This year was probably the next record high for participation in obstacle course racing (OCR). There are thousands of races all over the world, each with thousands of competitors trying to beat the rolling hills and conquer every obstacle. Not all want to come in first, finishing is a worthy enough goal. Nearly all first time participants to events like the Spartan Race will admit that with each race, they learn more about how they could train better for the next.

So the question is, how do I start OCR or Spartan Race training?

First, plan to train for the challenges of the race. That means unless your gym is equipped with 8′ walls, forest trails, and barbed wire, you’re probably spending too much time there. Just like you wouldn’t train for a career trading stocks by majoring in literature, don’t expect your Spartan Race training to reflect solely on traditional exercise. Hiking, trail running, and climbing, paired with strength training in the gym will better prepare you for your big race.

Second, forego instant comfort for long term success and satisfaction. The study of delayed gratification isn’t new by any means. For decades, psychological research has shown that when presented with a choice between a small reward now or a greater reward later, those who prolonged their prize were more substantially more likely to be successful, more productive, and happier. Sure, meeting friends for drinks tonight and sleeping in tomorrow sounds fun, but how does it help long-term goals? If your goal is to enhance your Spartan Race training and save yourself some pain on race day, get to bed early and hit the local trails at sunrise.

Most importantly, prepare your mind for the unknown. Spartan Race training, like any other program, requires dedication and discipline. Commit to success. Accept failures as opportunities to improve. Dedicate your body to training beyond your normal limits. When it becomes easy, increase the challenges. Climb higher, run faster, fall down, get up, sweat, freeze, bleed. As a society, we’re programmed to feel stress from what we don’t see coming. Through training, a real athlete will reprogram their mind to adapt during unforeseen circumstances. Your new ability to make decisions on the fly will likely mean completing a new obstacle, or shaving minutes off your race time.

If you’re ready to take the leap, click here to get started on your own training!