Thursday, October 24, 2013

Finding The Best Obstacle Course Races

By Kelly Wood


In the past few years a host of new sports have become popular. This is in part a result of the many popular television shows that pit competitors against a variety set of challenges. People all over the country are looking for ways to stay fit, have fun and compete. With this in mind many people are now looking for the best obstacle course races.

Racing over a course with a variety of obstacles is very challenging. For many people it combines the fun of a race with a military style course. Many of the courses take their inspiration from a military training facility. There is a combination of climbing, low crawls, mud, water and other hazards to negotiate. Both men and women are now taking part in races and there are several different categories to suit people of all levels of fitness.

In addition to mud there are many other fun and exciting obstacles. There are typically a number of climbing challenges. This can be a basic climbing wall with ropes or a more imaginative challenge. Event organizers can be as creative as they like. For most competitors the more difficult the obstacles the more they like it. Wading through knee deep mud and trying to climb out up a steep bank whilst wet and slimy is viewed as a fun part of the course.

Getting ready for a race takes time and effort. Most courses are at least three miles long, so running is the first part of the training. Core body strength is also very important. Weight training for the arms and legs will really help to build up crucial muscles. But winning a race is not just about strength alone, agility and endurance are also vitally important.

Before signing up for a race the individual should have been in training for many weeks. This should begin with some basic running. If the course is three miles long, they should be able to run six miles easily. They will also need to add a lot of cardio vascular exercises to help cope with strenuous tasks such as climbing walls.

Competing in a race does not require too much equipment. The most important thing is a good quality pair of shoes. These should be specially designed for racing, with extra grip soles and durability. Most people also like a light weight shoe that drains easily after being in the water.

Strength alone is not the single most important factor. Agility is also crucial, especially on the low crawl sections. Being smaller and more agile will really pay off at this point. Many women are now also getting into the sport and finding that they can finish in a very respectable time. In fact this is a great couples sport for those who enjoy staying fit and finding a challenge.

The best obstacle course races provide a high degree of challenging obstacles. Only those competitors who are really fit and determined will be ready to complete them. Those looking for something more fun and recreational will also have plenty of events to choose from.




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