Obstacle Mud Runner - Issue 7

The Ram Run is for Everyone Why for everyone? I have had a long life in high level sport, participating, coaching, teaching. Forty years playing rugby, breaking most bones, dislocating most joints plus an intensive 57 years, of a business life involving huge travel programs flying and driving should have left me with the health problems of many of my contemporaries. Various surgeons warned me I would be a walking, perhaps , bundle of arthritic joints. In 2000 I worked two years in the Czech Republic, a very intensive reorganization of a 2000 employee company. When I came back to the UK the intensity continued, not as much exercise as I had been used to. In 2010 I had a lot of pain in my hip after being on my feet for an hour or so. I assumed rugby was to blame but the consultant decided from my history it was more likely to be javelin throwing as a young man – he quoted Steve Backley, best ever British thrower, who had full hip replacement aged 36. I was 67 and he said ‘let’s do it now, no cartilage left’. I now have a long metal spike in my thigh with a steel socket in the hip. That is when I took the decision to get fit again and use my fitness and sport training experience in my own gym to help others. My experience did not count with insurers so I became the oldest PT student. Because of my age I wanted to be really good and one after the other in rapid succession I went through Levels 2, 3 and 4 including Biomechanics. 2012 I set up my own gym – Stoneleighfit – and a few months later some of my members told me about Tough Guy. When I saw what they went through I could see that OCR could be a real whole body test and fun. Training for OCR would be a great regime for everyone especially those without other sports to focus their training on. How for everyone? We focused on key elements and have maintained these unwaveringly n The obstacles have to be a genuine test, tough but not stupidly or dangerously difficult. I am an engineer and could easily design the most difficult obstacles on the planet. Instead we design obstacles that most runners will have a go at. The racers will charge over them but there are so many that their stamina, technique and concentration is severely tested. Extreme example – our yellow perils are 600mm high but when the racers were trying to jump over 70 of them in each lap they were cursing me – also in writing! Our injury count is almost nil. n Seriously competitive good, experienced runners must find the course to be a very tough challenge at race speed. We are qualifying races for Euro and National champs . n The less competitive are encouraged to challenge themselves and build up the range of obstacles they can conquer. We have easier option routes at some obstacles – runners choice n We like to use nature and what is out there. Before HS2 wrecked our course at Stoneleigh many racers nominated the Bridge of Despair as the toughest challenge out there. n Entrants for Ram Runs are offered free obstacle training and fitness sessions twice weekly at www.stoneleighfit.com At Stoneleighfit we have indoor and outdoor rigs as well as a fully equipped, versatile gym with its active Crossfit group. n Youngsters, 12 - 15, run the Ram Run as young adults – look at these ones attacking the Bridge of Despair. They are on the easier route up, but still a real challenge n Under 12’s run several laps of a short course as Wild Lambs running with Rampager parents n People said I was mad to take the risk with youngsters – all the insurance problems were quoted. It only requires sensible course design and management. Now many groups are doing it and I am very happy to see it because my PT Level 4 course was ‘Obesity and Diabetes management’. This is as much a youngster problem as adults – we are plagued by the obesogenic environment we live in but we must not give in to it. Get OCR running! n Most of all the Ram Run wants you to have fun. All our gym training is based around enjoyment – if you don’t enjoy it you will not keep it up. Same with OCR Job done! The Ram Run is for everyone (and I got quite fit and strong again) – win : win Would you like to see more? http://ramrun.co.uk/ https://www.clifflakes.org/obstacle-course-racing-ocr Check out the Iron Ram weekend, it is different! RACE : RAM RUN tough but not stupidly or dangerously difficult obstaclemudrunner.co.uk 18 Iain Exeter aka Wild Ram How to replace our Stoneleigh Park venue? Very difficult to find another great venue but we did – Cliff Lakes Watersports near Tamworth – we think the best outdoor OCR training venue in the UK – Cliff Lakes OCR . Add to their huge obstacle training area Ram Run’s Inferno for an intensive Obstacle Arena without equal. Runners come in and out of the two sectors several times enjoying the spectator encouragement. Probably the best OCR spectator experience. ForEliteAtheletes toFunRunners Easy to say but not so easy to do. Why and how do we do it? Ram Rig at INFERNO Young Rams The Ram Run + Cliff Lakes OCR partnership – for the best in OCR for everyone AT