Obstacle Racing (Brawn)

Obstacle races have become a huge thing lately. They are physically challenging and mentally stimulating. The best part about participating and completing an obstacle race is the confidence and self gratitude it gives you. Participating in even the smallest of these races is a great way to stay in shape or to gauge your level of fitness, as some of them are timed for a competitive aspect.

My goal for next year is to run all three of the races that Spartan Race has to offer, the Sprint, Super, and Beast, in order to earn the Trifecta medal. I have already completed one Tough Mudder and one Warrior Dash. They were fun and challenging. There was a very wide demographic of people that participated and varying exercise levels.

One thing I did to train for such a race was to grab a few very large tires from a local shop for free and I trained with them. I flipped them for training my legs similar to a squat. I stacked them and jumped onto them like box jumps. Along well as some calisthenics and other simple exercises, I ran about a mile, round trip, from my back yard in between sets. This helped to keep my heart rate up, incorporate cardio, and simulate the obstacle experience for as cheap as possible. I would also look at each of the obstacle race sites' WODs (or workout of the day) to mix my routine up and keep it fresh.

I encourage anyone at any fitness level to at least attempt one of these races to obtain that confidence that they give you upon completion. I also encourage you to set ambitious goals for yourself to achieve. I hope to achieve my goal of obtaining the Trifecta medal from Spartan Race and one day being invited to the Ultra Beast race!