esjones12 Member

I've completed well over 30 OCR's, including two TM's. TM was my first major OCR. What did you do to get ready for your first TM? I was working with a personal trainer once a week. Lifting weights twice a week and doing cardio 3-4 times a week. How much time did you give yourself to prep? I had been working on weight loss…

I do OCR. I've got about 25 pounds to drop to get to race weight, so no "bulk" phase here. Though I do lift a lot to get stronger.

This. I fast from 7pm to 12pm (no breakfast). But I always eat a nice salad for lunch and drink a protein shake in the afternoon. That way I have energy and nutrients to fuel my workouts (4:30pm). I do do some workouts (and even start my races) fasted, but every workout has a purpose and most of my workouts are more…

Boku is hands down the best quality wise. Extremely reputable company. The taste isn't terrible. I prefer plain to chocolate. The only really good tasting protein powders (including whey) that I've found had a bunch of sugar and junk in them. If you take it as a meal replacement (or aren't on a huge deficit) you can add a…

This. If anything I've felt less grip in super aggressive tread when doing stretches of pavement in OCR races. It's very uncomfortable to log extended miles in aggressively treaded shoes on pavement. It's not good for the shoes or your body. But now if you are talking "trail shoes" that look much like other "road running"…

If you are having that type of long lasting pain you really need to stop running, like right now. Depending on severity you can risk serious injury if you keep pushing on. The majority of the time shin splints come from bad biomechanics and from increasing speed and/or distance too quickly. You mentioned trail running not…

TLDR all the posts.........but just wanted to interject that shoulders (like lower backs) are VERY hard to "work around". They are can very easily be jacked up for the long term and should not be overlooked. Your shoulder is effected in so many movements I'd be hesitant to suggest any exercise aside from a casual bike ride…

4 weeks ago I would have told you not to change your training - as you should progress and build up to tougher things and longer distances. I did Killington in 2015. I've got quite a few friends headed up there tomorrow. Advice - don't look up or down - just keep putting one foot in front of the other! Take a few seconds…

@heytimsla - which Beast did you sign up for and how far out is it? What is your current fitness like? Most Beasts are 14-16 miles. The cardio aspect is huge. Make sure your training is built up appropriately to that distance though. Trying to force mileage like that can lead to injury. Definitely don't underestimate the…

It is a fantastic community! Keep focused and positive and you will make progress :)

Best advice for your first race is to go in with an open mind and have fun! You will quickly identify the areas you need to work on. Running and cardio fitness is the most overlooked in training by newcomers unless they come from a running background. Other than that most people struggle with the grip strength obstacles.…

Bingo. Too many studies and tests don't take into account the quality of food being eaten. Even allergy testing can show reactions to "beef" when really it's because they used corn/soy-fed beef to test against. I would also care to know what standard they are comparing it to? What is normal? The bone density of kids…

@KnitOrMiss - I personally of not use a carrier oil for it. I always recommend trying a small spot or using a carrier oil at first to see if you get a reaction. Also remember that orange is a citrus oil and is therefore photosensitive and you shouldn't apply it on any skin that will be exposed to the sun within the next 24…

Sleep can definitely cause havoc on the scale. I've seen it go up and down for me depending on the week and events causing lack of sleep. I would definitely just try to get your sleep back on track as soon as possible and see how the scale acts. Maybe then try the aminos again? BTW - I tend to use this as a soy sauce…

My boyfriend (future hubby) and I met because of Spartan Racing. I still have quite a bit of weight to lose though and he is 7% bodyfat and can run a half-marathon without training for it. He is also my coach, as he is certified in many fitness things including Spartan SGX and Yoga. His level of fitness is way beyond mine…

Sounds like you will be fine in your current shoes. If they are really worn out maybe pick up a new pair of "normal" trial running shoes? Assuming you plan to do some trail running or hiking in the future they will get used. Post race do not throw your shoes away. You can hose them down at the venue and then again at home.…

If you stay consistent with a balanced diet at a reasonable deficiet there will be no need for such supplements. The large majority of them are not safe. And they will not help you change your lifestyle - which is the key to long term weight loss success. Stop cheating.

By doctor, do you mean your general MD? I would **HIGHLY** recommend finding a nutritionist (RD status) with a solid reputation who is open to all sorts of diet styles and not biased towards them. Good ones use the correct ones in the right situations. This will probably be costly and not covered by insurance - but think…

Look for a quality running program or coach. Your run training should be varied, you should have: LSD (long slow distance) runs, tempo runs, and speed work. Unlike most people believe - you can't just aimlessly run and see improvement. Sure if you drop weight you will get faster. If you build up endurance you will get…

If what you are doing is getting you to your goals and you are not seeing any negative impacts (moody, feeling hungry, tired all the time, etc) - then you are fine. The drinking a protein shake right after your workout comes from "bro science" and does have some standing to it.....assuming you are trying to optimize…

@2shoes123 - It is a little about strength and flexibility and mostly about technique. I use the s-hook. Once you learn how to hold your feet, its mostly about learning the mechanics. I would imagine these YouTube videos would be explaining it. Essentially you put your hands above your head, then pull your feet up as high…

You will receive help and encouragement on course! I would recommend finding a reputable trainer or online program to help you start training. Definitely work on nutrition, shedding pounds is going to help you more than anything else. I would also start walking a lot (save running for after you drop some pounds) and start…

I would actually disagree - the running part is the part that everyone underestimates in an OCR/mud run. You need endurance (running and strength). My biggest tip is to not train too much too soon. Too many people just start doing all these crazy workouts and end up hurting themselves. If you have any extra weight, trying…

I would suggest looking in FB groups....you'll have a better shot of finding people then on MFP. For some reason OCR isn't overly active on here. Good luck at Tahoe!

Sounds like you stop counting the calories on the weekend. Start doing that. It is more of a pain to have to calculate out calories for things you don't usually eat, however it will deter you and remind you that you have a goal you are supposed to be staying under. I would assume like most, your phone is constantly on…

My favorite is Spartan....even though I dislike the company itself. In my mind their races mostly resemble what OCR should be. A lot of other companies are getting too technical with their obstacles (think ANW stuff) and remove too much of the running/endurance aspect. I like their more natural obstacles vs the "shock and…

*raises hand* Add me or PM me if you have any questions or want to chat OCR :smile:

Everyone has different feet, biomechanics and shoe preferences! Personally I currently race in IceBug Acceleritas. While sing socks to fudge a little wiggle room....they definitely shouldn't be used to "Band-Aid" poor fitting shoes. That will end in injuries worse than blisters. Obviously you will need to make that call or…

*raises hand* Feel free to add me and PM me any questions :)

@bdavis1990 ........give us more info about your current physical fitness! Which race are you doing? What are you nervous about? What are your goals for the race? OCR tests your strength and endurace. You will want to increase your ability to run and climb steep slopes, grip strength, and overall body awareness. I find…