Obstacle courses are a fun way to exercise and socialize. You may want to participate but feel unprepared for the occasion. Knowing some tips and tricks can help you succeed and make it to the finish line. Use these tips to help you prepare for an obstacle course and ensure you have the skills to beat the competition no matter the terrain.
Make a Course for Yourself
Obstacle courses involve climbing, running, and crawling; most people don’t experience these physical challenges regularly. Prepare yourself for the race with a backyard obstacle course. Make an obstacle course with various challenges that help you grow accustomed to the effort you’ll need to put into the actual race.
Planks of wood, wooden pallets, and small tires will help you make a reliable obstacle course. Place planks of wood on top of each other to make a balancing beam or low bridge to crawl under to practice balancing and fast crawling.
Lean the wooden pallets against each other and secure them with rope or nails to create a two-way ramp to run or hurdle off of. Jumping from one tire to the next promotes agility, which is essential to beating the most seasoned racers.
Run on Nature Paths
Nature is often one of the most challenging places to maneuver, making it an ideal space to improve your stamina. Find a long nature trail with hills and dirt paths. Trail running is an excellent way to improve your body’s running skills and prepare you for the race.
The uneven ground and changing slopes simulate your environment, and the exercise helps you improve your lungs and legs to cover long stretches of ground. Run around the nature trail numerous times for improved endurance training; the trails often loop around and lead you back to the starting point.
Train With Friends
During the obstacle course, numerous people will be around you, making you feel cramped and less free to move around. Inviting friends to join you while you train is an excellent way to prepare for an obstacle course.
Go on runs as a group and train using your makeshift obstacle course. Your friends want you to succeed and will help you train. Plus, they’ll have a good time training with you if they enjoy exercising.
Exercise Daily
Daily exercise is one of the best ways to train for a physically challenging event. Use cardio training exercises to dominate the obstacle race, such as biking, burpees, and running on an inclined treadmill.
As you go through your workouts daily, you’ll feel used to the effort you put into training. You’ll feel more prepared than you thought possible when the time comes to use the muscles you’ve built. Add ankle and wrist weights to make the exercise more intense and feel lighter on the race day when you move through the course.
You can train for an obstacle course race in numerous ways, but some are more effective. Use these tips to help you prepare and push your way to the end with a smile and a feeling of accomplishment.
Dianne Pajo is a Certified Personal Trainer based out of the Chicagoland area with a passion for music, combat sports, and animals. She enjoys competing in amateur boxing and kickboxing, but in her other leisure time, you can find her performing music around the city. She is also a dog mom of 2.