Addicted To Obstacle Racing

THE PROGRESSION OF AN OBSTACLE RACING ADDICT Atlas Pro Team member Max King does it all. Road, Track, Cross Country, Trails, Ultras, and more. He's won numerous events, and even landed magazine covers. To him it's all running and about the challenge of taking on something new. He finds inspiration in the youth he coaches, pushing himself and his running, the wildness of the mountains, and now he finds new inspiration from pushing himself on obstacle courses. Max ran his first obstacle race in 2013 at the Atlas Race Medford Oregon event. He signed up for a new challenge, and it turned out to be far more than that. Max finished in 4th place in the men's elite heat in his first ever OCR event and secured a Pro Team spot with Atlas Race along the way. This was his first impression of obstacle racing "...Probably one of the coolest events I've ever done. Don't know why I waited this long to get into it but that was awesome". Max's experience is not out of the ordinary. Most people who decide to run an obstacle race event become instantly hooked. Why does this happen? INSIDE THE MIND OF A NEW OBSTACLE RACING ADDICT The moment you see the finish line on the last leg of your first obstacle race is a true life changing experience. At this point of a race you are physically drained, sore, and most likely have already lost your second wind. Your energy tank is on empty and both your arms and your legs are completely exhausted. We seldom push our bodies to this level so for most of us we are barely hanging in to reach the finish. But something amazing happens when you first see the finish line in the distance. You hit a third wind. This third wind compels you to keep going. You forget for a moment how tired you are, and despite an almost complete lack of energy - you realize that nothing matters except reaching that finish line. And for a moment, when you cross that line you experience what it is like to win. This is the first thing you become addicted to.       THE PROMISE OF MORE The second thing you realize at the finish line is the possibility of what else you can do now that you've proven to yourself what you are capable of. Once you have that medal it becomes real. You've defeated a major enemy: self doubt. Once you have defeated this voice within that often tells you that you will fail, setting your sights on accomplishing other goals and besting new challenges is a natural progression. Armed with this new self confidence a first time obstacle racer often sets their sights on their second event almost immediately. Could I have run the event faster? Could I conquer any obstacle I might have failed this time around when I run my next race? Could I run a longer event? These new found possibilities are the second step of an addiction to obstacle course racing. WHEN ELSE DO YOU GET TO HAVE THIS MUCH FUN You once loved mud and dirt. You weren't concerned with what your hair looked like or if your pants had muddy knees. You just looked for the next adventure to experience. Once you place yourself back into this mindset and begin to embrace the dirt, the mud, and the roughness of the course in general you tap into the freedom you once had to simply be in the moment and enjoy the world around you. A giant slip n slide into a huge mud puddle. Yep, that's addictive just by itself. Obstacle experiences like this one are the third thing you become addicted to. A HEALTHY ADDICTION Obstacle racing gives us a healthy hobby which keeps us moving and using our bodies well. As one slips deeper into their obstacle race addition they generally become healthier and take better care of their bodies as a side effect. And as with most addictions this one can become a gateway. A gateway into other sports and new ways to keep fit while challenging ourselves. This is the reward for those who are brave enough to attempt obstacle racing. The way you feel once you have completed an event, and how good it feels to push your body to this level become the final step in a healthy obstacle racing addiction. You literally become addicted to being healthy and feeling strong.  So what are you waiting for? Sign up for an event and experience this amazing sport for yourself: WHEN YOU ARE READY - WE WILL BE THERE   At atlas race we believe that each of us have only scratched the surface of who we are and what we can become. We believe in the untapped potential, in the igniting of a spark that will not only reveal what we are truly capable of, but will also tap into that need for purpose, for fulfillment, for an entirely new way of living life. It’s not what stands before us that defines who we are, but rather it’s those tough challenges taken on that will soon lay behind us and ultimately tell our life story.  WE ARE OBSTACLE RACING WE ARE THE CHANGE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR WE ARE ATLAS RACE - AND YOU ARE READY SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT TODAY FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Pro Team WOD (Workout Of The Day)

Train like the pros with our Atlas Race WOD.  This specialized workout was created by our Pro Team member Rose Wetzel Sinnett and was designed to properly prepare you for obstacle racing and beyond. Try it out and tell us what you think via our Atlas Race Facebook Page

Pro Team WOD (Workout Of The Day)

Train like the pros with our Atlas Race WOD.  This specialized workout was created by our Pro Team member Chad Trammell and was designed to properly prepare you for obstacle racing and beyond. Try it out and tell us what you think via our Atlas Race Facebook Page

Pro Team WOD (Workout Of The Day)

Train like the pros with our Atlas Race WOD.  This specialized workout was created by our Pro Team member John Ricardi and was designed to properly prepare you for obstacle racing and beyond. Try it out and tell us what you think via our Atlas Race Facebook Page

Are People Who Love Obstacle Course Racing Crazy?

PEOPLE DO THIS TO THEMSELVES ON PURPOSE? The answer is yes, and they're excited about doing it. The sport of Obstacle Course Racing draws hundreds of thousands of racers each year. Some are experienced and others are joining events for the very first time. One thing they all have in common despite varying levels of experience is this: These people love any challenge that makes them stronger, more confident, and ready for whatever life throws at them. These people are compelled to confront challenges and overcome them. It is a life skill that many have and many others want. The beauty of obstacle course racing is that it presents challenges which we are not normally faced with, in our comfortable modern lives. Most everything today is engineered for ease and comfort. As we became more civilized we lost a little of the primal animal within. Obstacle course racing brings us back to nature and the elements we are meant to conquer and it taps into our animal nature. THE METAPHOR BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL OBSTACLES Facing and overcoming physical challenges brings confidence and pride. Defeating that which we once thought we could not allows us to take on future challenges knowing what we are capable of. Many first time obstacle racers had doubts about whether or not they should sign up. They doubt their physical ability. They doubt their mental stamina. But when they cross the finish line they realize they are capable of more than they ever thought. Armed with this knowledge they gain confidence in themselves and often return to more obstacle race events looking for new challenges.       FINDING BROTHER AND SISTERHOOD Another aspect of obstacle racing is becoming a tribe. Running tough obstacle courses with your friends brings a whole other element into play. Teams who run these events learn to lean on each other and embrace the skills and overcome the weaknesses of each individual team member. Facing obstacles as a group forces us to evaluate ourselves and our role within a tribe. Much like native tribes from around the globe the survival of the whole depends on the efforts and unique talents of each. Running obstacle races with a group is fun, and the sense of shared experience at the finish line is a truly memorable bonding experience. LETTING YOUR INNER CHILD OUT TO PLAY You once loved mud and dirt. You weren't concerned with what your hair looked like or if your pants had muddy knees. You just looked for the next adventure to experience. This inner child still exists, but for years you have trained them to avoid the mud and play it safe. Obstacle course racing gives your inner child their own grown up sized playground. When you were a child you ran full speed toward the objects on a playground, with a desire to conquer every one. Obstacle courses are no different. In fact when you analyze them, the similarities abound. Isn't it time you got dirty? Isn't it time you felt the same sense of adventure you once did on a daily basis? Isn't it time you broke out of your comfortable routine and had a life changing experience? A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE YOU NEVER FORGET   When you cross the finish line all doubts cease. The inner voices that sometimes tell us we cannot or will not succeed are instantly silenced.  Any recent failures we once thought mattered become distant reminders of who we used to be. Finishing a tough obstacle course is a feeling beyond compare and this is why those who are brave enough to attempt it go on to become die hard obstacle racing fans. WHEN YOU ARE READY - WE WILL BE THERE   At atlas race we believe that each of us have only scratched the surface of who we are and what we can become. We believe in the untapped potential, in the igniting of a spark that will not only reveal what we are truly capable of, but will also tap into that need for purpose, for fulfillment, for an entirely new way of living life. It’s not what stands before us that defines who we are, but rather it’s those tough challenges taken on that will soon lay behind us and ultimately tell our life story.  WE ARE OBSTACLE RACING WE ARE THE CHANGE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR WE ARE ATLAS RACE - AND YOU ARE READY SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT TODAY FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Atlas Race Pro Team Website Launched!

ATLAS PRO TEAM WEBSITE Our Atlas Pro Team consists of talented and focused athletes who travel around the nation competing in Obstacle Race events while helping raise awareness to the public about the sport of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR). For those of you who attended our Atlas Race Medford Oregon event, if you caught the elite heats you may see some familiar faces. We created a great website where you can learn more about our pros, get their advice on tips for training and events as well as follow their upcoming races and race results. Check out the website to find a feature where you can ask questions or send messages straight to our team.  CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ATLAS PRO TEAM WEBSITE