The question felt pretty simple.
What is the one thing you wish OCR would change?
We asked this in the OCR Buddy Community Group and honestly, I had been amazed at the answers. They shared the passion and enthusiasm this community has for a sport that is changing
We are sharing your answers in the hope that maybe some can help promote change see where the community is struggling.
“Competition between races for power through takeover or buy-out. Greed is killing the spirit of the sport. It is a business not a non-Profit of course… But it is dying and getting unaffordable for those who love it and will keep it alive.”
-Heather Turpin
“Numbers, more racers, quality obstacles (not deck screws/osb walls/ and 2x4s more companies actually coming together to help and better each other not like some major ones that don’t actually care or play nice”
-Sidney Paul Morris
“Prices have tripled. Put them back to something reasonable”
-Kevin Jones
“Spartan to stop trying to knock out the smaller races”
-Steve Cosenzo
“Eliminate the elitist attitude tough mudder seems to have adopted over the years. I want more people to get involved in OCRs not keep it only for those already in the community. TM is getting rid of the 3 scales from next year again. Without those scales I NEVER would have got into OCRs. I started with dipping my toe into a TM 5k and immediately fell in love so then did the 10k and now I do the 15k routes. But without those shorter courses I never would have got into it.
People are happy about going back to its roots but if you don’t wanna do the shorter routes then don’t do them. Let people who feel less able to do long routes still have a place in the OCR community.”
-Dyl Shaun
“Communication between the races so I can race more and not have to miss out due to clashes
And a unified event series for us non-elite open category people
Like 10km at nuclear, wolf, spartan, Blaise that can count to something shiny or a badge of some sort.”
-Sam Hall
“That all different race brands would coordinate their events with each other, stop trying to put the smaller brands out of business by scheduling on same days in close proximity to each. Why would you wanna make people choose?”
-Jason Ply
“I wish we could get more coverage from sports media. ESPN has pillow fighting for crying out loud. Athletes have to go pro their own runs, edit, and post to YouTube.”
-Phillip Webb
“Events available in the north west of England regularly”
-Jimmy Walsh (Editors note: The Pacific NW understands your pain, we would love to have more events.)
“I’d like to see some joint venues, have a couple different brands come together for a weekend and bring their best obstacles”
-Joseph Mingle
“Price increases.”
-Keith Wallace
In conclusion, the responses collected from the OCR Buddy Community Group shed light on the diverse concerns and desires of OCR enthusiasts. The passion and enthusiasm within this community for a sport that is undergoing transformation are evident through their thoughtful comments. From the issues of rising prices and competition between races for dominance to the call for improved communication, inclusivity, and cooperation among different race brands, these voices highlight both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the OCR world. The desire for greater coverage in sports media, increased availability of events in certain regions, and the aspiration for joint venues that showcase the best obstacles from various brands all contribute to a collective vision for the future of OCR. By sharing these insights, the hope is to inspire positive changes that will not only address the current issues but also foster a stronger, more united, and accessible OCR community for enthusiasts of all levels.
