OCR Buddy has had two paths, before I met Bonnie Wilson and after I met her. Technically, we knew “of” each other but never really had a relationship. Pre-Bonnie OCR Buddy was an app, whose goal was to provide the best possible calendar and database to its audience. I met Bonnie WIlson and the path of OCR Buddy drastically changed. Through our talks, we realized the OCR Buddy is actually a community that encompasses obstacle sports, the people who participate within it, the brands that produce the events and the companies that support it. From that day forward, OCR Buddy took on a whole new meaning and I could not be more proud of what it is constantly becoming.
Bonnie doesn’t like to be the focus of attention, (Editors note: Doesnt like? More like HATE) but I think she deserves it. I wanted to let everyone meet the person who I am lucky enough to call my friend and my “Buddy” in crime as we continue to grow our community and always push for the best in all obstacle sports. I present to you, 10 Questions with Bonnie WIson.
Name: Bonnie Wilson
Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/heyitsbonniew
- Let’s start with who you are and what are your current roles within OCR and what other positions have you held?
My name is Bonnie Wilson. I am a Pacific NW Native living in Portland Oregon. My age isn’t quite important. I manage the marketing mayhem that is OCR Buddy. I am also a proud ambassador for Still I Run, Mud Gear and Operation Enduring Warrior. Previously I was the Social Media Community Manager for Mud Run Guide. I was also the Marketing Consultant for Race to Remember.
- How did you get introduced to OCR and how did you get started at MRG?
I was actually an OG member of the Spartan Street Team back in 2012. I met up with the director of the team at one of the local road running events and she introduced me to the world. I joined the team and helped at several events but before I could start racing an injury and than life got in the way. I have ALWAYS been a big Ninja Warrior fan for as long as I can remember. A couple years ago thanks to Lance Pekus (my moms favorite Ninja if you follow me on socials) I was able to experience seeing the show film live for the first time when we they made Tacoma. It was literally the weekend of a life time.
So I would say the seeds had been there for awhile.
In late 2015, I was connected with a company called Cloudpeeps. I was looking for the next step in my freelance world when they listed a Social Media position with Mud Run Guide. It felt like a dream come true, but I didn’t quite have the social media chops they had been looking for but I loved the industry.
The co-founder and owner Chris Lewis took a chance in me, and I will always be grateful for him.
The rest of the story was history.
- During your time at MRG, what do you feel was your greatest personal accomplishments and what work are you most proud of?
Two would come to mind.
Championship/WTM coverage weekends: I don’t think anyone realizes how much time went into these weekends, especially Worlds Toughest Mudder. I was the off-site right hand for the one and only Margaret Schlachter most weekends. She would send footage, I would be the one getting out there, or making sure her lives went well, jumping in when lives failed. I learned and grew so much those weekends and those are the weekends I really realized my social media skills and my ability to connect with the audience.
Shadowing OEW:
I had the honor of shadowing a team for OEW when Spartan was in Portland. I shared their story on socials and was able to capture how special it is from the start line to finish line to race with the team. They actually got me out on the course at points, including a moment where I was facing my fears of heights (seriously, if you have ever seen me on a Ski Lift, or at the top of the slide at Rugged Manaic, you know heights and I do not mix) and they picked me up while I was freaking out on the wall
The work I am most proud of though? The one on one connections with the community. Being able to learn about the stories, let people know they are being heard and using our platform to share them.
- When we started talking during the pandemic, we had some common personal life experiences that started us talking and also we both had similar views of our sport at that time. If you can remember, besides the obvious “not being able to hold events”, how else do you think the pandemic affected obstacle racing?
Do you notice the races that are still standing and the media outlets that are still standing are the ones who pivoted and looked for new roads? I think the pandemic forced companies to look at how they deliver to an audience and be willing to make changes to meet racers where they are at. The companies that did not do that are the ones that failed. We are still seeing this in the industry. The brands thar are thriving are the ones who have been willing to pivot and meet racers where they are at.
Also pandemic changed the cost models a lot. The economy still hasn’t really recovered and I think it emphasized the battle between race costs and racers pocketbooks. Racers aren’t as willing to dish out hundreds of dollars they may or may not have to race every weekend as they did before the pandemic unless the race company makes it worth it and makes improvements to the experience and the memories.
Its all about the adaptation and meeting the audience where its at.
- Since then, what have been the biggest improvements and what are we still lacking as a sport?
I wrote a piece for MRG and I think it is still true today. Actually, I think its more true than when I said it the first time.
Now let me disclaim this by saying this isnt true for most races, but the most prominent races in our sport have been so focused on the Olympics, and Elite racers that the average every day athlete that is just getting out there to challenge themselves, connect with the community and push themselves harder than they did last weekend are feeling left behind and disconnected.
That left behind feeling is causing people to look for new avenues. A lot of people have found a new home in trail racing, Crossfit and smaller races.
I remember a conversation I had with former Spartan Race well legend… Steve Hammond a few years ago. OCR lacks a quality on ramp with maybe the exception of Rugged Maniac on a national level. That would be huge plus.
The biggest improvements and flat-out inspirations have been the smaller races with their adaptability and determination through it all . Julie White Wolff at Phoenix has been a great example of this. She listens to her audience, adapts her races, shes never given up even when its been super tough, shes made changes, and grown so much. Also Josh March, bringing Bonefrog back would be another example of this. He is constantly out there listening to the audience and finding out ways Bonefrog can fit that need.
6. I’m not shy to say that you are a huge reason for many of the OCR Buddy programs and successes. What is your favorite to date and share some of your visions for the OCR Buddy Community and where you see it going?
Our Ambassadors are the first thing I am proud of. This is a group of inspiring and amazing athletes who are out in the entire endurance sports world looking for ways to make it better. They are the best example of what a brand advocate should be.
Also the Community Choice awards. People don’t realize how much work goes into it and even though I had the Best of OCR awards experience for MRG I didn’t know half of what went on in the back end. There have been struggles and critiques but it’s a constant process of learning and growing. But I am proud of how its grown.
I want OCR Buddy to be the place people come to connect with races and racers alike. I want them to know there is a team back here that cares about them and the community and wants to see it get better and wants to see you get better no matter what direction you take.
Of course I am a social media manager, so I have some vain social media goals I want. BUT I am not in this industry for that. I am in this industry because I love it
7. You are now in charge of all of obstacle racing, what’s the top 3 things you want to accomplish and what three things need to change?
Kind of combining the answers here.
A- Safety and Security: I want racers to know when they go out on the course the obstacles they are taking on our safe and if something happens we have their back. Work with the best builders and materials to make sure we are doing it right. I am also not going to put something into play that makes no sense; I saw footage from the Winter Death Race where runners where forced to run barefoot in subfreezing temperatures. Sorry, but WHY? You can push athletes without putting them in danger of losing body parts.
B- A team focused on the every day athlete: I want the everyday athlete to be heard. I would build a team that would be specifically focused on their needs and creating events for them.
C- Encourage races to work together: This has to start from the top of the industry and go down; from scheduling to marketing these races miss so many opportunities. But this comes from the top (Yes, I am looking at Spartan.)
8. I know you do a lot outside of obstacle racing, especially volunteering. Give some background and why it’s important.
I volunteer A WHOLE LOT.
My dad passed in 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. He always told me that even though I may not have much its important to give when you can. He is the reason I volunteer with Best Friends Animal Society. He loved animals and I was looking for a way to volunteer in his memory and two years later they wont ever get rid of me. I love working with the team who makes a difference and has such a passion for it. They are also the reason I am a community cat mom and advocate for animal laws.
I also work with the Washington DECA program as a mentor and judge. This program works with high school students in their paths to business, marketing and finance careers. I work with students as they spend a year building a project they hope to compete with at a local, state and international level. I am the mentor but these kids teach me every day.
My other passion project is the Honor Flight program. I help lead the volunteer contingent that welcomes back Honor Flights to the Portland International Airport. Greeting these veterans and letting them know how much we apricate them is so important.
For me it goes back to what is engrained in me. I might not have much but I want to leave the world better.
9. What are your career goals? What do you see yourself doing in 5/10 years?
Dream goal? I would like to be a full time marketing person in the endurance sports industry because I LOVE it either that or something in sports itself.
But honestly, I would just be very happy in a full time marketing and community manager role where I can talk and listen to an audience to figure out what their needs are.
10. What have I missed? What else can we learn about you?
I am a wrestling fan, Ninja Warrior fan and NASCAR fan. I am getting back into running after the past few years have thrown me curveballs, but I don’t give up. I am also working on getting better with Crossfit and I train with Deadboys Fitness (Yes, Seth Rollins is my coach and I sing the song.. A LOT. You might even catch me running and singing THE song.)
11. Bonus question. While you were at MRG and I was at OCR Buddy, we were “artificially produced” adversaries. For some reason, we didn’t like each other and neither really had a reason why. Talk about how negatively can hurt our sport and its long term successes.
OH MAN.. Could I write a book here. But I won’t. I honestly think it would throw people under a bus.
I am a professional wrestling fan, the world tribalism is thrown around a lot among the fans of the different companies and I think it applies to our industry as well. There are definite strains of tribalism in the OCR community; be it from media outlets, race companies, gear manufactures what have you. I don’t think its as prominent as it used to be but it is still there.
In an industry where our growth depends on our connections as a community. Tribalism has no place.
Personally a good example happened last year when I dropped in on the ORM podcast to share stories with Matt Davis, MANY people knowing my background with Mud Run Guide got upset with me. Yes, Matt and I didn’t get along when I first started, YES, I was told by many people both inside Mud Run Guide and outside to not cross paths with him. Matt and I also had our own battles; he even called me out on a podcast way back when for not belonging in the industry. But as the years went by we came to a pretty good understanding and I consider him a friend. Hes helped me several times especially in the running of the community choice awards. We don’t have to be so adversarial.
