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According to Obstacle Race World: The State of the Mud Run Business, 4.2 million people worldwide participated in an obstacle race in 2014. This number is expected to grow to upwards of 5 million by the end of 2015.
Obstacle course racing (OCR) is a sport in which a competitor, traveling on foot, must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles. Races vary from mostly obstacles such as obstacle courses like Ninja Warrior "Ninja Races", to track races, to urban and cross country events.
These organizations put on OCRs that cover distances between three and 30 miles with the addition of up to 35 obstacles along the way. In some of the most intense races, participants might be asked to army crawl under live electrical wire or carry 60-pound sandbags up a ski slope in the middle of running a half marathon.
While marathons are not inherently communal, obstacle course races show that the loneliness of the long-distance runner need not be a chronic condition of the sport. Consider also that while marathon participation is on the decline, Running USA reports that relay races have been growing in participation over the last decade.
The Spartan Death Race is arguably the most difficult obstacle course race in the world. This race is so difficult that many times, only about 10% of the participants actually finish the race. This highly unpredictable race takes place in Pittsfield, Vermont and the course varies from year to year.
At the turn of the 20th century, Frenchman Georges Hebert got the idea of taking these different exercises and arranging them into a set obstacle course.
Obstacle course racing (OCR) is a sport in which a competitor, traveling on foot, must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles.
History. Obstacle Course Racing started in the late 1980s with the introduction of the U.K.-based Tough Guy race. This race aimed to test participants' biggest fears, whether that was heights, small spaces, fire, water, or electricity.
Joe De SenaFor Joe De Sena, business is “a combat sport.” De Sena, the 53-year-old founder and CEO of obstacle race franchise Spartan, has spent the past two decades leading corporate training exercises on his farm in Pittsfield, Vermont, for companies including Nike, Google and Goldman Sachs.
The military/Army obstacle course is used (mostly in recruit training) as a way to familiarize recruits with the kind of tactical movement they will use in combat, as well as for physical training, building teamwork, and evaluating problem solving skills.
According to the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), modern pentathlon's international governing body, obstacle course racing is set to replace equestrian in the event, perhaps as soon as the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has announced they are considering dropping the equestrian portion of the modern pentathlon and replace that event with a form of the global phenomenon known as Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Obstacle course racing, or OCR, is the sport that mixes running and pre-constructed obstacles to challenge your mind and body in a unique way. There are competitive heats, where you can earn cash prizes or just-for-fun heats where you get to play in the mud like a 10-year-old.
Spartan is: America's Fastest growing Lifestyle Sport with 450,000+ U.S. Partici- pants (7,000-15,000+ participants per race), 200,000+ annual spectators, 10,000+ Spartan TRIFECTA finishers and a highly engaged Social Media Community of 5MM+ Strong.
Participants also say that Tough Mudder obstacles tend to be more creative and fun, while the Spartan obstacles are more physically challenging. You're also allowed to skip obstacles during a Tough Mudder race, while doing so during a Spartan race will cost you 30 burpees.
According to a tweet from Warrior Dash, its parent company, Red Frog, decided to vacate the obstacle course industry to focus on “other endeavors.”
There's some debate about who put on the first modern obstacle course race, but many trace the event's history back to the U.K.-based Tough Guy race, first held in 1987.
To understand more about why the OCR industry has taken off at such an unprecedented rate, we went straight to the source. Joe De Sena, CEO and co-founder of Spartan Race, believes that obstacle course races are a more appealing kind of commitment for the average person.
Erica Schuckies is a writer for Active.com. After graduating from Colorado State University, she spent time working in the rodeo industry, followed by three years with Berkshire Hathaway's Business Wire. Erica enjoys fitness, running, hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Follow Erica on on Twitter, Instagram or Google+.
Norton had a single word to describe what it was like to complete the Spartan Super race in Asheville, North Carolina, a course covering 10 miles and 29 obstacles spread out over the rugged terrain of a mountainside granite quarry: “grueling.”. “I saw several people just stop and sit down,” Norton said.
And according to the Tough Mudder website, of the 2 million participants since 2010, 95 percent competed as a part of a team. Potluck Mittal, 27, a software engineer from San Francisco, signed up with his co-workers. “I’d never really done an athletic competition before,” Mittal said.
Philip Wilson, a professor in the department of kinesiology at Brock University in Canada, says that variety can keep people motivated, even if the exercise is challenging. “The notion of difficulty is tied to the perception of challenge that comes with the activity. It is a fine line.
It’s difficult to say for certain, but research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on overall exercise trends suggests that since 2010 when Spartan and Tough Mudder were founded, the United States has not seen a statistically significant increase in overall exercise.
Obstacle Course Racing is more than just running and it's more than just being fast. These events (notably, not always a race) are 5k, 10k, half marathon, or even further in distance with a scattering of obstacles along the way.
There was a time when saying you've run a marathon was a big deal and you'd get a lot of respect. Not to say you don't these days, however so many people can now say they've run one that it's no longer special. The slightly overweight guy from your accounts department has done one, your aunt has done one, your kid's teacher has done one.
Spartan Sprint: This timed 3.5 mile race includes 15 or more obstacles. Penalties (30 burpees or push-ups) are assessed if obstacles are skipped.
Before going into trends on social media, Obstacle Course Racing has much to offer the mind and body. Many people simple love the challenge and overcoming their personal goals. Here are the main reasons why OCR is one of the fastest growing sports in the world today –
OCR events are intense and designed to push your physical limits. Injuries can and do happen during these races, so if you’re thinking about taking on an OCR challenge, consider the following injury prevention tips: