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Playing in the Mud

The OCR Buddy Blog

Race Review: Bear Crawl OCR

On April 30, 2022,  I was presented a chance to run a local OCR Event in my home state of North Carolina.  The Bear Crawl OCR.  The Venue is located in Morganton, North Carolina. About Bear Crawl OCR –  The Bear Crawl OCR was created to replicate the obstacles and challenges we face in life. 

Train Smarter

Train smarter, not just harder!  Don’t get me wrong, as athletes we want to train hard and push ourselves. Personally, I train hard on a regular basis. But there is more to training than just continuing to push harder. We also need to train smarter when we are training. What does training smarter mean? It

10 Questions with Ian Adamson

Last week, it was announced that an obstacle discipline will most likely replace the equestrian discipline of the Modern Pentathlon.  OCR Buddy immediately reached out to Ian Adamson, President of World Obstacle, to answer “10 questions” regarding the news, what’s ahead and what this means for the sport of obstacle racing.  Here is the Modern
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The Reason Behind Your Pain

Your habits can make you or break you. This is not only in life but also in how you move. The body is great at moving to allow you to function…but sometimes to your detriment. Look at any toddler or young child, and you will see them perform a great squat – weight on the

OCR and The Pentathlon: The Olympic News

Many people are excited about the recent news regarding obstacle course racing.  In a poll recently performed in the OCR Buddy Community Group on Facebook, 85% of those who responded indicated that no final decision regarding the obstacle discipline in the Modern Pentathlon had been made, but many are hopeful. I went through the internet

10 Questions with Bob Clark of UNAA

Bob Clark is the founder and CEO of Ultimate Ninja Athlete Ninja Association (UNAA).  The UNAA is a worldwide ninja association, with championships happening in Las Vegas in July.  We wanted to learn a little more about Bob, the start of UNAA, and what are his long-term plans.  We thank Bob for his time, and

10 Questions with Luke De-benedictis

Luke De-benedictis is on the Spartan UK Pro team, Co-Host of Multi-Sport Media Podcast, Ambassador/Representative of many companies, and in my experience, and all-around good guy.  We asked Luke to give us a few minutes of his time between work and training, and he is the next to join us on “10 Questions with… How

10 Questions with Al Agra- President of POSF

Al Agra is the President of the President of Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation, the Obstacle Sports Federation for Asia, General Counsel to the Philippines Olympic Committee, and the Treasurer for World Obstacle. There are very few people in the world with as much knowledge and involvement in the sport of obstacle racing. The Philippines is

Lower Leg And Foot Pain In Runners

Many runners experience pain in the lower leg, ankle, and/or foot at some point.  Sometimes it is due to trauma, such as an ankle sprain, but most times it comes out of nowhere.  When this happens, you do everything you can think of to resolve it – consult with Dr. Google, consult with YouTube, ask

Local Race vs. Small Race: The difference

Last week, OCR Buddy posed the following question to the OCR Community: “What is the difference between a local race and a small race?” And followed it up by also asking, “Also, does/can a race series qualify as a local race? Can a one-time race not be “local”?” The answers were interesting to see and

10 Questions with Alex Walker

A few years ago, I interviewed @alexandra_tx_ranger (Alex Walker) and called the article, “The Best OCR Athlete You Never Heard Of”. That has obviously changed. Through her training and perseverance, Alex had positioned herself into one of the top athletes in obstacle racing today. She does that while balancing training, life, and work. We thank

10 Questions with Race Ready Obstacles

Most people, when completing an obstacle, do not think about how it was made or who built it. Aaron and Dana of Race Ready Obstacles not only wondered about those questions but became one of the premier obstacle builders in the OCR Community. They took a few minutes out of their schedule to join us

10 Questions with Dave Claxton

Dave Claxton is well known around the OCR Community. He is the co-host of Obstacle Fitness X, oversees Team OFX, moderates OCR Tribe on Facebook, and co-hosts The OCR Weekly Show on Obstacle Racing Media. He was kind enough to sit down and be the next guest on “10 Questions with…” Dave Claxton. How did

10 Questions with Hannibal Race

The Hannibal Race is one of the most successful obstacle races in the Middle East. Their popularity is growing. Since 2014, Hannibal Race has produced events in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. OCR Buddy recently spoke with the two people behind The Hannibal Race, Amine Dib, and Hiba Rayess Chehyaeb. We welcome them as the

10 Questions with Joe DeSena Death Race Edition

How do you explain; the Death Race to those outside the community? Peak Racing explains it like this. The race, created by Ultra athlete and Spartan Race founder Joe Desena, was developed as a way for athletes to test themselves both mentally and physically. The Death Races take place in the unexpectedly challenging terrain of

10 Questions with Nicole Mericle

Nicole Mericle was on top of the obstacle racing world when she tore her ACL. While the injury stopped her on the course, she continued to inspire people with her training and progression during her rehabilitation. Showing people that being knocked down is not the end but a new beginning can be as important as

10 Questions with Leon Kofoed

Leon Kofoed has been a European and World Champion. Most already know about him that he is a good, approachable person with a booming personality. We were lucky enough to corral him long enough to join us for “10 Questions with…” Leon Kofoed. How did you find out about obstacle racing, and what was your

Training Tips: Savage Race Sawtooth

Sawtooth is an iconic obstacle for Savage Race, and can challenge the best of OCR athletes. In this edition of Training Tips: We check in with Savage Race as break down how Sawtooth works and share their tips and tricks for making Sawtooth a little easier. Previous Tip: Savage Race Great Wall

Training Tips: Savage Race The Great Wall

The Great Wall is a landmark obstacle for Savage Racers. But learning how to tackle walls is a standard skill that all obstacle course racers need to know to succeed in their OCR journey. In this edition of Training Tips, we check in with Savage Race as they present tips on how to tackle; The

Training Tips: Spartan Monkey Bars

Monkey Bars can be trouble. Especially if you are just starting in your OCR journey. In this Training Tip, we join Spartan Ireland as they share different tips on how to tackle the bars. Previous Tip: Sandbag Carry

10 Questions with Stefano Zappa

Stefano Zappa is the President of the European Obstacle Sports Federation, which oversees the National Federations of over 30 countries in Europe and the very popular OCR European Championships. He is also an experienced obstacle racer who views where our sport is heading, and he is prepared to help lead into the future. We recently

10 Questions with Ida Mathilde Steensgaard

Ida Mathilde is a world-class Red Bull sponsored Danish athlete with multiple successes in obstacle racing since she began racing. While her recent successes may be new to some here in the United States, the Europeans have been watching her stand on podiums for years. She has goals and a plan to get there, and

Training Tips: Spartan Sandbag Carry

There is absolutely no other way to say it. The Sandbag carry from Spartan Race can absolutely suck. In this edition of Training Tip. Spartan Australia shares their tips and tricks as to making the Sandbag a little more manageable and how to make the toll a little less on your body. Did you know

Training Tips: Tough Mudder Tips and Tricks

We commonly hear and see questions about training tips and tricks in the community, and one of the shared resources people bring up is Youtube. We wanted to share this video from Tough Mudder, which takes you behind the scenes of the TM Classic race and shares tips and tricks to tackle the course. You

10 Questions with John de Haan

John de Haan, from the Netherlands, was the runner-up winner of the European OCR Community Choice Awards for para Athlete of the Year. He is a former Para-OCR European Champion and Para-OCR World Champion. He also was on the podium for the Spartan Para World Championships. He is an inspiration to many with his attitude

10 Questions with Flynn Stewart and Dad

The OCR Boys are an obstacle racing team that aims to inspire boys and help improve their fitness through obstacle course racing. We were recently introduced to one of their members, Flynn Stewart. Although only 12 years old, Flynn has been competing in obstacle racing at a high level for years. He has made a
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10 Questions with Rachelanne Gladden

Many of you know her as the Service Manager and the smile you see at the OCR World Championships. Rachelanne Gladden is much more than the name on an email. She is well-rounded and always has a smile on her face. She is always a shining star for the OCR Community. She has been with

10 Questions with James Parrish

Nuclear Races is highly regarded and considered one of the top events in the United Kingdom.  Besides being the former home of the OCR World Championships for two years, the facility holds multiple obstacle events every year.  Besides Nuclear Races HQ, there is Nuclear Race Wild Forest Nuclear High Ropes, and much more. We recently

Advice for New Racers from the OCR Community

We recently posted on Instagram and Facebook asking “What advice do you have for people new to obstacle racing?”  The answers not only apply to those new to the sport but to all of us as well.  From the OCR Community to you, here is your advice. Shoes and Footwear “I’ve seen a lot of

OCR Training 102 – Using Rucking for Endurance

Welcome to the first segment of this new blog series called OCR Training 102, which I like to think of as a blueprint for ‘cross-training for OCR.’ As we train for OCR events, there are many other ways we can develop ourselves, especially when we work in active recovery, off-season development work, and how to

10 Questions with Cole Derosa

OCR Buddy first introduced Cole Derosa (@cjdrosa) as a future name to remember years ago. Since that time, Cole is a constant podium presence and is a past Spartan Age Group Trifecta World Champion, Age Group US National Series Winner, and many more. Cole has been active military for nearly three decades and is a

10 Questions with Rachel Watters

Rachel Watters is a member of the Mudgear-Battle of the Lions Pro Team, was the 2021 OCR Community Choice Awards Runner-Up Female Athlete of the Year, and regularly finds the podiums from 5k to 24-hour events. She mentors Lion Hearts Fitness and believes that “the impact you make as a human and how you treat

Preview: KCOCR Double Down 2022

BACK TO BACK RACING!!! If you are reading this article, chance are you like racing and maybe one of the athletes that regularly does back-to-back racing at one of the big brands. With parts of the Midwest being largely absent of Spartan and Tough Mudder events, it opens things up for some great local/regional events.

10 Questions with Ian Adamson

Ian Adamson is the President of World Obstacle. I have known Ian personally for about four years, as I am the Assistant Director of USAOCR and was brought into that position by Ian. Whenever I talk to Ian, he is on a plane, in an airport, in another country, and always working for the future

Race Review: Hazelwood Valentine’s Day Massacre

I’ve been eyeing Hazelwood’s (St. Louis, MO) races for a couple of years now; they just haven’t quite worked well with my schedule. Honestly, this one didn’t either, but I decided to live a little and head out there anyway; here’s what I thought of their unique ~3 miles with almost 50 obstacles event: Parking

10 Questions with Libbie Joyce

Libbie Joyce took the 2021 Spartan World Championships by storm, placing second in her age category at the age group at the age of 13.  That accomplishment was recently voted the Outstanding Achievement in the 2021 European OCR Community Choice Awards that OCR Buddy presented. Libbie is part of the Obstacle Mud Runner Magazine Race

OCR with Grandpa

While most people may not think of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) as fun for all ages, in my experience it has been.  Two years ago I took my daughter, a regular participant in Young Lions OCR, at the age of 5 on her first adult length OCR at KC Timber Challenge.  Since then she continues

10 Questions with Kelly Sullivan

In January, Kelly Sullivan participated at the HYROX North American Championships in Chicago. Kelly is a member of the Spartan Pro Team, Altra Red Team, and an OCR Buddy Ambassador. I found her experience interesting, and although many people know the name HYROX, the competition itself is not well understood. So for this edition of

2021 European OCR Community Choice Awards Results

After hundreds of nominations and thousands of votes, OCR Buddy and European Obstacle Sports Federation proudly announce the 2021 European OCR Community Choice Awards winners. Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Obstacle Racing: Winner: Libbie Joyce competing at Spartan World Championship at 14. Runner Up: Bison Race                

10 Questions With Jenny Overstreet

There are so many people involved with obstacle course racing I want to get to know some of them better. So, I decided to send ten questions to people in OCR and learn about them and see what makes them who they are and what drives them. So, OCR Buddy brings you 10 Questions With…

Gear Review: HYLETE Circutie II Echo Training Shoe

If you don’t already own HYLETE products you are missing out on some of my favorite clothing.  Their softness is unmatched and they are very durable making it great regardless of what you are doing.  While their apparel is top notch, in the last couple of years they launched shoes too.  Making shoes is a

Gear Review: HYLETE Iso Shell Jacket

If you’ve ever seen me at an Obstacle Course Race (OCR) event not in my racing clothes, then you were looking at a head to toe HYLETE outfit.  Their apparel is soft, high quality and durable.  My female teammates also regularly race in their sports bras and compression pants, but this article is focused on

Gym Spotlight: Motus Ninjas

  I have a (fairly unimpressive) background in triathlon.  However, the best thing I took out of that sport was if you want to become a faster triathlete, you swim with swimmers, bike with cyclists and run with runners.  Training with those who are ultra-specialized will pull you to a higher level in each so

Gear Review: HYLETE Optic Denim Jeans

  If you’ve been reading my articles, it is no secret that I absolutely love HYLETE’s products.  They are high quality, stylish, and often have an athletic cut making them great to show off all the hard work you’ve been doing.  With everything from them being a five star review, I decided to pick up

Paying it Forward: “We Finish Together”

How many of us can say this? “I have too many medals” About a year and a half ago I said that. I had medals stashed everywhere. I had some medals hanging up from races that have a special place in my heart, but I had medals boxed up and stashed that needed a home.

Growing the Sport of Obstacle Course Racing

OCR Buddy posed this question to the community on the Facebook page and the community responded loudly. In some ways, you can call this an open letter to the OCR Racing Community from the athletes themselves. These are the changes we want to see in order to see our sport continue to grow and thrive.

Looking Back at the Year that Was

When I decided to go ahead with the OCR Community Choice Awards, I made the final decision in a very big year for OCR Buddy. The year started in a pandemic that seemed to be turning a corner. The first few months of the year were littered with cancellations and postponements; it seemed that the

The 2021 OCR Community Choice Award Winners

You nominated. You voted. And your voice was heard. The winners of the 2021 OCR Community Choice Awards. Graphic Credit to Charles MacDonald To see the stats behind the numbers check out: Behind the Numbers              

2021 OCR Buddy Community Awards Results: Beyond the Numbers

The first year of the OCR Community Choice awards brought over 1,300 votes. In order to provide transparency, we wanted to share with you the results of the voting and the nomination process. Results: (Opens on Google Docs) 2021 OCR Community choice   The Nominations:

Meet the 2021 OCR Buddy Community Choice Nominees

Thank you for your interest in the OCR Community Choice Awards.  I appreciate you taking the time to vote on your favorites and “Best of” 2021. I wanted to provide everyone with some information to make the best choice possible.  Some categories may seem obvious to you, but others you may want to research a

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