Obstacle races have become quite the rage in the running community over the last few years. Perhaps it’s the added challenge of climbing ropes, swinging across monkey bars while dangling over a mud pit or zig-zagging through a field of tires (without tripping) which draws people to participate in a race that is more than about speed but physical prowess. Slogging through mud and climbing on cargo nets 12 feet in the air and crawling under barbed wire have been used as training devices in the military. The courses were designed to build the mental and physical fitness of recruits, preparing themselves for combat. Today, these tests exercise the stamina and agility of civilian men and women looking for a way to take their fitness to the next level. Terrain Racing brings the toughness of the military to everyone with the options of a 5K run with 12 obstacles and a 10K course with 20+ obstacles. Not to be left out, kids ages 2-8 can participate on a “Mini Monkey” .5 mile course. If you are curious about just what kind of obstacles are included, click here and watch the video below. Grab some buddies to form a team, run solo for fun or if you are a competitive athlete, race for cash prizes. The course is chip timed for anyone who competes. All runners who complete the race will receive a cool shirt and a medal.
What: Terrain Race: Eugene
When: Saturday October 1. Waves start at 8:00 am and the last wave starts at 12:00 pm.
Where:
Camp Harlow
3850 County Farm Road
Eugene, OR 97408
Parking is $10 per vehicle, so carpool and bring cash.
Registration: Early waves fill up fast, register now before the spots are gone! If you’re trying to join a friend in a wave that is already full, ask them to create a team and when you join their team you can race at the same time they are. The 5K is $30 and the 10K is $35 and prices will go up (almost double) on September 21, so register now! Please note that participants must be 14 years old to run the 5K and 10K.
Packet Pickup: The only packet pickup is on Saturday morning before the event. Gates open at 7:00am.
Swag:
Course Info: There is no map to look at until race day. I repeat: there is NO map to look at until race day! From the Terrain website—“Part of the difficulty is we won’t post a map until race day! With surprises around the corner the race becomes more challenging but we will have a huge map for you to study right before the start cannon goes off.Our obstacles are designed so you can conquer them on your own but it’s always nice to have a teammate help push you over these huge walls. Even the competitive athletes will struggle and instead of a penalty when you can’t conquer an obstacle, you just keep trying until you do! For open waves it’s fine to skip an obstacle, but the competitive will be disqualified if they do.” There WILL be aid stations along the course, so you can leave your water bottle at home.
Race Day Info: Be sure to arrive in plenty of time to pick up your packet as gates open at 7:00 and it is suggested that you arrive an hour before your wave. Pack a towel and a dry set of clothes so that you have something clean and warm to change into after the race. There is a gear check available and Terrain will provide showers post-race so that you can enjoy your after race beverages and snacks more comfortably.
For even more information on Terrain and their many events and locations, visit Terrain Racing.
