Obstacle Race Magazine Issue 27 by Obstacle Race Magazine

E L C A T OBS

RACE

ISSUE #27 2018 Â£5.95

LE AND ADVENTURE RACERS

AC NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR OBST

TRX GAINS

ADVENTURE

BOOKS

TO PB OR NOT TO PB ADVENTURES

INTRO TO BIKE PACKING

“Looking ahead and prepared for the coming season...” ~ Conor Hancock, top 10 OCR World Championships

With its sturdy base and water resistant tarpaulin layers, you can keep your kit safe while you tear up the course. Its wipe-free tarpaulin will ensure the boot of your car remains clean and tidy despite you filling your KitBrix with the muddiest kit possible. Check out the His and Hers KitBrix at https://kitbrix.com/products/kitbrix-ocr

KITBRIX ®

no fuss, just organised kit

RACE

OBSTACLE Co Founder, Editor & Chief

Carl Wibberley carl@obstacleracemagazine.com 01246 813249 07808852033

CPW DESIGN

Co Founder & Sub Editor Kevin Newey kevin@obstacleracemagazine.com 07932 411592

Customer Services & Subscriptions Manager Caroline Newey caroline@obstacleracemagazine.com 07827 962542

Every effort is made to ensure that the advertising and editorial content

NEWCO MEDIA Ltd, 48B Victoria Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire,, PE16 6AP Printed By

BUYMYPRINT Earlsdon | Coventry www.buymyprint.co.uk 024 7671 2248

FRONT COVER BY MY BIB NUMBER - TOTAL WARRIOR WWW.MYBIBNUMBER.COM

supplied from reliable and reputable

WWW.TOTALWARRIOR.CO.UK

sources and is contributed with

warranties or claims can be made against Obstacle Race Magazine in respect of the contents OR the views of individuals who do not necessarily represent the views of the Magazine, NEWCO Media Ltd or the Publisher

We have just a little of summer remaining and it’ll be into the colder months of racing before we know it. We really have been spoilt by the weather this spring summer season. Will the switch flick and will winter be a brutal season full of tough racing?

Published By

in Obstacle Race Magazine is

integrity and accuracy. However no

EDITOR’S LETTER

ISSN 2053-9495

WRITE TO US Obstacle Race Magazine, 4 Ringer Lane, Clowne, Derbyshire, S43 4DA

TO SUBSCRIBE

www.obstacleracemagazine.com

This issue we share an exclusive look at the soon to be released inov-8 Mudclaw 260 G’s. Designed with a perfect collaboration between cutting edge science and years of sporting and design knowledge. Making the impossible possible. We have a collection of books filled from cover to cover with adventures just waiting to fill your race free weekends. Spartan fills us in on how their UK season is going. We take a look at Bikepacking in our adventure section. In the training section Gemma shares some tips and techniques that help us utilise the TRX bands in the gym. Sam shares his thoughts on whether to PB or not to PB. Redbull also show us how to turn a relaxing day on the beach into a suffering filled mile that will change the way you look at sun, sea and sand forever.

Ca r l

CARL WIBBERLEY EDITOR & CHIEF

Website: obstacleracemagazine.com Youtube: youtube.com/obstacleracemagazine Facebook: obstacleracemagazine Instagram: @obstacleracemagazine

Twitter: @UKORM

Get changed. Stay warm.

K& C I CL LECT L CO

TION I D

D QUANT E I IT

AVAILABL TY

LIM

THE OFFICIAL CHANGE ROBE OF OCRWC 2018

LIMITED E

Performance. Passion. Authenticity. PRE-ORDER EXTENDED Limited edition OCRWC 2018 Competitor dryrobe. Collect it at the event. @dryrobe

#dryrobeterritory

Contents FEATURE

PB OR NOT TO PB Is OCR becoming too competitively driven as a

sport?

INOV-8TION OF GRIP Inov-8 share with us the science behind their new G-series shoes.

SPARTAN UPDATE A Spartan 2018 season update. Bringing you up to scratch with what’s been taking place in the mud.

ORM COMMUNITY TRAINING & BBQ DAY Check out what you missed if you didn’t make it along. It was a fantastic day in the sun.

THE ELEMENTS IN PICTURES They say a picture paints a thousand words.

SPLAT QUACK GO Could this be one of the UK’s muddiest races?

RED BULL QUICKSAND How to turn a relaxing day at the beach on its head.

KIT TESTING

INOV-8 G SERIES TESTING We put the new G series inov-8 Mudclaw and Terra ultra through their paces. Have they found the perfect rubber. 6

Obstacle Race Magazine

REVIEW

ISSUE #27 2018

ADVENTURE

A NEW CHALLENGE A introduction to the two wheeled world of Bikepacking.

TRAINING FOR A CHALLENGE A little more about the training and prep involved in Bikepacking.

KIT FOR A CHALLENGE The Kit youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need for your Bikepacking adventures.

ADVENTURE BOOKS Books that will fill your weekends full of brand new adventures.

REGULARS

TRX SESSION Gemma shows you the ropes when it comes to TRX training.

HEALTH HACKS We share all the latest nutritional hacks.

RECIPE PAGE Turbo charge your menu with these mouth watering and tasty recipes.

A place to share your

Each issue we pose

A place for all your OCR

All your races listed for the

favourite

a different question to

needs. From Kit shops to

coming months of OCR.

muddy race day pictures.

the ORM community.

Training centres.

MUDTREST PAGE

THE POLLS

OCR DIRECTORY

EVENTS DIARY

Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

To PB or not to PB? That is the question…............ Sam Snelling asks whether the fun has been sucked out of OCR in this week’s feature article on whether races are becoming too fast, and too difficult.

8 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

ining up on a dull, grey and wet November morning looking up at the giant towers of Battersea Power Station, the sound of rain and nervous chatter surrounded me. I made eye contact with my two mates, who looked as wide-eyed and excited as I felt. There was no doubt; the atmosphere was thick with apprehension. Bang! We were off. Straight to the hay bales. Rain and wind stinging our faces like grit from a passing lorry. But not even the weather or unknown fear of what was waiting for me on the other side of those bales could stop the huge smile on my face. This was my first memory of OCR. The overwhelming feeling of excitement mixed with an equal measure of fear was my biggest and most vivid memory from that day back in 2012 when I took on Men’s Health’s Survival of the Fittest at Battersea Power Station. Having been talked into it by friends to raise some money for a local children’s charity, I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for and just how much OCR would change my life. That pre-race feeling of excitement and fun I had out on the course was completely immersive and totally addictive. Being helped, and helping others, over obstacles that seemed impossible and the feeling of achievement once I had crossed the line was like no feeling I had ever had before.

It was these memories that motivated me to book up more and more races to the point where, much to my wife’s dismay, I was racing most weekends. However, and here comes the but bit for me, over the last 12 months something seems to have changed within this sport that we all love so much. It feels as though there has been a shift in the format of races. The feeling of excitement and fun seems to not be as important any longer, with more of a focus on making races harder, more technical and unachievable for the majority. I understand that there is a balance to be had and that we all have our own reasons and drivers for why we throw ourselves over tall things and through mud. Cont over

Obstacle Race Magazine 9

10 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE There is absolutely nothing wrong with pushing and challenging ourselves, but people’s limits are different. We need to ask ourselves whether we are catering to the masses or the minority. Why make an obstacle almost impossible? Instead, why not make a fast lane and slow lane similar to those at Toughest, with a harder obstacle and an easier obstacle. Just a thought. There does seem to be a disparity between why we race and why the races themselves think we want to race. In a recent online poll of 417 people from the OCR community, 88% of responses said they race for fun, the bling and the bragging rights over their friends, as opposed to just 12% who do it to compete, achieve PBs or to qualify for European or World Championships. However, only 9% of people were able to complete the European OCR Championships on Friday 29th June in Denmark with their band intact. Is this reflective of what people want? Are race directors making races too difficult and unachievable for the masses, taking away the fun and laughter for a specific reason? Are there too many rigs and hanging obstacles, rather than using natural obstacles or carries? Because the 91% who didn’t keep their bands at the Euros certainly weren’t laughing. People want to be challenged, pushed to be the best they can be – I am 100% all for that, but not at the detriment of the majority and the potential danger of putting people off the sport. It isn’t just the opinion of those who run for fun either. Some of the most well-known UK OCR athletes agree. Speaking to world champion Jonathon Albon earlier this week, he concurred: ‘The fact races are becoming competitive and we have the world championships doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.’. I went on to ask Jon what he thought needed to change, to which he replied: ‘I don’t think races have to get so much harder than they are now; we have a good mixture of technical obstacles and other obstacles’. Instead he suggested mixing up the obstacles more, using natural terrain and carries and potentially implementing an obstacle mix over the last km, evening up the field. He added that “the last km of a race should test everything about the racer”.

When I asked Tristan Steed whether he thought the fun had gone from OCR, the Spartan Champion and Ninja Warrior Contestant agreed, commenting “Events that are catered to racers end up spending so much time and effort on the 10% and forgetting to focus on the fun runners’. This is further backed up by the survey I carried out with 88% wanting to run for fun. Tristan finished off by telling me “You need an event to be challenging, but not impossible”.

It is true to say that people’s drivers and reasons for running change. I started off in OCR for a laugh with my friends and to raise money for charity. I went on to take it more seriously, competing in bigger and more challenging races. Now I try to walk the fine line between the two, enjoying the races but still pushing myself. As an example, I ran Nuclear Rush this year on the Saturday on my own, pushing the pace as much as I could, wanting to see how far I could push myself. Have to say, I loved it. Then on the Sunday I ran the 7k (more like 10k thanks to Nuclear’s own way of measuring) with a large group of friends from my race team. We spent longer out on the course doing the shorter route than I did on the Saturday doing the longer one. I also loved this! This shows that there isn’t really one single reason why we run, however I am not sure some of the races understand this. Nuclear Races seem to have got it right with a 20% increase in entrants’ year-on-year. They now cater for all the types of racers; elites, fun-runners and everyone in between. With the Challenge Cup, Oblivion, Rush, Blast and Blackout, we have different race formats appealing to the majority of groups. Likewise, Tough Mudder has now introduced the Tougher Wave for elite runners, leaving the main race to the masses who take part to enjoy it and help each other out.

Asking what led Nuclear to introduce multiple races and multiple event formats, James commented: ‘From day one we’ve gone the extra mile in our course & event design, endeavoring to push the industry forward & give back to the obstacle racing community. We understand racers feel a sense of belonging at Nuclear - the events, the Wild Forest training center, our Racing Teams - they’re all part of the movement which can becomes part of our racer’s everyday lives & fitness journey.’

People change, races change but rather than changing in separate directions, why not work together for the benefit of the sport we love and our amazing community? The fear is that if we don’t, there will not be any races left to try and get those PBs. The real question we should be asking is whether the sport has lost some of its soul. What do I mean? Well, there are still lots of high- quality races, passionate racers and Race Directors and there are still lots of people taking part most weekends, so the supply and demand is there. But are races becoming too similar, are they competing with one another to see who has the hardest rig, the biggest obstacle or the strangest thing to hang from. Of course, there needs to be these types of obstacles, but only having rigs in one race with no river crossings or carries? That doesn’t seem like an obstacle race to me, more like an episode of Ninja Warrior. And I for one, can think of ways to have a lot more fun than that.

To see what had driven Nuclear’s change in its event series, I spoke with Race Director James Parish to see what he thought. “I don’t think the fun has gone. I do understand people fall out love with it, but that’s just progression., It’s a journey”. James instead focuses on keeping people excited and interested.

“P

eople change, races change but rather than changing in separate directions, why not work together for the benefit of the sport we love and our amazing community? The fear is that if we don’t, there will not be any races left to try and get those PBs.

Written by Sam Snelling who runs for the Mudda Fudders and Harlow’s OMRC, which runs regularly around the forests and trails of Essex. Always muddy and always smiling. Obstacle Race Magazine 11

INOV-8TION OF RIP

Imagine a pair of shoes which the sole didn’t begin to show any significant signs of wear until around 1000 miles in testing. Or an upper that can take all the abuse we can throw at it throughout a full on season of racing and training but still remains in one piece at the end of it. There aren’t many shoes that could hope to achieve this, but inov-8 are making steps to help make this more of a reality than you may think. They are doing this all with the help of a wonder substance called Graphene. We got invited along to an exclusive press launch and here’s what we found out about this exciting leap forward in shoe technology.

WHAT IS GRAPHENE First of all we’d better start by explaining what Graphene actual is…… Graphene was discovered in 2004 by two scientists in a lab at Manchester University. They decided to see what would happen if they stripped down graphite to its most simple form. The substance Graphite may ring a bell because it’s what gives your pencils their lead. Graphene was discovered in what could only be described as the simplest form of science. They basically used a solid piece of a particular type of graphite, placed a piece of sticky tape down onto the surface and peeled it away, Simple right? Upon putting the sample of the tape under an electro-microscope they got the first glimpse of the super substance that was set to potentially change the world. Graphene as a material is simply described as a one atom thick lattice of carbon atoms, so thin that it’s transparent. It has 200 times the strength of steel but it’s impossibly light. The bonus is that it’s also biodegradable. Another bonus of the material is its also one of the best conductors of electricity known to man. The discovery of Graphene was made in 2004, but fast forward 6 years(2010) the two scientists Andre Geim & Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the Nobel prize for this amazing discovery that was set to change the world. The worlds news was full of excitement, with talk of space elevators and revolutionary bullet proofing. So why can’t we take the elevator to the moon yet or why hasn’t this wonder substance changed our lives another 8 years later….. Basically, the spanner in the works is producing it. Graphene is currently very expensive to produce, mainly because to make high enough quality batches it takes scientists and a laboratory to achieve it. The lab at Manchester’s Graphene institute is currently the world’s leader in the production and development of Graphene in its highest quality form. This is fitting because just up the road in The Lake District was where solid forms of Graphite were mined in the hills for many years. The Lake District is also the home of the inov-8 headquarters, where in the same hills and fells as graphite was mined, shoes have been tested since the company’s birth around 17 years ago.

INOV-8 & THE GRAPHENE INSTITUTE

The impregnation of rubber with graphene was an idea that excited the scientists at the Graphene institute, so who better to approach with their findings than a company who specialises in giving its customers maximum grip. After an initial meeting it was decided that a partnership would be a match made in heaven. Inov-8 were to help fund the institutes research and in return the institute would help inov-8 to create truly ground breaking products with the use of Graphene. First up on the research agenda was to be the hardest wearing, stickiest compound rubber possible. The great Northern powerhouse was about to have wind blown through its sails once again with this partnership.

12 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

THE STICKY SOFT HARD DURABILITY PROBLEM There has been an age-old problem with rubber and its grip properties since it started being used for commercial uses like tyres and soles of footwear. To get maximum grip from rubber on hard surfaces it needs to be a softer compound, but this obviously makes it more susceptible to faster wear, dramatically reducing the life span. With very soft rubber compounds it can even mean losing lugs or tread due to them snapping off when over stretched or under pressure. This obviously defeats the object of the grip. More traditional harder compounds of rubbers last far longer but lose out on grip when used on many harder and smoother surfaces, it’s just not as versatile as a softer compound. This is where inov-8 and the scientists from the graphene institute step in to solve this age-old problem. By adding Graphene to rubber you can make it harder wearing, more elastic and overall a stronger compound. While testing inov8 and the laboratory used 20 different rubber/graphene compounds and 232 prototype shoes. 45 athletes from all around the world across various disciplines of running and fitness were used to test these prototypes to their limits. One pair used in field testing was worn by an ultrarunner who clocked 1000 miles in one pair and the rubber was only just starting to show signs of wear and tear. In the lab this same compound was stretched to more than 7 times its original size before it split. This new improved compound of rubber solved a problem but also made another apparent, this was that if the sole was going to last this many more miles then the upper would need to also get an upgrade too. In steps Kevlar… Kevlar has been used since the 1970s for many applications from bullet proof vests through to ships sails. Its strength to weight ratio makes it 5 times stronger than steel but extremely flexible, which is perfect for a shoes upper. Now before you start thinking along the lines that this means one pair of shoes for the rest of your running days, there are other factors to consider. Although the uppers could be perfectly described as bullet proof and the soles will potentially do 1000 miles plus, you still have to consider the other pieces that make up a shoe. The cushioning of a shoe has a life span, this cushioning is extremely important as it protects your feet from some of the pounding we put them through. It also allows the shoe to flex and move correctly and naturally as we run. As this depletes, so do its benefits and protection. There are many factors to consider but your weight and running style will impact on the lifespan of this cushioning. Your next question: “So if they are still going to be ready for swapping out around the same sort of miles as any other shoe why bother investing in these?”

Grip is the simple answer. Basically, most shoes as they near the end of their normal life span will not only have minimal cushioning benefits remaining but their lugs will be worn down massively and their uppers will start to resemble a sieve. The benefit of the new G series shoes from inov-8 is that the shoe will end its life span with 99.9% of the grip it had the day you opened the box, and an upper that doesn’t show your little toe off to the world. As obstacle racers there is nothing we want more than maximum grip across the mixed terrain we run over, so to have maximum grip for the lifespan of the shoe is a huge bonus. But that’s not all, the benefits of Graphene don’t stop there. Until now shoe manufacturers have never been able to use a soft compound sticky rubber to create grip around the very edges of the shoes sole. This is because these lugs were likely to break away under the abuse of running over mixed terrain. Well this is no longer an issue with the introduction of Graphene to the mix. Inov-8 has been able to take its brand-new grip on the sole of the Mudclaw 260 G series and design it so it is right to the very edge and beyond. This will not only obviously maximise the grip offered by the shoe but also gives the shoe one of the most stable platforms under foot.

For more on the shoes turn to page 30.

Obstacle Race Magazine 13

REGULARS

THE ELEMENTS IN PICTURES Elements by name, elements by nature. The Elements is an event that will expose you to mother nature in more ways than you can imagine. You will have 4 distances to choose from: Earth, Wind, Water and Fire, all packed with obstacles and guaranteed mud and guaranteed fun. Or if you want to step up and take on a challenge like no other, then take on The Elements Infinity, how many laps can you complete in 12 hours?

Mount Smeverest is an impressive structure that acts as both the start arch and also the finishing A frame. Be prepared to get to new heights.

14 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

Who knew space hoppers could be so brutally tough. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make you wish you were at a party full of screaming kids.

A range of refreshing dips are provided with a little help from mother nature and the elements. A few obstacles may stand in your way though.

Scream if you want to go faster.... A slide like no other will put a smile on your face from ear to ear. Once you hop on the ride theres no stopping until you come to a splash landing.

Obstacle Race Magazine 15

REGULARS

Mud is the staple of most obstacle races. It can make even the simplest of obstacles in to brutal challenges. The Elements makes sure you get a healthy dose.

Easy carry? Don’t fall into that ‘trap’.... Jerry cans make sure your shoulders get to melting point. Not something you can shrug off easily. 16 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

A barrel of laughs ? Not even close when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pushing almost three times your own body weight of water.

The Elements next event weekend takes place on the 1st of June 2019 Kids race, Family wave, 8k, 16k, 24k, 32k or 12hrs infinity options all available.

The Elements medals are a fantastic inclusion to any racers collection. The harder the race option the more awesome the bling gets.

WORDS BY: CARL WIBBERLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Epic Action Imagery

Honnington Farm, Southborough, Kent, TN4 0XD More information can be found at WWW.THEELEMENTSOCR.CO.UK

Obstacle Race Magazine 17

SPARTAN ROUND UP

“ IF PUNCHESTOWN WAS A GOOD CRAIC THEN DEATH VALLEY SURE BROUGHT THE HEAT “ Spartan presented by Blaze Wear’s Irish Debut may seem a distant memory to those already looking ahead to Marston Lodge as the season ramps up and the events come thick and fast, but for many it will be looked back on with fond memories and big smiles. With over 50% of participants coming from the Emerald Isle itself and a large number of those competing in their first ever Spartan event, it has been amazing to see how well received the event was by all. With over 25 countries represented at the Punchestown Sprint and Super it really did feel like an international extravaganza. The first Super in the UK & Ireland Regional Series has been very much anticipated with excitement following the opening weekend in St Clere in April. This meant that we once again had a very strong turn out from our Elite athletes around the Globe who were ready to compete for the podium. The UK and Ireland Regional Series offers Elite and Age Group competitors the chance to progress directly to the Spartan European Championship and also the Spartan World Championship. However, competitors in Elite and Age Group heats outside of our 5 Regional Series events will only have the opportunity to qualify for the European Championship. They will then have to qualify at this event in order to earn a place at the World Championships. With the title of Inaugural Spartan Ireland winner on the line, not only was qualification and glory at stake with this first Regional Series Super event, but prize money too! As well as offering prize money for the first three placed Elite Males and Elite Females at each of the Regional Series events, there is also a prize pot available for the top 3 overall in each of the Men’s and Women’s Elite categories across the whole series. Come 8am the Male Elite runners were at the start line awaiting Spartan Phil’s rousing speech to commence the first ever Irish Spartan race. With Punchestown being designed for horse racing, the course was very flat and a fast time was expected from our top Elites. Of course we threw in some extra long carries to really challenge them. The Male Elite wave shook up the league table with Luke De-Benedictus finishing a really strong race in a great time of 1:13:51 ahead of Jack Carpenter and Miguel Labranche. Previous Regional Series race winner and league leader Tristan Steed finished back in 6th position just 4 minutes behind Luke. In fact such was the speed of the course and strength of the field that the top 12 runners across the line were only separated by 7 minutes. The Elite Womens race was expected to be just as fast and we were not let down. Myriame Guillot Boisset left everyone in her wake as she finished in an impressive 1:25:06, almost a full 6 minutes ahead of Jade Skillen who was closely followed by Natasha Mansell and Anna Plyuskina. The Age Group racers were all running well when the Open Heats began, with the sun shining throughout the day making it perfect for spectators both in the festival area and in the grandstand. With this being a one day event it meant that by the time the last Super runners came into the festival area in the afternoon the staff were quickly resetting the course for the Sprint race. 18 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE The chatter on social media and around the festival area suggested that the day was a success before the Open Heat races had even finished. With the festival area stalls, podium and refreshments being placed around the parade ring and access to the stands and trackside the venue was perfectly set up for spectators who received unprecedented access and viewing opportunities to watch their friends and loved ones completing obstacles and crossing the finish line. This in turn led to a large number of people staying to watch the later heats which had a great effect on the overall atmosphere. As the sun set and our Ireland debut came to a close, there were smiles all around from racers, spectators and volunteers alike. The feedback in the Irish OCR community has been really positive and new runners and Spartan loyals have both been complementing the venue, the course and the competitive nature of our first venture into the Emerald Isle.

Death Valley Brings the Heat! – Aston Down 22nd -24th June – Super, Sprint, Hurricane Heat and Hurricane Heat 12 Hour Spartan presented by Blaze Wear returned to a community favourite venue on the weekend of the 22nd – 24th of June – Aston Down Airfield, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The third outing at this epic venue saw Spartan bring their first two Endurance events of the season as well as a Sprint and UK & Ireland Regional Series Super.

The Male Elite Sprint was again very fast, despite still having some Super runners out on the course, which didn’t seem to cause any problems. Winner Jacky Boissett, following up his Wife’s performance in the Super, took first place in the Sprint with a time of 31:27 followed closely by Luke De-Benedictus and Scott Barker both finishing within two minutes of Jacky. The Women’s Elite Sprint was another fast-paced race with Myriam capping a great weekend with another win, crossing the line in 36:45. Jade Skillen came in second and Stacey Owen picked up third place. The top five female finishers all crossing the line within 10 minutes of each other.

For the first time ever in the UK, Spartan hosted their first event of the weekend on the Friday night with the Hurricane Heat, Spartan’s entry level Endurance event - a team-based event designed to push racers to greater personal distances where you quickly learn the value and true meaning of having mutual objectives through teamwork. You also see the connection between teamwork and success and how one drives the other on both a personal level and as a member of something greater than yourself. Participants will learn the principles of “The Warrior’s Ethos,” 23 words comprising four main principles with centuries of meaning behind them. This ethos serves to provide a spark to warm you on the coldest of mornings and guide you on darkest of nights, it is a critical step if you want to reach the pinnacle of Spartan Endurance. The Hurricane Heat is where you learn non-traditional problem solving, find endurance under duress, and experience the power of synergy.

Obstacle Race Magazine 19

FEATURE This was a great way to open the weekend and provided many a story to be shared around the campsite on the Friday night as well as in the festival area on Saturday. As the sun came up on Saturday morning and the heat quickly began to rise our Elite Males and Females were preparing for the third race in the UK & Ireland Regional Series, the South West Super. With the inclusion of the infamous Death Valley, this was sure to test even the seasoned elites with the steep hills and the scorching temperatures. The Male Elite wave went off quickly with the first mile coming in at under 6 minutes. It was another scintillating race with the top 4 competitors separated by little over a minute. Tristan Steed bounced back from his 6th place finish in Ireland to take first place in 1:25:37 with Ross Macdonald taking second place and Luke De-Benedictis finishing 3rd. The Female Elite wave went off even quicker and saw a very strong field where the top 7 competitors finished within 10 minutes of each other. Andrea Berquez took her first Regional Series 1st place in a very quick 1:36:16 closely followed by Jade Skillen in 2nd and Nicki Johnson in 3rd. By the time the Age Group runners and Open Heat participants were on the course the temperature and hills were starting to take their toll with people crossing the line stating it was the hardest race at the venue to date. However, the volunteers and aid stations were well prepared with plenty of water and bananas and whilst dehydration affected most runners to some degree there were no cases of serious issues and instead it was looked upon as another challenge to overcome! With the sun in the sky, obstacles to try out and view of the final 5 obstacles of the course, the festival area remained very busy with a fantastic atmosphere from the moment the first racers arrived until the last person leapt the fire jump. As the sun began to set on another successful race day the buzz was once again building in the festival area as the Hurricane Heat 12 Hour participants began to turn up, the HH12HR is designed to test every facet of your mental, intellectual and physical abilities through the use of mental challenges, nonlinear problem solving, morality, as well as teamwork and individual performance under physical duress. Where the HH emphasizes the Warriorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ethos and teamwork to finish and find success, the HH12HR seamlessly interweaves elements of individual competition against the clock and other participants within the challenges that require teamwork and synergy. Developed to forge the next level of Spartan, and as the precursor to the Spartan AGOGE, the HH12HR is difficult, challenging and rewarding. Participants are required to be self-supported for the duration of the event. No outside assistance, no support team, no crew.

20 Obstacle Race Magazine

As Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spartan Sprint competitors were preparing to set off on another hot day in the South West, those who battled through the HH12HRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overnight tests and challenges made their way back into the festival area to be greeted by cheers and applause from those Spartans gathered to welcome them back. With the cheers and celebratory hugs out of the way for the HH12HR finishers the Elite Sprint heats got underway and again they were very fast despite the heat. The Mens Elite was won by Tristan Steed crowning a great weekend with another first place trophy in the time of 39:40 closely followed by Jesse Betts in second and Scott Barker in third. The first 10 Elite Males were separated by just over 5 minutes showing just how tight the battle for podium places was. The Elite Females was also a close run battle with Jade Skillen taking first in a time of 47:08 closely followed by Natasha Mansell in second and Andrea Berquez in third with the top 5 being separated by just over 5 minutes showing just how strong both elite heats are at UK Spartan events. With the age group and open runners on course the afternoon heat was again a major factor and was again handled brilliantly by the staff, marshals and aid station volunteers. Englands World Cup game was expected to affect numbers in the festival area but spectators and families again turned up in their droves to support their participants with the festival area obstacles proving to be a great training ground for our aspiring future Spartans! This really was an event for everyone with such a great turnout from all age ranges and whole families taking part. The Spartan Kids course yet again proved very popular, with groups from the local schools coming down on the Friday for a tuition session as well as the races on both days being very well attended. 66 year old June Butlin took on her first Spartan race, completing the Super course in amazing 3 hours and 6 minutes and several families camping for the whole weekend saw two or even three generations of Spartans taking to the course. Once all was said and done and the course was being taken down we were left to reflect on another gruelling event in Gloucestershire. Death Valley, as always, pulled no punches but everyone who conquered the races came out smiling if somewhat exhausted and battered by the elements. Most, if not all of the people we spoke to or who reviewed the event online said that it was one of the most challenging they had taken part in, but that they would definitely be back for more. So we have reached the halfway point in Spartans 2018 season, but with two more Endurance events available at Marston Lodge, an Ultra and a Trifecta Weekend in Perth and the Windsor Trifecta Weekend for the finale there is still plenty of exciting events coming up so make sure you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on the action.

WWW.SPARTANRACE.COM Obstacle Race Magazine 21

SPLAT QUACK GO

REVIEWED BY TONY JARVIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY JARVIS 22 Obstacle Race Magazine

REVIEW Splat quack go, set out in the beautiful country side of Suffolk on equestrian grounds. Parking was very easy with plenty of staff members to direct you to a space just up from there event village. A short walk and you’re in the hustle and bustle of their event village. Registration was quick and painless for me and my daughter Madison. Registration included your t shirt and goodie bag, so we dropped those back at the car and then it was time to sit and chill until our wave went off. As this was the organisers first event it’s a great start to see things running so smoothly. The warm up was great fun and did the trick to get us ready for our wave and before we knew it we were off. The use of the available terrain was great, up and down plenty of inclines and declines on the course. Next up was a little weaving in and out. Then to a quick slide down the hill to see our first photographer Gavin. It was strange seeing him behind the camera as it’s usually me taking his photos. We then hit a nice long sandbag carry around paddocks, also coming across some obstacles to do for good measure. After we’d dropped our bags, we then hit the muddiest energy zapping boggy gully from hell. It was thick energy draining, leg burning and there was no way of getting through this fast.

So many runners got stuck in there it wasn’t just a tiny little stretch but full on miles of this crazy mud. We made our way in and around lots of exciting areas of the course with many more energy sapping muddy ditches waiting for us. The equestrian jumps spread across the course coupled with the many other obstacles made for a great testing but fantastically fun course. Madison my daughter is light and nimble so she made light work of the muddy spots, but I made a real meal of them. She gave a little laugh as she just hopped by me while I was trying to drag myself through the deep mud. There was talk of racers actually having to be pulled out of some of these ditches later in the day, this apparently caused a few delays later on.

I can believe this having experienced this mud first hand, but it’s an easy fix for next time. Its also a small price to pay for so much fun in the mud. Once across the finish line we got our medal and time to chill in the Village. Food was very well priced here as my daughter got an ice cream and burger for £5 while waiting for me to take photos. So to sum it up it was a no frills race but you got exactly what they said and that was FUN FUN FUN. A really great first race, a few snags which they can easily address. It has so much potential for the future to be a fantastically fun no frills original themed obstacle course race. To experience all this mud for yourself go to: www.splatquack.com Obstacle Race Magazine 23

Red Bull

QUICKSAND Sun, sand and the sea, sounds like a relaxing dream come true for most.….. what about if you then throw in the mix mile sprints and sand dunes the size of two double decker buses…. this day dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Four hundred runners battled it out in knockout heats during the inaugural Red Bull Quicksand, testing their mettle by climbing and running over 10,000 tonnes of sand. This uniquely brutal one-mile race took place along the beach in Margate one of England’s best-known seaside towns. Runners and fitness enthusiasts battled it out during the innovative and gruelling seaside race. Not only did they have the challenge of running on sand across the one mile course (runners expend 1.6 times more energy on sand than running on a road surface) – the route was festooned with multiple sandy climbs to tackle before reaching the finish line. The course comprised of multiple sections created to test endurance, agility and speed. Trenches, rollers and six sandcastles stood between the runners and victory, with the tallest climb a staggering 23 feet tall almost the height of two double-decker buses. 24 Obstacle Race Magazine

REVIEW

REGULARS

TRX SESSION

INTRO How To Increase Your Upper Body Training with a Suspension Trainer.. As you all know, upper body training in Obstacle Course Racing is really important. Not only do you need the strength and power to hold onto and explode over obstacles, you need to make sure you have the endurance in your arms, chest and back to keep going right until the end of a race, which can include a lot of repetitive movements. Like pulling yourself up and over walls and holding onto rings and ropes. The upper body session I have planned for you will challenge not only your upper body but also your core. The session is designed using a Suspended Movement Trainer, or more commonly known as the TRX (Total Body Resistance Exercise). It’s become very popular in the last few years in the fitness world and is a great piece of kit to use at home too. The challenge with the kit is that you can use the effects of gravity to work your muscles in the body, by changing the angles that you work at with ease. As you’re able to put your body under physical stress by supporting yourself with the ropes and straps, your muscles are having to resist the pull of gravity to control the action. Similarly, your core is working harder because you’re creating an unstable environment to exercise in, therefore when you transfer the exercise back onto a stable surface you’ll find you’re stronger and more competent at engaging the correct muscles for the exercise. 26 Obstacle Race Magazine

Some of the other benefits you’ll get from using this type of training are:

*●Increased muscle strength and endurance so you’ll be fitter and stronger during the races ●*Improved muscle tone and activation, so you’ll look better and use the right muscles for the exercises making your training more effective *●Improved movement co-ordination, so when you race and train you’ll be more balanced over obstacles ●*Increased flexibility and functional range of motion, you’ll be more mobile and joints will be stronger to reduce your chances of injury This session you’re going to superset opposing muscles exercises with a suspension trainer. This way your muscles will get a small chance to recover whilst still having to support the opposite muscles during the action. Because we are also using the suspension trainer it will make sure you core is activated to support you through the actions. Remember the greater the angle you create for the anchor point the harder the exercise will be.

REGULARS

TRX High and Low Chest Press Stand facing away from the anchor point on an angle enough to challenge yourself. Make sure your body is in a straight line and you squeeze your glutes and abs. Place your arms out in front of you with one hand high and one hand low. As you press your arms down (as if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing a press up) keep the height difference between your arms. Once you push back up switch the arms that are high and low each time.

TRX High and Low Row Stand facing towards from the anchor point on an angle enough to challenge yourself. Make sure your body is in a straight line and you squeeze your glutes and abs. Place your arms out in front of you with one hand high level with your shoulder and one hand low level with your waist. Pull yourself up so your arms are bent and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve engaged you back muscles, then slowly and with control lower yourself back to the start.

Obstacle Race Magazine 27

TRX Forwards Y Stand facing away from the anchor point on an angle enough to challenge yourself. Make sure your body is in a straight line and you squeeze your glutes and abs. Place your arms out in front of you in a straight line and as you lean forwards keep your arms straight and open them to make a Y shape in front/ above your head. Keeping your arms straight, bring your arms back level with your shoulders and chest.

TRX Reverse Y Stand facing towards the anchor point on an angle enough to challenge yourself. Make sure your body is in a straight line and you squeeze your glutes and abs. Place your arms out in front of you in a straight line and as you lean backwards keep your arms straight and open them to make a Y shape above your head as you bring your body to a vertical position. Keeping your arms straight, bring your arms back level with your shoulders and chest..

28 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

TRX Tricep Extension Stand facing away from the anchor point on an angle enough to challenge yourself. Make sure your body is in a straight line and you squeeze your glutes and abs. Put your arms in a straight line above your head, keeping your hands close together. As you lower your body, bend your elbows so your forehead goes to meet your hands. Keeping your body in a straight line, push from your elbows so your arms are straight again.

TRX Bicep Curl Stand facing towards the anchor point on an angle enough to challenge yourself. Make sure your body is in a straight line and you squeeze your glutes and abs. Put your arms straight out in front of you, bend your elbows and curl your hands up as you raise your body to meet your forehead. Slowly straighten your arms and lower your body. WORDS

& PHOT

RAPHY ch at www BY: GEM .fundamen MA SPA talsportsa CKMAN ndfitness.c o.uk

Head coa

KIT TESTING

Breathable

Ke v l a

r upp er

op r d o r Ze

Flexible

W i d e To e b o x

ugs L m m 4

inov-8

TERRAULTRA G 260 EDITORS THOUGHTS ON INOV-8’S NEW OFFERING: If these shoes aren’t going to magically last forever then what makes them worth the extra investment for the runners? The angle I see it from is that it’s mainly about the quality of the GRIP and about having the best grip and shoe possible for its entire life span. Most modern running shoes you’d be looking at anything between a 300-500 mile reasonable life span before the cushioning will start to no longer do its job, which will still be the case with these. But for this span of time you’ll have a shoe thats 99.9% as good as it was when you first opened the box, due to all the added durability. Traditionally with softer compound rubbers your soles would be worn out long before the 300 to 500 mile mark. What inov-8 have created with their Graphene impregnated rubber is a soft sticky compound that grips incredibly well, but with the durability of a traditionally harder compound rubber. This has meant a few things, one being the ability to add lugs to the very edges of the sole especially on the Mudclaw, which would ordinarily be a no-go area for softer compound rubbers because of the likely-hood that the lugs would snap off. The increased surface area due to these extra lugs helps with the overall stability of the shoe. Over the next 3 years we will see lots of exciting new technology being born from the collaboration between the Graphene institute and inov-8. My mind can’t help but imagine the possibilities for the future. I’m thinking along the lines of rip proof lightweight jackets and bags and the possibility of wearable technology all being featured in the ground breaking line up. There are exciting times ahead for the inov-8 range that’s for

Responsive TECH SPEC WEIGHT - 260g DROP - 0mm RRP - £140 www. - INOV-8.CO.UK 30 Obstacle Race Magazine

sure.

REVIEWERS THOUGHTS: The Terra Ultras felt fantastic straight out of the box. They gripped extremely well, even on ground that was extremely loose and muddy. This shoe is aimed at trail runners who like to clock up higher miles and explore off the beaten track, and they suit this perfectly. A nice wide fit makes them extremely comfortable due to a 5 out of 5 fit on the inov-8 width scale. Released in the first wave in July. The Graphene in the grip on the Mudclaw has allowed the designers to take the lugs right to the edge without having to worry about them breaking off, but with the Terra Ultra the Graphene has allowed them to use less of this grippy rubber on the sole across its surface, that has meant they are extremely responsive and flexible, but still just as durable. This responsiveness is a huge bonus for when you want to really react to the surfaces you’re running on. These would be at home anywhere for mountain tops to sand covered beaches.

KIT TESTING

Ke v l a r u p p e r op r d m 4m

Tr e a d b e y o n the edge

Breathable

inov-8

MUDCLAW G 260

8mm Lugs REVIEWERS THOUGHTS:

TECH SPEC WEIGHT - 260g DROP - 4mm RRP - £140 www. - IN0V-8.CO.UK

Due to be launched in the Autumn 2018. Each pair comes with pair of gaiters perfectly colour coded to the lab inspired green of the shoe. Kevlar uppers to give the rest of the shoe the same toughness as the sole, Kevlar is known for its durability but also its breathability. The grip patterns and depth is primarily designed for soft ground like we face on most obstacle courses, but its soft compound makes it perfect over hard surfaces too. The new tread pattern has been spread right the way to the edges to give maximum grip and stability which can really be felt. Every bit of support is more than welcome to boost confidence on uneven terrain in the dry weather we’ve been having. I didn’t at any stage feel like my ankles were at risk across dry rutted ground. I was able to show the Mudclaws the soft wet ground they desired in the depths of Devon, and to say I was impressed is an understatement. They performed really well in the sand, mud and trails around the national parks and beaches of Devon. I even got the benefit for wearing the gaiters that come along with them as I ventured too far into the extremely muddy areas around the Devonshire riverbanks. I have to admit I was a little worried about the Kevlar adding an element of rigidity to the upper but this wasn’t the case at all. In fact you couldn’t really tell the difference between these and previous materials used for the upper which is a real win. These are a level 4 out of 5 on the width scale inov-8 now use. So even for my wide feet there was plenty of room. These will be a Winner.

REGULARS

HEAL+H

HACKS Each issue we’ll bring you snippets of new and exciting products from all around the fitness and nutrition industry. Hoping to help you find your next health hack.

CAFFEINE BULLET Caffeine Bullet was founded by David Hellard, a marathon and ultra-running champion, because there were no caffeine products available that could be conveniently taken mid-race, without having to consume a large number of gels. Each minty bullet blends caffeine with four types of electrolytes to increase endurance and improve athletic performance. And because you chew it, the concentrated caffeine hits you faster and harder, allowing you to race faster, train harder and stay concentrated. A convenient alternative to the high calories of energy drinks and coffees - perfect pre-gym, mid-race or post-heavy night out!

RRP: £2.95 FROM: caffeinebullet.com

SPORTS JELLY Mountain fuel Sports Jelly is the refreshing and effective alternative to sickly sports gels. Fundamentally different in how they metabolise in the body the Sports Jelly provides a more sustained energy release and are absorbed more easily. The pectin / sodium reacts to encapsulate the carb, which helps transport it through your system and delivers a sustained energy release without the need for extra water. Used by many of the countries leading Mountain, Ultra and extreme triathletes, often for the first time races and they are amazed at how effective they are while also being easy on the stomach. The world’s first drinkable Sports Jelly – Save 15% code: ORM15

RRP: £1.60 FROM: mountainfuel.co.uk 32 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS PINEAPPLE FRUIT CRISPS A natural chemical found in pineapples, called bromelain, could have powerful benefits for sports men and women. Benefits ranging from helping to overcome muscle injury to decreasing DOMs and muscle fatigue after heavy Training. It’s not the easiest fruit to carry around with you… until now that is. Nim’s Fruit Crisps, who specialise in fruit and vegetable snacks, have just launched a 100% pineapple crisp. The secret behind the fantastic taste of Nim’s Fruit Crisps, whose range also includes Pear, Apple and Beetroot & Parsnip varities, amongst others, is their simplicity. The brand, named after creator Nimisha Raja, simply thinly slice and air-dry high quality fruit and veg…that’s it. Nothing’s added or taken away.

RRP: £1.00 FROM: nimsfruitcrisps.com

BERRY BOOST BAR Acai berries are known to act as a powerful antioxidant, but research has added to their super food status with the finding that they could help enhance physical performance and increase the time it takes to reach exhaustion during intense exercise. By combining acai berries with just 6 other natural wholefood ingredients (dates, sunflower seeds, papaya, linseed, pumpkin seed and fig) the new Acai Berry & Superseed bar remains consistent with The Primal Pantry’s values of clean snacking and their mantra of “less is more”. Not only does it contain a host of important nutrients and minerals, but also provides both fast and slow release energy thanks to the clever combination of carbohydrates and good fats. Perhaps most importantly, the exotic gluten free, plant based ingredients combine to create a bar whose unsurpassed taste and texture will keep your body, mind and taste buds more than satisfied.

RRP: £24.00 for 18 FROM: primalpantry.com Obstacle Race Magazine 33

REGULARS

REFUEL RECIPES

Forget about food being the way to a man’s stomach, food is the sure-fire way to any person who trains hards stomach. Motivation can come in many forms and finishing a tough session knowing you can refuel without guilt is a perfect motivator.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temp 1 cup sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (See Note) 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 1/2 cups Old Fashioned oats 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips or chunks

METHOD Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugar and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

OATMEAL COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating between each addition, then add the peanut butter, vanilla extract, baking soda and salt, mixing until combined. Add the oats and chocolate chips and mix just until combined. Scoop 2-tablespoon mounds of the dough onto the lined baking sheets, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies for 8 to 12 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. NOTE: Opt for smooth or chunky peanut butter but not the “natural” variety, as the consistency will impact the resulting cookies.

PREP:10 MINS COOK:12 MINS YIELD: 24 COOKIES

323 Calories 7g Protein 36g Carbs 17g Fat

FALAFEL & TAHINI SAUCE

REGULARS

173 Calories 22g Carbs 6g Fat 7g Protein

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FALAFEL:

2 cups roughly chopped white onion 6 garlic cloves 2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained 1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves 1 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder 2 teaspoons cumin 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup all-purpose flour Canola oil, for sautéing Pita bread, for serving FOR THE TAHINI SAUCE: 1 1/4 cups plain yogurt (full fat or non-fat) 1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste) 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

METHOD Add the onion and garlic cloves to the bowl of a food processor and pulse just until they are finely minced. Remove the mixture and press it through a strainer to release as much liquid as possible then set it aside. Add the chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, salt, chilli powder, and cumin to the bowl of the food processor and pulse until they are roughly blended but not pureed. Return the onion mixture to the food processor, along with the baking powder and just enough flour so that when you pulse the processor, the mixture begins to form a small ball and is not sticky. (Note: Start by adding ¼ cup of flour, and then the remaining ¼ cup. You can add more if the mixture is still too wet.) Transfer the falafel mixture to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour. While the falafel mixture is chilling, prepare the tahini sauce by whisking together the yogurt, tahini and lemon juice. Season it with salt and pepper, cover it and place it in the fridge. Once the falafel mixture has chilled, use a small ice cream scoop or spoons to form the mixture into balls (roughly 3 Tablespoons per ball) then flatten them slightly so they are the shape of patties. (Note: You can also add additional flour at this point, if the mixture is too wet to scoop.) Set a large sauté pan over medium heat and add a liberal amount of canola oil so that the pan is well-coated. Let the pan pre-heat for 3 minutes then add the falafel one by one, browning them on the first side for 3 minutes, then flipping them once and browning the second side until the mixture is cooked throughout. Transfer the falafel to a paper towel-lined cooling rack and immediately season them with salt. Repeat this process until you have cooked all of the falafel. Place three or four falafel inside a halved, warmed pita and drizzle with the prepared tahini sauce.

PREP: 90 MINS COOK: 6 MINS YIELD: 8 SERVINGS Obstacle Race Magazine 35

MUDtrest WALL

36 Obstacle Race Magazine

REGULARS

Fancy getting featured on the MUDtrest WALL Simply send your picture to us at: carl@obstacleracemagazine.com Obstacle Race Magazine 37

ADVENTURE INSIDE

ADVEN

38 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE

NTURE

INSIDE

Obstacle Race Magazine 39

ADVENTURE INSIDE

A NEW CHALLENGE

BIKEPACKING

40 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE

INTRODUCTION

Each issue we’ll be introducing you to a new adventure format to fill your quota for adrenaline and the great outdoors outside the boundries of obstacle course racing. In this issue we would like to introduce you to bikepacking. You could be forgiven for not really knowing what bikepacking is. Basically imagine backpacking, camping and cycling all thrown in a pot and mixed together, you’ll get somewhere close to Bikepacking.

Sean Conway has more recently thrown bikepacking into the spotlight when his book ‘Cycling the Earth’ perfectly shared the epic adventures as he cycled around the world. If you haven’t read any of Sean’s books then this book is a must read. He magically transports you along on his adventures across the globe, with just his faithful Bike maid Marion for company. It’s a book that will have you laughing out loud one minute and almost in tears the next as you share in the highs and lows of Sean’s journey.

In the book Sean shares how he spent most evenings under a basic tarp and most days in the saddle, the rest of the time was spent in the search for food. He originally set out with the intention of breaking the world record for cycling around the world in the quickest time, but things didn’t quite go to plan. If you feel confident in the saddle and don’t mind roughing it a little by wild camping, then Bikepacking could be perfect for you.

In the following pages we’ll be sharing snippets of what sort of kit you could require depending on how seriously you want to take your adventure. We’ve gathered together a little about the training and preparation needed to get your mind and body ready from days or even weeks in the saddle. We hope this ignites a passion for something new in a few of you.

ADVENTURE INSIDE

TRAINING FOR A CHALLENGE

BIKEPACKING

42 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE

PLANNING -THE TRAINING

The best bike to use for Bikepacking is the one you already have. It really can be as accessible as that. If you currently ride a mountain bike on the road and trails, chances are it will make a very capable bikepacking rig with few simple modifications. Broadly speaking, there are a few bikepacking genres to choose from, depending on which you choose will determine the sort of training you’ll have to put in to prepare. Those are Shorter rides under 48 hours and Multi-day rides, these main two require a different kit and preparation Sub 48 hour rides are bikepacking at its core, and the easiest for people to have a go at with very little investment of time or money. You’ll be carrying only the bare necessities for the trip and you don’t even need any special kit. A comfortable ruck sack will do the trick, especially if you plan on stopping in a B&B for your rest stop. These trips would usually take place over trails and the odd road that you’d perhaps ride quite often but just take place over an extended route. Distances ridden would vary in length depending on your fitness and confidence levels. These can be anywhere from 40-miles to overnighters. These trips are all easily possible on a really basic kit setup. They will usually begin and end at the riders home and can be logistically straightforward to organise, utilising both favourite rides and just a few unknown trails along a chosen route.

Training for this wouldn’t consist of anything more than just making sure your basic fitness is on point and you are prepared for the few hours you’ll be spending in the saddle. You really don’t want to get half way into your trip and realise that your saddle is cutting you in two or your bike setup is giving you back ache. A few rides spanning 3-4 hours should do the trick to help you prepare for this. Multi-day & Ultra mile rides are usually for the more seasoned rider. These will typically involve most of the day in the saddle, planning of routes, a specialised bike and a few pieces of specialised kit. Multi-day and Ultra mile rides are typically over 200 miles, set over a mixture of surfaces and terrain, often involving unpaved roads, paved roads and some groomed trials. The perfect bike for ultra bikepacking is one which suits the terrain you plan to ride over. A lightweight mountain bike would suit groomed trails and the odd road especially if you fancy taking it at a leisurely pace.

A full suspension mountain bike will eat up single track off trail routes and really rugged ground, great for if you really want to get away from it all. Finally a road bike or cyclocross style bike suits mainly road and groomed trail rides, especially if you plan on doing huge miles in a speedy time. Uneven ground will take its toll on you and the bike on this set up though. Many ultra mile riders go overseas on their planned routes, which is an incredible way to connect with people and experience cultures, totally unfiltered... even more so when your itinerary explores low traffic, unpaved roads, and involves unearthing rugged and remote places seldom seen by other travellers. Training for this will mean many days spent in the saddle preparing. Riding day after day. Also fine tuning kit over the course fo these training runs to get the best set up for you and your body.

ADVENTURE INSIDE

KIT FOR A CHALLENGE

BIKEPACKING 1

7 4

44 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE

1 BIKE

The bike you choose is very much down to personal preference. If you already ride a mountain bike then this is probably what you’ll be most at home on, the same can be said for a road or cyclocross bike. RRP: £2500 stanforthconway.co.uk

CLOTHING

EATING + DRINKING

SAFETY KIT

CLEAN UP

SLEEPING

THE STORAGE

Clothing and other layers will very much depend on the time of year and length of your ride. If you plan on any more than a couple of days then you’ll want multiple options to suit the weather. RRP: £25+ Alpkit.com If you plan on being around towns while you ride then with good planning you’ll only need to carry minimal food. But if you really want to get away then you’ll need expedition foods. RRP: £6.00 expeditionfoods.com

A phone, repair kit, lights and basic tools are your minimal needs. First aid and power options are desirable too. RRP: £10+ Alpkit.com

3 2

2 2

Keeping a decent level of hygiene and cleanliness will aid your enjoyment of the planned adventure. It can be the cheapest bit of kit but also the most important. RRP: £1.99 Amazon.com You can go anywhere between luxury right through to wild camping under a tarp. Usually the more comfort you go for comes with a weight price. RRP: £40.00 Alpkit.com One of the most important parts of your kit choice. You can store anywhere from your handlebars or cockpit, on the frame or under your seat. Alpkit are world renowned for their quality and robust choices. RRP: £20.00+ Alpkit.com

ADVENTURE INSIDE

BOOKS FOR

S E R U T N E V D A A collection of books to feed your desire for adventures and knowledge. These are ORM’s top picks to fill your race free weekends with fitness.

“WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK FROM IT ALL” Bed down among some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world and discover your own bolthole in one of Britain’s rugged corners. Wilderness Weekends reveals the 26 best places for wild camping from the south coast of England to Scotland’s far north. Each weekend includes practical advice, detailed maps and inspiring photographs to help the camping enthusiast take the next adventurous step. With a host of hardwon tips on what to take and when to go, this is the helping hand needed to unlock your outdoor potential.

RRP: £10.24

“THE NEXT BIG ONE FOR THE DIARY”

Including a range of events, from easy to expert, and travelling from Britain’s highest peaks to the unforgiving Moroccan desert, this stunningly illustrated book is the essential guide for anyone who wants to test themselves by taking on some of the world’s most celebrated and rewarding physical challenges. With each race tried, tested and finished by the author, the book features first-hand accounts of the challenges, highlights and insider tips on what to expect, plus stunning photography and race graphics, including elevation charts, finisher rates and race-specific facts for each race.

RRP: £14.99 46 Obstacle Race Magazine

ADVENTURE INSIDE “FOR WHEN TIME IS LIMITED” So what’s a microadventure? It’s close to home, cheap, simple, short and 100% guaranteed to refresh your life. A microadventure takes the spirit of a big adventure and squeezes it into a day or even a few hours. The point of a microadventure is that you don’t need lots of time and money to meet a new challenge. This practical guide is filled with ideas for microadventures – for you to experience on your own or with friends and family – and over 150 stunning photographs, plus tips and advice on safety and kit. Whether it’s sleeping on a hilltop or going for a wild swim, cycling a lap of the Isle of Wight or walking home for Christmas, it’s time you discovered something new about yourself and the world outside your window. Adventure is everywhere, every day and it is up to us to find it.

RRP: £11.43

“ONE FOR THE FAMILY TO SHARE” Adventure is out there – you just have to go and find it! These days children spend less time outside and more time in front of screens: computers, phones, games, television. This brilliant book provides inspiration for families to swap ‘screen time’ for ‘green time’ and shows how any family, wherever they live, can get outside and enjoy outdoor adventures together. Packed full of tried and tested outdoor activities, this valuable resource bank groups the adventures into themes including Woodland, Water, Close to Home, Hills and Mountains, Exploring, By the Sea, Extreme Weather, and each section has activities ranging in difficulty. From making a rope swing to scrambling up a stream, from spending a day without electricity to going on a charity bike ride, from exploring a rockpool to camping on an uninhabited island, wherever you are, whatever age or ability, this book has the perfect adventure activity for your family. With sensible but enthusiastic instructions written by parents Tim and Kerry, and added remarks, advice and jokes from children Amy and Ella, this is the perfect book to get your family out of the house and adventuring in the great outdoors!

RRP: £14.99

“TO HELP MAKE THE ADVENTURES POSSIBLE”

10 years of knowledge sourced from some of the worlds greatest athletes and minds are brought together in this book. Ross who we’ve been lucky enough to have write for us at ORM in the past, has tried and tested everything he’s been taught in the pursuit of multiple world records, this is more than a book, it’s the greatest training & fitness tool ever written! Designed for anyone who wants to make permanent and lasting changes to their food and fitness, it’s the first book to combine the teachings, tips and tricks of Olympic and World Champions into one, easy to follow resource.

RRP: £11.89

Obstacle Race Magazine 47

OBSTACLE RACE MAGAZINE

TRAINING & BBQ DAY HOSTED BY CLIFF LAKES

What better way to celebrate a great Summer of OCR than to have a massive gathering of the ORM community. This year with our subscription packages we wanted to offer something a little different. This is how the ORM training and BBQ day was born. The sun shone and a cracking day was had by all. With a mixture of with a wide range of abilities attending it was fantastic to see the more experienced racers of the community taking time out to help the less experienced members. Hints tips and techniques were shared by all. The day was hosted and training was provided by the crack team over at Cliff lakes OCR training based in the Midlands. A huge thank you to them for the great day.

48 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

Burpees in the cooling waters of the Midlands water sports centre. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing more refreshing.....

All fitness and skill levels were catered for. Making sure everyone had a great experience

FEATURE

What else do you do at weekends apart from obviously take a rope for a run....

50 Obstacle Race Magazine

FEATURE

After the training session came a re fuel. The BBQ went down a treat.....

New friendships were formed and the community grew larger....

Thank you to everyone who came along. Even the World Cup couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep most of you away. We hope to see you all at the next ORM Training day and BBQ. For more information on the venue search Cliff Lakes OCR on Facebook. Obstacle Race Magazine 51

REGULARS

THE

POLLS Each issue we’ll be asking the Obstacle Race Magazine community for their opinions in the form of polls. This issue we asked 182 community members :

“Which event has given you the best event village experience. “ Below are the TOP 10 but we highlight the TOP 5 in all their glory across. 1. Nuclear Races 2. Spartan 3. Mudnificent 7 OCR & Expo 4. Tough Mudder 5. Rat Race Dirty Weekend 6. The Elements OCR 7. Strong Viking 8. Mud Monsters 9. Uventure Run 10. The Wolf Run

52 Obstacle Race Magazine

SPARTAN Spartan.com

REGULARS

MUDNIFICENT 7 OCR & EXPO

WWW.MUD7.COM

NUCLEAR RACES www.nuclear-races.co.uk

RAT RACE DIRTY WEEKEND

RATRACE.CO.UK

TOUGH MUDDER www.toughmudder.com

Obstacle Race Magazine 53

REGULARS

OCR DIRECTORY OUTDOOR TRAINING CENTRES CLIFF LAKES OCR

Tamworth, Midlands, B78 2DL 07725 544667 www.clifflakes.org Facebook: @ClifflakesOCR

THE OBSTACLE GYM Lutterworth, Midlands 07426912988 www.reaperevents.co.uk Facebook: @theobstaclegym

FORTITUDE FITNESS CENTRE Cambridge, CB23 7NX 07876635134 www.fortitudefitnesscentre.co.uk Facebook: @fortitude-fitness-centre

FIT 4 OCR OCR Hertfordshire 07720882611 www.fit4ocr.com Facebook: @fit4ocr

OCR Play Park

Redhill, Surrey, RH15QL 07802 754624 www.obstacleplaypark.com Facebook: @ocrplaypark

54 Obstacle Race Magazine

BOOTCAMP STYLE TRAINING BRITISH MILITARY FITNESS Outdoor Sessions In 140 Parks nationwide www.britmilfit.com Facebook: @britishmilitaryfitness

MK FITNESS

Larbert, falkirk 07783157685 www.mkfitness.org.uk Facebook: @M.K.FITNESS

IMMORTAL FITNESS

Marlow / Hambleded / Henley 07792881255 www.immortalfitness.co.uk Facebook: @immortalfit

REGULARS INDOOR TRAINING CENTRES

OCR KIT RETAILERS

SDR FITNESS CENTRE

MY SPORTS AND MORE

Stockport, SK3 0SB 07914052345 www.sdrcheshire.co.uk Facebook: @sdrfitnesscentre

RUMBLE FITNESS OBSTACLE TRAINING CENTRE Milton Keynes, MK19 07769351968 www.rumblefitness.co.uk Facebook:

www.mysportsandmore.com 07805387782 mysportsandmore@gmail.com Facebook: @Mysportsandmore

FENLAND RUNNER

www.fenlandrunner.com 01733 601683 john@competitive-edge-global.com Facebook: @FenlandRunnerUK

@RumbleFitnessandSportsTherapyCentre

TOTAL SPORTS AND SUPPLEMENTS

www.totalsportsandsupplements.co.uk

07769311502

Info@totalsportsandsupplements.co.uk Facebook: @Totalsports&supplements

REGULARS

Events Diary SEPTEMBER

ONWARDS

For a more comprehensive events listing go to: www.obstacleracemagazine.com/events

15th Sept Spartan Race Scotland From £64 Perth, Scotland www.spartanrace.uk

15th Sept Zombie Evacuation From £25 Norfolk www.zombieevacuation.com

16th Sept

29th Sept Uventure

13th Oct Newcastle Stampede

From £52

From £37

Kettering

Newcastle Upon Tyne

www.uventurerun.co.uk

www.newcastlestampede.com

29+30th Sept

13th Oct

Muddy Dog Challenge

Rough Runner

From £30

From £37

Tunbridge Wells

Bristol

www.muddydog.battersea.org.uk

www.roughrunner.com

Splat Quack Go

29+30th Sept

From £41.95

Wolf Run

Suffolk

From £45

www.splatquack.com

Sussex

22th Sept

www.thewolfrun.com

13th Oct Hell Runner From £27.50 Cheshire www.hellrunner.co.uk

XRunner - Wild Warrior

6th Oct

From £47

The Reaper OCR

Midlands

From £19.30

Price $215

www.xrunner.co.uk

Midlands

Essex

22nd Sept

www.thereaperOCR.co.uk

www.ocrworldchampionships.com

The Little Welly From £19.50

6th Oct

Kent

Holy Grit

www.thelittlewelly.co.uk

From £40 Newquay

29th Sept

www.holygrit.co.uk

19-21st Oct OCR World Championships

20th Oct Muddy Dog Challenge From £30 Manchester www.muddydog.battersea.org.uk

Reign of Terror

6th Oct

£40

Spartan Race Windsor

Lilkenny, Ireland

From £64

From £11-£43

www.reignofterror.ie

Berkshire

East Midlands

www.spartanrace.uk

www.zeusraces.run

56 Obstacle Race Magazine

27th Oct Zeus Races Scarefest

REGULARS

28th Oct

3rd March

Rocket Race

24th Nov

From £40

Hell Runner

Nuts Challenge

Somerset

From £30

From £47

www.rocketrace.co.uk

Hampshire

Surrey

www.hellrunner.co.uk

www.thenutschallenge.co.uk

3rd Nov Nuclear Races - Fallout From £69 Essex

1st Dec Grim Challenge

www.nuclear-races.co.uk

From £27

3rd Nov

www.grimchallenge.co.uk

Wolf Run - Winter

Aldershot

From £45

8th Dec

Leicestershire

Judgement Day Team

www.thewolfrun.com

From £27 Pippingford

4th Nov The Muscle Acre From £36.50 Surrey www.muscleacre.com

www.judgementday.co.uk

2019

15th March Bermuda Triple Challenge From $80 Bermuda www.bdtriplechallenge.com

1st June The Elements OCR From £ 40 Kent www.theelementsocr.co.uk

22nd June Gladiator - Beach Event From £ 40 Worthing Beach www.gladiatorraces.com

10th Nov

5th Jan

Commando Series

Fan Dance

From £25

From £40

Kent

The Red phone box

www.commandoseries.co.uk

www.thefandancerace.co.uk

11th Nov The Beast Run From £25 East Midlands www.thebeastrun.co.uk

17th Nov

27th Jan Tough Guy Original From £100 Wolverhampton www.toughguy.co.uk

Brutal Runs

2nd March

From £25

Nuts Challenge

South East

From £47

Carl@obstacleracemagazine.com

www.brutalrun.co.uk

Surrey

For more information

To add your event contact

www.thenutschallenge.co.uk Obstacle Race Magazine 57

! E V I V R U S L L I W T ITTES

F E H T ONLY

EAST AN

9 1 0 2 . 9 0 . 5 1 A I L G

• • • •

PURPOSE BUILT TRAINING GROUND 8 MAN TEAM EVENTS STAG & HEN PARTIES EASY REACH OF THE M4/M5

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT

MIKE 07811108587 MIKEWCW40@YAHOO.CO.UK

• • • • •

38+ OBSTACLES • EX PTI INSTRUTORS ALL LEVELS OF FITNESS WELCOMED CORPORTATE TEAM BUILDING SET AROUND A BEAUTIFUL LAKE RACING WITH £1000 PRIZE UP FOR GRABS

TOM 07773302935 WWW.BRISTOL-ASSAULT.CO.UK

WEST COUNTRY WATER PARK, THE LAKE. TRENCH LANE, WINTERBOURN, BRISTOL