Competition Training & Crossfit

In an industry full of options, picking your first obstacle course race or mud run can be a daunting challenge. Do you pick the hardcore race, the fun untimed run, the themed race/run? Which distance should you choose?

Obstacle course racing incorporates traditional trail running elements with unique obstacles to crawl, climb and jump over and under. In addition, obstacle course racing incorporates “carrying.” Thus, you not only need a strong lower body and the ability to run a 5K or more, but you also need strength to carry strange objects while doing so.

If you are new to racing, you’re probably wondering what shoes are best to wear to an obstacle course race or mud run. You may have assumed that your gym shoes or cross trainers would work. But, just as soccer has cleats and Olympic lifting has it’s own shoes, the obstacle course racing and mud run market has unique performance footwear.

One of the most common questions asked regarding obstacle course racing is, “What do I wear?” It’s a perpetual question novice, and even more experienced, racers ask and one of the most critical things to determine while preparing for a race.

The mountains, or hills for some, are your new best friends when you decide to embark on a journey into the mud run or obstacle race world. Last week, we introduced you to a favorite exercise, the burpee, and this week, we expand on that single movement and incorporate it into a full workout.

The Reebok Spartan Race series has adopted the burpee as their penalty exercise. In the process, the burpee has risen into fame as the unofficial exercise of all of obstacle course racing. Whether you love them, hate them or have learned to tolerate them, it is undeniable that if you want to do an obstacle course race, it’s a good idea to get acquainted with this exercise.