WHAT IT TAKES... TO BE AN OBSTACLE COURSE RACER
IN A SPORT WHERE SPEED MEETS STRENGTH AND NO SMALL AMOUNT OF SUFFERING, TRAINING IS ABOUT BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SKILLS ACROSS THE BOARD
Words Rob Kemp
In the world of obstacle course racing (OCR), one man rules the roost: 30-year-old Brit Jonathan Albon has won every OCR World Championships since 2014, as well as the Spartan ultra-endurance World Championship twice. As if dominating one sport wasn’t enough, Albon is also the current world Skyrunning (mountain running) champion.
Anyone who’s taken part in obstacle course events – think Tough Mudder, Adrenalin Rush, Tough Guy or elite Spartan OCR – will know that it pays to have trained across a number of disciplines to meet the multitasking challenges these contests present. For Albon, that cross-training approach not only provides the success (and prize money) he needs to make a living from the sport, it also boosts his strength and stamina for the ultra-marathon races he excels in.