Why You Should Run An Obstacle Course Race

 By Malia Warren

In a world where comfort zones are easily embraced, there lies an exhilarating realm waiting to be conquered – the realm of the Obstacle Course Race. As you stand at the precipice of this thrilling challenge, remember that it's not just a race; it's a transformative journey that will push your boundaries, elevate your confidence, and awaken your inner warrior.

 

A Brief History

Obstacle course racing hit the scene running, literally, on or about 2013. Though there have been many obstacle course racing companies that have come and gone, the first sanctioned one is dated back to 1987.

The U.K.-based, Tough Guy race is run every year in January and is meant to test your greatest fears. It's billed as the original obstacle course race.

But, enter in the Spartan and Tough Mudder races, circa 2010, they both claim. Regardless of who set up their dunk tank or rope climbs first, it's no doubt that the rise in popularity of Obstacle Course Racing, henceforth named OCR, is attributed to the two companies.

OCR was founded on the belief that people hate running, but if you can throw in some fun obstacles to break up the monotony of your "Cardio Pump" playlist, people might actually have fun. And boy, they were correct.

I have legit lost count of how many Spartan races I have done. I ran my first in 2016 with some friends from my gym. We signed up for the Super distance, which was at the time, any distance from 8-10 miles long. Sleep in fear of the unknown I guess.

Usually, you don't find out until you're on the actual course, but it ended up being just under 10 miles long in the hot, summer, California heat.

Nowadays the Super is a 10K, or 6.20 miles. The shorter Sprint distance is 5K, and the longer one is a Half Marathon. All of these distances will have 20-30 (sometimes more) obstacles and you won't know until you arrive at the race site and see the map.

Since then, I've done multiple races, failed an Ultra Beast (the Beast course x 2.... yea), and smashed a Super with my best time. But like any OCR racer will tell you, it's all relative to the conditions. Courses change yearly, from weather, to obstacles, to your personal training level, so you can't quite compare race times.

What you can compare though, is how much better you do.

Did you fail on the monkey bars last time, but owned them in the next one?

Boom.

Why you should do an OCR

Admittedly, I've only ever done Spartan Races. It's not because I have anything against the other companies, I just have not had the opportunity to try another. Here in Colorado, Spartan is King. We have Tough Mudder come through the state once a year, whereas Spartan often gets the best venues and can pull off two visits a year. When I lived in CA, there were at least 8-10 Races a year, which made the choice easier to make.

Regardless of which race company you choose, remember what you're racing for.

You're racing to see how you can push yourself on obstacles. Maybe you surprise yourself and climb the 6 foot wall by yourself. Perhaps you are scared to get under water but you are able to complete the Dunk Wall with no issues. Ok lets be honest, no one likes the Dunk Wall, but maybe you handle it like a champl!

You're racing for the victory of knowing you can push your body to its limits.

You're racing for the camaraderie and making new friends on the course.

But most importantly...

You're racing for YOU.

And no one else.

But if you were feeling intimidated or hesitant, know that you're not alone. There are people of all shapes and sizes, athletic level, and abilities. During our Spartan Super in Colorado, we got to meet an amazing man named Kacey who did the entire race alongside us in a wheelchair. Kacey is a double amputee and completed that race with as much if not more, perseverance and grit as any other racer. It was an honor to race next to him!

You should totally look up the nearest race to you and sign up! Depending on the obstacles, you may need to train for it a little, and the more notice you have, the longer you can train for it.

How to Train for an OCR

An OCR is a lot like a kids' playground... except we grew up and stopped playing on playgrounds. Maybe we've lost our title of "King (or Queen) of the Jungle Gym" but it's ok, you can get it back!

If you're already doing any kind of High Intensity, CrossFit, or Bootcamp style workouts, you've already set the framework for the athletic level needed to finish the race. You can definitely get away with sticking to cardio, but you want the endurance and the benefits of quick bursts of energy expense.

Obstacle courses likely won't be obstacles followed by obstacles, but rather a short run between obstacles.

This is where the high-intensity workouts come in - you'll be prepared for the need to tap your strength in between steady cardio intervals.

But, a CrossFit-only regime won't get you through each obstacle, though it will help you tremendously through a good chunk of the race. The knowledge of burpees will help but being a Fran expert won't prep you to jump an 8-foot wall.

I recommend checking out the race on YouTube to view the obstacles and how people navigated them. Hit up a local park and practice Monkey Bars. I cannot stress enough how Grip intensive a lot of these obstacles are.

Practice grip strength by hanging from a pull-up bar, or doorway bar if you don't have access to a bar. Rope climbs are not something you want to neglect either; see if you can practice rope climbs before the race.

This one might require some equipment but if you can, practice the spear throw! Check out Spartan's website for how to make your own spear for less than $15! All you need is a rake handle, galvanized spike or nail (not too heavy), and some duct tape. Oh and don't forget the target; you can snag a bail of hay at your local feed store.

You can also check out local OCR Facebook Groups in your area for training sessions or look up if there is an OCR gym near you. In Colorado, there is a place called Cerus Fitness, where you can test out some of the obstacles you will see on the course.

Visiting a gym like this ahead of time would not only give you the confidence and tools to train for the race, it would be a BLAST. Talk about feeling like a kid again! Grab your spouse or best friend for a day of OCR training, and don't forget to plan for an ice-cold drink after.

What to Wear

Ok, this one is huge.

I won't go into too much detail because I could probably write a whole article on it, but you definitely want good shoes. Your CrossFit or running shoes are NOT recommended. A good pair of trail shoes or a pair of shoes specifically made for OCR is your best bet. If you're buying new ones, make sure you give yourself 2-3 weeks of wear to get used to them before racing in them. Best to have them fit snugly so you don't develop blisters going downhill (feet moving around too much in the shoe will cause blisters).

And it would be worth testing them for drainage too! If the shoes hold on to water in the shoe, you may want to consider another pair. Hint: Water is always involved with OCRs and you'll want some that drain well.

Which leads me to socks!

Please, please, please choose a sock that is breathable and drains well. Your super thick tube socks or your thin everyday socks are not a good choice. My pick for socks are the Lifting the Dream Crew or Knee High Socks (great for the rope climb!) which will keep your feet comfortable during the long race. If it's meant to be cold, definitely go for longer lengths - you'll be thankful for the extra warmth. 

 

 

As for what to actually wear, you can't go wrong with performance/dri-fit style clothing. Just avoid cotton since it will hold onto water and weigh you down.

You'll also want to bring some yellow mustard packets or pickle juice for the cramps! If you think I'm kidding, you'd be wrong. We can go over it in a future article but essentially, the body uses acetic acid to produce acetylcholine, which is essential for leg muscle contractions. You can find acetic acid in Yellow Mustard. Even if you don't end up using them, guaranteed you'll pass someone on the race course who could use them.

I'm also throwing in that you want to pack a few First Aid items. Why? Because during our last race in June, it was hot and the bars tore some hands in our party. When we asked Spartan volunteers for a bandaid, they told us we'd have to leave the course and stop racing. I guess they preferred blood on their monkey bars from hand tears. 🤷🏽‍♀️

So maybe pack hand sanitizer too. But I digress. 

 

Go Sign Up

Embrace the mud, the sweat, and the obstacles that stand before you, for within them lies an opportunity to rewrite your story. The sense of accomplishment as you conquer each hurdle, the camaraderie formed as you help a fellow racer, and the rush of adrenaline that propels you to scale towering walls – these are the moments that will etch themselves into your memory and remind you of your indomitable spirit.

An Obstacle Course Race is not about perfection; it's about progress.

It's about proving to yourself that you are capable of more than you ever imagined. It's a celebration of grit, resilience, and the unwavering determination that resides within you. When you cross that finish line, you won't just be covered in mud; you'll be adorned with the pride of having tackled the unexpected and emerged stronger.

So, I urge you to take that leap into the unknown, to embrace the challenge and let it transform you. 

We even made you a packing list and you can download it below for more must-haves on race day!

 

If you have any questions or you would like to be a guest blogger, please email us at blog@liftingthedream.com 

 

Have you ever done an Obstacle Course Race? If so, which one?

Malia is the force behind Lifting the Dream and a proud mompreneur. When she's not lifting heavy weights, she's probably at the beach or Disney with her family. She is a Cali girl born and raised, with salt water in her veins and sunshine in her heart. She and her family now reside in Florida soaking up the sun, heat, and all the amazing outdoor activities this state has to offer.