October 2013
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writers Alec Blenis Spartan Race Pro Team Athlete
David Moore OCR Athlete South East Region
Whitney Lloyd
Whats inside this issue? “Vegan Elite” Alec Blenis............................... pg 1
“The Ultra-Beast I Couldn’t Slay” David Moore............................pg 3 “The Ultra-Beast I Slayed” David Moore..........................pg 11 MudSlayer Review Whitney Lloyd........................pg 15
Certified Fitness Instructor MudSlayer Review
Mud, Guts and Glory Holly Berkey............................pg 17
Holly Berkey
OCRkids Ally & Kalyn...........................pg 23
Blogger / Writer / Athlete MuddyMommy.com
“Why HIT?” Nabilah Fountain.......................pg 26
Nabilah Fountain
“Vitamins and Muderals” Roger D. Smith, PhD..................pg 29
NASM Certified Trainer Nutrition Coach
“The Evolution of the Iron-Beast” Matthew “Iron Beast” Dolitsky.......pg 33
Roger D. Smith, PhD.
Race Map Mud Run Fun.........................pg 37
Kevin Jones
Team Spotlight - Crazy Mudder Muckers Kevin Jones..............................pg 39
Crazy Mudder Muckers Founder
Athlete Spotlight Sally Cheppell.........................pg 41
Sally Chappell
Karma Athletes Danny Janes............................pg 44
OCR Athlete Prolific Author
OCR Athlete MRF Elite
https://www.facebook.com/alecblenis Nothing about being an athlete is easy. Whether
Luckily, the notion of being a vegan athlete isn’t
it’s early morning long runs, speed work for lunch,
as crazy as it used to be, but I still get puzzled looks
or Friday nights spent with a foam roller, keeping
when I tell people about my diet. “Why” being the
your body in top shape is a balancing act. OCR takes
most common question, I still get responses like,
it to the next level. Like nothing I’ve ever done in my
“but where do you get your protein” and, “but what
life, obstacle races absolutely tear your body apart -
supplements do you take?” At times I am shocked
that’s the point though; in this sport, race directors
at people’s attitudes towards my lifestyle, but then
seek to break you. With the added intensity that OCR brings to the table, any athlete hoping to be successful in the sport must focus as much (or more) on recovery as they do any other aspect of their training. And that doesn’t mean laying on the couch when you’re not working out! I’m a firm
"My name is Alec Blenis, Im the youngest member of the Spartan Race Pro Team, and Im a vegan."
believer that proper recovery comes through quality nutrition. My name is Alec Blenis, I’m the youngest
I remember that I was in their shoes just years ago.
member of the Spartan Race Pro Team, and I’m a
After reading about the successes of plant-based
vegan.
athletes like Brendan Brazier, Scott Jurek, and Rich Roll, I began phasing animal products out of my diet in 2009.
Why? Not surprisingly, the most nutrient dense foods result in optimum health and superior performance. When the body isn’t getting all the nutrients it needs, that is perceived as stress. Stress comes in many forms, and sometimes it’s good; but chronic stress is never good - it leads to weight gain, disease, and more. Incredibly, you can eat more food but literally starve your body of nutrition. This is why we live in a society plagued by preventable diseases like heart disease and obesity. When you break your body down during training, it needs nutrients to rebuild and recover. Eating a whole-food based diet provides the high quality nutrition you need to recover faster and train harder than your competition. For an athlete, this enhanced recovery means seconds, minutes, and hours (for ultra-runners like me) off your race time. But don’t you need supplements? Quite simply, no. By converting the nutritionally void foods in your diet like white flour, sugar, and processed foods to whole plant-based foods, you’re vitamin and mineral intake will definitely increase. I’m frequently asked about certain supplements in particular like omega-3’s. No, I don’t take fish oil. I get omega-3 fatty acids from foods like chia, flax, sacha inchi, and leafy greens. But what about protein? Protein is in every whole food on the planet. Whether you are eating a “low protein” whole food like fruit, or a “high protein” whole food like black beans, you will get more than enough protein by eating a balanced vegan diet. I probably ate 100+ grams of protein today - no supplements, no soy, no animal products. If you don’t believe that you can build muscle on a plant based diet, check out the athletes I mentioned above. If guys like Brendan Brazier, Scott Jurek, and Rich Roll can’t convince you, then I’m not sure if I can either. But it’s worth a shot. Since adopting veganism back in 2009, I’ve had 50+ age group wins in road races, ultra marathons, obstacle races, triathlons, and other events. I’m currently the #6 male Spartan in the U.S. and only hope to improve! If you’re interested in trying out a plant-based diet, I recommend to first focus on adding good foods to your diet, not taking anything away. As you add healthy foods in, the bad things will naturally fall away. Brazier’s book, “Thrive”, was what first got me interested in plant-based eating. Check it out!
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(October 2, 2012 at 1:56 am) Well…I’ve been dreading/looking forward to writing this for about a week now. A part of me just wanted to rush through it to get over it but the flip side of me wanted to let it sink in, analyze it and then share. That half won. So many of you know that I recently went on a trip to Vermont to run in the Spartan Ultra Beast, the world’s first ever marathon distance obstacle course race. While a marathon is 26.2 miles, in typical Spartan fashion, they went over the advertised distance and most people’s GPS’ clocked 28+. On top of the distance were the typical Spartan obstacles testing everything from agility (log balance, wall climbs, spear throw, etc.) to strength (atlas stone carry, sled pull, tractor pull, etc.) to those requiring both (rope and wall traverses, Tarzan swing, etc.). If all that wasn’t enough, the course itself was one big obstacle. At times it covered crazy ascents (one was rumored to be over 1100 feet in less than a mile according to some GPS’), to even crazier descents (across slippery, muddy rocks that basically forced you to go down butt first for safety). Most of you reading this article know how I finished…or more correctly, didn’t finish…already but there’s always a story within a story. This is that story.
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The Backstory
about. The most memorable part about the race though was around 8 miles in…with about a mile
In order to fully grasp the heartache of not
or so left. I had been trail running and seemingly
finishing the Ultra Beast (if you didn’t know, I
miles from the start line with no idea how much
was pulled off the course for missing a specific
time/distance was left until the finish line. Around
checkpoint by a certain amount of time after going
the 8 mile mark, I started to hear the roar of the
1 1/3 laps, or 18 miles, in right around 10 hours),
spectator crowd by the finish line. Without sounding
you have to understand where I began my Spartan
too soft or mushy, my eyes instantly teared up.
journey. Last November, I was just cruising around
Being a religious person, and someone who works
the internet when I came across a Spartan Race ad. I
in ministry, the moment I heard the crowd all I
had always loved the movie “300,” as cliché as that is,
could think about was Hebrews 12:1 which says,
so when I saw the helmet design, the red and black colors…I kinda was already sold. I watched a promo video and instantly was hooked before I ever ran a race. I tried to convince some friends to run with me in Miami…to do it as a group thing…but the closer the race got the more people decided to back out, whether for physical reasons, monetary, etc. I started trying to get in “running” shape because although I had always been an athlete, I had never been a runner. I signed up for a Warrior Dash, just to get my feet wet before the Spartan, finished 83rd out of 2700+ and thought I was prepared for my Spartan Race…it was more miles but how much worse could it be? I showed up in Miami, nervous as can be. I didn’t get very much sleep the night before (something I’ve noticed is a common occurrence the night before a race now, regardless of whether or not I’m thinking about the run). I ran the race…not the fastest as I was held up at a lot of obstacles waiting on people and finished 419th out of
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3043, respectable but not anything to write home
myself doing every chance I had. When I got home from Miami, I immediately started checking dates and locations on how to get my “Trifecta” medal… something I was determined to do before the end of the year. I found Georgia, a Sprint, and it was about four hours from a youth conference I would be at at the time of the race so I made arrangements to leave early, run the race, and drive back afterwards. I ran Georgia and loved it just as much as Florida. I again lost time at obstacles but finished 108th of 3300+. I continued running after Georgia in these events: • North Florida Warrior Dash: 21st of 4400+ • Mud Crusade: 5th of 2300+ • Girls on the Run 5K (yes it was for men too!): 4th of 170+ • Gator Gauntlet: 16th of 550 • Alpha Race: 4th of 90 • Ann Arbor Half Marathon: 209th of 1300+ • Michigan Warrior Dash: 80th of 9000+ • Hero Rush: 4th of 550+ • Dirty Foot: 28th of 300+ I say all that, not to brag, but to show that
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that throws us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” It was such an awesome moment in my life and
I had decent success running in my first year. I had been relatively content with most of my races, and while I wanted to podium in a few, I did the best I could and finished where I finished. I knew I wouldn’t “kill” the Ultra Beast…but I didn’t think it would slay me either. When I heard of the Ultra Beast, I instantly wanted to be one of the first to attempt it. I sent in a few applications, especially when my race
not one I’ll soon forget. That’s when I knew that
resumé was updated so they could
running in these types of obstacles races, Spartan
see that I was dedicated to obstacle
Races in particular, was something that I would find
races. Leading up to the Ultra I
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started to experience either some knee swelling, in
never end. Even more burpees (notice a pattern?). More
particular when I played in my basketball/football
hills. More obstacles. We were just about to finish our
leagues here in Florida. I was nervous because I
first lap, as I was crawling under the barb wire, I heard a
wasn’t able to do a lot of running/training leading
girl start screaming. I looked over and her hair was caught
up to Vermont but I was confident I would finish…
in the barb wire. I didn’t
that was my one and only goal…just finish.
see a green armband on her (meaning she wasn’t an
The trip there went great and I was able to
Ultra Beast runner so she
spend some time with some awesome people
was just a few feet from being
before the race (shoutout to Doug, Michael,
done for the day), so my
Eddie, “Other” Eddie, Matt and Janice). I
first instinct was just to leave
spent the night before trying to ice down my
her. I instantly felt checked
knee and then the big day was finally here.
(convicted is more accurate), so
Race Day
I went back and helped for a few
There’s a lot to cover but I’m going to
minutes until she was untangled.
skip a lot of details and be brief. I was really
I finished my first lap, ran to the
nervous on the walk over on the morning of
dropbox with Michael, changed
the race. However, before you know it we were
shirts, threw down some energy
jogging towards a freezing cold mud pit just a
stuff and a few handfuls of trail
hundred feet or so from the starting line. The
mix and headed out for lap two.
day started to carry on with crazy unexpected
Within just a few hundred
hiking hills, typical Spartan obstacles and the
feet we bumped into Matt B.
constant mind game of body strategy (how
Davis, who I had previously
much to drink, when to eat, what to eat, how to
known from his blog radio
attack obstacles, etc.). It was clear from the start
show about obstacle course
we were in for a long day but I was still confident
racing, and we headed out.
we (the group I was in with Doug, Eddie and
We assumed we were the
Michael), would finish. Then the problems started
last Ultra Beast runners so
to set in. Eddie cramping. Doug’s knee.
it was nice to be in a group
Tough obstacles. Burpees. More
of more than two of us.
Burpees. Freezing cold water.
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Ridiculous
As we started lap two we kinda recapped our day, talked
climbs that I thought would
about strategies, hopes, obstacles, joked, laughed…all
Long
Swims.
while maintaining the mindset that there’s no way we
had a lot of successes too. Anyone who knows
wouldn’t finish. We bumped into some other fearless
me knows that if I’m a part of a team that loses
Ultra Beasters (James, Maureen, etc.) within a little while
a game, you can bet I’ll be thinking about it the rest of the night. Analyzing, second
too. We kept saying that they were going to have to kick us
guessing, replaying…you name it. That’s just
off the mountain before we
the way I’m built. I’ll tackle any challenge put
stopped…which is exactly
before me...I always have...regardless of the
what happened. 18 miles in.
outcome. But throughout all the tough losses,
Kicked. Off. The mountain.
the successes, the failures, nothing could
Courtesy of Michael Morris.
prepare me for the DNF at the Ultra Beast.
We tried to bargain our way
To be entirely honest, it’s a week later and I feel
past…asking “what if ” we
like it happened yesterday still. I’ve had dreams
kept running…let us try to get
about it. I’ve talked with people about it. I’ve laid
to Bear Mountain by 9…you
in bed for hours thinking about it. You name
name it. But every effort was
it. It may as well have been my Super Bowl. To
shut down. Within minutes…so
be so close to a monumental life moment and
was my body. So was Michael’s.
lose it. What if I wouldn’t have taken a break
The ten hours of battling the
here? What if I would’ve ran more here? What
mountain, once we slowed down,
if I would’ve done this obstacle this way or
began to sink in. Even more
that way? The questions are typically ongoing.
painful was the fact that we all had a big fat “DNF”…did not finish.
The Aftermath
The craziest part about the entire race though is how few people understand how
The only solace in the DNF
I really feel about it. Most people give the
was the fact that although
“you tried hard,” “at least you didn’t quit,”
we didn’t meet a deadline…
“you should feel special knowing that only
we didn’t quit. But that
384 people were selected,” and I know they all
only satisfies for about two
mean well…and that they truly do care…but all
seconds. The other thousands
those words are relatively hollow at this point.
of seconds of that day and
The irony is that the 100+ complete strangers
following days it could not.
that are in the Team Redemption Facebook group
know more of how I feel on the inside than the closest people in my life.
Truthfully, I’ve lost a ton of sports games,
As much as I try to describe it, it
including championship games over the years. I’ve
just doesn’t adequately describe it.
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Checklist of struggles since the Ultra: • I really don’t like seeing neon green (the color of the Ultra). • I haven’t ran since (although I need to). • Having trouble not thinking about it. • Wishing it was next September already. • I despise seeing the “cakes, shadowboxes, medals” and everything else that I see posted in the Ultra Facebook group. • Haven’t posted any pictures of the event, nor was I excited about downloading them. • Had to force myself to watch the recap video. To be honest, I almost feel like I’ve lost a little bit of a competitive edge too since DNF’ing at the Ultra. I find myself battling more mentally at basketball league games…football league games…etc. It may be petty to some of you reading this…but it’s honest. There’s a part of me that was left on the mountain in Killington. It’s like there’s a mythical dragon that took my sword after a battle. Some would say, “it’s just a sword”…but it’s not. I know the heartache, disappointment and the likes will subside with time…that I’ll come back to Vermont stronger, wiser and more ready next time. But as “silly” as it may sound, I feel like I won’t be 100% until I conquer it. 354 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes and 30 seconds til the battle for redemption starts.
(September 26, 2013 at 12:57pm) Many of you read the post I shared last year entitled, “The Ultra Beast I couldn’t slay.” A year later, I’m proud to write a different note...The Ultra Beast I slayed. If you didn’t read last year’s, I’ll fill you in with the last paragraph from that note: “There’s a part of me that was left on the mountain in Killington. It’s like there’s a mythical dragon that took my sword after a battle. Some would say, “it’s just a sword”…but it’s not. I know the heartache, disappointment and the likes will subside with time…that I’ll come back to Vermont stronger, wiser and more ready next time. But as “silly” as it may sound, I feel like I won’t be 100% until I conquer it.” You know, looking back at last year, and I’ve shared this with a few other people, I actually ran a lot more. I did more races. I put more work in in-between them. If anything, I thought I would’ve DNF’ed this year as opposed to last year. This year I ran 5-10 less events before the Ultra Beast, did really no running between them and just a handful of times did I actually do anything to better
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myself training wise. Stupid training plan to earn redemption right? Maybe.
This year I took a gamble. I fasted 10 days
the lodges), the Ultra became...ultra real. A stack
on water only about a month or so before the
of logs at the bottom of a steep incline. Upon
Ultra, both for spiritual and physical reasons. I
closer inspection, barb wire adorned the hill 3/4 of
lost about 12 pounds through it, on top of eating
the way up.
the most healthy I had my whole life, and really noticed a difference in some of the physical problems I had been having with digestion and even some aches and pains in my knees and shoulders. While I knew I wasn’t as prepared physically as I was last year, I knew I was much healthier and more focused for what laid before me at the Ultra. Flash forward to Saturday in Vermont at the World Championship and I still felt somewhat confident. While I venture to say that few feel confident about the Ultra, I wasn’t overly intimidated. That is...until I started to see the times for the Beast runners come in. They were mostly an hour+ over the times last year. That’s when the sinking feeling started to set in...this is going to be waaaaay harder than last year. When
Then came that same sinking feeling...what have I got myself into? Am I ready for this?! Later in the festival area, I happened upon Matt B. Davis and Alec Blenis talking about the Ultra Course. I watched as Alec told Matt to “be prepared to be on the mountain for 12+ hours.” Matt, in his good natured big brother type ribbing, rubbed in that he beat me up in the Virginia Super Spartan by 30 minutes so how long should I expect to be on it? Not going to lie, that stung...but it was the truth...only reinforcing the intimidation I was already feeling entering the race. The questions started to pile up... What if you DNF two years in a row? Should I just call it quits?
we got to registration to pick up our packets,
What’s everyone going to think?
only to be told on our handout to “find it on
Is this all just a waste of time and money?
your own” in regards to the bin drop, I knew we were in for a serious day as Ultra Beasters. It became very apparent that we had a small “Death Race”-type feel already so who knew what the course had for us. Upon arriving at bin drop (thanks to the help of a worker at one of
Can I deal with another heartbreaking pull from the course? Do I have what it takes?
The questions continued all throughout the
past, time to focus on the present.
night. I asked Doug Sahr that night in the hotel room, after having run the Beast earlier that day, to be brutally honest with me. Do you think I have a chance tomorrow? His response?
I started towards the back of the pack, thinking about what me and Michael Jacob had discussed... not getting caught up in the hype and rushing out too fast. The first half mile or so was a light job with some light obstacles until I came to my initial snag...
It’s gonna be tough. He said that he didn’t wanna
through the first Over, Under, Through walls...my
doubt me, or be negative, he just didn’t know what
timing chip wristband got clipped off going through
my endurance level was at and that I’d have to
the Through Wall. It was pitch black and I frantically
constantly stay on the move.
searched along the wall for it saying, “I lost my
At that point, my chances of finishing felt like they were slim to none. It was in that moment though that I remembered an inspirational video I had watched during the week leading up to the race...a video that said things like “if you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t...if you think you’ll lose, you lost...it’s all in the state of mind...you’ve got to think high to rise... life’s battle doesn’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later the man that wins, is the man that thinks he can.” See video here: http://
timing chip. I lost my timing chip.” For the next few minutes, I danced around the wall, both trying to avoid runners coming through and simultaneously looking for the missing chip. After reaching in my bag and using my headlamp, I finally located it on the FRONT side of the wall, stashed it in my backpack and continued on. For the next mile or two, all I could think about was wether or not that five minutes of searching would come back to haunt me. Thankfully it didn’t. I won’t go into too much of the rest of the course
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5o4KxEhVmE
as far as obstacles, etc., or this post would take you
That’s when I started telling myself...
as long to read it as it did to run it. If you want
you’ve got this. You may not be stronger, but you’re healthier. You may not be faster, but you’re wiser. You may not be more confident, but you’re hungrier. That battle lasted all night. Getting to the start line was surreal. Where did all the time
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go? Where did the weekend go? No time to think on the
an awesome read about the terrain, obstacles, etc, check out this review by the New England Spahtens ( http://www.nespahtens.com/featured-reviewspartan-race-ultra-beast-2013/ ). I do want to highlight a few things though. This course BEAT ME UP! I came home with a ton of war wounds from scratches, bruises, a swollen left foot and right knee, two bruised toes...I did everything from slip, slide, trip and I even faceplanted by myself running up a path after I tripped over a rock. This course was designed to test you in every way possible. I came home a mess.
at which point my eyes immediately welled up with There’s two things that I’ll remember the most
tears and I had to fight back sobbing like a little
from my 14 1/2 hours of the Ultra Beast, both
girl. A year’s worth of feelings, emotions, doubts,
somewhat related.
struggles, etc. seemed to begin to wash away at this
Any obstacle racer knows that help is just a second away on the course if you need it. I was the beneficiary of a lot on the course...from a guy giving
point. I had made it. I had earned my Killington redemption. Right after the hug from Doug, all of a sudden I
me Aleve after my knee started swelling at mile
was hugged by another guy. I didn’t realize who it
3 from spraining it to a few salt pills around mile
was but just assumed it was an onlooker or another
10 that I was given to a boost over the 8 foot wall
racer that wanted in on my emotional situation.
at mile 20+ by a few Beasters and so much more
In the midst of the hug however, I heard the guy
from those on the course. With that being said, any
say, “Thank you. Thank you! I wouldn’t have made
chance I had to give back I took and made time for.
it without you,” as he squeezed me even tighter. It
One such situation presented itself a few miles
wasn’t until he let go that I realized who it was...it
after the early bin drop. I elected to pass on the first bin drop, a mistake in hindsight because I didn’t realize it was another six miles until I’d see it again, all the while being without water. On one of the
was the guy on the mountain I had given some of my food too! Talk about an awesome moment. One I won’t forget the rest of my life. That’s a Clif Bar commercial waiting to happen, just saying.
ascents back towards the bin, after the Hobie Hop
I finished the next three miles, which, like so
and Commando Monkey Bars, I stumbled upon a
many others, felt like an eternity. I had to control
guy sitting on the ascent about halfway up. He didn’t
sniffles and eyes full of tears as I continued to make
look like he was taking a casual break but looked
my way to the finish. After passing the slanted wall,
like he was struggling. I asked him if he was okay
just the fire and the gladiators remained. It was
or if he was injured and needed me to tell the next
completely dark...cold...no one around the finish
volunteer I saw. He said he was fine and that he was
line...it felt like such a fitting ending. I stood by the
just out of it...he was out of food. I said, “that’s it?
fire for 30-45 seconds, not for warmth, but to help
Here take some of mine,” and handed him a clif bar
gather myself emotionally before backing up a few
or two. He immediately perked up, opened it up and
steps, jumping over the fire and running through the
started to eat away. We walked/ran over the next
gladiators as they exclaimed, “we’ve got a runner!”
little ways but at some point we lost track of each
before jabbing me.
other like so often happens at long races like this. Fast forward a few hours and I had just made it to the Tyrolean Traverse, a mere 30 minutes before the final cutoff, and was greeted by Doug Sahr. He exclaimed, “You made it!” and gave me a huge hug
They were right... I am a runner.
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http://www.mudslayers.com/ The MudSlayer run was an adrenaline pumping
I was then stuck and had no idea how I was going
challenge that I look forward to participating in
to turn myself around and get to the bottom. A few
again next year. As our heat crowded the start line,
teammates that were running with me encouraged
the atmosphere was exciting and nerve-wracking
me to flip my legs over and start down the rope.
considering no one knew what was ahead of us.
Once I completed the obstacle, I high fived a
Anxiously awaiting the first obstacle, I paced myself
teammate and continued the run. The course was
along the dirt track heading into the wooded, rocky
laid out very well. The ups and downs of hills made
terrain. After climbing a few hills, the obstacles
the obstacles challenging and fun.
began… ropes, tires, mud, hurdles, barbed wire… What more could you ask for? Every obstacle I came to I was put to the test,
I also found the muddy hills with an enormous mud puddle at the bottom to be rather thrilling. Sliding down into waist deep watery mud might not
wondering if I would be able to complete it
sound appealing to all, but it’s totally worth trying.
successfully. In my opinion, one of the most difficult
Trudging through the puddles with mud caked
obstacles was the rope wall that was angled away
onto my shoes, I pulled myself up and continued
from me. As I climbed, with my back to the ground
my trek. Obstacles with tires and a rope climb, over
and my stomach facing the sky, I made it to the top.
and under poles that barricaded a straight path
to the next destination only made the run more
the race itself; it was organized and well thought out.
exhilarating.
One thing for next year, let’s make it longer and add
Fatigued, yet anxious, the finish line was in sight. I had to make it through fire and two more obstacles to get there, though- and one included hot electric wire. At this point there was no way to avoid being muddy. Sinking down into the mud, only my head above the surface, I crept to the other side avoiding being shocked by the wires over my head. At last, the finish line, people cheered and pushed me to the end. I knew the race was successful, because anywhere I looked there was mud and dirt. I was completely covered, head to toes. After completing the MudSlayer and talking with fellow athletes who competed too, we agreed we look forward to it again next year. The obstacles were attainable, yet challenging. I believe anyone who participated had a great time. Overall, it was a smooth day from registration and packet pick-up to
a few more obstacles!
http://www.muddymommy.com I was recently offered an opportunity to fly to
new race first hand, but I would be joining several
Ohio and participate in the inaugural Mud, Guts,
elite athletes who are very well known in the OCR
& Glory race, which is a new permanent obstacle
world. I was to be racing with the likes of Amelia
course built at the King’s Domain Camp outside of
Boone & Junyong Pak, two of the fastest & most
Cincinnati, Ohio.
talented runners currently in the OCR world. Brad
Upon first hearing about this new event, I had jumped at the chance to experience a race in a location I’ve never had the opportunity to run at. Since I do tend to stay within Florida for the majority of my races, I was excited to see what a Midwest race would be like, and happily accepted the offer. As details about the race were revealed, excitement grew. The race looked like a great challenge. Photos of obstacles and steep hills teased us, and MGG social media began slowly revealing
Kloha of Run To Remember, who has committed to running 100 races in 52 weeks to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s. Dan Krueger, of DanKreuger.net, Heather Ganoe of Relentless Forward Commotion. Rob Butler, who owns the Shale Hill Adventure Farm in Vermont. Jeff Cain of On My Way To Sparta. And of course, Mr. B Davis himself of Obstacle Racing Media. Sounds like a great crowd of people right? Well wait, it gets better. Not only would I be joining a superstar group of
plans for an epic first race. Not only was I being
amazing runners, but the race was to be filmed for
given an awesome opportunity to experience a
Spike TV’s show Playbook 360, hosted by former
Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones. An already cool opportunity had just become insanely awesome. So on August 30th I eagerly arrived in Cincinnati, prepared for a once-in-lifetime racing experience. And I can honestly say now that not one thing about this weekend was less than amazing. Most of us arrived at King’s Domain midafternoon the day prior to the race, and were immediately impressed with the beauty of the sprawling 120-acres which boasts ample hills, streams, and forests. The camp itself is located about an hour outside of Cincinnati, and is committed to helping provide at-risk kids with a retreat away from the inner-city. They provide lodging, food, activities, and mentoring for kids who rarely experience any stability or support in their daily lives. Upon arrival we checked in, were shown to our adorable on-site cottages that were provided us as lodging for the weekend, and immediately prepared to get out on the grounds and check out the course. It was great to be given the advantage of having a sneak peak of the course pre-race. We were able to check out obstacles, ask questions of the race directors, and get a true feel for what was in store for us the following morning. And as we progressed through our tour of the course, we quickly realized that this race would be no-easy task. Since this course was built to be a permanent fixture on the camp’s grounds, obstacles were extremely sturdy, and many were constructed from the natural resources of their property. Large logs and tree trunks created the perfect material for challenging obstacles, as vines, branches, and logs marked the boundaries of the trails we were to run.
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We made a point to stop and test out a few of
able to successfully continue to grow, and in turn
the more difficult obstacles during our preview.
positively effect more kids each year. The genuine
There was Sternum Checker, which required a leap
love for the camp, the kids, and the passion for
of faith from one parallel log to another higher
their mission was evident, and so inspiring. It truly
log. The Weaver, a series of beams that racers were
made supporting this race an incredible honor and a
expected to alternate going over then under each
privilege.
beam without touching the ground. And Monkey Business, which has got to be the most insane monkey bar challenge I’ve seen at a race to date! It was fun to give them a test, and to get an exclusive
The next morning we gathered for breakfast as a team, met Dhani, participated in a few pre-race interviews, and prepared to run. And finally, at 8:30am, as we stood at the base of a
peek at portions of the event prior to racing.
steep incline that would lead us into the woods and
Friday evening we sat down with the race
well on our way through a myriad of challenges, the
directors and owners of King’s Domain, and through
enthusiastic announcer shouted, “Mud! Guts! Glory!
our discussions were moved by the true passion that
GO!!” And off we went.
is the driving force behind this event. This race was not created for the sole purpose of financial gain, prosperity, or fame. The race was created as a way to raise funds for the camp in hopes that they are
Speaking of hills, they happened to be a constant challenge throughout the 5.2 miles of the race. I quickly realized that living in an area that provides no elevation change whatsoever resulted in a race
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experience that I found myself quite unprepared
This race was a great reminder to me about why
for. Granted, I started out much too quickly, as I
I love obstacle racing as much as I do. I consider
excitedly tried to position myself near the front of
myself to have reached a place where I am in good
the pack in hopes of a competitive finish. The first
enough physical shape to approach each race well
two miles went great, and I felt strong as I pushed
prepared for most challenges that come my way. But
ahead. But after each climb up the steep, slick
any good race also provides obstacles or terrain that
embankments and tall hills, I slowly but surely ran
forces its participants out of our comfort zone, and
out of steam. Being used to flat, fast courses, the hills
that pushes us to our own physical limits. We face
showed me where my weakness is, and although I
our fears, we overcome our weakness, we are strong
completed obstacles with ease, each climb became
when we feel like we can no longer continue, and we
more and more labored as I progressed. The final
finish proud, knowing that we have just won a battle
hill, aptly named The Pinnacle, almost did me in
of mind over matter. If there was no challenge, then
as I found myself on several occasions grasping the
why do it?
rope provided for dear life, and struggling to will my muscles to push me ahead to the summit. My initial completion goal changed quite quickly,
There were many points of this event where I felt weak. When each approaching hill created a brief moment of dread, followed by a deep resolve that
and I no longer had a desire to prove to everyone
I must push ahead despite my brain screaming at
that I could finish in the top percentage, but simply
me that another climb would do me
to push through each remaining challenge, to
in. And although this race offers a
complete it to the best of my ability, and to be proud
spot to opt-out at each mile before
of that finish.
continuing on to the next stage,
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that was not an option for me as I knew that no
give up, I have run a race worthy of feeling I’ve
matter how difficult the hills were, and no matter
accomplished something great.
how long it took me, I would finish.
Mud, Guts, & Glory is a quality event coordinated
To be honest, there is a small part of me that
by a wonderful group of passionate and genuine
wishes I could report my moments of strength
individuals. It supports a great cause, provides a
and accomplishment during this race, but at the
challenge fit for both the elite and everyday athlete,
same time I think it is so important for those
and is a course I would be honored to run again. I
reading to know that experiencing those moments
highly recommend that anyone interested should
of weakness are okay as well. I truly believe it’s
visit King’s Domain to run this course (there’s a
those moments of weakness that teach us so much
great family course for parents and kids to run as
about our own personal strength and tenacity, and
well!).
looking back I would not change a thing about my own performance at this event. I climbed those crazy hills, I completed each obstacle to the best of my ability, I sweated, I struggled, and I finished so incredibly proud of myself. As long as I never
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The next MGG event is November 2nd! If you are able to make the trip, or live nearby, I highly recommend that you don’t miss out! ~Holly
MudRunFun Magazine is always looking for contributors. Are you a blogger, writer or critic? Let your voice be heard. With over 27,000 subscribers, MudRunFun Magazine provides a great portal to the mud running and obstacle racing community. We want to hear about: Health, Fitness, Obstacle Running, Industry News, Race Reviews, Product reviews, Obstacle Racing Kids, & Athlete Interviews E-mail damion@mudrunfun.com
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u are always tition or for fun yo pe m co it g in do e ar u meet new e of your life!!!! Yo tim e th ve ha a nn go s, lf with the obstacle se ur yo e ng le al ch people, get to !!!!!! And all is you have fun! of rt pa st be e th d an ur new e super proud of yo ar u yo ce ra e th er aft h es people do so muc im et m So !! t!! en accomplishm ally count!! It is also re en ev t n’ ca u yo s obstacle race race!!!! In the adults do there g in ch at w st ju ol co ble it is my Super Hero Scram g in do am i y ar nu Ja heard that that one ve ha I !!! t!! ai w t n’ first time I ca t just a their motto: “It’s no is super fun!!! I love It the meaning of it. ve lo I e” ur nt ve ad race it’s an ng st running you havi ju t no re u’ yo ns ea m hope you loved an adventure!!!!! I !!!! reading this!!!! Bye!
hi!!!! My na me is ally!!! I love doing the mud rac es!!!! They a re super fun !!!!! It is really fun to make new fr iends at the do the obst races!!! And acles with th em. One of the main th about the m ings ud races is th e mud!!!! Th best mud th ey have the ere!!! It feels slimy and c ool. If you d lot of the m oa ud races yo u can get a lot of metals metals are li the ke memorie s of how mu ch fun you at the race. had It reminds y ou of all the new friends made. And you no matter w hat you will never forge about the b t ig accompli sh you mad e that day!!! also love do I ing the race s because it is not a nor race is it an mal obstacle rac e and that’s the best par about it!!! Y t ou get to cli mb and eve rything!!! I doing the m like ud races for fun some p eople do th for competi em tion though . It doesn’t m atter if you
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Hi, my name is Kalyn Brackemyer and I’m almost 9 years old. I just ran my second race of the summer, and the race wasn’t that long. But I still ran hard. My dad has been a lot of help. He’s helped me a whole lot. My brothers also ran the race with me, and we all looked forward to it. I finished in 4th place, and it was very hard to run fast the whole way. I wish it {the race} would have been longer, and harder, and not such a long wait till the race started. {She had to wait till I finished my race to run}. I’m waiting for my dad to make a medal holder cause I’m going to run a lot of races. My friends are helping me train at school by making me run really hard 3 times around the play ground and my dad added a climbing rope to our play ground at home! When I get older I want to run track, and run races with my dad. The End As told by Kalyn
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Your kids look up to you as you did your parents. Why not get them involved in the one thing you have in common? The love for crawling, jumping, sliding and all things muddy! Join MudRunFun’s campaign to promote mud running and fun running to kids everywhere. With all these opportunities to promote health and fitness while having fun, you cannot lose. Look up events in your area. Email your local race directors and request that they set up a kid’s race. Let’s keep our kids on the right track. Let your kid become an OCRkid today!
By Nabilah Fountain HIT, or High Intensity Training, has been around for many years but has just taken over the fitness industry like wildfire. With new sports, like obstacle course racing (OCR), on the rise, HIT has become the go to workout for many fitness enthusiasts. To understand the benefits of HIT, let me give you a brief overview of what HIT really is and how it can truly impact your performance substantially. HIT is a form of strength training that utilizes the entire body at a higher intensity level to momentary muscle failure. Once muscle failure is reached, a period of rest is followed before performing the next set of exercises. Essentially you are putting yourself into EPOC, excess post-exercise oxygen consumption; otherwise known as “oxygen debt”. By doing this, you are pushing your threshold in many ways forcing your body to recover at a higher rate in order replace the depleted oxygen. The result? You tend to burn more calories during the workout and up to 400 calories post work out for up to 36 hours. Other benefits include increased cardio capacity, strength endurance, increased power and strength and a leaner figure suitable for many of the endurance races such as OCR. Many endurance athletes have jumped on the HIT train, noticing a valuable difference in their increased performance. In the past HIT was known as the “sprinter’s” workout because of the short burst of anaerobic exertion usually to failure with long periods of rest which created stallions in the sprinting community. With new research circulating stating that HIT training can also increase performance in endurance athletes, long distance runners have now taking to HIT all of which have seen drastic increases in their stamina, strength and cardio endurance, and recovery. So why HIT? Especially in the OCR community, you not only need to rely on endurance but strength, as well. With over 20 strength baring obstacles in each race, you not only need to have incredible endurance to run the 4 plus miles in each race, but you need substantial strength to perform each obstacle with perfection. By incorporating HIT into your weekly routine, you will be adding value to your training which can result in podium time at your next race! For more information on HIT or other related topics, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/revolvefitcamp and follow our blog at www.liveintheskinny.wordpress.com.
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Do you have an event you would like t
Contact matthew
s without the support of our partners. n choosing your next race.
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The Mud Run Blueprint for Fitness by Roger Smith, PhD
http://www.newbluefit.com Mud runners experience more cuts, scrapes, muscle cramps and pulls than your average fitness enthusiast. In the gym, the sharp edges have been polished off. But when the great outdoors, wooden walls, and metal monkey bars are your gym, you will quickly get a few scuff marks on your frame. A good daily vitamin is essential to insure that your body is prepared to fight any infections that could come from these minor injuries, as well as providing the nutrients that will help you heal and rebuild from an injury. You will walk off of the obstacle course with a scrape from a tree, a cut from a wooden wall, a poke from a metal brace, or a splinter from a fiberglass boat hull. These are not something to be afraid of. The human body is made to recover and heal itself naturally. Your daily vitamins and minerals will insure that you heal more completely and faster than you would otherwise. Supplements will also sharpen your mental focus when training and competing. On a mud run course you always need to be looking beyond the immediate obstacle to the landing spot on the other side, insuring that you are ready to dismount gracefully without injury. A good vitamin mix in your brain will help you maintain this focus longer and avoid mistakes that lead to injuries.
For the good of your long-term participation
the average body will breakdown and die around
and enjoyment in this sport you need to keep the
age 40. It will suffer from every disease that modern
vitamins and mineral levels up and flowing through
medicine has spent centuries curing and that
your body.
modern nutrition has been designed to overcome.
Why can’t I just eat good foods? You need the essential nutrients to make everything in your body function smoothly for 100 years. If you do not do this, you will wear out around age 50. Most of these nutrients are found in the foods you buy at the grocery store. It is generally true that a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, dairy, and lean meats will deliver all of the nutrients that you need to run your engine for 100 years. But, be honest, do you really want to eat spinach
Just as modern medicine can eliminate disease and help you live longer, modern nutrition and exercise can improve your fitness and health beyond their natural state. Scientific fitness, nutrition, and health will allow you to live twice as long as “natural man” and do so with much less suffering. Your first step in the Mud Run Blueprint for Fitness™ is to take a multivitamin and mineral tablet every day.
and kale for lunch every day to insure that you get
But which vitamin product should you use?
enough vitamin K? Do you want to eat seven carrots
There are literally hundreds of vitamin
every day to get the vitamin A and carotene in
supplements to choose from. They all seem to be
them? 99% of the population is just not interested in
unique and different. But they are not. Most of the
living in a dietary straight jacket like that.
differences are just in the packaging and marketing.
That is where a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement come in. These little pills insure that you get most of your essential vitamins and minerals every single day, not just on the days that you are able to make a special salad, consume a half dozen pieces of fruit, and drink several glasses of milk. They help you enjoy the foods you eat, not become a slave to them. There is a large and vocal group of health enthusiasts who believe that an all natural diet will create the highest levels of good health and fitness. Their reasoning is that the human body has evolved over millions of years to function in harmony with nature. This is a very seductive and idyllic philosophy. But it is wrong. Left to its natural state,
Vitamins are made in a small number of pharmacology factories around the world. The brands that you see on the store shelf design their own unique combinations of ingredients and then send those to a commercial pharmacy to be manufactured. The brand itself is just a unique mixture of the same ingredients packaged into a bottle designed to make the product stand out. They are all nearly equal in “quality”, a marketing term that is meant to differentiate the expensive products from the inexpensive ones. If you already have a bottle of vitamins that is not expired, then that is the right one to start taking today. If you do not have a bottle,
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then you need to find something that fits your tastes.
would need to keep a journal of your habits before
Look for the following:
taking the vitamins and again for a couple of months
Size. The pill should be a size that you are comfortable swallowing or chewing every day. The best vitamin is the one that you will actually take, not the one with the best ingredients that stays in
after taking them. The changes are subtle, but they are there. It is easy to take these for granted because they are not the same rush that you get from caffeine or sugar.
the bottle for years. Smell. Some vitamins have an odd smell. If that turns your stomach, then choose a different one. Taste. Many people think a vitamin should taste like candy. If that is you, then get a gummy or chewable vitamin that tastes great, or a small tablet that you can’t taste at all. One Daily. Some vitamins are designed to
What are all of those other supplements for? If you talk to health nuts, athletes, and back-tonature enthusiasts about their vitamin supplements, you will find that all of them take more than just a single multivitamin. They all swear by a different combination of supplements that enhance their specific activities. In most cases, these devotees have
be taken two, three, or six per day. That is too
built up their stock by reading books and articles
complicated. Choose a vitamin that has everything
or talking to other healthy people that they respect.
you need in one single pill.
They have arrived at a mixture that works well for
Cost. We all have financial limits. Choose a vitamin that you can afford to purchase regularly for the rest of your life. That is simple. Choose what works best for you.
them both physically and psychologically. If you stick with the Mud Run Blueprint for Fitness™ program, you will find yourself on that same journey in a few months or years. But, right
But do not choose to skip it.
now you are just getting started and there is no
Why don’t I feel a rush?
to be. Today you need one simple habit that you can
Taking a vitamin and mineral tablet is not like downing an energy drink. You will not feel an immediate rush of energy. Rather, over time, you
reason to make this more complicated than it needs continue for the rest of your life. Take one small, simple, affordable vitamin pill
every morning.
should notice subtle, but solid, improvements in your health. When your body has these nutrients it can perform its daily activities better. This includes a sound sleep, regular and reliable digestion, preventing and repairing injuries to the joints, stable blood chemistry, and improved oxygen absorption during exercise. To really notice each of these you
Dr. Roger Smith is a researcher at Florida
Hospital, prolific author, and avid mud runner.
He competes with the old guys in every mud run around Central Florida. This column was drawn
from his book The New Blueprint for Fitness: Mud Run Edition, which is available at Amazon.com.
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https://www.facebook.com/adventuresoftheultrabeast “Okay! Tonight is gonna be the test. I’m gonna
I decided that I was going to sign up for Savage
run 8 miles. If successful, I’m pretty damn certain I
Race next. I got there early for the “Competitive”
can add 4 more miles with 6 weeks of training to do
wave and it was then that I met this crazy kid
the 12 mile TOUGH MUDDER on Dec. 4th!!”
that was standing there barefoot, planning to race
That was a quote from me that I posted on
with no shoes on! As I stood there talking to him,
Facebook on October 21st, 2011 (approx. 18 months ago). At that time, I only had a 3 mile Highlander mud race under my belt. A belt that currently wrapped around my 226 pound frame! Highlander offered a 6-mile race but at the time I wasn’t quite sure I was ready for it so instead I opted for the 3-mile race. While I had always been athletic, I had not always been in top shape. I also
I could tell he was friendly but he was definitely nuts! He had a tattoo across his stomach that said, “Deater”. Wouldn’t you know it though; he’s now a good friend and is known as, “Deater the Panda Guy”. “Deater” was the one who introduced me to MudRunFun and never again was I alone at a mud race! I got invited into the MudRunFun Facebook
had a competitive spirit and drive to challenge
group and “Friended” all thirty odd members. It
myself, however, through life stresses that spirit
seems crazy now, considering it’s probably over
and drive was forced to lie dormant within me.
1000 members strong today! I would always post
The Highlander race evoked an instant adrenaline-
my workouts in the page and thereby earned
induced spirit and drive to achieve more and test my
the nickname “BeastMode”. I became Matthew
limits. That 8-mile test run on October 21st proved
“BeastMode” Dolitsky on Facebook. I started
to me that I could push myself and accomplish
incorporating mountain biking and running with
more. My sights were set on Tough Mudder!
a sandbag, then running carrying a tire into my
I started running several times a week with weekly test runs slowly increasing my miles and incorporating calisthenics during my runs like I saw
workouts. I even started running multiple laps at local mud races. During this time, Spartan Race announced the
in the Tough Mudder YouTube videos. The week
first ever marathon distance obstacle race, the Ultra
before Tough Mudder, I accomplished my first ever
Beast. I had never done a Spartan Race before, but I
1/2 marathon training run. I knew I was ready,
applied, reapplied, harassed them on Facebook, had
nervous, but ready. Well, truth be told, scared really!
members of MudRunFun harass them on Facebook,
On December 4th, 2011, when I FINISHED my first Tough Mudder, I felt like I was on top of the world! The weird thing was, I drove to Tough Mudder alone, I ran alone, and then I drove home alone. All of my training had also been done alone.
emailed them with detailed training records and finally I was accepted. 2 weeks before the Ultra Beast, I ran 9 laps at American Mud Race for over 26 miles. The Ultra Beast came
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and I was one of approximately 156 FINISHERS.
had my sights set on IRONMAN Louisville. On
However, it did not come easy! I was part of the
August 25th I FINISHED IRONMAN Louisville in
group of racers that got off course and were dubbed
13:36:08. That’s 140.6 miles of swimming, biking,
“The Lost Tribe”. My finish was even sweeter
and running. My biggest accomplishment to date
though after it came at 31 miles. I then earned
and once again I changed my middle name on
the nickname “UltraBeast” and again changed my
Facebook, to the “IronBeast”. As of this going to
middle name on Facebook.
print, I should be a second time FINISHER of the
Since then, I continuously set my sights to tougher and more extreme races. My training also became tougher and more extreme, consisting of open water swims, dragging and running with tires, miles of tire flips, and 100+ mile bike rides. I
Spartan Ultra Beast. I’m then looking forward to IRONMAN Miami 70.3 then a second run at World’s Toughest Mudder and in early 2014, the Fuego y Agua 70k Survival Run in Nicaragua. With all that being said, I’m just a 43-year-old
FINISHED 26 hours and 5 laps of World’s Toughest
guy that took up a hobby of obstacle racing and
Mudder (2012), Spartan Beast in Texas (both days),
have now become a Sponsored Athlete for VPX
SoCal Super Spartan (both days), Super Spartan
Team Xtreme OCR, Team Mud and Adventure and
Miami (laps for a marathon), Spartan Sprint Georgia
I represent Team MudRunFun wherever I go! Oh,
(laps for a marathon), Florida IRONMAN 70.3,
that belt I mentioned at the beginning, it lost about
and the Spartan Death Race (Bib Finisher). In
6 inches and only has to wrap a frame that now
case you missed that; I actually completed all of
weighs about 40 pounds less! My life has become
the Spartan Races in reverse order (Ultra Beast,
an adventure one race at a time! I am truly happy
Beast, Super, then Sprint). I also ran the Gasparilla
and am proud to have so many supportive friends in
Half Marathon and the Masters of all Terrain Half
MudRunFun! MUD people ARE the best people!
Marathon (M.O.A.T.) carrying a tire. All along, I
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/crazymuddermuckers The Crazy Mudder Muckers are here to support,
the race wherever I ended up. I found a quiet little
inform and bring together everyone interested in
campground and sure enough, there were several
participating in the ever-growing and popular sport
other campers there, from all over the state that had
of mud/obstacle course running and racing. We
just completed the Saturday race. We sat around
use the group to bring family and friends together
the campfire that night and I said “we need a way
by joining the rest of the team in getting muddy
that we can coordinate with each other and go to
and getting healthy all at the same time. We hope
more events like this, like a Facebook group”. What
everyone in the group can be part of an extended
should we call it? Out of the dark from around the
family and look forward to meeting at these amazing
fire, someone said “Crazy Mudder Muckers”, and so
events. We are all here to have fun, get healthy and
it was born.
enjoy the outdoors all at the same time. I ran my first OCR on June 4, 2012. When I
After running on Sunday, needless to say, I had drank the Kool-Aid and was hooked. I was already
registered for the Warrior Dash, I asked everyone
begging for more mud. When I got home on the
I knew if they wanted to go do it with me. The
night of June 4, 2012, I sat down and created a
response was not only a resounding “NO” but
Facebook group called Crazy Mudder Muckers and
more like “HELL NO!!”. They all thought I was
added about 10 people to the group including the
crazy. But I was determined to do this, with or
friends I had just made at the Warrior Dash. We’ve
without someone next to me. So, on June 3rd,
just passed our 1 year anniversary we have over 430
2012 I ventured to Logan, Ohio by myself with my car packed for
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camping the night before the race. I knew I would meet people that were going to
members and continue to grow. What I have learned and continue to experience at all of these events is a common, ‘un-written’ theme about humanity. To bring out the best in
all of us and to truly see humanity at its finest, we
will be left alone on a course and everyone will cross
must take ourselves to the most primal of places
the finish line.
that we can, within reason. By intentionally placing ourselves in ‘survival’ mode, then and only then can the true humanity in all of us come through. To know what I’m talking about, you must experience one of these events on your own but, in short, it’s something like this; When you crawl out of the mud or come up a 1/2 mile, 45 degree hill through the woods on your own and suddenly you are faced with a 10 foot smooth wall covered in slimy mud and no way climb it but you MUST go over it, you MUST look to your left and to your right because at that moment, no matter how big and bad you are, everyone around you just became your best friend and teammate and you inherently feel compelled to return the favor. Through these crazy events I have been introduced to and welcomed into so many amazing groups that become your family. Groups like Team MudRunFun, the Cornfed Spartans, Midwest Vikings and Team Ninja to name a few and all of these groups have a common theme. Nobody
This is why Crazy Mudder Muckers was created. To give people a ‘family’ of sorts to turn to for the support, help and camaraderie they need and want, and to bring people together so that nobody has to go to one of these events alone. It has grown into more than I ever expected and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the group. Our theme is ‘One Team … Many Goals’. We have people from all ends of the fitness spectrum. From beginners to advanced competitors and when we show up to an event, there will always be someone to run with. People that will help drive you harder and faster to the finish line if that’s what you want or people that will just run alongside, enjoy your company and help you over the next wall. We hope you can join us at an event soon. Kevin Jones
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Hello, my name is Sally and I have a mud
So as long as I can do them, I will. As far as how
problem. It all started very innocently with running
do I stay in such great shape? Well, I have been
track in high school and college. Then it was the
physically active all my life. I have never had an
5 and 10K fun runs. I was winning medals and
inside job. I trained horses and gave riding lessons
trophies and my addiction was getting worse.
to help put myself through collage. Then I spent 20
Soon that wasn’t enough and I was introduced
years in the racehorse industry. Fourteen of those
to triathlons. This new thing was great! It was a
as a jockey. I don’t know how not to be physically
challenge times three. I also threw in some 1/2
active, so my body stays naturally fit. As far as my
marathons and for a while I was satisfied. Then one
race training goes I have toned down the magnitude
day there I was at the gym just doing my thing when
of my workouts. When I was younger I probably
I saw it. A flyer for Warrior Dash. What was this 5K
logged twice the mileage I do now. Many times I
mud obstacle thing? I decided I must try it! When I
would dread my workouts. Now I want to have fun.
arrived at the event there were tons of people some
I want the workouts to be fun and I want the races
clean, some already muddy, many in costumes
to be fun. So I have become a minimalist with my
(what?) and loud music. What was this crazy
workouts. I do just enough to keep it fun yet still be
mayhem? I lined up at the start of my wave and we
highly competitive. They are short yet very effective
were off. I ran, I jumped, I crawled, I climbed, I slid
and efficient. I run between 4-6 miles a day, I go to
down slides and jumped over fire! And on top of all
the gym at least 3 times a week, and I mix in some
that I won my age group. I was hooked...
swimming, biking, and spin classes. But none of my workouts are over an hour. My gym workouts now
I do get asked why I want to do “those mud
are focused mostly on body weight type exercises
things” at my age and how do I stay in such great
since it’s my body that I have to get over all the
shape? At my age? Well, nobody told me there were
obstacles. I have a rope to climb in my barn, I flip a
any rules saying I couldn’t be as physically active at
130 pound hay bale, and I do lots of burpees. (Ok,
50 as I was at any other age. And what better place
I do a few burpees.) And I race just about every
can I get to act like a kid than at a playground?
weekend.
My friends think I’m nuts, so you can imagine my delight when I found MudRunFun! Lots of nuts just like me. Some there just to have fun, others there to be as competitive as I am. Everyone is supportive and smiling and there to have a good time. It is truly more of a family than just a group. I am proud to be considered among the elite, dare I say it, at my age. I will give those younger than me a run for their money for as long as I can. I don’t have to be the best, I just have to be my best...and win trophies...Did I mention I have a problem?...
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http://www.karma-athletes.com/ The legend of KARMA Athletes began in Ft.
10ks, half marathons, triathlons and marathons!
Lauderdale back in 2010. Casey Eischen and my
Within a year, we were granted 501c3 status
brother, Douglas Janes, wanted to do more for our
under Road Runners Club of America.
beloved community so they reached out to myself
Our mission is to encourage others to
and a few others to form a
being more active
team of likeminded
in exercise and charity,
athletes dedicated to
so throughout the year, we
creating change. We
raise money to benefit several
started this team so that
different causes both locally and
we could bring awareness
globally. One of the main reasons
to the benefits of training for
my brother and I were eager to
multisport events and the greatness of giving back
be
on board is our inspiration,
to the community. We quickly made contacts within
our
beautiful sister Angelia has
local charities and began training together for 5ks,
autism and also because our beautiful mom, Truly,
who has always supported us and now our team!
PINK Carpet Event going down Thursday, October
Too much money gets filtered with a lot of big
17th with all proceeds benefitting Memorial
‘charities so we ALL wanted to change that. KARMA
Hospital Breast Cancer Center.
is very selective to whom we raise money for! We
Some of our best times happen when our
train, race, volunteer, and fundraise as a team by
members set time out of their lives to volunteer
alternating charities that each of us are passionate
throughout South Florida and our new chapter
about.
cities! When the NYC Marathon was cancelled last
KARMA was founded, and based, in South
year due to a natural disaster, our NY ambassador,
Florida with chapters spreading into Tampa, D.C.,
Nica Angela, welcomed our members into her home
New York, and many other cities to come in the
and instead of racing, they spent the day helping
future. As many of our friends, family, and followers
show some good KARMA to a city in need!
know, we like to have a good time especially at our
Never ones to take ourselves too seriously,
quarterly FUNdraisers. One of our biggest events
KARMA is just a well-known for dressing in
every year is in honor of PINKTOBER. This year,
different costume themes for each race. At one of
we have partnered with Hard Rock Café for a huge
our very first team runs, the RAGNAR Relay (196
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miles) from Miami to Key West, all 12 of us dressed
aiming for victory. It all starts at our twice a week
up as clowns to run for Kids in Distress. One of our
evening runs (KARMA After Dark, aka KAD) where
favorite charities! We have also done The Smurf
we have walkers all the way up to athletes training
theme, Karma warriors, and a crowd favorite, 24
for marathons and ultra runs, with most falling into
Karma gold! Heather Miller, who served as our
a category somewhere in between. That always gets
creative officer, has made some stellar gear for
carried over into our events we register for where
our athletes and now one of our newest members,
several paces are spread throughout the course.
Desiree Rincon, (* she takes bow* ) has stepped in
with some amazing creativity!
Casey “Chaos” Eischen is our President, cofounder, and resident fitness expert. She has
Although we all like to have fun together, there is a competitive factor continuously growing
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dedicated countless (unpaid) hours to educate women on breast cancer awareness and recovery with her video blog/site, Foobie Fitness. She is
stronger on our team for
also known for her OCR training classes as she is
individual goals and also
currently the only Spartan Race certified coach in
South Florida! Although she has been sidelined
anyone can relate! She also found time to organize
over the past year due to medical issues, Chaos is a
an inaugural 5k that benefits Joe DiMaggio’s
force to be reckoned with and no doubt will be back
Children’s Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis , and NOVA
among the top female obstacle racers in no time.
Southeastern University’s Autism Program, which
Two great friends of mine and cofounders of
was David DerT Runner’s first first place win (look
KARMA Athletes, Kevin Peranio and Douglas Janes are two of our most accomplished athletes. Kevin bike/ran/swam his bucket listed IRONMAN last year while Doug continuously grabs a top spot in most of his races (I haven’t beat him since roller skating in middle school), grabbing a first place age group in his first 31 mile Ultra marathon! Another great addition to our board (and the love of my life) is the amazing Carol Todas. In 2012, she ran 12 half marathons with quite a few OCRs in between (50 total last year). She loves the bling if
him up). Long story but I’m pretty sure I beat him 16 months ago at a small local Miami trail run….. yeah, I did. David has been a supporter since that race and I’ve never caught back up since! Carol’s race was a success and is back for a second year. Join us Nov. 23rd with KARMA showing a strong presence! Behind the scenes, mostly, is our secretary, Brit “The Deluch” Deluciano who keeps our back office tight. Her hard work goes unrecognized by most but definitely felt by all. She was a novice when she started with us and within a couple months was
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racing in Tough Mudder, her first obstacle race. She
just good, challenging times helping each other over
has competed in a few other events and is going to
those walls!
be storming the courses again soon, I have a feeling! Board member Josh “Goose” also helps behind
In early 2011, some of us ran our first mud runs and were hooked! Ace from Superhero asked us to
the scenes. There is no activity this guy will shy
check out their inaugural race in November. Wow,
away from, including those that call for him to wear
how far they have come (so have many of us). I left
women’s clothing. In our members-only group
that race and went to get a tattoo to remember the
page, he is often posting about his latest venture
good times, and so Supertatt began! Between us and
and encouraging the team to try different sports.
our friends/ family at Mudrunfun we probably have
Whether it be rollerblade, acro yoga, parkour, circus
half of the first 100 Supertatts! Early 2012, I met
training, or even pole dancing, Goose is on the
Damion, Tracy, and some of the MUDRUNFUN
chase!
team. I think we all soon realized IT WAS ON! Our
KIDS- KARMA loves the kids (Kids Korner on our website)! With so many of us, AND YOU, having badass offspring (love you Leslie), we try to incorporate the kids into training/races when we can and often we have kid friendly beach parties (Ft. Laudy and West Coast soon). KARMA Kids will be a force to be reckoned with! Since we started, I (Downtown Danny) have been a big part of making sure we get our share of traveling in. As the Adventure Race Coordinator, I set up teams, book hotels, cabins, super villas and anywhere else we need to sleep to make sure we have the best time. Not alone in my efforts by any means, everyone pitches in. From cooking meals, setting big reservations for dining (usually Bob Evans with Chris Ortega) and making sure our costumes are top notch, bottom line is TEAMWORK makes the DREAMWORK! Personally, I have a fondness for all of our teammates and wish them all the best. I’m very confident, from founders to newbies, they all feel the same! Although not one of my favorite races, Tough Mudder (not a fan of ice and
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electricity), was one of the best for teamwork. No clocks,
two groups have met up many times and WOW, always a great time to be had! Dare I bring up the Waldo pool party? We were even invited back to the host hotel when SS returns to Waldo this November (KARMA rented a block of rooms). Karma Athletes and Mudrunfun can be heard yelling “MUDRUNKARMAFUN”, usually for large group pics but hopefully in (at least Chris Hampton’s bed) Central Florida it is yelled as much as it is typed on FaceBook! Our teams have a great bond that these races have helped build! After parties are a bonus! This OCR world is definitely going in the right direction, greatly due to the MUDRUNFUN team and the awesome teams we have met along the way. From Neil Murphy with the eluded Regiment R’s, Jay Tea Tran with his delicious bbq and amazing sun blocking rice hats, to our local friends down in Miami at EATA Nation who lead some killer trail runs every Saturday. Sorry if I left anyone out. We are exceptionably proud to do our part on the charitable side whenever possible. Even if it is not part of a race, we hope people take notice of the guys and gals dressed mainly in our signature KARMA Royal Blue (although we have many other colors
of merchandise available on our website :) Our team keeps getting bigger everyday and we always welcome new members. Look for our membership party in TAMPA this February at Spartan weekend! All are invited to meet the team, ask questions, and see what we are all about! In closing, KARMA Athletes has allowed me to have a group of friends I can count on that support each other and only want the best for our ever growing crew of family members! I was a NEW member at the beginning where I couldn’t run 1/4 mile, but WOW! Thanks Chaos and Ultra for bringing me into this. THIS IS HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED: Reach me at danny@karmaathletes.com or donate on our website www.karmaathletes.com HERE IS WHERE THE CHANGE, AND FUN, STARTS $70 annual membership fee($55 for returning members) includes an official KARMA Athletes swag bag. Comes with current seasons jersey, Poly/ cotton blend T shirt (nothing but the best), KARMA Kard that includes discounts all around Ft . Lauderdale AND ALL Sports Authority (KARMA Athletes sponsor shameless plug) stores in YOUR area, access to our weekly training sessions (walking, running, cross training), discounted entry into our events, and advice from experienced athletes and our resident fitness expert! To find out more about us or to stay up to date on all of our events, HI FIVE ME, or please visit our website www.karmaathletes.com or email us at karmaathletes@gmail.com KARMA!!!!! Danny Janes Vice President of KARMA Athletes, Inc
Photograph by Bradley Easom