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8
5 levels of an
OCR athlete
I have listened to the ups, downs, trials and
tribulations that OCR (Obstacle Course Racing)
athletes and enthusiasts feel when approaching their
racing and training. I have heard about the frustration
of a missed obstacle, the impedance of injury and
elation of achievement, sometimes all in the same
conversation.
Performance Coaching brings me the opportunity
and pleasure of being able to support those
individuals in breaking through their limiting beliefs
to experience their hopes, dreams and aspirations
and watching them come true.
I’d like to share the 5 levels of an OCR athlete I’ve
observed.
L1
CAN I COMPLETE ONE?
At some point this is the question all OCR
racers have asked themselves. The reasons why we
get into OCR are varied and uniquely personal, but
this question is the key challenge everyone is trying
to answer before their first one.
How? Well it is often through a combination of things;
spending less time on the sofa and more time running
or in the gym, finding support when least expected or
sheer determination to get to that finish line and earn
that medal, t-shirt, patch or Facebook post.
The effort to get to this stage should never be under-
appreciated, as the change in behaviour to be able
to feel capable to complete that first race is likely to
have a been a big shock to the system, one that feels
good at times and not so great at others.
Appreciation of that effort can often be the starting
point to progressing to the next level, as progression
through each level requires a further evolution of
behaviour to be able to achieve more and more.
Recognising why they decided to complete that first
race, why they appreciate the positive change and
what that now brings to their capabilities and life are
important questions for racers at this level to answer,
so there is a familiar foundation upon which their
future successes can be built.
L2
CAN I COMPLETE A TOUGHER ONE?
The next question is a natural progression
from the first, and the definition of ‘tougher’ is always
a subject of debate. Is the distance longer? Are the
obstacles higher or heavier or are there just more of
them? Can I complete the same one quicker?
Defining ‘tougher’ for each individual then helps them
decide where to focus their training. Do they need to
become physically stronger, be able to run further, or
sustain effort levels for longer at a higher intensity?
From there they can then source a training plan
and support, whether that is an established team or
their friends and family to help keep focussed.
It can be easy to spend some time at this level,
cycling through becoming stronger, then becoming
quicker, then becoming stronger and quicker until you
have a medal wall that is the envy of those who see it.
Those looking to progress to the next level have
found it critical to assess whether they are keeping
themselves safe, protecting themselves from the
perceived greater physical and psychological effort to
break through and achieve even more. This is where
that appreciation at Level 1 can come in handy,
because they recognise they have evolved once
before successfully and they can take confidence
from that to evolve again.
L3
CAN I COMPLETE SEVERAL?
By now, training regularly is part of who
these athletes are. If it isn’t then addressing this
should be the starting point, as the focus grows from
completing 1 or 2 a year, to 1 or 2 a month.
Taking stock of the improvement on a week-to-week
basis, putting together specific training plans to
address the biggest areas of weakness in the last
OCR (strength, speed, technique) or even better
for the next one, and breaking PBs left, right and
centre keep these racers motivated and importantly
maintain that growth focus.
Again, taking moments to reflect, appreciate and
take stock allows the body to recover physically and
RACE : PERFORMANCE
breaking through the limits
Graham Roberts
Performance Coach
and Behavioural
Change Consultant
at Ispire Motivational
Coaching Ltd, gives
us an insight into his
world. I think most of
us can relate.
Identifying the
shift in the goal
at this stage is
the first step
to conquering
it successfully.
Setting the bar
higher enables
racers to clarify
and commit
to the training
plan that will
get them to that
new goal.
