went on to win that race seven years in a row. Jurek was also one of the elite runners who travelled to Mexico to run with the Tarahumara Indians

RRP: £5.72

“The equivalent of ten marathons without rest”

Ultrarunning legend Dean Karnazes has run 262 miles - the equivalent of ten marathons - without rest. He has run over mountains, across Death Valley, to the South Pole, and is probably the first person to eat an entire pizza while running. With an insight, candour and humour rarely seen in sports memoirs, Ultramarathon Man has inspired tens of thousands of people - nonrunners and runners alike - to push themselves beyond their comfort zones and simply get out there and run.

Ultramarathon Man answers the questions Karnazes is continually asked: - Why do you do it?

- How do you do it?

- Are you insane? and the follow-up queries: - What, exactly, do you eat?

- How do you train to stay in such good shape?

RRP: £6.65

FEATURE

Gift Gui de If yo u’re looking for the perfect gift for so meone who lov es obstacle racing & outdoo r adventures then look no further.

Heres a lis t to guide yo u in the rig ht direction.....

DRYROBE Perfect for hiding your modesty while getting changed or to ward off hypothermia after a cold race day. www.dryrobe.com

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KITBRIX

An extremely dura ble kit bag.

These things are indestructable.

Perfect for keepin g your kit safe and dry in the bag drop. www.kitbrix.com

46 Obstacle Race Magazine

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LEDLENSER When it comes to lighting up the way on the obstac le run, Ledlenser is the lighting choice for those in the know. Precision Ger man engineering and Optimised Lumen Advant age combine with state-o f-the-art technologies to deliver a breathtaking light - some say it’s like car rying around a bit of the sun with you. Check out the new NEO6R which as well as being superbright has a dust and wat er protection of IP57. Tha t means that it will even withstand temporary sub mersion for 30 minutes to 1 meter depth.

WWW.LEDLENSER.COM 48 Obstacle Race Magazine

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FEATURE

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ERINO.COM

RRP: £109.99

FEATURE

NOTE BOOK Perfect for jotting down adventures you’ve had throughout the year. Given as a gift or used yourself it will be something you’ll never regret doing later down the line.

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RRP: £26

S u dont EAR B ut nd yo R irts a How abo t or h C s e O ull of rac ith them. ique quil

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50 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

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RRP: £30

ACTIVITY TRACKER The perfect gift if you really want to splash out. They don’t come cheap but activity trackers and smart watches like the ones from Garmin pictured can be a fantastic training partner.

www.garmin.com and soft KS C mely e r t O x S seams, e feet

o r ool, n t you ail sock no w otec Meri adding. ck to pr 0 mile tr p so . 100 extra t luxury ining a c r e t er. f r r te Pe partn g win ning i a r t durin 2.99 fect P: £1 r per R u o R y is .uk

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Obstacle Race Magazine 51

REGULARS

THE

POLLS Each issue we’ll be asking the Obstacle Race Magazine community for their opinions in the form of polls.

This issue we asked 1500 community members :

“What has been their favourite all round event of 2018 “ Below are the TOP 10 but we highlight the TOP 5 in all their glory across.

1. Spartan - Windsor 2. Mudnificent 7 3. OCR World Championships 4. Spartan - Perth Trifecta Weekend 5. The Elements 6. Nuclear Races - Blackout 7. Mud Monsters 8. Rocket Race 9. Nuts Challenge - Summer 10. European Championships

2

MUDNIFICENT 7

OCR & EXPO

Our own in house OCR. Its works by bringing together 7 different event organisations all working together to make one epic course.

Get your taste August 17th 2019.

WWW.MUD7.COM

52 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

1

3

OCR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS If you are looking to compete against the best or even if you want to take in the atmosphere of a top flight event. The OCRWC has everything you could wish for. Next weekend is October 11th-13th.

WWW.OCRWORLDCHAMPIONSHIPS.COM

SPARTAN-WINDSOR

A clear winner well ahead of the pack. Spartans Windsor location looks like its a must do for anyone looking for that all round experience. You can experience it for yourself October 2019.

WWW.SPARTANRACE.UK

5

THE ELEMENTS A unique event taking you on a journey through the forces of mother nature.

Do you have what it takes to go head to head with the Elements and win?

Next event weekend takes place in sunny June.

THEELEMENTSOCR.CO.UK

4

SPARTAN-PERTH If you like challenging terrain then you’ll love this event taking place North of the border in Scotland. You can next experience this beast of a course in September 2019.

WWW.SPARTANRACE.UK

Obstacle Race Magazine 53

REGULARS

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

54 Obstacle Race Magazine

BOOTCAMP STYLE TRAINING BRITISH MILITARY FITNESS Outdoor Sessions In 140 Parks nationwide www.britmilfit.com Facebook: @britishmilitaryfitness

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

REGULARS 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

REGULARS

Events Diary 2019 - LISTING

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

5th Jan

15th March

Fan Dance

Bermuda Triple Challenge

From £40

From $80

The Red phone box

Bermuda

www.thefandancerace.co.uk

www.bdtriplechallenge.com

26th Jan Winterhell From €45 Nurburg, Germany www.nuerburgring.de/en

26th Jan Brutal Run, Women Only From £20 Aldershot www.brutalrun.co.uk

27th Jan Tough Guy Original From £100 Wolverhampton www.toughguy.co.uk

2nd March

16th March Mighty Deerstalker

27th April Rocket Race Apollo From £40 Somerset www.rocketrace.co.uk

4th May Spartan - Scotland

From £55-£75

From £50+

Peeblesshire, Scotland

St Clere

www.ratrace.com/mightydeerstalker

www.spartanrace.uk

6th April

5th May

The General Trail Run

Spartan - Scotland

From £17

From £50+

Winchester

St Clere

www.toughenoughraces.co.uk

www.spartanrace.uk

7th April

11th May

The General OCR 2019 From £31 Winchester www.toughenoughraces.co.uk

Dirty Weekend From £99-£150 Burghley House www.ratracedirtyweekend2019.co.uk

Nuts Challenge

13-14th April

From £47

Rough Runner

Surrey

From £50

From £Free-£25

www.thenutschallenge.co.uk

Sussex

Kent

www.roughrunner.com

www.thelittlewelly.co.uk

3rd March Nuts Challenge

13th April

11th May The Little Welly

18-19th May

From £47

Ultra Tour of Arran

Surrey

From £199-£269

Rough Runner

www.thenutschallenge.co.uk

Isle of Arran, Scotland

From £50

www.ratrace.com/uta/

Oxfordshire www.roughrunner.com

56 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

25th May

21nd June

6th July

Spartan - Ireland

Total Warrior Night - Leeds

From £50+

From £54.95

From £109-£165

Punchbowl

Leeds

Cornwall

www.spartanrace.uk

www.totalwarrior.co.uk

www.ratracemanvscoast.co.uk/

26th May Spartan - Ireland From £50+ Punchbowl www.spartanrace.uk

1st June The Elements OCR From £40 Kent www.theelementsocr.co.uk

8th June Runstock 5km+ From £30-£85 Kettering www.ratracerunstock.co.uk/

9th June Mud Monsters Run From £39.60 West Sussex www.mudmonstersrun.co.uk/sign-up

15-16th June Rough Runner From £50 Manchester www.roughrunner.com

15th June Splat Quack Go From £25-£50 Suffolk www.splatquack.com/

22nd June Total Warrior - Leeds From £54.95 Leeds www.totalwarrior.co.uk

22nd June Go Insane 3km Fun Run From £12.50 March, Cambridge www.insaneterrainrunning.com

23rd June

Man Vs Coast

13th July Spartan From £50+ Marston Lodge www.spartanrace.uk

14th July Spartan From £50+ Marston Lodge www.spartanrace.uk

Go Insane 5-10km

20-21st July

From £40

Rough Runner

March, Cambridge

From £50

www.insaneterrainrunning.com

Newcastle

22nd June

www.roughrunner.com

Gladiator - Beach Event

20th July

From £ 40

Man Vs Lakes

Worthing Beach

From £109-£165

www.gladiatorraces.com

Morecambe Bay

22th June Spartan

www.ratracemanvslakes.co.uk/

17th Aug

From £50+

Mudnificent 7

Aston Down

From £37.50

www.spartanrace.uk

Coventry, Midlands www.MUD7.com

23rd June Spartan From £50+

To add your event contact

Aston Down

Carl@obstacleracemagazine.com

www.spartanrace.uk

For more information

“Looking ahead and prepared for the coming season...” ~ Conor Hancock, top 10 OCR World Championships

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