Race Reviews

2017 will mark the beginning of many firsts for many people. It is the start of a new year, and each new year we make resolutions and vow to do things we either planned on doing the year before and didn’t, or doing things we haven’t done at all. This …

The Green Beret Challenge, the time had come once again for me to take on a different iteration of this challenge. This time I would toeing the line with a Spartan World Champion who we also know as a Green Beret. Having tackled the Commando and 24 Hour Versions of Mark Ballas’ concoctions I knew that whatever laid before me, ‘easy’ was not going to be the term used to describe it.

Reveille Peak Ranch has been a very popular destination. From various OCR races series to other popular trail running series. Who can blame them though? Being less than an hour from the nearest airport, it opens you to the Hill Country with some magnificent views full of potential. This year though the interest came from the buzz about what Spartan had cooking course wise. Spartan looked to reinvent this Spartan classic venue. The addition of the Time Trails Friday rejuvenated the weekend.

You see the event name and you know you are in for it, but what does that actually mean? Endurance/Adventure races for the general OCR community are still fairly new and everyone venturing into the field has a different take. Spartan was the first to stumble into the concept when a Hurricane literally made them have to do a tear down in short order. What, at first, was a large volunteer/racer participation, was the birth of Hurricane Heat. Since then, we have seen the 12 Hour join their ranks, which is more driven towards purposefully breaking you. It is attempted by participants doing some things that at times feel like they have no purpose outside of getting you to say “that’s it I’m out”. Next, we saw the advent of BFX, which gave you a minimum threshold to hit, but ultimately, for most, it was about you tapping out, then BattleFrog saying, “you are done” and you still get the medal.

Friday morning, Blue Ridge Mountains in Ontario Canada, and the temperature is 59 degrees. Coming from Texas, I imagined it would be much colder in Canada, but hey I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth. If you’re passionate about OCR, if you have a burning, driving feeling inside you, pushing you to be the best in OCR, you’re at Obstacle Course Racing World Championship 2016. You had to qualify to compete so you’re probably serious about OCR, thus it’s a complete love fest of athletes from 42 different countries. OCRWC has been going on for a few years, however, this is the first ever 1.8 mile (3k) short course.

Killington Vermont is one of those places that you have to visit if you are an OCR enthusiast. Vermont is the birthplace of the Spartan Race and many consider it a pilgrimage. Last year's Vermont course may have been a let down for some, but this course, this year, would end up being one of the most memorable races to date.