What could be a better venue for and OCR event than a swamp? Many might argue a mountain or ski resort, but each utilizes its own unique terrain. The aforementioned “swamp” was the Black Swamp of Oak Harbor, OH; site of this year’s Black Swamp Dash. The event, now in its 3rd season, is a quality event put on by an amazing pair of OCR enthusiasts: Troy and Sandy Anthony.
Indian Mud Run is the epitome of the term “Home-grown race.” Founded in 2012 in an effort to raise funds for the local levy that had recently failed, it has seen steady growth in each subsequent year. This year the race boasted 700+ participants, sure that’s far cry from the numbers that Spartan Race pulls week after week, but when you dig a little deeper you find that 20 different states were represented among the runners. What in the world could be bringing in racers from all across the country in what otherwise seems to be a small and obscure event?
The Ohio Savage Race is an event that I have been looking forward to all year after having attended last year at the same venue. Those of you following along at home may remember that last year I gave high praise to the event and was so bold to suggest that Savage may need to be considered a serious contender to “The Big Three”. I can firmly say that numbers be damned, Savage is securely one of the top obstacle course racing series in the business.
OCR World Championships is a one-of-a-kind event, where all OCR brands and people from around the world come together to celebrate their passion for the sport of OCR. For me, it is about the experience, the memories, the new friends, the fun and the sense of personal accomplishment during and after the course.
Mad River Mountain is probably one of the few locations in the country where you can run up ski slopes, through the woods, and on rolling hills in the middle of a cornfield all while running a route just over 10km. That alone was going to make the venue worth the cost of registration but the way Savage Race utilized the area made it an event to remember. If anyone was weary of the series’ recent spotlight, being considered as a one of the up-and-coming contenders to the big three of Spartan Race, Warrior Dash, and Tough Mudder, all doubts should now be shattered.
Wrapping up the results and news from the weekend. Hobie Call retires as a professional obstacle racer. Spartans Rule the east and Midwest over the weekend.
Mud Ninja is a small, local race that offers just about everything that the “Big Boys” of OCRs have to offer without the exorbitant prices and huge crowds that can make running in national races a bit of a headache at times.
