Blog of an Obstacle Racer

The following is an excerpt from a blog. The blog references Army Physical Readiness Training; check it out.

Run 5.5 miles and begin with an easy pace. Make sure you stretch just a little to get the kinks out of your legs. Once ready, head out the door to your favorite trail and go.

As you run, pour it on for about thirty seconds and then jog for five minutes. This will get you used to forcing sprints and demanding something from your body when you need it.

Be sure to not only run off the paved areas, but along grass, ditches and where ever your adventures take you. During my run I jumped across narrow ditches that run perpendicular to my course and through ditches that run parallel to the course.

If you run through neighborhoods, run in grass and stay off the sidewalks. You might have to dodge poles and mailboxes, but it will keep you sharp.

For those of you who live in Huntsville, Alabama and who might work on Redstone Arsenal, we have a fitness trail. The run covers miles and miles of asphalt trail. However, when possible I run the just off the trail and through leaves, woods and fields. My run goes from the Von Braun II building to the swimming pool and then back.

Try these obstacles from the Army Physical Readiness Training book. They are fun:

EXERCISE 2: MEDIAL LEG RAISE

EXERCISE 2: MEDIAL LEG RAISE

(5 repetitions on each side)

Purpose: This exercise strengthens the inner thigh and hip muscles (Figure 6-11).

Starting Position 1: Lay on the left side with the left leg extended straight to the side and the right leg bent at 90 degrees with the right foot flat on the ground behind the left leg. Support the upper body with the left elbow. The

elbow is bent at 90 degrees, the upper arm is perpendicular to the ground and the right hand makes a fist vertical to the ground.

Starting Position 2: Lay on the right side with the right leg extended straight to the side and the left leg bent at 90 degrees with the left foot flat on the ground behind the right leg. Support the upper body with the right elbow. The elbow is bent at 90 degrees, the upper arm is perpendicular to the ground and the left hand makes a fist vertical to the ground.

Commands: The commands for the lateral leg raise are as follows:

􀁺 Starting Position, MOVE.

􀁺 Ready, EXERCISE.

􀁺 Change Position, MOVE.

􀁺 Ready, EXERCISE.

􀁺 Starting Position, MOVE.

􀁺 Position of Attention, MOVE.

Cadence: SLOW

Count:

1. Raise the bottom leg so the bottom foot is 6-8 inches above the ground.

2. Return to the starting position.

3. Raise the bottom leg so the bottom foot is 6-8 inches above the ground.

4. Return to the starting position.

Figure 6-11. Medial leg raise

Check Points:

􀁺 Keep the hips facing forward and the body in a generally straight line.

􀁺 Keep the toes facing forward on the bottom leg.

􀁺 Place the top hand over the stomach throughout the exercise.

􀁺 Do not raise the bottom foot higher than 6-8 inches above the ground.

Precaution: N/A

For you mudders and warriors

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Preparing to eat wild game..

d. Medium Sized Mammals.

The game you trap or snare will generally be alive when you find it and is therefore dangerous. Be careful when you approach a trapped animal. Use a spear or club to kill it so you can keep a safe distance from it. After you kill an animal, immediately bleed it by cutting its throat. If you must drag the carcass any distance, do so before you cut off the hide so that the carcass is protected from dirt and debris that might contaminate it. Clean the animal near a stream if possible so that you can wash and cool the carcass and edible parts. Fleas and parasites will leave a cooled body so if the situation allows, wait until the animal cools before cleaning and dressing the carcass. To skin and dress the animal (Figure 14-14 and Figure 14-15).

Obstacle runs? Adventure races? Show your style

Love to run in the mud? Show 'em that you do with adventure race swag..