Top 10 Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) Stories of 2015

This past year was my most active in obstacle course racing (OCR).  In addition to running a number of races in the local Miami area, I was on the road twice for a series of races on the east coast and Atlanta areas with a final short trip to Orlando for the BattleFrog Championship.  Somewhere in there I found time to work as part of the build crew at the Obstacle Course Racing World Championship (OCRWC) in Ohio as well.

This is a list of my favorite articles from my blog for 2015....hope you enjoy them as much as I did sharing them with you!

BattleFrog on TV.....Here We Go Again! - BattleFrog's first attempt at bringing their OCR race brand to television with the first College Championship OCR sprint on ESPN.

OCR...Growing Pains, Competition, Money and Egos - Some early year observations on the how far the industry has come since it's relatively recent begininngs

Lessons Still Not Learned....Why People Don't Really Care What You Think! - The potentially devastating affects of sharing personal opinions on your business pages

My First Tough Mudder - Western, NY 2015 - Race/Challenge Review - Running my first Tough Mudder

Sometimes Being a Smartass Can Lead to an Extraordinary OCR Experience - BattleFrog at Pittsburgh 2015 - An extraordinary experience at this BattleFrog race with some of the people that make OCR so special

You May Be In the Wrong Business if You Think of Your Customers As F**ktards! - Another example of people who don't quite get the destructive power of the Internet on their businesses

Spartan Race Build at Asheville 2015 - I Finally Get to Build Some S**t - The first opportunity this year to get out and build some obstacles!

Spartan Race and OCR Back on TV - Here We Go Again....Again... - Spartan Race announces a casting call for another attempt at getting OCR on television with NBC Sports

Back To The Basics - Building a Savage Race - Atlanta 2015 - My first experience with Savage Race, in Atlanta

My Journey to the Center of the (OCR) World - OCR World Championships 2015 - An international spectacle at the World Championship!

My Journey to the Center of the (OCR) World - OCR World Championships 2015

I've never been to an Olympics, but this had all the feel I would expect of an Olympic event.  From the very first minute I showed up at Kings Domain in Oregonia, OH (permanent site for Mud, Guts and Glory) for the OCR World Championships (OCRWC) build, I knew something was different from any other obstacle course venue I had been on.  That difference would become more and more pronounced as the week went on, culminating in an incredible event and a personal journey of international discovery.

Within minutes of arriving on site Monday, after driving 7 hours up from NC, I was already at work.  Just lending a hand moving around a few partially built obstacles for finishing and painting.  There still seemed quite a lot to do but I figured, hey...we have four more days and that should be plenty of time for a build crew to finish...right?  Shortly after this I got some good news, there would be room to put me up on site.  This fact would make a huge difference for the rest of the week as we'd be putting in very long days!!  I was also a bit surprised when the race founder, Adrian Bijanada, and Mud Run Guide founder Brett Stewart invited me to tag along with many of the staff for dinner that night.  We'd never met before and this was just another indication that "I wasn't in Kansas" anymore.

Tuesday morning was my introduction to the realities of the OCRWC build.  I would say that we had a skeleton build crew but that would be an insult to skeletons everywhere.  What we lacked in the core crew though, we more than made up for in volunteers.  Not the volunteers you normally expect to see on builds either (which I do regularly myself).  These were some of the racers who had arrived early in the week...many of which were international racers.  And by no means new to OCR builds.  They were as comfortable with tools and on the machines as they were on the course.  In some cases I was actually working next to international race directors and even founders of international races.

And I was learning more every day about who was who at the OCRWC.  A bit of a humbling experience when you follow the sport as closely I do and find out how much there is still to know.  A feeling that started at my very first race this summer in Barre.  This sport is exploding...the big-bang of OCR...expanding so fast that there are few people that really know what's going on in every aspect.  But that's a whole 'nother topic.

One thing I was learning very quickly is that there was a very passionate and very intense group of international athletes here.  I was also getting an impromptu introduction to the "politics" of a world championship.  This year was the second OCRWC and many of the international racers feel that the 2016 race should be held outside the US...I assume somewhere in Europe would be the preference.  Something the organizers I'm sure have been keenly aware of.  A reasonable opinion too it seems, as some of these teams were traveling here with 20-30 racers or more...quite impressive for such a young sport.  Some countries can't even manage that many athletes at the Olympics!!

So the build continued...inching forward every hour towards completion.  Each hour,  expanding my knowledge of this new world of OCR.  Learning not only about the design and building techniques the European course builders were using, but also about how they handled some of the race day operations.  Some very interesting aspects that we could learn from as an industry here about race coverage and fan promotion (this also made me wonder if they had peaked at my posts from a couple of years back on these very same suggestions!)

I also had the unique opportunity to help design asome adjustments for a few of these iconic obstacles, as the construction methods here were so much different.  Looking back, I'm glad I didn't know who some of these people were until later.  I mean, how do you suggest changes to the da Vinci's of OCR?!  In time, the course was coming together through an intricate dance of build crew, fabricators, racers, volunteers and staff...orchestrated somehow by Garfield Griffiths, race director extraordinaire.  An effort I was fortunate to witness up close from the fact that we were 'cabin-mates' for that week.

By Friday, things were getting interesting!  Since I hadn't really looked at the schedule, I was a bit surprised to see SO MANY racers and spectators in the festival/lower course that morning.  I was amazed so many racers had come in so early to check out the course.  What I didn't realize is that the OCR Warrior "Best of the Best" series was happening that afternoon!  Say what??!!  And imagine trying to keep them off the obstacles...really!!??!

The OCR Warrior event lead to one of the more amusing moments of the week for me though.  The event director came over to ask if I could get the obstacle I was working on...Tip of the Spear...ready for the event.  At least the front portion.  "Sure, when do you need it?" I said.  He said, straight faced, "In a few minutes."  ......momentary silence......  As I got out my "I'll do my best", I suppose my face had answered more quickly.  They rerouted the initial heats.  Nothing like the (pleasant) distraction of live OCR races going on right next to you, as you try desperately to finish obstacles on the eve of the Championship.

So for me, the build week finally ended Friday night around 9:30 with the completion of the winner's podium and a "painting by head light" of same...after testing it of course!  Another lesson learned here too!  Since I wanted the best finish to be on the front I asked which way the podium faced...you know, which side the second and third place stood, since they were different heights?  Trust but verify!  Needless to say, I forget who told me the answer but the next day I was mortified when they placed the podium with the 'back' facing forward!!  Certain that the imperfections would be the scandal of the event.  Fortunately, nobody but me noticed...

Another first for me at this event was that I wasn't racing!  Although I had qualified, I never registered.  And, while at the beginning of the week I'd hoped I might be allowed to race, the anticipated freezing temperatures and nagging injuries said otherwise.  After seeing much of the course all week, I realized that in my condition, there just wasn't anyway to make a legitimate attempt.  It was a difficult thing to admit that...this course was spectacular and a sort of pilgrimage venue to me.  So many iconic Mud, Guts and Glory obstacles that I never expected to see in real life.  And so it goes...

Race day I did the next  best thing though...after a godsend, Pete Durment of DryWear, allowed me to crash at his room...I went to the race as a spectator.  Armed with warm clothes and my trusty camera pack.  The OCR World Championship did not disappoint!  I witnessed an incredible Olympics worthy event...truly.  Inspiring athletes everywhere!  Team coaches running along the course for the final distance shouting encouragement.  Racers doing the same for each other.  Brett Stewart yelling advice to racers on Skull Valley.  Everyone in an OCR frenzy cheering on any racer within range.  Awesome is a vastly overused word these days.  Awesome though, is the only word that can do justice to this day in OCR...this World Championship day.

All that day I simply soaked in the atmosphere, recorded the memories and witnessed the latest stage in the ongoing development of this infant sport we have come to love...OCR.  And now, after this week, I have also come to know so many people from around the world.  Understand better what this sport means to them as well.  Not to mention becoming Facebook friends with people whose posts I can't understand...even with the translations.  But knowing that the bond of OCR transcends our differences in language.  And when I consider what I thought I knew about OCR before, it reminds me of a line from Men in Black and I think...Imagine what I'll know tomorrow.  Can't wait!!!

Related links:

OCR World Championships website

#OCRUNITED Series Brings Together the Sport of Obstacle Racing

OCR World Championships 2015 - Race Review - ORM/Chris Cow

Kings Domain

OCR World Championships - Thank You's Due...in Abundance

You May Be In the Wrong Business if You Think of Your Customers As F**ktards!

Now, I never went to business school, so maybe the rules for engaging your customers has changed.  Maybe 'in-your-face' is how it's done.  There are undoubtedly companies, or at least CEO's, who think their customers are "fucktards".  My own take on business acumen...and perhaps remaining in business period...is not to let your customers know that.  As I said though, maybe the rules have changed.

This whole question arises from a recent situation in the obstacle course racing (OCR) industry.  I first heard about this through a Facebook group I am a member of...Crazy Mudder Muckers...in the aftermath of the BattleFrog race in Pittsburgh, PA.  Apparently while quite a few (including me) were at this event...where a small number apparently received relatively minor injuries...a much smaller group were at the Mud Factor event...where a greater number of racers allegedly received more serious injuries.

[Although a group member, I don't know any of the racers personally nor have I run as a member of the team.  I also don't know anyone that was at or injured during the event. Nor have I made any investigation into the allegations in the Obstacle Racing Media story, Mud Factor – A disgrace to racing.]

This is not about whether Mud Factor or the marketing and production company eight51.inc were negligent or misleading about the safety of this event or venue.  It's not about whether these companies had the experience or knowledge to put on a safe or even worthwhile event.  Having run over 15 events myself, I and most of the other racers realize this can be a dangerous sport.  Made all the more dangerous however, when those trusted with the safety of the racers and spectators betray this trust.


No, this is about how to deal with the public...particularly your own customers...in this age of the Internet and Facebook (FB).  When I wrote this post in July, Lessons Still Not Learned....Why People Don't Really Care What You Think!, one of the main themes was to be careful about what you post...anywhere!  They have a way of never, ever, ever going quietly into the night.  And if people really get the idea that you don't care about them...that you really think of them as "fucktards" or "meatheads" or even the more affectionately playful term of "goobers"...well, it's time to think of a new way to make a living, because this one is likely cooked.

The other thing that wasn't mentioned in the original post, that is probably just as important, is know who the hell you're dealing with!  This particular FB group is large, active, vocal and extremely knowledgeable about OCR.  They are also part of the core of the OCR community with ties throughout.  Probably not the best people to piss off unnecessarily...certainly from a business standpoint.  Disney had a great way of putting it...'The customer isn't always right...but they're always your customer."  And if you're going to try and look clever anyway, take a note from the movie 'Now You See Me' and make sure you're the smartest one in the room...or in this case, on the page. 

At this point, I seriously doubt we've heard the last of it.  The OCR community is a very large one these days.  At the heart though is a core of serious racers, and serious groups, who have been doing these races for years now.  And part of the purpose of these groups is to expand participation and share race and training experiences.  If a race promoter has any thoughts of becoming a legitimate, national competitor they need these groups on their side.  And vice-versa, once you lose them, word will spread and filling venues or even selling enough entries to break even will be all but impossible.

I know many people will be watching to see how this will play out...for many reasons.  I'm certainly interested on the business side, as well as the OCR end, to see how Mud Factor and eight51.inc handle this and future PR issues...they are sure to come.  Early on in Spartan Race history and in Tough Mudder and BattleFrog as well, negativity has arisen.  How they each handled those times told a lot about the companies and individuals, and had a lot to do with why those companies are still around today.


There is another old saying that I may be paraphrasing a bit...

Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it!!

Enough said.......

Please share your own experiences here with me regarding any similar race/event issues!

 

Lessons Still Not Learned....Why People Don't Really Care What You Think!

It's a known fact that people don't seem to learn from the experience of others.  Unfortunately, sometimes it appears that people don't even learn from their own experience.

In reading this article, Mac’s Muddy Mailbag #4 , I was reminded of an incident way back at the beginning of Spartan Race.  We were all relatively new to Facebook when they had posted an 'inflammatory' remark.  Inflammatory remark in the sense that it was intended to begin a real conversation on the topic, but was very controversial.  This was also a time when you got real-time, direct responses from 'the top level' of Spartan Race.  I challenged the wisdom of making such a remark (having watched dozens upon dozens of people stating on the post that they were unfriending them and many more probably just did it).  I was told that this was a normal part of the Spartan routine...to open up discussions on hot topics while they ran through their morning routines.  Apparently though, they realized that social media worked a bit differently than small group dynamics.  A nod to Spartan Race....those types of posts never appeared again.

Why is it that companies or individuals don't seem to learn that expertise or renown in your field doesn't give any special privilege to spout off with your personal opinions on anything?  Personally, I don't really don't give a s**t about what you think regarding anything outside your area of expertise.  And frankly, no one else appears to either...not in any good way.

For an individual, this can be extremely detrimental to their image...and like the Spartan Race example...they will lose fans.  If you're trying to build a following and potentially turn that into a paycheck, you may want to rethink that strategy.  Image is everything today!!  It doesn't mean you can't have opinions...it just means that no one really cares what they are, as long as you keep them to yourself!!!

While for an individual...particularly if they're not looking for or don't need to maintain a following...this isn't a major issue.  Different strokes and all.  But for a company, where image means business...business means money...and money means staying IN business...this is just downright stupid!!

We all know, it takes years to develop a reputation or an image.  What we also need to know is that we're always just a post away from destroying it.  Or at the very least, giving ourselves a serious...and unnecessary...setback.  You cannot separate what you say personally from how you or your company are perceived today.

Image and perception are everything!  Good pieces of advice I've followed for many, many years now is never to write (or post) in anger...or in any other highly emotional state.  And ALWAYS keep my personal opinions out of the public arena.

Use your self-discipline to back away and think it through.  Keep the personal out of the public view.  Remember...anything you put out anywhere on the Internet today, could end up everywhere on the Internet today...in a heartbeat..and forever! 

What's your take on posting personal....and controversial...opinions?

  Have you had or seen any examples yourself?