Obstacle course racing is on the up and for the first time one of the UK’s leading events, the Total Warrior, will come to Scotland in 2015. More than 20,000 people are expected to take on a Total Warrior event this year in Leeds, the Lake District and Edinburgh.
6 reasons to do Total Warrior
It’s not your average fun run: Total Warrior cranks it up several notches so you need to be prepared for the ultimate test of stamina, strength and determination.
With 30 punishing obstacles in each of its three locations, Total Warrior prides itself on offering greater variety and more obstacles-per-kilometre (or pain-for-your-pound) than many other races.
Lots of different ways to “win”: In many ways, the beauty of Total Warrior is that the precise nature of the challenge can differ from person to person. Timing chips are provided, so participants can set themselves a personal target or aim to do it faster than a friend or rival.
For some, the challenge will be to complete all six of the Total Warrior event days in one calendar year. For others, it is to take home the coveted Best Fancy Dress prize.
Some people sign up to lose weight; others sign up to raise money for a cause close to their hearts. But for most participants, “winning” simply means crossing the finishing line and enjoying a well-earned free beer.
It’s not just for men: The profile of Total Warrior participants has changed considerably over the last four years and in 2014 more than 45% of entrants were female.
To race with friends: You can fly solo if you wish – and many Warriors do – but 80% of participants choose to run as part of a team. That way, when you’re knackered, soaked, muddied and close to tears, at least you’ll have the consolation of looking around and knowing from their faces that your mates are suffering too.
For muddy good fun: Unless you were a hippopotamus in a previous life, you will almost certainly never have encountered as much mud as you will in a Total Warrior.
To race a new race: For the first time, Total Warrior comes to Edinburgh at Balgone Estate on September 12 and 13.
The other Total Warrior 2015 events are Bramham Park, Leeds, June 27 and 28 and Shap Abbey, Lake District, August 1 and 2. See Total Warrior