- Mountaineering and obstacle course racing are both great pastimes for people who love being active and spending time with Mother Nature.
- If you already have experience climbing mountains, joining OCR events will add to your physical and mental strength and your network of like-minded peers.
- Transitioning into OCR can lead you to more intense exercise while still allowing you to enjoy the outdoors.
Mountaineering is, plain and simple, the sport of climbing mountains. It's a challenging but rewarding pursuit, and an unconventional way of getting into tip-top shape. Making it pass the rocks, mud, and sometimes snow is exhausting, but so worth it when you finally reach the peak and see the world from a brand new point of view.
However, it's not as easy as choosing a mountain and starting to climb. There is plenty of preparation to be done before starting your uphill trek. You need to gauge the weather, learn some basic survival skills, dress appropriately from head to toe, and pack up everything you might need for food, shelter, and any emergencies that might crop up.
If all of this sounds like a fun weekend to you, then you may want to seriously consider joining an obstacle course racing event, too.
Mountain climbing is like OCR
Fitness benefits
Either mountain climbing or obstacle course racing can put your body to the test and do great work on your endurance and strength. Both train your lungs to become strong, and it's a bit less of a struggle and a bit more fun each time you do it. Like mountain climbing, OCR offers a change of scenery from the four walls of the gym, but you still get the benefits of training indoors.
Meeting new people
What do hikers, climbers, and OCR enthusiasts have in common? They're all good company to keep, most especially when you're in the wilderness. From special interest groups on social media to right there on the trails, mountaineering and OCR are great ways to meet people who share your passion for fitness and the outdoors.
It will teach you persistence
Even for relatively easy climbs, it's a long way from the foot of a mountain to the top. Obstacle course races can be equally grueling, although they don't always take place on inclines. Mountain climbers and OCR lovers know that the journey is meant to be enjoyed, no matter how long it takes.
Embracing the disconnected life
Hiking and doing obstacle course races are low-tech ways to have fun. As you immerse yourself in the natural beauty, you're also taking a break from the many screens you see everyday. This is a good opportunity to appreciate the environment and think of how you can contribute to protecting and preserving it – when you're not busy scaling walls and crawling through mud.
You need to pack light
This applies for mountain climbing, and even more so for OCR. When you're trekking up a mountain, you need to bring all the essentials, but at the same time, you need to make it manageable considering how carrying a heavy weight slows you down and tires you out. When you're doing OCR, you're encouraged to bring as little as possible onto the course, and even wear the minimum amount of clothing.
It's for all ages
With the right equipment and proper guidance, pretty much anyone can do OCR. The same goes for climbing a mountain. Although kids and elders might need some assistance from people who are stronger or have more experience, that can't and shouldn't stop them from crossing the finish line or reaching the peak.
It works better when you eat right
You want your body to be in the best possible condition whether you're going up a mountain or through an obstacle course. This means doing away with fast food and unhealthy snacks. Swap them out for foods that can help refuel your body when you start feeling the exhaustion, and of course, plenty of water during, before, and after the big event.
You can be close to nature
One of the great things about obstacle course races is that they can take place almost anywhere, including on mountains. It's an appealing option for adventurous OCR fans, and for mountain climbers looking for a more high-intensity type of activity. Venturing into the mountains isn't just good for your fitness, it exposes you to the fresh air, as well. While you're battling it out, don't forget to take in all of the organic beauty around you.
You need a never-say-die attitude
Another common factor between OCR and mountaineering is that neither of them is a walk in the park. They will push your body to its limits, and you definitely won't overcome ever single obstacle you meet on the first try. There's no need to be discouraged, though. Starting a hike or a race with a negative attitude is a surefire way to fail before you even take the first step. Just remember that the suffering is temporary, and it always comes with a fabulous payoff, whether that's the view from the summit of a mountain or the victorious feeling when you finally cross the finish line.
It will make you feel invincible
Scaling the side of a mountain, helping your teammate over a huge wall, and making a perfect landing after swinging from a rope can all make you feel like a superhero. There's nothing wrong with embracing that feeling and letting its power motivate you to push even harder and reach greater heights. Finishing a race or a hike is an impressive physical, mental, and emotional feat, and you should take pride in it whether it's your first time or your twentieth.
If you love climbing mountains, you'll love OCR because…
It will help you build strength
Obstacle course racing and the training that goes with it can build up your muscles much like lifting weights at the gym would, but this way is cheaper and for many people, more fun than the gym. In order to reach the finish line, you need to jump, crawl, and pull yourself up. The strength you gain will make little tasks you need to do while mountain climbing much easier, too, starting with carrying your loaded backpack. If you want to supplement your super lungs and heart with muscle, OCR should be next on your checklist.
You'll have elevated fitness and health
Aside from the positive effect that exercise will have on your body, training for OCR will also help you get into the habit of making better choices for your health. Training will regulate your sleeping hours and force you to up your water intake. Many people even go the extra mile and adjust their diets to go along with the conditioning they get from their training program.
OCR is a form of functional fitness, which means that it makes you stronger and more efficient in ways you can use in your everyday tasks. As a bonus, because you're enjoying yourself so much, it doesn't actually feel like a real workout, even though you reap the benefits of doing so.
It offers exciting new challenges
Activities like running and hiking do wonders for your cardiovascular health. If you add OCR to that mix, you'll see an improvement in your sense of balance, coordination, core strength, and upper body strength. Becoming an OCR newbie will test your all-around grit and your athleticism, and give you the chance to develop a holistic kind of fitness.
You'll be part of a growing community
You can never have too many friends, especially when you need them to help you climb up a steep, slippery wall and get back down in one piece. OCR grows in popularity with every event, and camaraderie is so important in OCR events. In some cases, a love for OCR will be the only thing you have in common with new people you meet, but it doesn't really matter when you're all having fun under the sun and lending each other a hand on the tough obstacles.
There's a big overlap between obstacle course racing and mountaineering. If you love the outdoors and being active, you're already on the right track to OCR. With the wealth of fitness benefits, new challenges, and friends who share your enthusiasm for getting down and dirty – and in shape – there's a lot to be gained from dipping your toes in the water, or better yet, jumping right in.