Being able to dodge those sneaky little Lego blocks scattered across your kitchen floor in several death-defying, yet graceful leaps is the number one benefit of obstacle training.
Just kidding. (Although, the skills can definitely be applied to deftly avoiding an emergency room visit.)
What is obstacle training? Obstacle training (also known as military training) is a series of obstacles, including running, swimming, jumping, and climbing. It is usually used to judge the physical fitness of members of the military. Think this is something for you? (Pssst, you should totally try it!) Obstacle training has many benefits.
Great combination of cardiovascular and strength training
Fat burning, heart saving, AND muscle building? You can work out for a shorter period of time and gain more benefits than a 2-hour workout. What more could you want?
Surviving (and maybe winning?) your mud run
Imitating real-life scenarios for a future mud run (like these ones!) help better prepare you for your race. You wouldn’t practice ballet choreography before a football game, would you?
Improving agility
Obstacle training is measured by the time it takes for you to complete the course. The more you practice, the quicker you’ll get.
A training supplement for team sports
Obstacle training can help improve a team’s ability to work together and improve their agility and overall physical fitness.
…a strong supplement for any training program
If you regularly strength train or train for triathlons, obstacle training can shock your body and keep your muscles thinking. (Muscles get bored too, you know!)
A fun way to get fit
If the idea of staring at yourself in the mirror while heaving iron over your head or kicking a ball to complete strangers in varying extremes of weather makes you want to stay on the couch, then try obstacle training. There will never be a dull day.
It can be social!
If you’re a social butterfly, obstacle training builds bonds with people you know already (or complete strangers!) You will all be suffering (and supporting) in sweat together.
It can be D.I.Y.
You can make your own obstacles in your apartment, in your backyard or at a park. Grab some household items (pots and pans, sturdy chairs, and a ladder), some pylons from a sports equipment store, or snag a tire or two from a junkyard. Easy AND inexpensive!
If you love the competitive aspect of fitness and want to try obstacle training, you can try the infamous O Course if you are located in Canada. Or if you are a visual learner, pick up the Obstacle Training Race Bible.
You don’t have to compete in a mud run to obstacle train – do it for you! Or use the training to compete in a mud run and track your progress using My Virtual Mission. Have fun with fitness and treat your body the way it deserves! (And avoid Lego death traps.)