If you’ve seen your friends post pictures of themselves at races where they are covered in mud and sweat, most likely they’ve just competed in an Obstacle Course Race (OCR). When you hear “obstacle course race,” you may be reminded of field days in grade school where, as kids, we hopped in sacks, jumped rope, and whipped hula hoops around. This is very different.
Obstacle Course Races require athletes to participate in a number of physical challenges that have been constructed just for the event. They usually take place over distances of a 5K, 10 miles, or more. Baxter Memorial Library Director, James Rathbun, who has been competing in OCRs for many years, said it’s normally a combination of obstacles that include running and body weight exercises like climbing ropes, walls or monkey bars.
The running often takes place through wooded terrain, usually off-trail, and frequently at ski resorts so going up and down the mountain is part of the course.
Rathbun said sometimes there will be a short swim section or a lot of mud. “I’ve always loved clambering over things and playing in the woods, climbing trees, stuff like that. It was a new sport back then but sounded like fun so I gave it a try.”
Photo credit North American OCR ChampionshipsBaxter Memorial Library Director James Rathbun competed at this year’s OCR World Championships in Kelvedon Hatch, UK.
Rathbun originally started out as a runner, participating in mostly half or full marathons, though he didn’t fare particularly well in them. He began competing in OCR after reading about them in the New York Times as he thought it might be a better fit for his strengths as he enjoyed the training and general fitness. And while he didn’t do well in his first race, it only made him want to try again.
His training for OCR consists of running several times a week, both on trails and roads, though nothing more than a 10K. He also works out at a Cross-Fit gym, participating in workouts or using equipment such as ropes, free weights and rowing machine where he focuses on skills that will help him compete in the elaborate obstacles (much like you would see on American Ninja Warrior).
“In the winter when I don’t have any races, I’ll be there as often as five times a week but during the summer and fall, I only go two or three times a week,” he shared.
Rathbun has competed in 10 states, Canada (Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, and Ottawa), as well as a multi-day event in Mexico a few years ago. He has competed in all the North American and World Championships over the last few years. Some regular season races require a top-five finish in a competitive category, others are as easy as a top 20 in your age group in an open heat. Because of that, he said getting to the Championships can be relatively simple.
While getting into the Championship may not be difficult, Rathbun said the level of competition is very high and world-class athletes are always there. “I’ve only competed in the Pro heat at a Championships once and was outclassed, but I can hold my own in my age group,” he said. The World Championships has had over 70 countries represented the last couple years so it’s truly a global event. “You get to meet people and make friends from all over the world, while racing against the best athletes in the sport,” he said.
Over the last couple of years Rathbun has been able to stay in the top 5-10 in his age group at the regular season events he’s competed in. He has either won or at the very least been on the podium in his age group at small events. Having just turned 40, Rathbun is now in a new age group and hopes to capitalize on being at the young end of the group. This year was his best for championship level events.
“In my age group, I was 11th (of 153) on the 3km course at the North American Championships. I took 8th (of 56) on the 100m at the World Championships and was 33rd (of 191) there on the 3km,” he shared. During the 15km race course at the World Championships, which is what most of his regular season events are, Rathbun had to quit mid-race and ended up in the medical tent due to hypothermia.
Rathbun has come a long way since reading the NYT article. It took some time to become skilled with Obstacle Course Racing, and while he shared that he’s only truly competitive in his age group, he will continue to compete and have fun.