This morning news that BattleFrog Series had something big brewing. Early in the day, Mud Run Guide caught wind of a major restructuring of the organization. For a brief time this morning all the social media accounts seemed to have disappeared and all signs were showing that BattleFrog Series would join the OCR graveyard. This has quickly become the story of the day for the industry, as it stands now the twitter account, website, and Facebook page are still up and running. The Instagram page has been taken down.
Since the initial rumors hit the obstacle racing world Mud Run Guide has spoken with CEO Ramiro Ortiz as well as received an official statement from BattleFrog Series.
What the world saw this morning was the news from Kevin Jones, the Chief Marketing officer of BattleFrog post in the BattleFrog Ambassador page on Facebook this morning:
This morning Mud Run Guide founder Brett Stewart spoke directly with Ramiro Ortiz the CEO of BattleFrog Series for the full story. After the board met this morning about the restructure of the company and the future of BattleFrog. After their conversation, BattleFrog sent this official statement to Mud Run Guide.
BattleFrog Restructures as a Media-Focused Company
BattleFrog, producer of both the BattleFrog College Championship and the BattleFrog League Championship, announced that it will restructure the company effective immediately to focus on its two highly successful media properties featuring the top Obstacle Course Racing athletes on both the collegiate and professional level.
“We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished at BattleFrog,” said CEO Ramiro Ortiz. “In just under two years we premiered two hit television shows and developed the nation’s fastest growing race series. In looking at our product we believe that we can best serve our millions of customers by focusing our efforts in our ‘Sprint OCR’ media programming. It is some of the most exciting sports on television and this Summer has drawn nearly 10 million viewers to ESPN, while also being seen all over the globe.”
As part of the focus on the television properties, BattleFrog announced that it will suspend its longer format, 8-kilometer race series and is issuing full refunds for unused registrations. Refunds will be processed within thirty days. Ortiz said: “Race cancellations happen from time to time and BattleFrog is refunding every cancelled registration. The refunds are being processed as we speak.”
Going forward, BattleFrog is focused on expanding its popular “Sprint OCR” programming. This will include a full regular season for the BattleFrog League Championship, a global co-ed professional sports OCR league broadcast on ESPN, which delighted audiences as Team Norway came from behind to best San Diego in the Best of 3 Finals. BattleFrog is also planning to extend the BattleFrog College Championship, its innovative and popular program that features a co-ed, single elimination tournament of OCR teams. Twenty-four (24) major universities have competed in its first two seasons, with Army (West Point) repeating as champions. Army will attempt to bring its third Trident Cup home to West Point in 2017.
BattleFrog College Championship Executive Producer Michael McAllister said viewers can expect even more intense competition and breathtaking moments from both series in 2017. “We are thrilled by audience response to both series. Our audience is young and family friendly, has high social interaction and our fans watch in binges. We are investing in longer seasons, exciting set enhancements, new visual features and night-time broadcasts. We have the two most exciting sports shows on television and BattleFrog is committed to approaching this as a global sports product for the benefit of television audiences, OCR fans and OCR athletes around the world.”
For those who were fans of the weekend races it seems that the those days are over. Time will tell how the new media-focused restructuing will affect the company and if we will see BattleFrog's programing emerge as an OCR leader in the media. For now it's time to cherish those medals earned and BFX's run and time on their iconic obstacles.
How do you feel about this move?
Will you miss BattleFrog?
Chime in on your opinions…
Do I believe a single thing that Otiz has said? Absolutely not. I have been with the BF brand since almost day one. I have seen a great company that had so much potential crumble. I’ve seen close friends- some who have become family- lose their jobs once Ortiz came into power at BF.
This is a damn shame! And, it’s disgusting. I can tell you this- I am NOT the only person in the OCR world who is outraged & upset about this.
I agree….
Wow, didn’t see that coming. That is sad but unfortunately the TV side is sliding in and starting to have a heavy influence. On the business side that may be a good thing but for the true OCR person Lord knows we don’t need fewer options.
Saw this coming from a mile away. Acctually supprised it took this long. I have been supporting BF since their inaugural run in Atlanta back in 2014. My girlfriend and I have traveled the entire Eastern Seaboard running races supporting and promoting this brand she is also one of the original battlefrog field team members ( known today as the ambassadors). I too have close friends that I have seen lose their jobs for no decent reasons other than restructuring of upper management. The quality of races and their field promotional teams AKA local race management has changed dramatically in the past year and most definitely not for the better. I do hope that they can restructure and come back stronger than they ever have been, as their races have been at one time fun and challenging
This is great news!… If you are in college or a top OCR athlete. Where does that leave your normal weekend people? The true customers of which he refers to. Personally I think the tv show is junk. It’s too short and overly edited and hard to watch. Let alone take seriously.
I can promise you that I will not watch the show after a move like this. It alienates their true customers and is a shoddy business move.
I agree 100%. If this was a real business move it would have been a transition rather than an abrupt overnight press release.
Amen!!!
How does this affect racers? I see 8k race mentioned. I had signed up for the ATL 2 Extreme. Am I to assume that this event is gone and I need to look elsewhere? This would have been my first BF. Sad to think I will never get to experience it. I certainly don’t watch their TV shows.
EDIT: Just got my email. Getting my money back. Guess Ill look for another event to spend my money!
This is absolutely ridiculous!! I planned my whole summer around the stupid BattleFrog race this coming weekend and they cancel a week before? Travel plans, training for months and months…I could not be more livid right now.
This is BS!!! They should have at least honored the already scheduled events … like the one 4 days away (Detroit). I signup for OCR events to keep in shape by training for them. If I was going to train for watching TV … right back to being a couch potato.
Battlfrog has …er had nothing on Tough Mudder.
I am very sad. This is a blow to the OCR racing community. BattleFrog was the favorite, or one of the favorite, major venues for many OCR racers. (I happen to be wearing a BF tee right now.) It will be missed. It will be interesting to see if their new tract will receive the attention they expect without having the general attendance races. (There is a reason musical artists still go on tour and don’t simply release new music.)
Kyle Frantz, the above statement from BF says ALL RACES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. So, I would say yes, you need to look elsewhere. I think we should all boycott the stupid TV show.
🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁
What the $%@!, BattleFrog?! We ran the 8K open last year in Pittsburgh, and loved it so much that we registered for BFX this year to challenge ourselves and get the custom medal.
Now, less than ONE MONTH before the race that we signed up for a YEAR ago, you cancel the season? Again, what – the – EXPLETIVE!?
Focus on media endeavors? Do you realize that you wouldn’t HAVE a media segment if it weren’t for the support of all the weekend warriors that have shed blood, sweat, and tears on your courses for the past 2 1/2 years?! We are not INVESTORS. We are PARTICIPANTS. Way to disengage everyone who loved Battlefrog’s races, Oritz.
I loved watching the BF programs on TV. They were great motivators to help us train and get us excited about our upcoming race. NEVER AGAIN. Guess we’ll be Spartans or Mudders now.
Will miss Coach Payne. Ciao forever, Battlefrog.
Do they not realize that they probably only have the television viewers because of the people who go to the races and now they have alienated them all? Such a shame and dishonors the spirit of the races and those who are there every weekend.
This is rediculous. I signed up for this upcoming Saturday’s race in Detroit months ago. I’ve been training hard for it, taken time off work, arranged babysitters for my kids and now 4 days away they just want to throw it all out the window. At least finish the year off. Or better yet, give me money back now so I can do something different before the ocr season in michigan ends.
I can’t believe this I ran my 2nd BF in Mass earlier this year and they seemed to have the stuff together compared to last year. The TV show is junk to short and not what a real OCR is even like. I believe this will hurt the BF brand if they try to come back since they have tried restructuring before. I hope they do come back better and stronger but I have my doubts..
You just alienated your base. You just destroyed yourselves. Your content comes from the people who show up on the weekend and give their all. That spirit is what makes the event.
It seems to me that the Battlefrog company would stoke more interest in the races that they plan to broadcast on TV by letting the weekend warriors run the 8k races, promoting the TV shows at the venue, getting media coverage, and generally getting their audiences excited about the sport. Obviously I am wrong and the races were money losers because if they were profitable, they would be adding dates and new races, new formats and growing the sport. Instead we have this situation. Bummed!!!
Hey Ramiro, are you going to reimburse me for my non-refundable plane tickets to Virginia? Your TV ratings will drop since you just burned all your viewers.
I’m extremely disappointed. It had quickly become my favorite OCR to do, even more than spartan races. It doesn’t leave as much selection for me in OCR racing 🙁
I cannot say without being dishonest that I am disappointed about this announcement. I could scream, shout, make accusations, point fingers but I don’t want to, as this is not what the OCR community is all about. My thoughts go out to all those that are impacted by this announcement. I will however say that I am disappointed. Hubs and I ran our first Battlefrog course this year and were blown away with how well the course was organized, the course it’s self and the volunteers that helped make it all possible. Battlefrog was an amazing event and I was blown away with it, we had even signed up to do next years race due to falling in love with it soo quickly.
I am sad that Battlefrog is moving towards media / TV and championship events, and getting rid of the normal “weekend warrior” races as they put it. It’s us weekend warriors that go out and try new races and then our word of mouth gets many others to register to try it out for the next year.
I am hoping somehow the 2017 race season goes as planned (as multiple people that I know have signed up already for next year). I am sad for those that are having their races cancelled and refunds issued, as they don’t get to run the course and understand how truly amazing it is. In the end business is business, and this sucks as Battlefrog was an OCR favorite.
This is complete crap, I’ve trained for months for the greater milwaukee race and was a goal to complete the BFX this year. You should have finished out the season, very unproffesional in my book. FU BF!!
You don’t cancel business actions that are making money. Also, Battlefrog is being sued for patent infringement for having allegedly used some structures for their obstacles that are patented. Google “Modtruss, Inc. v. Battlefrog.” Patent infringement litigation costs $millions – cash that a lot of small businesses don’t have lying around. Plus if the case is heading south, say there is a preliminary injunction shutting down their use of certain obstacle structures, that could have consequences. In any event, seems likely there’s more going on than what the corporate PR says.
Modtruss LOST. BattleFrog WON.
http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=82520311-ac9c-4057-929a-c54d674cc9a1
@jimBo. the only loss was the TRO hearing (temporary restraining order) the patent and Trademark suit are still very well alive. the wording in the 3rd party reporting is very misleading when it comes to how litigation goes. BattleFrog is just showing one of their many disHonest practices to earn a quick buck. Look how quickly they DUMPED the fanbase they achieved only by riding the shirt tails of the steady OCRs. With under 4 weeks of programing on ESPN they are changing their “5 year plan” they have been selling everybody…… They took advantage of their volunteers, cashed your check’s and are trying to hook their wagon to the next big payoff. The upper management does not represent in any way shape or form the Honest US military Veterans they parade around. They are the dirtiest of them all, Preying on the good hearted.
Very disappointing! They put on good races and I had noticed there was a buzz going on about BattleFrog Race Series. I think that this is a big blow to the OCR world this new structure that they are trying to pursue won’t last trust me there show wasn’t that great in the first place. People running in there races are their base not some stupid television show! I know that CEO Ramon Ortiz will be looking for a new job in a year! Very disappointing I had three races left this year that I was going to run!
sad to see such harsh comments when the people actually affected are the BF team..
Bill, the anger is directed towards Ortiz and his board that made this decision; not the race directors/other staffers/volunteers. Yes, we are upset as participants – but I’m sure those that make a living off of BF are more outraged than we are.
All I’m saying is that it was a slap in the face to those of us that have trained hard for races at the end of this season. As someone else said above, it was incredibly unprofessional, and no amount of restructuring or “strong comeback” will repair the damage done.
It’s a shame that Ortiz doesn’t care about the average athlete that wants to complete a BF course for themselves and or with athletes alike. Most of these athletes are going through a Lifestyle change to become healthier and stronger, and doing an event like this gives them pride and shows what progress they have made and how they are able to overcome. Even average athletes aside they are giving up on young and upcoming athletes with the Tadpole courses. I give the media programming 3 years tops before it is done.
Well, I think we’ve all been to this rodeo before with the Spartan race.
The first few events were reasonably priced and were very much for the “weekend warrior”…but try to find an event for under $100 and then try to not feel bad when you show up and you don’t eat their Food of the Day while doing the Workout of the Day.
Reebok and NBC threw them some money and all management there cares about is money and getting people to buy into his burpee religion…and Battlefrog seems to be following the same business model…they take “handle your business” seriously!!
It is a shame, I loved this event and hate to call it quits with my registration but there are other events that do make money (not a sick amount) but still foster the culture that gets regular people, with regular lives, off the couch for what is a kick ass way to stay healthy.
Absolutely livid right now! I signed up for the Detroit Battle Frog back in April. They cancel it 4 days before?!?! Luckily I live in Metro Detroit and didn’t sign up for a different one. I feel bad for the OCR crowd who planned their vacations and travel plans around this. Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash, Spartan Race…looks like I can never add Battle Frog to the list. You can guarantee this is at least one person (plus my entire racing crew) that won’t be watching on TV.
While I am admittedly a Spartan at heart, I raced the NorCal BFX this year and truly enjoyed it. The race was well organized and the obstacles were the closest challenge to a Spartan Race that I have found. I actually was looking forward to running more BF races in the future and thought about registering for the San Diego race next month. With today’s news, I am glad that I did not.
This “restructuring” plan is nothing more than a money grab and is a blatant slap in the face to all the BF participants who grew the company to a national race series. With this announcement, the current management has confirmed two things: 1) It has no idea how to run a company (great idea to spend all that money on the naming rights for the Fiesta Bowl, Ramiro–NOT!); and 2) It values (what it perceives as) an easy profit over supporting its true customer base. However, it fails to realize that the interest in the media aspect on which the company will now focus is primarily generated by those who have run the courses and can relate to the obstacles from a “hands-on” perspective.
With the latter in mind, I encourage everyone to join me in boycotting all BF television programs and send an email to BF telling them of your intention to do so.
I’m in — the ONLY reason I watched the ESPN series is because I had participated in a local BF race. BF CEO; you are done.
Wow, glad I recently purchased a multi-race pass that was heavily promoted on the battlefrog website…..only too have the rest of the season cancelled!!! WTF!!! Battlefrog was my absolute favorite OCR out of the ones on the market. I get they want to focus just on making money and they think TV ratings from these short college sprint competitions are the key to that….good luck with that…. I for one will not be watching that TV show, EVER! At least give people a little advanced notice like saying they are going to cancel 2017 but finish the 2016 season for all the elites and everybody else who enjoys competing. Like others have mentioned, now we can attempt to cancel airplane tickets, that are non-refundable. Looks like my business will be going to Spartan Races now! Bye Battlefrog, will miss the most awesome OCR and Coach Pain pre-race motivational speeches were the best. Time to focus on Spartan races now!
Sad to see another go down. I will say this.
It is absolutely, unbelievably expensive to put on a top quality race. Venue fees, insurance, labor, marketing, logistics,are easily 200-300k per event, and that doesn’t even include the prize $.
Say a ticket for 1 race is $100. You need a minimum of 3000 people to break even. Rarely if ever are tickets purchased for full price, so you need realistically 5000 participants per event just to break even.
Now say for example a company like Atlas who’s CEO Scott Gephart made absolutely every bad financial decision possible and possibly even embezzled $ from the company, you have an even harder time trying to just break even.
It’s sad because it real and truly is an amazing thing to be a part of, the friendship, the stories, the memories, team work, health benefits, locations. Truly just trying to help. Sadly like everything money comes into the picture. Investors need returns.
Unless you’re like Spartan and have multi-million $ partners aka Reebok to pay for all of the over head and merchandise, marketing does it even become feasible to make it so accessible to a large customer base.
I’m not involved with any of the race series anymore and I can only guess as to the struggles BF is having.
I can say this, The struggle is REAL!
Totally stinks!
Ran my first OCR in memory of Steven J.Sotloff.
He was the second journalist American beheaded by ISIS in Syria. Battlefrog CEO at the time Don Mann, helped us create awareness for Steven’s foundation, 2LIVES Foundation, when I ran the race. What an amazing moment for Steven’s family and myself. I became hooked on the OCR Lifestyle ever since. BattleFrog helped create great memories, it will be missed
Just like everyone else’s comments, I’m disappointed in BF to say the least. Our race is 1.5 weeks away in San Diego–yes, some family bought plane tickets for the event and everyone has been training for a months to participate. I’ve been a huge supporter of BF because it seemed to build upon the experience of the Navy SEALs who represent the absolute best of our society. I’m saddened to see this and hope that it’s corporate people who took over BF and not a Navy SEAL who made this decision. Like many, we watched the BF shows but that won’t be happening in the future.
Sad and disappointed
I just ran my first Battlefrog in Riverside and was signed up for San Diego. I watched their TV program and wasn’t to thrilled.
Only watched it as an OCR competitor. Really a shame that they have turned their backs on the OCR community.
Why do I care to watch other people compete.
I won’t watch it or support them in any way.
I hope they fall on their face.
I ECHO everyone’s sentiments. BF was the ONE OCR I looked forward too every year. I think GREED is in play here and BF “no longer wants to dance with the one that got them there”. very sad.
Goes against everything Coach Pain preaches
Wow!! I just ran my very first OCR this past weekend at the BattleFrog event in Cincinnati. Feels like we were very lucky to get to compete My daughter ran the Bullfrog Mile and also had a blast. Being it was my first, I had no expectations on how these events were ran. I thought the event was ran very well. Checkin was a breeze. Plenty of volunteers and folks to help with questions. Overall, I thought it was a great event. Very surprised to hear they canceled the rest of the season. As many others have said, my only interest in the show was because I was going to actually do an event. Now I have no interest at all in the show. I was looking forward to competing again next year, but I guess I will have to look elsewhere.
Thanks BF!!
Restructuring?????? Really??????
Restructuring for bankruptcy maybe. Ortiz should have honored all existing BF races scheduled and TRANSITIONED into a media only experience….
I have been anxiously awaiting BF coming to the West Coast. I was not able to participate in the Los Angeles one as I was recovering from two (2) shattered arms….Just yesterday, I noticed there was a BF scheduled in So. Cal for Labor Day Weekend! I was so excited about the prospect of participating in a BF. Just last night at my Boot Camp, I was talking to a gal who completed the LA one…it was her very 1st OCR, and she was so excited and enthusiastic about BF…..
It BattleFrog truly wanted to eliminate the “Weekend Warrior” racers, they have succeeded! I will personally boycott the BF show and will encourage everyone I know to follow suit.
Would have been nice to get more than four day’s notice that they were canceling my race. Compete bulshit. If you’re making this big of a move you need to finish out what you stated with the 2016 season.
This is good news for everyone who would prefer sitting and watching TV over actually training for and competing in the race—for those whose workout is lifting the remote to change the channel or opening another bag of chips. But that’s NOT this audience.
Perhaps Navy SEALs should likewise cancel BUDS and Hell Week and make them TV shows instead for selected athletes.
This is a sad day.
the reason everyone watches the series on tv is because we get to run the races on the weekends. I have a bad feeling they’re tv audience will drastically decline because there a no longer races for us to run..
A decline in the TV audience shouldn’t be a bad feeling–it should be everyone’s hope. If it doesn’t decline, BF’s decision will be rewarded/vindicated. The preferable scenario would be for BF to quickly go bankrupt as a result of this outrageous decision and plummeting ratings. Clearly, BF is not a company that understands (or cares about) the OCR community. As far as I am concerned, BF is dead. Long live Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, Rugged Maniac and Warrior Dash!
You guys who put stock in that stupid tv show are just feeding off BF’s bullsh*t. It’s the same ole story with them, they are always changing something, looking for the next big thing that will make BF successful. It’s not happening. Nobody watches that horrible tv show, except maybe a few people who are OCR diehards. 10 million viewers over a year? That’s absolute garbage numbers. I’ve watched twice, and had to turn it off other times I accidentally stumbled across it, because it’s horrible. Ever wonder why only BF advertises during the show? That’s because nobody watches the damn thing.
Don’t put any stock in what they say. It’s just them deflecting to make it look like they didn’t fall on their face like so many have been saying they eventually would.
Hey Ortiz have you ever bothered to listen to the Coach Pain motivational pre-race speech? Maybe you missed the part about not quiting and staying in the fight. Thanks for screwing over all your weekend athletes! Boycott the BF TV show!! FU BF!
Totally agree!!
Ran this race for the first time this year and loved the challenge. Disappointed to hear about this direction. I am not a competitive runner and just hope more of these runs don’t go this direction.
More money for Spartan Races, I guess.
Not much else to say, everyone has already said it for me. I am disappointed and was looking forward to my first BFX24 next year with my girlfriend. I won’t watch that’s for sure.
Sad to see this happen to BattleFrog, I was looking forward to signing up for more races. Hope the race family is in good shape and find a new home.
Not surprised, but hoping they redeem themselves. As for now the others will get larger so who will rise to challenge Spartan and Tough Mudder? Will it be savage, terrain.. or ?
Dang, I broke my foot prior to a race this year, so I volunteered to get a free future race entry, guess that’s gone now…sigh…my boys loved their race. Very sad.
Sad Day for the whole OCR community. I would like to thank the race day management team. They worked really hard and now out of jobs. I have done a few BF events and had a blast. Now I am worried Spartan and Tough Mudder will increase their fees even more. F that show its not true OCR
Well this freakin’ sucks. Was all set for Detroit this weekend, thought I would challenge myself with the BFX. Was really looking forward to this, only for it to all be for naught. Congrats, Battlefrog. your plot in the OCR graveyard will be ready soon.
It’s important to keep some perspective here. I’m disappointed–had signed up 7 family members (and one spectator) for a local race, paying a chunk of change that’s significant for my family’s income level. I’d noticed that BattleFrog’s website had changed their data for that race from a specific venue to “to be determined”, and I’d e-mailed, asking them whether there was some question of whether the race was going to happen or not. They’d responded: no question, the race is going to happen; we’ll update the venue data soon. Now, a week or so later, I hear this.
I don’t think it’s appropriate to blame BattleFrog much–at least, at this point. I’ve read that obstacle course racing is an unsteady business–have read that even at least one of the big names has yet to turn a profit. I’m sure it costs a boatload of up-front money to put on a race. As somebody who’s spent more than my share of time professionally involved in (other people’s) bankruptcy cases, I’m very familiar with what happens when a business-founder’s dreams fall short of reality, and a small amount of money has to get divided up amongst a larger number of deserving people it’s owed to. Those of us who paid for races are, bottom line, “unsecured creditors” of BattleFrog; if BattleFrog has financial troubles, we’re lucky to get back the money we paid them.
For that reason, I’m VERY HAPPY to hear that BattleFrog intends to reimburse race registrants 100 cents on the dollar for our registration fees. That is actually unusually-good news. If the money actually ends up making its way back into my account, I will be satisfied. Not happy–sad to see them go, and I’m disappointing my kids to tell them that the Tadpole Dash and Battlefrog Open races they’ve been looking forward to are now not going to happen–but at least we have the prospect of getting our money back. If the refunds actually come through, I won’t feel “BF’ed” at all. To the contrary, I’ll feel some admiration for whoever it is who didn’t just fade into the night and leave us all out our registration fees–because, in the business and bankruptcy world, that kind of thing happens–every day. I don’t know the details of what happened here, but if BattleFrog is really paying registrants back 100 pennies on every dollar, somebody is likely making a heroic, principled sacrifice to make that happen. I have to admire that–because I usually see worse. Often MUCH worse. Even if people who’d paid third parties for, say, airfare aren’t getting reimbursed, BattleFrog may be doing all it can.
I just told my 5-year-old that the Tadpole Dash he’d had his heart set on isn’t going to happen. He’s pretty sad.
But, hey: we need to pick ourselves up and, as they say, Spartan the heck up. First thing to realize is that we risk money whenever we entrust it to other people–and there are all kinds of perfectly-innocent ways people can miscalculate and go belly-up. 100% reimbursement looks pretty heroic, from my perspective. Second, we have to realize the real nature of this OCR business: we’re paying people to set up simple physical obstacles to get our 21st-Century weakened butts off the couch and moving, lifting, climbing, running–just to get up to the shape our dads were in just a few decades ago. While Spartan, Tough Mudder, Battlefrog, etc. may add value in terms of offering cool-looking medals and race courses carefully designed to challenge us physically without forcing us to risk death, the REAL benefits of fitness, physical and mental flexibility, perseverance, etc. are really things we ought to be able to achieve without paying hundreds of bucks. Last weekend, my kids and I picked up a used tractor tire (for OCR training) from a tire store; the worker at the store, a slight, skinny minority guy who probably couldn’t have afforded to pay for a weekend at BattleFrog or Spartan or whatever–just about tossed the huge tire into our car singlehanded. No bravado–it’s just what he has to do for a living. The Third World is full of people who lift, carry, jump, and run more, just to stay alive, than we First World OCR racers do on our paid-for weekend races. They likely think we’re nuts–and, if so, they have a point. No reason we can’t climb, run, lift, etc. for free. My farmer great-grandfather and his sons were beasts of men, just keeping up with their (ultimately unsuccessful) efforts to keep the family farm from getting repossessed by the bank. They would have thought me crazy for paying $50 or $100 for a one-day obstacle race–and they were likely stronger than most people on the podium. I have to wonder if it’s a character defect on my part that dictates that I won’t spend a weekend climbing, carrying a sandbag, crawling under barbed wire, throwing a spear, lifting weights, etc., unless someone’s holding a medal for me at the end. I have to wonder at how real Spartan soldiers would have laughed at us. And, while I’ll admit that the medal and the bragging rights and the validation of my efforts that an OCR medal provides are an essential part of what motivates me to pay for and do this stuff, I have to think that, really, the benefits of fitness and grit are realistically always available out there for free if we just tough it up and do it. Burpees are free. Weightlifting can be done with a backpack full of rocks. The world has hundreds of mountains we can run up and down for free. The question is our own motivation.
So, I don’t fault BattleFrog too much. If they’re paying back what we paid them, they are doing more than they probably legally had to–and that speaks volumes about their integrity. Has the BattleFrog brand been damaged irremediably by this? I’d guess it has. But I’m not going to go out and call for a boycott of associated TV shows, etc. I have my doubts as to whether that’ll be a viable venture, but, good luck to them.
I have to say that I thought this was a possibility. I’ve noticed watching the YouTube videos of every Battlefrog race I could find this year that it looked like attendance had fallen way off. There just didn’t seem to be many people out on the course as you see in a Spartan race. In fact, in a recent race there was hardly anybody out on the course during someone’s video and the video went on for plently of time for others to show up. It was scary how few people there were there.
I believe Battlefrog was a quality race but they were bleeding money and had to pull the plug. Don’t really understand why they didn’t have the attendance of the other races. They were much more user friendly than the Spartan beat downs. Also, we’re hearing stories of bad management and this doesn’t help either.
Battlefrog will be missed!! Sorry to see it go.
For all the people b*tching about the time spent training for a BF OCR race, SHUT UP!
You didn’t waste time becoming healthier. That is a take-away reguardless of the races being cancelled
STOP CRYING go find another race to run with your refunded money
What I know ” product alignment to be, is getting to know your customers so well that your product sells itself. What I know of BattleFrog and other OCR participants is that we want to be on the course battling, not sitting on the couch eating cheese puffs and watching other people run a watered down sprint version of a BattleFrog. I would like to pass that ” product alignment ” along to the marketing people.
The customers down in the mud and running the 8k course had a lot to do with the success of BattleFrog, but if they want to focus on top athletes for their TV show, that’s their decision. However, while it airs, I will most likely be somewhere training for my next OCR.
After all, Battling is Believing………
It’s so sad and disappointing to see them go!!! I sure wasn’t expecting that at all!!! All other races pretty much copied the same Obstacles as BF and charge lot more…I was so looking forward to the next race along with my friends whom I encouraged to join in. Didn’t see that coming!! : (
Just ran the Cinci race and loved it, was already looking forwar to next year.
For those with non-refundable plane tickets, I’m seeing that there’s a MuckFest in North Chicago the same weekend: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_MUCK_MuckFest_info_chicago
The obstacles look much easier and it’s also more expensive at this point, though.. Sadness.
Those with tickets to the Milwaukee event Sept. 10, that is..
For others planning on the Milwaukee Battlefrog, there’s an inexpensive (and also easier) option the following weekend just a few miles away from the planned location: http://www.watertownchallenge.org/rugged-rockman
thanks MudRunGuide for trying, but journalism is clearly bias here
Very disappointing, I had a great time running at Lake Somoma and was looking forward to running more races. There aren’t a lot of OCR races out there besides Spartan and Tough Mudder so it was nice to have this change. I was a strong supporter and loved what they stand for, however by choosing media over your general public was a bad move. I will not be supporting your TV series and feel very rejected by making this an Elite and college thing only. What does that say for the rest of your supporters and followers believing in your mission statement. They were encouraged and believe in you but you don’t believe in them.
I’ve received an e-mail, the contents said nothing to me except a plain excuse. I am so disappointed. This was supposed to be my first race. After a long day and months of training, gathering friends and family to join my team, I have nothing to say but I would have join spartan and other mud run races than this stupid thing. BUMMER!
Not surprising at all. Matt B Davis and Brakken Krakker were talking about BF’s demise for some time. Their races were run professionally while their corporate side was run poorly. All those who are outraged should defintely NOT watch anybof the TV shows. Ortiz is clearly a liar who’s only loyalty is to $$$ and not the OCR community. Support Savage or Bonefrog instead.
I know most every detail on Battlefrog.
I helped create some of the ideas that they used. People from my race were recruited and paid big money to work at theirs.
Eventually all the SEALs quit or were let go. All but one who had bills to pay.
The SEALs branding was just marketing by a non U.S. owner of BF.
He was loosing upwards I was told of $300,000 per event.
Eventually most everyone working there was paid far less than the original offer as time went on.
Most everyone it the upper ranks said that it would go under around this 2016 year.
Look, until you put on races, you will never ever understand the hardships and money that goes into it.
So, with that, don’t sound like a bunch of pussies. You were a part of something amazing, at someone else’s expense.
You were basically be paid to run. Each person that did that race should have paid them $250 each, just so that they could have broken even.
Until you walk in someone else’s shoes, don’t bitch.
Events are a nightmare to put on and you can work all year to put on one, and then deal with so many people complaining. And to make an event like Battlefrog and do one every month or week, heck then almost kill themselves to do it. They were crazy in trying to be the best with out the $. They did not have any major sponsors like the other Races do, but were trying to still exceed the quality of Spartan, etc.
I was pissed when pre-BF news of this event idea came to my ears, as my ideas I felt help make it. Then I became impressed with their do or die attitude and that they would just blow hundreds of thousands of dollars to make you guys happy. (= crazy)
Now, I feel really bad for BF, they gave their all for you. None of you helped set up the event, stayed afterward to clean up or tear down.
I don’t know of many races that would give you all your money back, and they are.
People at BF lost their jobs and management blew money on you guys, and you bitch?!?!?!
If you are a true mud runner OR person, you should be tough, not some pussy that complains about running in the mud for a few hours.
Man up, go mow the lawn and take your kid fishing, pick some flowers for your loved one. Stop focusing on yourself so much, and start giving and doing nice things to others.
You guys sound like you have become the modern American fairy instead of some real American appreciative guy/gal for all that you do have.
– Can not disclose my name.
I agree. I was offered a job there, and got the inside scoop. Unreal how hard the lower end worked to make this thing work for a low salary. The people I was with all lost their jobs and it makes me sick.
As a retired NFL player who doesn’t watch football but has played I am deeply saddened by BattleFrog’s decision to forgo the public’s desire for BattleFrog OCR events. It is this very same public which helped put BattleFrog on the map and allowed it to reach our screens at home; Screens by the very same people who bled, cried, struggled and even brought families together as they competed on your fine courses. I ask is this fair in the spirit of those who have took the time to get in shape and ostensibly supported our military, i.e., a Navy Seal designed course! We Americans live during a time when pharmaceuticals, sedentary lifestyles and Pokemon are the rage. Now you’re largess is to put Americans back on the couch to vicariously live through the network’s blood, sweat and tears! Moreover, I have stuck my neck out promoting BattleFrog OCR to Harvard Medical Health studies which is studying the long range health effects of my brethren in the NFL. I pointed out to Harvard Medical that BattleFrog is the perfect panacea to health and competition for all ages and not for just professional athletes. BattleFrog is not just for college competition or preferential treatment for a select few. Furthermore, you took an inspiration away from the public in Coach Pain. He asked us to never quit but to finish and respect ourselves. I ask BattleFrog why did you quit us? You guys forgot what sacrifice is all about.
Disheartened,
Clay Pickering (retired NFL player)
My kids are DEVASTATED. They are new to the OCR world and were thrilled with something more challenging than the Junior Spartan races. My oldest has been able to do one Battlefrog. My youngest was sick the day of our race and now will not get the chance. It seems they are saying they are going in a direction to make more money? Unless I’m reading this wrong. Either way, super bummed about this.
Update, Sept 13, 2016: I just called RaceIt, the company that handled my family’s registrations for a November BattleFrog event. The man answering the phone indicated that the refunds should be going out by the end of this week (which I interpret to mean September 17th), and that refundees’ banks should start taking note of the refunds and posting them to the refundees’ accounts sometime next week (which I interpret to mean September 24th).
Update: Refund received, in full–apparently had already been paid to my credit card company almost a week before the preceding post, though RaceIt’s representative didn’t have a record of that available when we spoke. So: I’m deeply relieved that the refund in full has come through. I must say, too, that I admire the character and self-sacrifice that I bet was involved on some people’s part to ensure that this happened. Too many business owners, under such circumstances, will simply fold their tents and melt away into the night. Many may not actually have much choice, having sunk the money committed to them by customers into things which make a refund impossible. I’ll state, for anyone reading, that, in light of this, I see no grounds for a boycott. I wish those involved well.
I still have not received my refund and I just received my October statements. I think this Battlefrog thing is a SCAM!!!!