MudRunFun Magazine Aug. 2013

The Regiment Muddy Mommy Team Highlight Troy King - MRF Elite

MudRunFun Magazine is distributed to 25,000 + subscribers. Advertise your OCR related products, apparel and services Contact Myke Hanna Marketing Director 727.919.0969 [email protected]

writers Whats inside this issue? Jasmyne Huewit Get Social - Group Links OCR Enthusiast Mud Run Fun ..........................pg 2 South East Region A word from the owners Damion & Matthew ................pg 3 Neil Murphy Co-founder of Te Main Event - Hero Rush The Regiment Kat Jennings .............................pg 4 “A mudrun changed my life...” Chris Ortega Jasmyne Huewitt .....................pg 6 OCR Enthusiast South East Region “Te Regiment” Neil Murphy ...........................pg 10 Nabilah Fountain “Family” Chris Ortega ..........................pg 12 NASM Certfed Trainer Nutriton Coach Race Map Marty McCrory Mud Run Fun ........................pg 14 Race Pace Photos “Phases of Training” Owner / Photographer Nabilah Fountain ..................pg 16 Rita Lunardi “Local or Big Box Races?” Marty McCrory .....................pg 18 OCR Athlete South East Region “Why I love Rock On Adventures” Rita Lunardi ..........................pg 20 Holly Berkey Team Spotlight - Cornfed Spartans Blogger / Writer Cornfed Spartans ..................pg 22 MuddyMommy.com “Te Tenacious Runner” Troy King Holly Berkey ...........................pg 24 MRF Elite Athlete Spotlight Troy King ................................pg 29

Get Social 25,000 + Members! Have a group of your own? Get exposed to 25,000 + subscribers by joining the MudRunFun social network Email [email protected] for details Facebook Meetup North East NorCal https://www.facebook.com/groups/345499792229163/ http://www.meetup.com/Bay-Area-Mud-Run-Training/ North West Texas https://www.facebook.com/groups/346549892093878/ http://www.meetup.com/Obstacle-Runners-Racers/ Mid West Virginia https://www.facebook.com/groups/368390809896037/ http://www.meetup.com/Mud-Race/ South East https://www.facebook.com/groups/342706172412258/ Twitter South West MudRunFun https://www.facebook.com/groups/224920700964320/ https://twitter.com/MudRunFun Matthew@MudRunFun 2 https://twitter.com/masteroleary

A Word from the Owners of MRF Over the last year MudRunFun has grown from a small team in Florida to a national community of teams, events and runners. Te rate at which the MudRunFun community has grown is astounding and we have you, our supporters, to thank. No doubt it is the sense of community and camaraderie that has brought us and kept us together and we are proud to be a part of it. Tank you for trusting us to lead the way. Tere are many faces to MudRunFun, socially and technologically. To some we are a tight knit team that dominates south eastern races. To others we are a national community where you can always fnd other members to run with, even if you are on the road. We promote bloggers, events, businesses and many unique teams within the OCR community. On the tech side we have a huge following. Our small team site has transformed into a resource for mud run and obstacle course event information, reviews and promocodes. We have apps on Facebook, Android and soon iPhone. We have groups on Facebook, Meetup and are followed by hundreds on Twitter and Google + . It seems like everywhere we look on the web our community pops up. And now Te Magazine. We have been waiting for the perfect moment, when all the supporting pieces have moved into place. Like the rest of our work, we hope MudRunFun Magazine will be a useful source of helpful information, inspiring stories and news about what is happening in the OCR scene. We have invested countless hours, some all-nighters, and endless passion into this. We hope you enjoy, Tank You Damion Trombley Matthew O’Leary 3

Main Event Hero Rush might be the most unique event classified as an obstacle race. With its frefghter theme and strong start up infrastructure, Hero Rush came out the gate roaring providing a race with a fun twist and visually pleasing venues. Providing entertainment for the children also adds to the experience as you can involve your whole family. Everybody loves swag! Hero Rush issues both the children and adults high quality fnisher medals, custom race bibs (for you collectors), Hero Dinero (a few bucks you can spend at venue) and of course a great quality t-shirt. Hero Rush created a unique obstacle called Te Towering 4 Inferno. A vertical crawl up a corrugated pipe with 2 x 4’s

and other objects blocking your way. To add to the crazy mix you also have water pouring down from above which makes looking up near impossible while you climb. Depending on time of year or what state you navigate this obstacle, the water temperature might get you! Afer you make it to the top there is one way down. SLIDE! Are you working on your fear of small tight places? Ten Hero Rush provides a chance for you to challenge yourself once again. With an obstacle that puts you in a blacked out maze with smoke and loud sound efects of an emergency all while crawling trying to fnd your way out. Many people have opted out of this obstacle. Too bad it was while they were half way through it! What are you waiting for? Sign up today for an event near you! Challenge yourself, family and friends to a 3 to 4 mile course of heroic obstacles. Bring the children! Sign them up for the kid’s event! 5

A Mud Run Changed My Life For two years I lived on fast food and started my days 4:30 in the morning and crawled into bed well I hadn’t always been a couch potato. When I was afer midnight. young, I was very active. I was on the swim team, I saw an advertisement for Hog Wild Mud Run I played basketball and sofball and I was known and that looked like so much fun! I found their to rollerblade or ride my bike for hours on end. Facebook page and made a decision to do that I continued this level of activity into adulthood race! I assured myself that the race was only 3 miles adding a variety of dance classes to the list. I and I had walked or ran that distance before so it worked several years as a lifeguard and substitute would be no problem. Prior to the race, I contacted water aerobics instructor and became a “pool man” the race director to fnd out how to connect with afer that. I did not ever sit down, until about 5 other people that would be there. I didn’t know years ago. I became employed at a government anyone that would consider doing a race, let alone agency and spent most of my 8 hour days tied to a race that involved mud. He connected me with a desk. Two years into obtaining that position, I MudRunFun and I met my long lost family! Te decided to go back to school. As a single group immediately welcomed me in despite my mom, working full time and having zero experience with mud runs or running attending between 9 and 14 in general. I followed the group for several months credit hours per semester, my online before actually meeting them. From the time 6 activity level dropped to zero. I drove into the parking lot, I was forced to face

one fear afer the other. What if the people in MudRunFun don’t like me? What if I am the last person to fnish? What if I don’t have anyone to help me get through the course? I’m afraid of heights, what if one of the obstacles is really high? What if, what if, what if… When I got to the MudRunFun tent, I was welcomed with hugs and kind words and it actually felt like seeing an old friend afer a long absence. I didn’t want to slow any of them down, so I went to the start line by myself and struck up a conversation with a group of ladies that seemed to be a match for my ftness level. I learned later that day that my ftness level was a zero, or nonexistent. It took me more than 2 hours to fnish a 5k and I went home and slept until the next day. I conquered every one of my initial fears that day and made a decision to permanently get my behind of the couch! Swimming and dancing have always been my favorite sports. Tey help me relieve stress and relax me so that I have time to think. I have made life-altering decisions afer an hour in the swimming pool. I fell in love with mud runs for a totally diferent reason. I am scared of just about everything, which mud runs bring me face-to-face with, but I conquer them every time. Navigating obstacles gives me the opportunity to prove to myself that I can do great things. I’m able to conquer my fear of heights by jumping of clifs. I’m able to conquer my fear of falling by showing myself that I am strong enough to hold on. I’m able to conquer my fear of being inadequate because no matter what, I fnish every time. Each time I pull myself 7

over an obstacle, I prove that I am stronger than I was before. Each time I am able to encourage someone else to conquer one of their fears, I am thankful to be able to pass on what MudRunFun gave me; confdence in myself. When I did my frst mud run I could not jump, run or lif my weight in any way. I struggled to climb every single obstacle and afer 2 hours, I went home dizzy, sore and worn out! I had no idea how out of shape I was. I took that experience as a sign to change my habits. I began searching for exercise options in and around my city and found one that ft into my budget; free! Afer the frst class I could not even stand up the next morning. I kept at it and with every class I felt myself becoming stronger. I was no longer winded going up the stairs to my apartment and I was able to jump rope for the frst time in years. Each picture I saw posted on MudRunFun’s FB page gave me a goal to work toward. I became motivated to get up and get moving. At times, it’s still a struggle to fnd the time for a traditional workout, but I always fnd a couple of minutes for “secret” burpees in the break room when no one is around. Burpees aren’t nearly as fun as when you are sneaking! It probably sounds silly, but it works to get me of my duf! I love it when I actually have a race coming because I use that as motivation to work hard. Every burpee makes me stronger and one day I’ll be strong enough to climb the rope like Tracy. Every “wog” (walk/ jog) makes me stronger and one day I’ll run the entire race without stopping like Panda. 8

I dream of one day completing races with a tire like Matt. Every person I meet is a connection that pulls me further out of my shell and helps me conquer my extreme shyness. Every obstacle I conquer at a race gives me more confdence. All of these things transfer over to my professional life. I now exude confdence in myself and my ability to overcome things that appear difcult. I am no longer too shy to open my mouth and talk to people. I’ve learned that hard work can be fun. A mud run and a motley crew of mudders took me in as family and truly changed my life. 9

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that is so strong that it can only be defned as Family - A term that brings “family”. specifc ideals to mind; but usually when Challenges tend to bring people together others think of family, they think of a brother/ whether it is on the battlefeld or going sister, mother/father, grandparents, uncles/ through a traumatic experience. But attaining aunts, cousins. Generally, we think of family closeness with one another doesn’t always as blood relatives, but in a broader context, we have to be challenges of extreme. Sports teams may defne family as those who are around us tend to have a closeness more than other types so ofen that it feels like we are blood relatives of friendships because they are working or because of having such a strong relationship playing toward a common goal and that is to with each other. We feel this way because of win or attain a championship. familiarity and interactions that cause each of When MudRunFun was created, it had very us to view each other in brother/sisterhood. low expectations and only a few people. Like- What brings people together in these types minded friends who wanted to get together of bonds specifcally? What is it that makes at various mud/obstacle course (OCR) races someone feel that they are in a family. Even to have a good time and share time together. people who are blood related don’t always feel To also get discounts for having a little that they are “family”. However, group guaranteed to get together in order to what if there was a group, a challenge themselves from point A to point B team, a community that and achieve personal victories and share those 12 is brought together with victories. a common goal or bond

...family continued In time, more people began to join and the It does not matter if you are an elite runner group started creating an identity that had in the best shape of your life or beginning on and has been attracting more people over your ftness journey. MudRunFun appeals to and over. Acceptance, support, kindness, everyone at every level because we all know and competition all became ideals that that in the end, it is all about being not only MudRunFun began to idealize as the group the best person you can be. It all comes from has grown stronger and stronger with a force. the heart as MudRunFun members know To be able to represent not only the that helping others is the individuals of the best way to be elite all group, but also create around. Sometimes, as a a voice for all those MudRunFun member, joining the OCR you’ll fnd yourself that want a good, on a course, helping quality challenge someone stuck on a that very well wall that is afraid shows the frst- of heights. You time competitor may fnd yourself something new pushing someone about themselves. through that is Being with in a wheelchair. MudRunFun is Why would not the normal you do this? group setting. Because that is When the group exactly what we do is together en and why we do it. masse, you feel a sense of belonging in a We love our competition, way that no groups can match. Te desire to we love winning our awards and fnishing be around each member is compounded by medals and are impassioned about this sport. the fact that everyone is trying to attain the But the reality of what makes us who we are same goals and that is to be the best they could is who we can help to make a better person at possibly be by starting at the Start line and the end of the day. fnishing at the Finish line with laughter, love, and camaraderie. 13

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I see it all the time; clients wanting to achieve too many things at once. Not only do they want to PR in every race, they also want to put on size as well as maintain an extremely low body fat percentage all at the same time. Te problem with this is that you simply cannot do all three and be successful. In order to see improvements in your body and performance, you must select a training program that is specifcally geared towards one goal. If you are trying to change your body fat composition, your diet and exercise will be vastly diferent from a program that is designed to enhance sports performance. Take a sprinter for example. During their of season they are training for strength and power. Teir program is designed to specifcally increase the force output needed once their season begins. During this time they increase muscular hypertrophy, body fat and eat to facilitate their training. Once season begins, their training phases change and they redirect their focus on speed and technique. Because of the shif in their program, their body will also adapt by becoming leaner. Tis is the body’s way of accommodating the work load that is needed to perform at the level that is 16 needed to win. Just like all or most athletes,

you have to train in phases and select the goal you are working towards for that moment. Over time your body will start to change and you will gradually look the way you want to look. Keep in mind, however, if you are a runner or participate in the OCR circuit, you will lose size during your season due to the massive amounts of running you will be doing. Tis is necessary in order for your body to adapt and ft the activity it’s performing. Like I said earlier, you cannot have all three goals at the same time. You need to select which one is more important to you; your appearance or your performance. Once you have done that, you will Nabilah Fountain be able to narrow down your training method. Selecting a training program can be a daunting task, but understanding the phases of training will only I am a NASM certifed trainer, nutrition coach, increase your chance of success and turn you into former elite gymnast, blogger and athlete in the the machine you’ve always wanted to be. Tampa Bay Area, Florida. With over 17 years in the industry, I am able to combine knowledge and Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook. experience to bring my clients and readers the most com/revolveftcamp and follow our blog at http:// efective ftness/health programs around. www.liveintheskinny.wordpress.com for more insightful reads on health and ftness! Tech Tip When logged into Facebook... ...MudRunFun app users will see their friends pop up on the MudRunFun.com website... ...next to the upcoming races they are attending. 17 Click here for app

When we decide how to spend our race budget, However, a “big box” race and a local race are we ofen are presented with a choice: should we sign diferent enough that, usually, one is the clear up for a “big box” race (e.g. Spartan Race, Savage choice. Race, Superhero Scramble, Tough Mudder) or a local event? You should sign up for a “big box” race if you want: Tere are advantages and disadvantages to each. ■ A great, epic atmosphere A local event might change plans at the last minute. ■ Obstacles that are well-built Obstacles may not be well-constructed, the event ■ To compare yourself with friends across the site may not be able to handle a high volume of country who have participated in the event also trafc, or the event may put out a deal at the last ■ Security in your entry fee (the “big box” races minute to get more people to sign up, leaving those rarely, if ever, run last-minute specials) who paid full price bitter. A “big box” race is ofen the same from week to A local event might be your choice if you want: week. Te courses are predictable, the atmosphere ■ A good deal on the entry fee (they’re usually can be less personal, and the price is cheaper than “big box” races) ofen high. ■ A unique selection of obstacles ■ An intimate atmosphere 18 ■ To support local business in your area