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For those of us who have taken Obstacle Racing beyond a hobby and into more of a lifestyle (some people use terms like elite, professional, competitive, etc), we are often highly focused on our own results and standings. This is not a bad thing at all, as it creates the motivation to fuel the toughest workouts, produces the biggest performance improvements, and helps us track our progress. That being said, every once in a while it is a good idea to "get back to the roots" and run races just for fun, without worrying about how you place, and with some friends that have never run an OCR before.

Everyone has a weakness; something that is difficult for them to beat. Whether it’s - mental or physical, there is always a way to overcome your limitations. For a long time, there were two things I considered to be my greatest physical weaknesses: swimming, and going up-hill in races or in training. For as long as I can remember, my ability to swim successfully was on the same level as a rock; I sink! Hills? Unfortunately I've always been the one to fall behind and struggle.

Wikipedia describes the comfort zone as “a behavioral state within which a person operates in anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.” As athletes, it is very easy to fall into “comfort zones”, you have a set training pattern with set amount of intensity but you expect to gain results. This strategy will only at-best maintain your current fitness level.

When I first stumbled upon the world of competitive obstacle racing back in 2011, I had been searching for a primal, purely physical challenge.  I had grown tired of road running and traditional cardio training, and figured that a good way to expand my horizon would be to try out a Spartan Race. As one of the pioneers in the obstacle racing world, Spartan builds some of the toughest courses in the sport, which range from 3-30 miles and are designed to test competitors’ resilience, strength, and stamina.

Running is one of the most natural forms of exercise there is. We have been running for thousands of years. From hunting, to surviving, to adventuring - running has always been a part of our lives. And yet, many people cannot seem to get into running. They say it’s boring, exhausting, etc. I’m here to say it doesn't have to be! I see a lot of people running on the road, and it looks like they hate every second of it. I can’t blame them. Running on the road is incredibly monotonous. You see the same things over and over again, and there is rarely anything new, plus the road is unforgiving. Put those same runners on a winding trail through the woods and you'll see them enjoying themselves and smiling from ear to ear! You see new things around every corner. You never know what’s going to come next. No matter how many times you run a trail, there is always more you can see, learn, and feel. Whenever I go running, I imagine I am on an adventure, wondering through the woods on some quest.

What a wonderful, rewarding and equally self-gratifying sport! Along my journey, I have met a myriad of people – all sharing different reasons why they decided to embrace such a vigorous and sometimes compelling sport. I’ve even had to ask myself that very question. Through it all, the sole reason that kept resurfacing was I OCR for the people - plain and simple.

Standing on the start line at an obstacle race, it’s easy to find motivation. You see it in the eyes of the person next to you. You hear it in the shouts and cheers. You feel it amid the smoke and chants and near-tangible nervous energy of beginning a new adventure.