how to become an obstacle course racer

How to Train for an Obstacle Course Race.

• 1. Sign up. This one seems simple, but oftentimes people have the idea of trying an OCR in their head but don’t follow through with signup. Pick a ...
• 2. Get your gear.
• 3. Mix running and strength training.
• 4. Increase muscular endurance.
• 5. Get grip strength.

Full Answer

How can I become a better obstacle racer?

Developing self-confidence is the first step to being a successful Obstacle Course Racer. How do you do that? By finding your mental edge … #2 Mind Your Mental Game As with any goal or new endeavor, it takes time to adapt. In sports, the body must adapt and so must the mind.

What is obstacle course racing?

Developing self-confidence is the first step to being a successful Obstacle Course Racer. How do you do that? By finding your mental edge… #2 MIND YOUR MENTAL GAME As with any goal or new endeavor, it takes time to adapt. In sports, the body must adapt and so must the mind.

What is an OCR race?

How to Train for an Obstacle Course Race. 1. Sign up. This one seems simple, but oftentimes people have the idea of trying an OCR in their head but don’t follow through with signup. Pick a ... 2. Get your gear. 3. Mix running and strength training. 4. Increase muscular endurance. 5. …

How do you get into obstacle course racing?

How to Train for an Obstacle Course RaceSign up. ... Get your gear. ... Mix running and strength training. ... Increase muscular endurance. ... Get grip strength. ... Bring a friend. ... Clean up your diet. ... Pack a travel bag.

How much do professional obstacle course runners make?

Even Brit Jonathon Albon — who made more than $82,000 as an obstacle-course racing (OCR) professional in 2016, including a $50,000 one-day payout on the top World's Toughest Mudder team — is getting a part-time job “to give my week some structure and help my Norwegian learning,” he told GrindTV.

Can you make money doing Spartan races?

Few endurance sports offer anyone a shot to make $1 million for 3 races. But Spartan has raised the stakes by offering the Spartan $1 Million Trifecta. Any Spartan in 2018 who takes 1st place in all three Spartan World Championships in the Elite category will take home $1 million USD.Jun 30, 2018

How do you become an elite OCR racer?

How to Become An Elite OCR Athlete Know the Race Company. Each race company is a little different. ... Know the Terrain. ... Decide What TYPE of Athlete You Want To Be. ... Your Training Needs to Match Your Racing. ... Your Nutrition Needs to Be On Point. ... Take Phenomenal Care of Your Body. ... Get a Coach or Mentor. ... Work.Jan 18, 2019

Who is the best obstacle course racer?

March Top 10 OCR Athlete RankingsRankTrendAthlete1–Jon Albon2–Ryan Atkins3–Thibault Debusschere4–Thomas van Tonder6 more rows

How much do pro Spartan racers make?

Spartan gives the top elite male and female finishers at its world championship a $15,000 cash prize. McIntyre, the professional obstacle racer, wouldn't say exactly how much he makes annually nabbing podiums. But he says rockstars who compete throughout the year can rake in six figures.Jul 18, 2015

What does Spartan elite mean?

At the far end of the spectrum is the Elite category. These athletes are competing to win prize money, test themselves against the best of the best, attract potential sponsors, and rise to the top of the Spartan Race Point Series.

How old do you have to be to run a Spartan Race?

14The minimum age to race in an adult Spartan event is 14 in the U.S.A, Canada and U.K. The racer must be 14 years of age on race day, no exceptions are provided for anyone under 14 years of age to run the adult race on race day. The maximum age is 99. In the continental U.S.

How much does it cost to host a Spartan race?

Spartan Race CostMorningAfternoonUntil$95$85Tier 1 (First 100 Spots)$105$95Tier 2$125$115October 22nd, 2020 (registration closes)4 more rows

How much do Spartan Race winners get?

Our NBC events will award $3,000 for 1st, $1,200 for 2nd, and $800 for 3rd for the overall winners only.

What is a pro obstacle racer?

Obstacle course racing (OCR) is a sport in which a competitor, traveling on foot, must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles.

Do adventure racers make money?

Adventure Racing: Entering it's 12th running this August, the Wulong Mountain Quest has become one of the most prestigious adventure races on the planet. With a $100,000 cash prize for the winning team, it is currently the richest adventure race on the circuit.Aug 14, 2014

What is an obstacle course race?

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 ...

How to train for OCR?

If your race is 12 weeks away, divide training into three four-week blocks that each contain days for strength training and days for running.

What to bring to a race?

8. Pack a travel bag. 1 Signed race waiver 2 Cash for parking 3 Photo ID 4 Change of clothes (including shoes—flip-flops will do) 5 Plastic/leakproof bag for muddy clothes 6 Extra water 7 Post-race snacks (think beef or turkey jerky, protein bar, almonds) 8 Energy gels to bring with you on the course 9 A positive attitude!

How many miles to run an OCR?

This one seems simple, but oftentimes people have the idea of trying an OCR in their head but don’t follow through with signup. Pick a three- to five-mile race, and sign up for a non-elite heat.

Who is Mark Barroso?

Mark Barroso is an NSCA-certified personal trainer and a Spartan SGX Coach. Now that you’re ready to train for your upcoming race, you’re missing just one more thing. Get “race ready” with our Aaptiv workouts and save today. Fitness Outdoor Running.

What is cardiorespiratory endurance?

Cardiorespiratory endurance, gained from doing aerobics such as running and swimming, is different from muscular endurance, which is the body’s ability to perform repeated contractions (actions) for a long duration.

What is a crush grip?

Crush grip is when you hold on to an object for an extended period of time. Specifically, you may have to carry a bucket, sandbag, cinder block, water jug, or heavy stone for a certain distance. To train for these carries, do dumbbell or kettlebell farmer carries.

Game on

Training for an obstacle course race begins like preparing for most other sports or competitions – you have to establish a foundation of fitness. In this case, the focus is cardiovascular fitness, at least at first.

Shape up

With a handle on cardio conditioning, it's time to turn your attention to strength training. But – and this is important – we're not referring to the same type of weight training used by bodybuilders or powerlifters. They want bulk and size; you need lean, functional muscle.

Race ready

After establishing a cardio base and building relative strength, you'll be fit like never before. Truth is, you could probably take on most beginner obstacle races with ease. But, there's still some room for improvement – especially if you're eyeing up a more extreme challenge.

1. Find the Right Race for You

One of the biggest hurdles of conquering an obstacle course race, and fitness goals in general, is getting started and making the commitment. Once you’ve signed up, you’ve already made a decision that has put you on the right track to succeed.

2. Physical Preparation

An obstacle course race will require the use of your entire body, so you’ll want to have a diverse workout regimen that you follow for approximately 6-8 weeks before the race. You’ll need to have a good mix of cardio and strength training, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.

3. The Right Gear

What you wear to the race will be very important. You’ll be navigating many types of terrain and multiple obstacles, so come equipped.

4. Fuel Up

Usually, throughout obstacle course races, the refueling stations are water-only. Hydration is absolutely vital in races like these, and that can’t be emphasized enough.

5. Enjoy the Challenge

Obstacle course races are by no means easy, but the rewarding feeling of finishing one for the first time is something that will stick with you—and that’s exactly why so many people catch the bug after just one race.

Climbing and Hanging Obstacles

Rope climbs, monkey bars, hanging rings — for a lot of races, the hardest aspect of these climbing and hanging obstacles is grip strength. And the most true-to-race-day training strategy is performing hanging exercises.

Lifting and Carrying Obstacles

Carrying obstacles challenge the entire body as a cohesive unit. They hit your grip and core stability, as well as upper- and lower-body strength.

Crawling Obstacles

Whether they involve moving through mud, under barbed wire, or both, crawling obstacles require strength and endurance in both the body’s pushing muscles (chest, shoulders, and triceps) as well as the core. Plank and push-up variations are great for developing all of the above.

Burpees

Various obstacle course races integrate burpees, and they’re a big part of any Spartan race. (To get out of an obstacle, you’ll have to perform 30 burpees.)