What We Talk About When We Talk About Running
1 Obstacle Course
What is it?
Obstacle course races (OCR) can be run anywhere between five and 50km, mainly off road, often in mud and with, um, obstacles. It’s a test of guts as much as it is of stamina
Who’s it for? If you pride yourself on the functionality of your fitness, OCR will be a natural addition to your training. Good mobility, solid grip strength and the ability to heave objects will prove valuable weapons in your arsenal. You need brains, brawn and often bravery to complete challenges such as the Tyrolean traverse, barbed wire crawls and monkey bars over icy water. You can run solo, but OCR suits people who like to suffer in teams. Many events are suitable for all, but if you can run a 5K and lift your own bodyweight, that’s a strong start.
What are the gains? OCR requires all-round fitness and agility, but upper-body muscle and a rock-solid core await the obstacle masters. There’s crossover with strongman training, too.
“Pick your event by sussing out your goals,” says Michael Adeniran, an obtacle-race veteran who has conquered 110
