In an announcement to the OCR community in the form of a letter titled “An Update on the 2026 Savage Race Season”, Savage Race founder Sam Abbitt revealed that the company has made the difficult decision to consolidate its 2026 schedule. The move comes as the race series focuses resources on delivering what it calls “the strongest possible events” while treating athletes responsibly.

For 2026, Savage Race will move forward with only three events:

• Savage Race Florida Spring – March 7th, 2026 (Dade City, FL)
• Savage Race Georgia Fall – September 19th, 2026 (Dallas, GA)
• Savage Race Florida Fall – November 14th, 2026 (Dade City, FL)

The following ten Savage Race events have been canceled for 2026:

• Savage Race Georgia Spring (Dallas, GA) – March 28, 2026
• Savage Race North Florida (Gainesville) – April 18th, 2026
• Savage Race Mid-Atlantic Spring (Maryland) – May 9, 2026
• Savage Race Charlotte – June 6, 2026
• Savage Race Ohio – June 27, 2026
• Savage Race Chicago – July 11, 2026
• Savage Race New England (Boston/Barre) – August 1, 2026
• Savage Race Poconos (Pennsylvania) – August 15, 2026
• Savage Race Mid-Atlantic Fall (Maryland) – September 5, 2026
• Savage Race Dallas, TX – October 10, 2026

In the announcement, Abbitt addressed the community directly and explained some of the reasoning behind the cancellations:

“This decision wasn't made lightly. While our events continue to deliver a great on-course experience, operating a full national schedule at our current scale no longer makes sense. By consolidating, we can protect the quality of the Savage Race experience, honor our commitments to athletes, and ensure long-term sustainability.”

Athletes who are already registered for a canceled 2026 Savage Race event have three options:

• Option A: Transfer to a Savage Race Event (Includes Bring-a-Friend Bonus)
  • Registered athletes may transfer to any of the three remaining 2026 Savage Race events. As a thank you, athletes who choose this option will receive a complimentary “Bring-a-Friend” entry for the same event.
• Option B: Transfer to Spartan or Tough Mudder
  • Savage Race has arranged for athletes to transfer their registration to a Spartan Race or Tough Mudder event, subject to availability and transfer eligibility rules.

    Abbitt acknowledged the longstanding rivalry between the brands: “Over the years, Savage Race has enjoyed a fun, sometimes playful rivalry with Spartan. We have done everything from friendly competition to lighthearted antics. At the end of the day, though, we're all part of the same OCR community.”

    He went on to thank Spartan for stepping up: “I want to sincerely thank the team at Spartan Race (and Tough Mudder) for stepping up to make this transfer option possible. Their willingness to support us and Savage athletes during this transition helps ensure that racers still have great opportunities to get out on the course in 2026.”

• Option C: Full Refund
  • Athletes may request a full refund of their Savage Race registration. If no selection is made by the stated deadline, registrations will default to a full refund.

This announcement was made at first on social media in the Savage Syndicate group. It was then shared on Savage Race's social media channels. While the Savage Race website still lists all of the original events, the detail page for the canceled events has a note about the event being canceled, with a link to the announcement document.

Athletes registered for canceled events can make their selection through a google form Savage created. Requests will be processed within up to 45 days, and transfers are free.

Due to the fact one of the options for those signed up for cancelled races was a transfer to a Spartan Race or Tough Mudder event instead – some people questioned whether this meant Spartan had purchased Savage Race. However, Savage Race employees were shooting down this rumor in replies on various posts on social media.

The letter closed with Savage founder Sam Abbitt thanking the Savage Race community again, saying:

Savage Race exists because of its community. We’re incredibly grateful for the trust you place in us, and we’re committed to handling this transition fairly, transparently, and with respect for every athlete.

For questions, athletes can reach out to support@savagerace.com.

The post Savage Race “Consolidates” Calendar for 2026; Cancels All But 3 Races appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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All 2024 Rugged Maniac races will be canceled – and those who have registered will be receiving a full refund.

The race posted the following message on their website regarding the closing:

We regret to inform you that our obstacle course full of adventure will no longer continue in 2024. Thank you for the mud and the memories. If you already registered for a race this year, please be on the lookout for a full refund.

For racers who have questions regarding their refund, they are guided to reach out via email to info@ruggedmaniac.com

In an email sent to those who had registrations, it stated that refunds should be sent within the next 60 days.

A similar message was posted to their social media channels, saying:

We will miss the mud, but we will always have the memories. Our obstacle course will no longer continue in 2024. Contact info@ruggedmaniac.com for refund details.

No reason was given for the sudden closure.

Rugged Maniac had been accepting new registrations for their races up until moments before the surprising closing notice was posted.

Rugged Maniac was one of the longest-running and most consistent obstacle course race series in the nation. The OCR & mud run series was originally founded in 2010, and then would go on to get funding from Shark Tank in 2013. The series was then sold in 2018 for $10 million.

In recent years, Rugged Maniac had a fairly consistent schedule with dozens of events, across the US, throughout the course of the year.

Rugged Maniac's 2024 schedule had a similar look to previous years, before the closing was announced.

You can see the message on Rugged Maniac's website here

We have reached out to Rugged Maniac for more details around the closure, and will update this as we hear more.

The post Rugged Maniac Shutting Down & Going Out Of Business in 2024: All Races Canceled appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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The list of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) movies is not particularly long (check out my previous article on the topic “OCR Documentaries to Keep You Motivated”), so anytime a new one comes out you are definitely going to want to check it out.  After a couple of years in the making, my documentary is finally available to the public.

Ultra-OCR Man is a documentary shot, produced and edited by professional filmmaker Bobby Ross.  Over a span of a couple of years, Bobby has been following me around on some of my more interesting ultra-endurance charity events including:

OCRmill 21,000 Feet: A simulated high altitude Ultra-OCR for six hours on a treadmill.  At Motus Ninja gym in Kansas City I ran a mile, got off the treadmill to do four obstacles all while connected to a several thousand dollar high altitude generator.  The event raised money for the charity Folds of Honor (scholarship money for kids whose parents were killed or wounded in military service).

OCR America 2:  8 days of OCR marathons for 8 days in a row at 8 different venues in winter.  The event required lots of driving, running and suffering as well as a lot of support from pit crew.  Brands like Obstacle Athletics in Long Island, Otherworld Fitness in Maryland, Newbsanity in Binghamton NY, Erie OCR Battlegrounds in Pennsylvania, Mythic Race in Missouri and KC Timber Challenge in Kansas supported the event through use of their obstacles and/or facilities.

Plus, the movie dives into the psyche required to perform at Ultra-OCR as well as multi-day charity events.  Great for anyone looking for lovers of the sport of OCR, those interested in endurance sports in general and anyone that just wants an interesting story.

Check out the full 24 minute documentary here:  Ultra-OCR Man

It costs $10, which we plan on using to help fund future OCR and fitness related video content.

If you enjoy that, you can check out the book Ultra-OCR Man:  From Special Forces Soldier to Record Setting OCR Athlete which covers some of my military background as well as the insane charity challenges I’ve done that came before the film.

The post Ultra-OCR Man: The Movie appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

      

Tough Mudder returned to Colorado for another epic race weekend. The race moved from Littleton Colorado and the front range out east to Byers Colorado. While some expressed disappointment in the new venue being much further from Denver, it allowed the race organizers to be more creative, dig deeper and better mud pits, and put on a bigger event that they were unable to do with the smaller venue in Littleton. The Sunday crowd was small but mighty with many racers returning for another lap after completing the 15K the day before. It has been a slow return to racing for Colorado, but Tough Mudder has carved out and dedicated fan base in the state and they showed up this weekend.

The Venue:

When you think of racing in Colorado, we often think of jagged mountain peaks and crazy amounts of elevation gain. However, that was not the case for Tough Mudder as this race was held out in the eastern plains. Initially, this may raise some red flags, but it has its advantages over using some of the ski resorts in the mountains. First, parking at a venue like this is much easier and free. There is no hassle with a shuttle, there are more available spaces, and for this event it was free. This runner was lucky and got to park in the first row when they arrived, and it took less than 5 minutes to walk from the car to the start line. The other big advantage is there are fewer rules and restrictions on the build crew. For example, Spartan was never allowed to dig mud pits or add water when they held their races in Breckenridge due to the resort not wanting to damage their ecosystem. On the eastern plains of Colorado, Tough Mudder was able to dig multiple mud pits and create deeper pools under obstacles that they would not have been able to do elsewhere. There was a single hill during the entire event and this made for a flat, fast, and entirely muddy course that appeals to a wider variety of racers. It may not be what you picture when you think of Colorado, but it had its advantages this weekend.

The Event:

The course itself was pretty straightforward. The longest stretch of running was between the start line and the first obstacle and then there was mud nearly everywhere. I had previously only ran the 15K in the past and was a little disappointed to find some of my favorite obstacles missing from the 10K course. The Funky Monkey is one of the best obstacles in the sport and it was only available on Saturday. Racers still enjoyed Well Swung, Castaway, and Blockness Monster as some of the premiere water and mud obstacles. Also missing from the 10K was the additional electricity obstacle in Electric Eel, but most runners seemed happy to not have to test fate with those wires a second time. The biggest difference between Tough Mudder and other race series is the teamwork and camaraderie. You get to share the course with others and work together to collectively finish. Helping one another is encouraged and it completely changes the mood of the entire race. As mentioned above, the course was flat and fast with what felt like a single hill to climb. The weather was good with temperatures in the mid-80s and an overcast sky. While most of the surrounding area was very dry and dusty, Tough Mudder did a great job strategically adding water and mud throughout the course to keep racers wet and covered in mud for nearly the entire race.

The Atmosphere:

The festival area was one big party with several vendors passing out everything from oatmeal samples to whiskey shots. Once a racer finished they could rinse off with complimentary Every Man Jack soap at all of the stations. From there you could grab Kodiak Cakes oatmeal samples to take home, a Hop Water, and a bag of Wilde buffalo-style chicken chips. This line ended with your finisher beer and shot of Yukon Jack whiskey. This was just the warm-up to the true party throughout the rest of the festival area. The DJ held several competitions for free swag packs and races that included tug of war and hoola hooping competitions. This writer found out just how bad they were with a hoola hoop, but it was a great event for all to watch. There was also an axe-throwing booth sponsored by Yukon Jack that was a nice final touch on the entire event. The atmosphere was light and fun as racers worked together to finish rather than compete against one another for time. Tough Mudder is a great event for someone who wants to push themselves but is not interested in running for time or podiums.

The SWAG:

Tough Mudder strays away from the conventional finisher medal and passes out headbands instead. They have an entire system of colored bands depending on how many races you have done. Upon finishing you are given your headband, a tech t-shirt, a Gatorade protein drink, and a protein bar. It is a pretty standard finish line across the industry with the headband being the biggest difference. Racers wear them with pride around the festival area afterward and get to add a unique piece of swag to their collections.

Overall:

Between the race itself, the festival area, and the swag this event was already a 5 out of 5, but there is more to the story. During all of the celebrating in the festival area, this writer lost their car key in the shuffle. After spending 15 minutes retracing steps and asking every person they could if they had seen them, they had lost hope. As I prepared to call my wife and ask her to drive the hour to the venue to bring me the spare key, I was flagged down by Adolfo at Mudder Services. He had checked me in for the race and wanted to ask about my experience with this race. The key had been found not but 5 minutes earlier and turned in to him and we were reunited by total chance. Adolfo also reunited someone with their lost phone within the same short time frame we chatted about Tough Mudder. This was an overall great experience and highly recommended to anyone looking to run a top-level OCR event.

The post Race Recap: Tough Mudder Colorado appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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Hyperwear makes the best tactical weight vest plates for fitness as well as the best weighted vests for fitness.  So I decided to pick up their sandbag to see if they could hit a home run in the sandbag category as well.  Here are my thoughts after using it for the last couple of months:

Convenience:  The first big thing you’ll notice is the convenience.  These workout sandbags are shipped already filled with sand.  No need to go spend money and time driving to Home Depot to get sand. They arrive ready for your workout.  Already filled to the perfect amount, already true to weight and already even distributed for comfort.

Durability:  The sandbag looks, feels and is super durable.  The bag is made of tough, water repellant 1000D military grade fabric and seat belt webbing for durable strength.  Plus, it has an industrial strength zipper so even that is made tough.  I’ve been using it for several months, it still looks brand new and I have not seen any sand leaking.  This includes me pulling it by every handle, dropping it from over my head, carrying it on the treadmill while sweating profusely and tossing it across the room.

Options:  Just like their tactical plate carrier, this is truly where Hyperwear shines.  You could fill it with a cheap bag of sand or use their SandBell workout sandbags, I recommend the latter.  SandBells are sand filled neoprene free weights essentially.  They come in 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 lbs. variants that will all fit inside the 40 lb capacity bag I used.  You can mix/match to get almost any desired training weight with SandBell weights going up to 70 lbs and the Sandbag System product line having an 80 lb and 160 lb size.  This makes them perfect for buddy team, group workouts and even those from other sports like Strongman.

The variability makes it great for not only progressive training (it gets harder as you get better thus causing improvement) but also for those that have spouses that use the bag or own a gym.  This variability means you can buy one or a couple of sandbags and have options for athletes of all shapes and sizes.  Plus, the SandBells can be used on their own as an additional training weight…and in my case…something my kids love to carry around the house.

For those getting ready for upcoming events like the GoRuck Games, Obstacle Course Racing World Championships (OCRWC), Battle of the Lions or any Spartan race, this is a product you’ll want in your training area.  It allows you to train specifically for those races or do compound movements thanks to the number of handles.

Benefits Over Other Brands:  The number one benefit is the variable weight option hands down.  The durability is also next level since the bag is a container and then you essentially have additional protection from the neoprene.  Plus, SandBell filler bags designed not to leak.  I didn’t try to destroy it, but logic tells me that this will hold up better than any other brand due to the double protection.

Additionally, there are handles all over the outer bag.  One popular brand of OCR sandbags only has two handles.  Hyperwear has eight handles!  This means you can use it to train for literally any sandbag based movement.

Overall:  The longer I’m involved in the fitness industry the more often I see trends with certain companies.  Brands like Hyperwear put thought, time and effort to develop a high quality product.  They did it with their performance weight vests, they did it with their new tactical weighted vests and now they’ve done it with the sandbag.  They’ve won me over as a customer and if I ever want any of their other products like weighted battle ropes and jump ropes, adjustable dumbbells and barbells, or resistance bands  I would feel comfortable buying them without a second look.  The fact is they are a company that is going to put in the time and effort to bring you high quality fitness products that will stand the test of time and survive the harsh conditions OCR athletes will put them through.

The post Gear Review: Hyperwear Sandbag System appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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The Venue:

Fort Carson has hosted Spartan several times in the past and has graciously given racers all they can handle. The only major issue with the venue is there is no set address to navigate to. Spartan provides cross streets but can easily be confused with a Wilderness Rd on the other side of Colorado Springs almost 45 minutes away. The signage off the main highway they used in the past was missing this year and some racers complained about getting lost. The venue was notably missing the traditional Spartan sign that most pose with, but there were 3 military vehicles set up outside registration where racers could pose for pictures and ask questions about what they were used for. The rest of the venue was in line with the arid high alpine desert and was covered in dust and cacti. There was very little cloud cover throughout the weekend and racers walked away tired, sunburnt, and covered in mud. The venue is an active training ground and racers have to be conscious of discarded shell casings and other training materials that can be found along the course. They are instructed not to pick anything up on the course other than their own trash and to report anything they might see to course marshals.

The Event:

The Super on Saturday was a hot and daunting task. This writer completed the course in just over 2 hours and was totally drained by the end. With 6.8 miles registered and a little over 1100 feet of elevation gain. The Men’s Elite wave winner finished with a time of 1:02:07 (Ja Shua Ried) and the Women’s Elite winner (Hannah Holmes) finished the course in 1:16:29. Both winners finished nearly a full minute ahead of the 2^nd place runners. The Sprint on Sunday was much milder. This writer completed 2 laps on the course, both in just under an hour with roughly 700 feet of elevation gain. Many of the obstacles with penalty loops were cut out and runners only went in and out of the bowl twice as opposed to 4 times on Saturday. The Men’s Elite winner on Sunday (Mark Gaudet) finished the course in 29:05 and the Women’s Elite was a weekend sweep by Hannah Holmes with a time of 39:04. The 2^nd place runners again finished less than a minute after the champions and it often came down to the final climb out of the bowl and a few obstacles to crown the winner. The Spear Throw was by far the most failed obstacle, with rolling mud hills and the dunk wall being a fan favorite. The hills and dunk wall were the only water obstacles on the course and left runners caked in mud for the last mile and a half of the race. It was a nice break from the sun and the walls became very slick late in the day and required racers to help each other get out. Notably missing was several photographers. They had one stationed at barbed wire and sandbag carry, but the dunk wall and finish line was missing. Many racers resorted to carrying their phones and taking pictures on their own. This led to some long lines at obstacles in the afternoon, but everyone was having fun and enjoying the course.

The Atmosphere:

Having run this venue multiple times in the past, the overall atmosphere felt different. COVID and the restrictions of the past few years felt like a thing of the past, but runners still seemed a little uneasy. In previous years they had made a spectacle out of being on a military base with full cavalry charges and the national anthem before many of the heats. They were very thin on volunteers and many staff could be seen on the course trying to man multiple obstacles. Things like Largest Team and other small touches that had been done in the past were missing and most runners seemed to just come to do their heat and then leave. On Sunday, they ran out of headbands, bibs, and drink coupons for everyone except Elite and Competitive runners. They ran out of Fit Aid and bananas at the finish line well before the final racers crossed the finish line and were running very low on several shirt sizes. With over 5,000 runners spread across the weekend, the event was well attended but many of the fun add-ons from the past were lacking this weekend.

The SWAG:

Outside of the multiple Trifecta medals or Ultra buckles, the medal from this weekend is by far one of the best Spartan has put out. The combination of the heavy spartan shield with the crossed spears is a huge upgrade to the regular medal from this season. The medal is heavier than years past and looks great. The only way to distinguish the 2 medals from the Sprint and Super is by the lanyard but they are still a great addition to any collection. Another interesting note was the difference between the Super and Sprint shirts. The design and color were totally different between the shirts and were not something this writer noticed until they got home and put them through the laundry. The shirts are a poly-cotton blend and are lighter than the last few shirts. The finisher beer again moved to Mike's Hard seltzer this year and several people bypassed them all together in search of a cold beer. Spartan invests heavily in their Honor Series, and it showed with the upgraded medals this year.

Overall:

Compared to races in years past at the same venue, the Super and Sprint weekend does not score as high, but as a stand-alone race without the others to compare this was an excellent Spartan weekend. The water and mud obstacles made this course a muddy mess at the end and were a great change of pace compared to other Colorado obstacle races. Overall, the entire weekend was a 5 out of 5 and is highly recommended to anyone close to Colorado Springs looking to get into obstacle course racing. The elevation gain, the weather, and many other factors make this a challenging course for both rookie and veteran runners.

The post Race Recap: Spartan Fort Carson Colorado Super and Sprint Weekend 2022 appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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There’s some benefits and drawbacks from using a tactical vest as a fitness vest (I already talked about those in a previous article).  However, Hyperwear has revolutionized the tactical weight vest in their newest product thus making some of my older complaints obsolete.  Here’s a quick review of one of their latest products, Hyperwear Adjustable Flexible Weight Plates, now available off Amazon (just in time for your Memorial Day Murph):

Tough exterior fabric of the Hyperwear adjustable flexible weight plate.

Material:  The shell of the plates are made of rip-stop nylon making them very durable.  This is also nice because unlike bulletproof plates, they will flex slightly making them more comfortable and several orders of magnitude cheaper.

The actual weight inside each “plate” is flexible PVC containers filled with recycled steel shot.  I was a little worried the steel shot would bounce around but after testing it out, I didn’t notice it at all, not even after trying to feel them moving.

Adjustable weights can be easily added or removed making training progressive or variable based off exercise or fitness level.

Design: This is where the weight plates truly shine.  Most tactical plates for fitness come in fixed weights.  So if you want to add or remove weight you’ll have to buy a new plate.  Hyperwear has a unique design that allows you to slide the weights in/out adjusting the increment by 1/2 lbs. at a time.

Even after removing a couple of the small weights, the plate still felt “normal”, as in I couldn’t tell that parts of the internal weight were missing.  Plus, the weights remove from the bottom, which means you don’t need to remove the entire plate to adjust it, you can just pop open the bottom (of the vest and the plate) and slide out the weights.  This is especially useful since many of the weight vests getting them in or out can sometimes be a struggle.

Who is this for? 

Individuals:  To get better training needs to be progressive, as in it gets harder as you get better.  The adjustable weights allows you to make your training progressive instead of just slapping on a fixed amount of weight and riding the struggle bus.  Additionally, it is safer to slowly increase the weight instead of going from no additional weight to 18 lbs.  When you add in the weight of the vest, it comes out to 20 lbs. for those looking to do Murph as prescribed.

Gym Owners/Training Group Leaders: These are the groups that need buy these up ASAP.  When you run a gym or training group you’ll have people of all levels attending training.  Some attendees are recovering from injury, others are new to fitness and some are elite athletes.  You can’t have them all doing the same weight safely.  Hyperwear gives the option to buy one product and then use it for multiple populations of people.

Slightly larger size of the Flexible plate vs. a SAPI (bullet proof) plate.

Plate Carrier Styles/Functionality:  I tested this product out with a variety of plate carriers (don’t worry, I have another article about that coming out soon).  I used the 5.11, Wolf Tactical plate carrier, my actual vest from the Army and a brand called Freetime Outdoor.  Additionally, Hyperwear says they fit 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier (the original used in the CrossFit Games not the smaller “trainer” version), Bear KompleX Weight Vest, GFIRE Tactical Vest, TRIBE WOD and other plate carrier vests that can hold large size SAPI plates. The Hyperwear plates are about 1/4″ wider than the large SAPI standard.

The bottom line is try these if you have or buy a compatible tactical weight vest.  If you want the best fit, go with Hyperwear’s new Hyper Vest TAC tactical weight vest which is built specifically to hold their plates and designed to be comfortable for fitness.

Just for fun I decided to see if I could fit both plates into one pocket on the Freetime Outdoor vest, I could.  Therefore, if 18 lbs. of plates is not enough for you, you can always pick up another set allowing you to stair step all with way up to 36 lbs. of weight on your vest if you have the right carrier.  For the other popular brands, like Wolf Tactical and 5.11, you’ll only be able to fit one plate in each compartment.

Two plates in one vest pocket for additional weight on some brands.

Overall:  This product is a win on every front:  progressive training, cost effectiveness, multiple options for different athletes, fits all the popular brands of plate carriers and is more comfortable than normal plates.  Coming it at around $85 this is not only an awesome product but also one that is at a low price point compared to other plates for tactical vests.  To get similar functionality from another brand, you would have to buy multiple sets (because they don’t adjust) thus spending four or five times as much and still not have the ability to make minor adjustments based off how you feel that day or for use by a spouse/friend.  If you are planning to buy weight plates, I can comfortably say there isn’t a better option on the market today.

Order yours off Amazon or check out their wide line of fitness products directly off Hyperwear

The post Gear Review: Hyperwear Adjustable Flexible Weight Plates appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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V is for Victory!

As I chatted with the volunteers before my wave, I found out that they too were Spartan veterans who loved to hate events like Palmerton and now DEKA.  Red-lining through ten stations at a DEKAStrong is the kind of pain that draws me back for more.  I loved it though when I finished, I immediately wondered why I put myself through it.  Pain is pleasure.  DEKA was everything I hoped for.

This way to Palmerton!

Each participant has a volunteer with them throughout the event.  Jack was with me before I toed the line.  He found a clear lane, reset the machines, and then we walked the stations.  He described each one in detail for reps and form.  He suggested that since we had time, I should preset the seat height on the bike.  Ordinarily, like when the crowds showed up later, this would not have been possible.  That’s just the breaks of the game.

Jack was a great volunteer

The ten stations of DEKA will also make or break you.  Start off with thirty reverse lunges under 55-pound load.  Since there is no running in this event, it’s just a few steps and you’re at the next station, 500 meters of rowing.  I wore my Garmin 245 to monitor and maintain my heart rate throughout this event.  I maxed out on this machine.  Then 20 up and over 24” box jumps.  Jack cautioned me here that I could not just jump and then step back down.  Up and over is the rule.  Next was 25 reps of sit-ups with a 20# med ball.  Ball in hands, contact the floor behind the head, sit up, and then contact the floor between the legs.  This was the only substitute station for wall balls.  Then it was onto 500 meters on the ski-erg.  The heart rate was up again as expected.  Then a very restful farmer’s carry with 60# dumbbells in each hand.  The last machine was the stationary bike for 25 calories.  I got the machine going in reverse and did not realize it until halfway through when I changed direction.  Jack was very curious about my strategy.  Next was the 60# med ball over the shoulder for 25 reps.  I thought twenty and started to walk away when Jack kindly reminded me to do five more.  After two mishaps in a row, it was on to the sled push/pull.  Here I noted my heart rate went under the redline.  I rested purposefully though, keeping the HR in zone 3 knowing what final station was to come.  RAM burpees.  Execute twenty of these dreaded lung burners using a 44# RAM.  Then collapse in a sweaty heap.  It was over.

Pre-season hill climbing made these easier

Resist the urge to go all out here. Eight stations to go.

Like floating on air. Photo courtesy of @corycookephotography

Not a great pillow

No more snow! No more winter! Bring on the OCR season!

Bringing in the crops. Photo courtesy of @corycookephotography

Can you tell which direction I'm going?

My delts are the size of 20# medballs. Oh….

Jack would rather watch something else I suppose

This is where my HR dipped and I should pulled harder

I'm glad this wasn't the 55# RAM but I wish it was the Stadion 15 reps!

I hit the Garmin and stumbled back over to the gear table and just collapsed again to keep from puking.  I broke every rule of recovery right then.  Stand up, breathe, move around slowly.  Once the feeling passed and my heart rate went back into an aerobic zone (the longest two minutes of my life), the endorphins started to kick in.  They felt amazing.  We all talked, fist bumped, excitedly re-lived the moments out there.  It was great.  Let’s do it all again.

There's a first for everything

In fact, I’ll sign up for the DEKA Mile.  For newcomers like me, this second level event involves a little running.  Between stations, run 160 meters.  Once I’m trained up for it, I’ll do the DEKA Fit.  This includes a lot of running, about 500 meters between stations.  It would not be fair to say that this is just like Spartan minus the hills and water.  “Training with purpose just before and in between each DEKA Mark test/event provides an opportunity for every level of fitness to improve in these 10 functional areas of movement.  As DEKA Marks (time/score) improve, well rounded fitness and health & wellness improves.” – Yancy Culp, Co-founder of DEKA.

Megan and I with our DEKAStrong bling

Now lest you think this is a sport for the young, I’ll remind you readers who have not followed me these past nine years of my OCR life in writing that I moved up an age group this year.  I turned 60 in January.  I’m in the best shape of my life.  The young man at registration shared a similar story using a different marker.  He lost 400 pounds doing these kinds of events.  No matter your background, start your life to fitness journey today and make your mark.

Note: all photos courtesy of Rich Ortiz unless otherwise shown

The post Event Recap: DEKAStrong New Jersey 2022 appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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The Venue:

Tucked into the Denver Broncos training facility in Englewood Colorado, this event gave athletes the chance to run on the same field as professional football players. The indoor turf field was climate-controlled, had a built-in sound system that pumped music throughout the event, and had enough space for both the event as well as racers and spectators. The turf was soft and spongy and gave each runner a bounce in their step as they rounded the field. The indoor event took away the unpredictable weather that happens during the spring in Colorado and made for a very comfortable event. With all of the championship banners hanging around the facility, it was easy to get motivated and push hard for the finish.

The Event:

Deka events are unlike normal Spartan races. There are 10 fitness stations set up around the turf field and each competitor must run a full lap around the field and then the additional distance between stations. By the end of the race, most fitness watches measured a little over 3.3 total miles. The stations included 30 weighted alternating lunges, 500M row, 20 box jump/step overs, 25 medicine ball sit-up and throw, 500M ski rig, 100M farmer’s carry, 25 calories burned on an air bike, 25 dead ball wall overs, 100M tank push/pull, and 20 weighted burpees. Each station pushed athletes to their limits before sending them around the course to do it all over again. Race volunteers were at each station to ensure all repetitions were completed and the early competitive waves were limited to 12 runners at a time to ensure there was no backup at zones waiting for equipment.

The Atmosphere:

Having run every type of Spartan race from a sprint all the way up to the 24 HR Ultra Championship this race felt different than anything else. There was no mud to climb through, no spears to throw, and it felt like it was missing that “spartan” element. The event felt more like a very structured class workout. The overall workout benefits would be great in preparation for other events, but without the hills and the elements it is hard to call it a true preparation for a spartan race. Most racers showed up just before their wave time and left shortly thereafter. There was not the large festival area party and many racers felt they were “checking the spartan box” by completing another event. During the event there was little talking or interacting between racers, but the proximity of the spectators allowed a person to cheer on their runner throughout the entire event and not just in designated areas of an outside course. The overall atmosphere felt more like work than a fun race.

The Swag:

At the end of this race you walk away with a t-shirt, medal, and a new protein-infused water. The typical finisher beer was absent from this event and would have been difficult to do with the lack of space to hang out after the race. The shirt is slightly different in design from their traditional sprint, super, and beast design, but has a similar weight and feel. The medal is also a nice change of pace from their traditional design and adds a new element to your medal hangers. The swag was not wildly different than their normal races but felt like less of a selling point than your normal spartan finisher gear.

Overall:

Deka is a unique experience that any seasoned Spartan should try. With the zones being standard across races you can test your time and compare it to any venue without having to wait for it to come back the next year or worry about it being different. This event truly is just you against the clock and your own fitness. With the fastest racers finishing in a little over 30 minutes and the average falling between 45-55 minutes it is a race that can be done by anyone who is willing to push. Overall, I would rate this event a 5 out of 5. It was very well organized and is something I would like to do again in the future to try and beat my own time.

The post Race Recap: Spartan Deka Denver appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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As Lara Croft exploring the pain cave for treasures

I hit the road to the small community of Morganfield, Kentucky for my first stab at a Spartan DEKA event. Those of you outside the Commonwealth might never have heard of Morganfield, Kentucky. Hell, I claim Kentucky home and still did not know exactly where it sat prior to the DEKA. Morganfield is a very small community boasting a population of less than 3,500. While approaching the site via winding county roads felt like nothing out of the ordinary for a Spartan sanctioned event, pulling into a small, unassuming parking lot signaled that I was in for a different experience.

Filled with apprehension on approach, the blast of energetic thumping and encouraging shouts pervaded my ears, quelling the dissonance. Upon entry, I was first greeted with the sight for sore eyes that is the finisher table decorated with my long-overdue finisher medals and new weekend tees. It had been more than two years since I earned a true event finisher medal (Fort Campbell 2019!), so the race day vibes started to kick hard at the sight of swag.

Community Touch

Though the event itself was on a smaller scale than the national events, energy filled the entire box. Waves launched two competitors at a time, each monitored by a volunteer judge. Plenty of bystanders—most of which were members of the host box—cheered each other along. Though I opted to go it alone to this event, my gracious judge and fellow competitors cheered me along all ten zones of pain in my sub-20 minute vomit-suppressing effort. They even politely smiled when I whipped out the Lara Croft costume* for a second effort and took some photos for me. Thank you guys for that!

Khalil & Nelson promoting fitness in the community

The DEKA Road Show naturally in scope felt more community-forward more than any nationally-recognized event I have ever participated. After chatting with Spartan crew member, Nelson Diaz, and Morganfield CrossFit volunteer and adaptive athlete, Khalil Taliaferro, it seems that is exactly what Spartan intended with these events. Khalil and Nelson connected years ago competing with a group of adaptive athletes in tough obstacle course races. From there, the two worked together to launch the DEKA Road Show event with the intent to get more folks (that’s right, I’m from Kentucky and can get away with that) into fitness. I approached the event with the very specific similar purpose. I left feeling hopeful that this Road Show style of DEKA is soon to explode in popularity nationwide in smaller community gyms. As a practicing Exercise Physiologist and Personal Trainer, I am 100% in favor of promoting fun, functional events on a smaller scale to create excitement with exercise. Kudos, DEKA. I’m looking forward to finding (and perhaps hosting) the next event to keep earning and improving my mark!

DEKA STRONG

Rating: 5/5

*This is part of my larger effort on the year called, Project Heroine. From March through June I’ll be working out in the style of video game character, Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider franchise. For more on the nerdy female-empowerment project follow @nerdragefit on Instagram.

The post Event Recap: DEKA Strong Road Show at Morganfield CrossFit appeared first on Mud Run, OCR, Obstacle Course Race & Ninja Warrior Guide.

     

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