Charity Fick takes a look each week at the women who help shape the obstacle racing industry both publicly and behind the scenes. This series publishes a new profile every Wednesday on Mud Run Guide. Some of the women are the most public figures in the sport and others work tirelessly behind the scenes promoting and working in the industry.
Badass Women in OCR: Faye Stenning
Faye has gone from being a Spartan Race rookie to the top-ranked female in the world in just a few short years. She was a top middle distance and cross country runner in high school and to this day still holds the junior girl's provincial record in the 3,000 meters. She has been featured in many magazines and online articles, and I wanted to give our readers the chance to get to know her a bit better.
Badass Women of OCR: Missy Morris
Not everyone that is part of the racing community is tearing up the course each event. There are plenty of people behind the scenes that have raced and now are working on making each event the best it can be. Happy racers equal repeat customers, and Missy takes great care to ensure that everyone in the festival area post-race has the best time possible. Missy or “Mamma” as she is known has had quite the career within the OCR community.
Badass Women of OCR: Lauren Casavant
In my humble opinion, a Bad Ass Woman of OCR isn’t just one that stays in the spotlight with epic races all the time, stealing top podium spots, or even breaking speed records. In the case of Lauren Casavant, not only is she fierce in the OCR community, but has also taken her love of being active to the next level with her company PursuEVENTures.
Badass Women of OCR: Robyn Baldwin
Robyn to me is the definition of a strong “Alpha Female”. She has worn many hats in her life including being involved in the Marketing industry, recording her own weekly podcast called “The Alpha Female”, sharing her thoughts with the world via her blog, or just getting out there and participating in OCR world. I choose to feature her in my “Bad Ass Women of OCR” article series, is because I wanted the world to know that being a “badass” in the OCR community isn’t just about going hardcore at races, but it is also about being a strong woman overall in life.
Badass Women of OCR: Ashley Samples
Ashley Samples is nothing but ordinary. She won her age group at OCR World Championships in 2015, came in first place in 9 races this year (and accomplishing this while pregnant). Ashley was nominated in the Best Female OCR Racer category in the Mud Run Guide Best of OCR Awards. This season (January-August) she competed in 20 races in 9 states and won a race on 3 different continents.
Badass Women of OCR: Amy Pacjic
As you all can tell, I am trying to interview women for this article series from all types of backgrounds and with stories to tell. When I first learned about Amy Pacjic, it was humbling. Not only was she an American Ninja Warrior competitor, but she is the only women to stand on both the overall podium of both Obstacle Course Racing World Championship and World’s Toughest Mudder.
Badass Women of OCR: Randi Lackey
Each woman in this series is unique in their own way. For Randi, what drew me to her, was her athleticism. She is not only a woman that holds multiple podium finishes in OCR races across the board, but she was one of only 2 women in 2015 to keep their belt when finishing Conquer the Gauntlet (a mandatory obstacle completion OCR). She has her own personality and seems to be full of energy and drive.
Badass Women of OCR: Louise “Lulu” Spitzer
Badass Women in the OCR community come from all different backgrounds and varying levels of fitness and stamina. Let me tell you a bit more about Lulu Spitzer. She is 61 years old, has ended the 2016 Spartan Season with 5 Spartan Trifecta’s and shows no signs of slowing down. She is ranked # 1 in her age group and took 8th place overall for open female, and 28th overall in the open division.
Badass Women of OCR: Cassie Harris
Cassie was first brought to my attention listening to her on a podcast. I have heard her name before, but didn’t truly realize how much of an impact she has had on the OCR world. I don’t want to focus on what she has been through medically, but she has survived more battles with cancer in the last few years, then anyone should ever have to. This has not stopped her being strong, working hard and participating in a number of OCR events. She is strong, humble, has a gentle soul and her infectious smile is amazing.
Badass Women of OCR: Johanna Lopez
It is never an easy task for me to decide on whom to interview for this article series. All of the women involved in the OCR sport to me are “Badass”, as they are pushing themselves beyond what they thought was their limit, and inspiring those around them to be strong and healthier in their own lives. In the case of Johanna, I have been fortunate to get to know her online a bit through the Canadian Mudd Queens group, and what makes her a “Badass” is not one thing, but all the little things that she has done for herself, and for others.
