Tag: obstacle races

  • Rugged Maniac [Race Profile]

    Rugged Maniac [Race Profile]

    Deemed one of America’s best obstacle races, the Rugged Maniac is as straightforward and genuine as they come.

    A 5K run with 25 obstacles, live music and bountiful stock of booze. Is there  a better way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon? I think not.

    After the race — or if you’re simply not racing and want to enjoy a good party — hang out at a designated festival area with activities like mechanical bull-riding, tug-o-war and, YES, an adult-size bounce house. Huzzah! Rock out to live music and snag a free craft beer while wearing your race t-shirt. That’s the way to do it.

    rugged maniac website

    While some compete for a timed finish, most come out to enjoy the 25 obstacles laid out over hilly terrains like forests, fields, ski slopes and motocross tracks., which will test your mettle in more ways than one.  Some of them include:

    • Climbing 20-f0ot walls
    • Jumping over fire
    • Navigating mud tunnels

    Race heats are limited to 250 participants to avoid long lines.

    2013 Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race Schedule

    See below dates for the 2013 Rugged Maniac locations. For prices and more information, you can visit ruggedmaniac.com.

    2013 rugged maniac obstacle race schedule

  • Winning the Warrior Dash Obstacle Race with Jason Fitzgerald

    Winning the Warrior Dash Obstacle Race with Jason Fitzgerald

    Want to know what it feels like – and what it takes – to win an obstacle race? Nerve Rush interviewed Jason Fitzgerald, who recently beat out nearly 17,000 people in the Warrior Dash obstacle race in southeastern Maryland.

    Warrior Dash Champion! What does it feel like to be the baddest of bad asses in the obstacle race community?

    Surprising! I wasn’t going for the win and I’m amazed that I beat almost 9,000 other competitors by over a minute. A few minutes into the race I found myself in 3rd place and my competitive instincts kicked in; I just went for it.

    I won’t lie – it feels good – but the race has me thinking “how much faster could I go?” Since I wasn’t running at 100% effort, I might have to run another Warrior Dash to see what I’m really capable of. Stay tuned!

    Was this your first obstacle race? If not, how does it compare to the others you have done?

    Warrior Dash was my first obstacle race so I didn’t know what to expect. I knew the obstacles would be tough so I took my time going over them. They can get slippery from the water and mud so you have to be careful not to hurt yourself. My first priority was safety, followed closely by running fast in between the obstacles.

    Because of that strategy, the race felt more like an interval workout: run really hard, rest while going over an obstacle, repeat. It was exhausting!

    Jason Fitzgerald Obstacle RaceLet’s talk obstacle race training. How did you prepare for the Warrior Dash?

    I did zero specific obstacle training. I’m a distance runner so I’m always running a lot and at the time, my training was focused on the 5k distance. So I was in good shape and had the speed to run pretty fast in between all of the obstacles.

    One aspect of my training that really helped was that I do almost all of my running on hilly trails in Washington’s Rock Creek Park. Some parts of the trail are muddy, rocky, narrow, steep, and even dangerous (one of these days I’m going to fall in the river). Practicing those conditions and developing the coordination to run fast over uneven terrain really helped in Warrior Dash. The first half-mile of the race was on a similar terrain so it felt like any other training run for me.

    What’s next? Any nuggets of wisdom for potential Warrior Dash champions out there?

    I’m not sure when – or if – I’m doing another obstacle race, but there’s always that possibility! Right now I have my eyes set on a half-marathon in a few months with a few shorter races thrown in for fun. But there are a few quick lessons I learned from my Warior Dash win:

    • Start at the front (even if you’re slow) – you won’t have to wait behind people at obstacles and you’ll avoid the madness of the crowd.
    • Don’t wear very loose clothing – if it doesn’t get caught in the barbed wire (which is REAL!) it might come off in the mud pit.
    • Get ready for a lot of hills! Not every obstacle race has them, but most of them do and they’re tough.
    • Train on trails before the race. Like I mentioned, it’s incredibly helpful to be comfortable running on uneven terrain.

    Thanks for your time! Where else can Nerve Rush readers find you?

    My pleasure, hopefully your next obstacle race will be just as fun and fast. You can check out my running and coaching site at Strength Running. Also check out my detailed article on how to train for Warrior Dash if you want to learn how you can win your next obstacle race!

    Thanks for the interview and good luck with all your gut wrenching adventure!

    [photo credit: Benjamin Lehman]

  • Warrior Dash [Race Profile]

    Warrior Dash [Race Profile]

    Adding to our list of obstacle races is the Warrior Dash. Based on a very short and unscientific poll I made, this seems to be the most well known adventure race. Although the Warrior Dash brands itself similar to the Tough Mudder, the Warrior Dash is really much more similar to the Mudathlon or the Spartan Race.

    Warrior Dash Obstacles

    This 3-4 mile obstacle race boasts almost 30 locations around the U.S. and is expanding fast. While each location has a variety of courses and no two races are the same, there are some staples obstacles that will conveniently show up no matter where you are.

    1. The Great Warrior Wall
    Grab a rope and start climbing! This 10+ foot wall has a few footholds, but just grab the rope and haul yourself up. Once you get to the top, you need to figure out a way to get down (besides falling). This obstacle takes longer to get through than others, so if there’s a line just sit back and enjoy watching people do things in the name of an obstacle course.

    2. Warrior Roast – The Fire Pit
    Fire in the middle of the course. Yea, that’s right. As you enter the final stretches of the race, you’ll see a few strips of blazing fire. The only way to get around them is to hurdle them like you’re in a high school track meet. Actually, to be fair, if you really want to go “full-Warrior” you can take off your shoes and walk right through it like a boss – just don’t blame us if you get burned!

    3. Muddy Mayhem – The Barbed-Wire Mud Pit
    At the end of most races, there is a barbed wire mud pit. A section at least 30-50 yards long of 2-3 feet deep of glorious mud. On top of that, there’s real barbed wire suspended about a foot over the actual mud pit. This means – you got it – that you are guaranteed to come out of this thing soaked with mud if you somehow managed to get through the rest of the race completely clean.

    Once you’re through, grab a banana and water while you rehydrate and head over to the celebration area. There, you can grab yourself a turkey leg and pick up your free beer and really start celebrating like the true Warrior you are.

    If you’re new to obstacle races, the Warrior Dash is a great way to get started. If you’re a veteran, it’s a good excuse to get outside and do a 5k in an unconventional setting and have some fun with your friends. However, if you’re looking for an obstacle course that’s a different level of challenge, you’ll probably want to check out the Tough Mudder.

    Happy Mudding!

  • Canadian Death Race [Race Profile]

    Canadian Death Race [Race Profile]

    O Canada!
    Our home and native land!
    True patriot love in all thy sons command.
    With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
    The True North strong and free!

    Canada, land of gravy fries, gun control and ice hockey. It’s also got this wee little all-terrain adventure challenge called the Canadian Death Race, and it’s one of the more intense obstacle races I’ve read about.

    [youtube id=”VYNtFx391Gk” width=”600″ height=”350″]

    An annual course held in and around Grande Cache, Alberta in August, the Canadian Death Race, which was first started in 2000, boasts 125 km of hiking and running within a 24-hour time period. As a racer, you’ll cross a major river and wind through the Canadian Rocky Mountains, covering over 17,000 feet of elevation change.

    The Canadian Death Race is influenced by Greek Mythology, specifically the myth of Charon, the ferryman of the dead. Each racing team–you can race individually or in a team of up to five people–is given a coin which must pass from person to person and summit to summit. Only when the coin is presented to the ferryman at the end of the course is the race completed.

    Longer obstacle races and adventure races typically have cut off times, specific times of day that you have to have completed a portion of the race by. This is to ensure the health and safety of racers and event coordinators. At the Canadian Death Race, the segments and times are:

    First leg, 19 km: The Downtown Jaunt [CUT OFF 12PM]
    -this is the shortest leg of the course
    -features several creek crossings and one significant downhill

    Second leg, 27 km: Flood & Grande Mountain Slugfest [CUT OFF 6PM]
    -the most technical section of the course
    -steep rocky drop-offs and unstable footing
    -long sustained climbing, lots of elevation gain

    Third leg, 21 km: Old Mine Road (or “City Slicker Valley”) [CUT OFF 7PM]
    -the easiest section of the course
    -big descent, expect knee-deep water crossings
    -stunning views of the Smoky River valley

    Fourth leg, 36 km: Hamel Assault [CUT OFF 4:15AM]
    -the longest section of the course
    -mostly dirt trail ad packed gravel
    -many racers admit defeat on this very remote and strenuous section

    Fifth and final leg, 24km, The River Crossing [CUT OFF 9AM]
    -for most runners, this leg will be completed in the dark, with much of the trail under a heavy canopy of trees, so eye protection is required

    As you can see, the Canadian Death Race is pretty brutal. Kudos to anyone out there who has completed it.

  • Mudathlon [Race Profile]

    Mudathlon [Race Profile]

    With a tagline: Mud, Obstacles, Beer; the Mudathlon grabs your attention from the start.

    This obstacle race is “over 3 miles of 40+ challenging obstacles and 100 yard mud pits followed by an outstanding post-party that promises beer, live music and great food.”

    Based in the Midwest, Mudathlon started in Indianapolis and is quickly expanding to Northwest Indiana, Cincinnati, Northeast Ohio and Southern Wisconsin.

    As a 3-mile course, the Mudathlon is on the easier spectrum of obstacle races we’ve seen and open to all ages, so if you’re looking to break into adventure racing, this might be your thing. While entrants get a chip timed result, like many obstacle races, the race is billed as an event more than a race and while challenging, is doable for most people, even if you’re not much of an athlete.

    The obstacles on this mucker vary from course to course, but there are some staples you’ll find at each race. On “The Slide,” you’ll be flat on your back sliding through mud. “The Cricketed Creek Crossing” will have you crossing, jumping or sometimes running up, over or through a river along the course. But the landmark obstacle for the Mudathlon is the “Mucking Mud Pit,” a 100-yard pit of purely minted mud that racers have to cross face first. Eat Dirt!…err…Mud!

    Mudathlon

    While individual rewards are given out for the top 3 finishers for each group, teams are encouraged and awards are given out for teams of at least 5 people.

    All Mudathletes get the following with their registration fees:

    • Finishers Medal
    • Mudathlete Shirt
    • Mudathlete Bandana
    • Beer Mug
    • 1 Free Beer (for entrants over 21)
    • Post Race Feast
    • Chip Timed Result

    After the race, if you survive, sit back, grab your well-deserved beer, and reflect on how much of a mucking great time you just had (as well as how many other phrases you can use the word “mucking” in).

    Are you ready to be a mudathlete?

    [Photo via AtGeist]

  • Tough Mudder [Race Profile]

    Tough Mudder [Race Profile]

    At the beginning of a Tough Mudder event, all participants recite the following:

    As a Tough Mudder I pledge that…

    • I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
    • I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
    • I do not whine – kids whine.
    • I help my fellow Mudders complete the course.
    • I overcome all fears.

    tough mudder

    Each Tough Mudder course consists of a seven to twelve mile mud/trail run over hilly, uneven and wet ground followed by seventeen to twenty sets of military-style obstacles designed by the British Special Forces. Each event is slightly different and caters to the varying features of local terrain. It’s one of the coolest, most well-known obstacle races out there right now.

    It is estimated that 20% of participants do not finish the course, which is marketed as more of an event than a race—contestants are not timed.

    Englishmen Will Dean first came up with the idea for Tough Mudder while studying at Harvard Business School. Prior to his American MBA, Dean chased terrorists in the Middle East and South Asia for the British Government. While living in Boston, Dean competed in both a marathon and triathlon, finding the races “pointless, boring, and antisocial.” His pitch for Tough Mudder was a finalist in the Harvard’s annual Business Plan Contest.

    Dean brought on Guy Livingstone to act as Chief Operating Officer. Livingstone, a seasoned world traveler, trained as an attorney with Allen & Overy LLP and is now responsible for the company operations like event supervision and new venue expansion.

    tough mudder death waiver

    The first Tough Mudder event was held on 2 May 2010 at Bear Creek Ski Resort near Allentwon, PA. 4500 participants registered before the event sold out in thirty-five days. Subsequent events have been held throughout the United States in Northern California, New Jersey, New England, Texas and Vermont, to name a few.

    At the end of 2011, the top 5% of all Tough Mudder participants will be invited to compete in the World’s Toughest Mudder—a fifty-mile event held on 17 & 18 December at Raceway Park, NJ.

    In 2012, Tough Mudder events will take place not just in the United States, but in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Scotland and Japan. Compared to 2011, 2012 will see triple the amount of Tough Mudder events. How’s that for a rapid expansion?

    tough mudder boa constrictor

    Obstacles differ from event to event and are designed to test both physique and mental fortitude. The Texas Smokehouse has participants run through a wooden structure filled with smoke and mud. The Sweaty Yeti is a scramble through snow. The Killa Gorilla has participants run up and down a steep hill ten times. My favorite? Electroshock Therapy, where participants run through live, dangling electrical wires. One of the crazier obstacle races when it comes to actual obstacles.

    Awards for Best Mullet, Best Costume and Most Respect are given out at the post-race party.

    Proceeds from Tough Mudder go to The Wounded Warrior Project, which helps wounded servicemen and women. Many participants will pledge to raise money prior to the race.

    Oh, and the prize for finishing a Tough Mudder course? A sweatband and a beer.

    Better start training.

    [images from chaf.haddad]