Tag Archives: Race Review

With ultrarunning becoming a popular transition from obstacle course racing for some, new races are popping up all of the time. In talking with a few friends last year about some of the ultras we had run, as well as some of the more challenging OCR events, we realized a lot of us enjoy races with a lot of vertical gain. It seems most of my OCR, and a good bit of my ultra friends, really enjoy playing in the mountains and the challenges that come with the ups and downs of terrain. Some people really enjoy just plain old running, but it can get monotonous and, frankly, boring.

Under the cover of darkness, the teams begin to descend on OCR Favorite Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, Texas. A fitting place that is known for its beautiful yet treacherous terrain. Eager to devour anyone that does not mind their next step. Similar can be said about the host race, the Green Beret Challenge. Designed with building better humans in mind, those that attempt it without being ready to push through, to become more, can be caught off guard and find themselves in over their head. Luckily for all, the mind behind it all, Mark Ballas, is there in case that happens and will drive you towards his goal of making all his participants better than they entered.

You always know when May rolls into Texas. April's weather is nice and pleasant with a few hot days here, a few humid days there, but overall I call it perfection.  Like clockwork, we get a quick preview about ten days before May for the temperatures coming our way. This year was no different after a warm drive to just outside of Austin, Texas. I enjoyed a pre-race meal and went to sleep. I wake up at 5 am and say hello to Texas in May. Warm and humid already but I am ready to return to the first major race series I participated in. After four years I was returning to try out Tough Mudder’s (TM) first go at a competitive series - Tougher Mudder.

It is starting to feel like the good Lord has a ‘sense of humor’ we’ll call it when Texas decides to have a race and for the inaugural United States OCR Championships he definitely had a “here hold my beer” type inspiration. This time though instead of making the obstacle crazy amounts of water on the course, he decided to go with logistics as the first obstacle of the event. Finding a way to get to Y.O. Ranch Headquarters for many became significantly more complicated as Hurricane Harvey (in case you missed it) raged from Southeast Texas to parts of Louisiana. The result was the disruption of one of the World's busiest airport hubs and a man-made gas shortage based out of fear. Either way made things exciting.

I'm sure most of you are looking at the article title and wondering "What is this about? I don't see Spartan, Savage, Tough Mudder, or any other OCR series name." Although I started my running adventures in OCR, I've started to branch out into the world of ultrarunning more recently. I've participated in many of the more well-known OCR series so far, completed multiple Trifectas in a single year, and attempted/finished my first (and attempted a second, which ended in a DNF...I need revenge on Killington!) Spartan Ultra Beast last year in New Jersey. The year before that, I completed my first Beast as well as a double Trifecta. I had looked at the Ultra Beast before and thought there would be no way I would ever do one. Way too long (both distance and time on feet), way too hard (so many obstacles!), and more vertical gain than I could imagine. However, it really opened my eyes to the world of ultrarunning, even though the Ultra Beast is not technically an ultramarathon.

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 …

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.