2015 Atlas Race Obstacle Course Race Report - 4/25/15

What endurance season would be complete without at least one Obstacle Course Race (OCR) mixed in?

I found the Atlas Race OCR series on Facebook, and the timing, distance offered and early bird pricing was just right.  The race offers the "Boss" (3 to 5 miles) or the "Ranger" at 7 to 9 miles.  I was looking for something a little longer than the Warrior Dash or Ruckus Run to make the time to drive out to Lawrence worth the effort (named Atlas Race Kansas City, but actually held in Clinton Lake State Park).

 

So, Atlas Race KC it was for 2015 racing the Ranger course.

 

 

 

This will be a more about my experience racing the course, if you're interested in more of an event review, check out my Examiner article for the Event Review.

 

IT WAS AN ENDURANCE EVENT JUST TO GET TO THE START

Previewing my event review, I expended a lot of energy trying to track down check in, race bib pickup and event logistics in general.  Had a been a lesser driven person, I might have just chucked it.  The short of it was, the Altas organizers ran a loser ship than I'm used to with endurance events and organization.  It was a process just to track everything down and find a parking spot when I got there.

 

AND THEN IT RAINED 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS

Not really... but we had some significant rain the days before the event and mist off and on race day.  It made for some sweet mud at the event, of which we would have had none without the rain.

 

WE'RE OFF

After figuring out what the order of events were, I made my way to the start at the 10am wave after some well timed port-a-potty stops.  All you endurance people know how key that can be when not swimming first off...  It was also disappointing to learn I could have raced an earlier wave and got back home sooner to miss less on the home front since I didn't see the need to drag the Mrs and the kids to this event.  But hey, it's all a part of the experience, right?

 

After racing 4 or so OCR events, I have learned it pays off to start in front and at east get out ahead of the large groups.  After you get 6 to 7 people waiting at an obstacle that only allows 2 at a time, you spend a lot of time standing around.  I wasn't interested in that.  I'd rather race unencumbered at my own pace.  So, I sprinted my ass off for the first 100 yards to get over the wood walls in the few first guys and pretty much stayed at the front for the entire heat.

 

THINGS WERE GOING SWIMMINGLY

I was doing well only trailing to one guy after the first mile.  Was I an OCR rock star?  No.  This race lended itself to cross country endurance runners more than OCR warriors.  There were only maybe 15ish real obstacles with only the end really involving any upper body effort.  Again, reference my event review and you'll see how most of the course was about trail running, which favors a long course runner more than an OCR meat head (no disrespect, maybe).

 

I took the lead after two miles and eventually got passed on the second loop.  What's ironic is that I passed the same guy because of confusion at the second lap entry and I think he did some obstacles he shouldn't have... or the volunteer told me to go the wrong way.  Either way, I was back in front and eventually he caught me again at the finish line.  Good competition.

 

IN THE END

I ended up coming in under an hour.  Pretty sweet for a 7-9 mile OCR event!  Too bad it was only 6 miles on the 910XT GPS.  So, I either skipped some course or someone got a little lazy making the course.  Even if I went around some extra obstacles, there's no way I would have added another mile.

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

Here's how I stacked up vs the competition.

 

59 : 24 official time

17 / 186 Ranger Course Racers

3 / 28 Age Group

 

I kind of wished I would have signed up for Elite waves.  They were racing for money and I was pretty competitive with their results.  It was also key that attendance was probably throttled due to a first time event, questionable marketing outreach and the race was the same day as Warrior Dash.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

I enjoyed getting out and doing some endurance outside of the normal swim, bike and run.  Trail running is good cross training, and OCR makes it even better.  I wished I would have gotten more course in.  9 miles for a 50 minute drive to the race would have been a fair trade, but at least I got in early bird and avoided paying an outrageous price for a short long course.  My review and this recap would have taken a different tone had I paid over $100 at race day reg.

 

I'm happy with my "performance".  As I mentioned with Rock the Parkway, my focus is Ironman Boulder and getting the work done for that.  I did not come into Atlas with any real goals other than a hard run and wasn't tapering or resting for a race effort.  Something to mix it up.  I wanted to get the heart rate up and not get hurt.  Those goals were met, no problem.  I do wish I would have looked at Elite a little harder, but since this was the first time racing Atlas, I wasn't sure what to expect.

 

Stay tuned for more recaps and previews as race season is in full force!

 

 

Q&A with Atlas Race OCR in Kansas City this weekend!

I've got a busy weekend coming up...

Atlas Race OCR on Saturday and Trolley Run on Sunday.

I raced Rock the Parkway a few weeks ago, and still owe a race report.  It turned out good and bad... more to come.

I really have no expectations for the OCR.  I've raced Warrior Dash and Ruckus Run, but they were only 3ish miles.  I signed up for the Ranger which is 7-9 miles.  The distance won't be an issue, but the obstacles will be a challenge with my limited strength work.

I recently had a Q and A session with Atlas Race, so read on for what's to come this weekend.

As you may know, obstacle racing is one of the fastest growing sports on the planet. Participants of all ages and skill level are invited to become a part of the obstacle course race movement in any number of experience categories including individual competitor, team or family entry in an event that inspires everyone’s “inner athlete.” It is a great way for the community to come together, build confidence, and have a positive attitude about health and fitness.

Course types are as follows for the Atlas Race series: “The Ranger”: A course ranging between 7-9 miles with 25+ obstacles “The Boss”: A course ranging between 3-5 miles with 20+ obstacles

Further information, as well as complete schedule of upcoming Atlas races can be found at http://www.atlasrace.com/.

Atlas Race is also part of the OCR warrior competition. OCR Warrior is a head-to-head obstacle race reality challenge show, developed by the founders of Mud Run Guide. Every episode, two OCR athletes battle through the knockout rounds to reach the finals, in each venue, only one male and female will be crowned OCR Warrior, and Kansas City will be a part of the series.

On to the Q and A.

Provided By Scott Gephart, Atlas Race

Q: What’s the attendance been like for the first races?
A: Attendance has been good, and nearly what we expected for our first few races. We've been happy, especially going into first year markets, and markets that don't normally get these types of events. The reviews of Atlas have been amazing!

Q: What's Atlas' plan to be sustainable and keep coming back year after year?
A: This is a tough industry. A lot of people think that they are going to come in and do amazingly well right out of the gate. It takes work. Our main road to success is to put on great events, give the race community something that leaves them feeling good about their accomplishment, and establish solid relationships with the towns and communities where we stage our events. By establishing those relationships we are able to create long term partnerships with those communities and increase attendance year over year when we return. We want to continue producing quality events, which means we aren’t looking to produce 40 to 50 races a year. We are planning our growth carefully for longevity.

Q: What made them choose Clinton Lake for the KC race since technically it's 30 miles west of KC?
A: Obstacle races require a certain type of terrain in order to build a course. Most metropolitan areas and cities don't have the type of land needed in order to properly build out a good obstacle race. Clinton Lake was the location that matched our needs to create the best possible event and experience for our race participants. To meet that criteria, many of our event locations are approximately 30 minutes outside of the race city, but naming the race by its closest city helps people to recognize its approximate location.

Q. What is 24 Hour Fitness’s involvement in Atlas Race?
A. Obstacle racing is one of the fastest growing sports. No matter what your athletic level, there is a way to participate. Atlas Race and 24 Hour Fitness have partnered to present the Atlas Race series because we provide programs that are available and accessible to everyone.. 24 Hour Fitness is the perfect partner to inspire new fans that can grow an individual’s fitness experience to the next level. And, as our exclusive partner, 24 Hour Fitness is offering a special 30% race entry discount to members. (The link to the Atlas Race discount offer can be found at 24HourFitness.com - CHECK THIS OUT WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER ONLINE TO SAVE SOME CASH!)

Q. Course layout map to see what obstacles were placed, where, etc.
A. There is not currently a map online that indicates the obstacles. There will likely be a map available on site the day of the race.

Q. How do we check in? Morning of? Pre-race packet pickup?
A. There are two ways to check in: 1. Packet pick up will be held at the 24 Hour Fitness location in Kansas City. This is the recommended course of action so that members can take advantage of getting a pre-race workout in as well! 2. The day of the event (though this can be chaotic and is not recommended)

Q. Do we have to pay to get in to Clinton Lake State Park? We have raced several events out there and if it’s like the others, they require cash and the lines to get in the park can be LONG and frustrating.
A. Parking is usually a site/park requirement. Atlas Race will make sure to expedite the process in order to insure people aren’t waiting in lengthy lines Editor’s note - Clinton Lake State Park usually has a parking fee and only takes cash. Bring at least $10 in cash or they will not let you in and you will have to go 10 minutes back to Lawrence to the nearest ATM.

Q. When we check out the event info section on the site, the links go to generic parts about teams and non-site specific details. Will an email be coming out soon?
A. Yes, race participants will receive an email in the next 24 hours indicating your start times. We hope the rain comes in during the night as a muddy course is something that people should be excited about and look forward to in the world of obstacle course racing!

Atlas Race Stats/Facts:

• Number of days it takes to set up the course: It takes 5-7 days to build a course
• Number of volunteers it takes to set up the course, man the course on days-of-event, etc.: Approximately 10 volunteers to set up and approximately 50 volunteers to handle various responsibilities on the day of the race itself
• Pounds of weighted items that participants carry/lift: It varies based on the obstacle, however the average weight for men is approximately 40 lbs., women is 20 lbs.
• Height of the 24HF course obstacle: 10 -12 ft.
• Bottles of water consumed on race day: 500-750
• Bottles of other beverages consumed (non-alcoholic, energy drinks, alcohol): 1,000
• Number of 24HF towels handed out at finish line: 500-1,000
• Number of participants: Kids: 100 -200, Adults: Event average is 1,000, Teams: 10-15 teams per event
• Miles of smiles at the finish line: 3,600 miles Average amount of weight in mud that each participant crosses the finish line with: 10 lbs.

2013 Kansas City Warrior Dash Obstacle Course Race Recap - 4/27/13

So this past weekend, Warrior Dash came calling to Kansas City.

3ish miles of cross country style running with 15 or so obstacles.

The weather was looking pretty good.  60's on Saturday with some spotty rain, but nothing debilitating.

In 2012, I ran the WD in 28:40 for about 8:30 minute miles.  I was hoping to better that time and have a good time in general.  I know I'm not going to bust out 6 min/mile to win the thing, but I like to be competitive, finish strong and not injure myself.

Saturday was my day at the 1pm wave.

But, as you may recall, our daughter had to have her tonsils out last week and we had an extended stay in the hospital for post-surgery issues.  There were some sleepless nights, no rest and come Saturday, we decided the time spent driving to WD, running and driving home would be better spent focusing on a long run around the house and taking care of the kiddo.  I could have transferred to Sunday, but it was the same mantra, "family comes first" and it wasn't right to leave Em with a recovering kiddo and a wild toddler boy.  On a side note, Wee Man is 2 and a half and HOLY COW he is into EVERYTHING and does not stop!  Wow... I need to bottle that up for my races.

So, Warrior Dash will have to wait for another year.

I'm trying to see if I can get my shirt or anything, or maybe transferred to 2014.  I'm not sure if they will be any more cool than WTC when they flat out pissed on me when I missed IM 70.3 Branson when my son was in the NICU.  We shall see.  I'm counting on nothing, but it would at least be cool to get my t-shirt.  I could go crawl around in the mud in the subdivision they are building by my house and have that count, right?

2013 Warrior Dash Kansas City preview

It's time for ANOTHER RACE!
Second obstacle course race of the year (and probably last of 2013) comes up this weekend.  Time for some Warrior Dash!

Three weeks ago was the Ruckus Run KC that turned out pretty well.  I managed to improve my time and I believe I qualified for the Champion's Heat, but didn't stick around to find out.

Two weeks ago was the Rock the Parkway Half Marathon.  Much to my wife's excitement, this wraps up the flurry of early "spring" racing for me.  This is the most jam packed part of the year racing wise for me, which puts strain on the home front with the kiddos, but Em's handling it like a trooper.


It would be nice if spring would show up...
And it should starting this weekend.  As I type this preview up, it's in the 30's and raining with occasional snow.  Temps should drop to the 20's tonight and freeze everything.  Joy.

But, this weekend is looking up!
Today, suck.
Wednesday, less suck.
Thursday, respectable.
Friday, respectable.
Race Day Saturday, spectacular!

I'm signed up for the Saturday races and I'm looking forward to warmth and sunshine.  The forecast better not change!


There is a caveat though.
R2 gets the ole tonsils out this week.  Nothing indicates that it will be an issue, but should concerns arise or complications such as a grumpy child carry into the weekend, I could be pressed into service and have to opt out of the Warrior Dash.  It one of those deals, family comes first.


But, assuming I race...
My goal is to simply better my time from last year.

It's not a easy task to better time from a traveling obstacle course race.  They change the layout and configuration from year to year, so it's almost apples to oranges.

I'm just going to approach it like Ruckus and run all out to separate from the crowds to get unimpeded run-up to the obstacles.  Avoiding waiting times is key.

I plan on running the same gear (I even kept the shoes from Ruckus to avoid trashing two pairs) and the same strategy as Ruckus Run.  It seemed to work well and you have to stick with what works.

Wish me luck!

Have you been training for @RuckusSports Ruckus Kansas City?

Did you know the race is coming up?
April 6th... are you signed up!  You better SIGN UP!

It's going to be epic!

I've ran it the past 2 years since it came to Kansas City and it's been awesome!  They have improved from year to year.

One big secret is that if you are at all competitive, you need to get in the early waves.  That's less people on the course and it's less torn up earlier in the day.  Plus, if the weather in KC continues like it has, it might be a soggy course.  That gets torn up in a hurry.

I have tips below I learned from 2011 and 2012, and next week I will be publishing tips for 2013.  Stay tuned to find out what's the best way to tackle Ruckus from a 2-time KC veteran.

Check out some tips about obstacle course racing.  I'll be writing a few more up in preparation for the 2013 event.

• Tips from 2012 
• Tips from 2011

I also reviewed and compared Ruckus to Warrior Dash last year.  Read up to see the highlights for each race!

I will be there racing as an "ambassador" of sorts on a comp entry for helping spread the word.  I've raced every year they have been here, and it's always been a good time!


The first year I worked out specifically for the event...
I attended Rev Gym's x-camp class on a consistent basis to build endurance and strength without the bulking up part.  It was a kick ass workout, but it has been difficult to get in this year.  It didn't fit the schedule while I was working the cube life, but now that I'm ventured into self employment and triathlon coaching, I'm hoping to get back into it.  It's a GREAT workout and a good supplement to the traditional triathlon training to keep us from training one dimensionally that could lead to overuse and repetitive motion injuries.

It strengthens muscles not always used in swim, bike and run, but support those types of workouts and keeps us injury free.

But, back to 2013.  I haven't made it much and strength training has been minimal at best.  The schedule just didn't allow for it consistently.  I do make it to Pilates reformer sessions at least once a month, but that's not going to cut it to make great improvement.  I've focused on strength workouts in swim, bike and run.  Hills, sprints, zone two and other drills to get the cardio system taxed and ready.  It should be interesting to see how the strength element holds up.  I'm more trained up for running this year at this point, but when you get past the first 10 or so obstacles, it takes a toll and you just slow down.

I'll have to either decide to be conservative to stay consistent through the whole race or just go balls out and let the chips fall where they may...

Check back for pre-race and race reports!

Ruckus Run from @RuckusSports coming up soon, chance for 15% off!

It's coming April 6, are you ready?

Check out some tips about obstacle course racing.  I'll be writing a few more up in preparation for the 2013 event.

• Tips from 2012 
• Tips from 2011

I also reviewed and compared Ruckus to Warrior Dash last year.  Read up to see the highlights for each race!

I will be there racing as an "ambassador" of sorts on a comp entry for helping spread the word.  I've raced every year they have been here, and it's always been a good time!

If you are thinking of getting in, check out the deal below to get 15% off the entry fee.


Active.com is offering an exclusive 15% off discount to the event.
In order to take advantage of this great discount, fill out this brief, 5-question survey.

The code EXPIRES 3/20/13.

Happy Ruckus Training!

Sign up for @RuckusSports Kansas City, since you're snowed in and don't have anything else to do!

RUCKUS KANSAS CITY

April 6, 2013 / Grain Valley, MO

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Reserve your spot and save- you will not want to miss this year's race!

Come Out & Play - Register Today!


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Man Vs Triathlon has partnered with Ruckus Sports to bring updates about Ruckus Kansas City. Ruckus has issued a complementary entry for the marketing assistance.