When swimming teacher Lenny Stoutdyke caught sight of elite OCR competitors crossing the finish line at a recreational race in the Netherlands, something clicked. "I want to do that," he thought. Less than a year later, he stood on the podium at the European Championships, silver medal in hand.

Lenny's meteoric rise in obstacle course racing stems from his uncommonly scientific approach to training. While many athletes train hard, Lenny trains smart. For the scorching Portuguese championship, he created his own heat chamber using a road bike on an indoor trainer, full rain gear, and a core temperature sensor to monitor his body's adaptation. This dedication to race-specific preparation paid dividends when competitors wilted in the 40°C heat while he maintained peak performance.

The distinction between "obstacle course running" and "obstacle course racing" forms a fascinating foundation of Lenny's story. Starting as a recreational participant in 2014, he gradually built from 7km events to grueling 60km challenges before transitioning to competitive racing in 2022. His training methodology combines aerobic base-building, strength work targeting both major muscle groups and smaller stabilizing muscles, and creative workouts like "Power Cards" – using a deck of playing cards to generate varied, unpredictable training sessions.

What truly separates championship-level athletes from casual participants is their willingness to invest – not just time and effort, but strategic resources. After identifying shooting as a weakness, Lenny purchased an EcoAims system for his club, turning a competitive disadvantage into an opportunity for community improvement. This exemplifies the OCR mindset: finding solutions rather than making excuses.

As the sport continues evolving across Europe, each region has developed distinctive obstacle styles – Portuguese courses feature technical bent-arm challenges, Dutch races incorporate rope work and survival elements, while Scandinavian events emphasize flowing movements and raw strength. Understanding these regional differences allows athletes to adapt training specifically for upcoming competitions, particularly important as championship events rotate between host countries.

Ready to elevate your OCR performance? Take inspiration from Lenny's methodical approach. Research course-specific demands, implement targeted training adaptations, and remember that success comes from consistency rather than sporadic intensity. The obstacle course racing community welcomes dedicated athletes willing to push boundaries and share knowledge – exactly the spirit that makes this sport so uniquely rewarding.

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The fourth race in the 3K Series takes a surprise turn as Nuclear Wild Forest steps in to replace Body Hub, offering a fast, obstacle-dense course that could significantly shake up the current standings. We analyze the complete course layout and share strategic insights for tackling this uniquely challenging event.

• Nuclear Wild Forest features 19 obstacles packed into a surprisingly fast course
• Most of the race takes place outside the forest on fields and tracks rather than in woodland
• Course includes three different carries and classic Nuclear "fiddly" obstacles
• The terrain is less technical than other 3K races but requires careful pacing to avoid blowing up
• Race day is July 27th with a 10am start, and registration closes July 8th
• Current 3K Series leaders include Finlay and Shy, but this race could change everything
• Expect finishing times in the 16-minute range for top competitors
• Weather conditions will significantly impact race strategy and obstacle difficulty

Get your tickets before July 8th at the Nuclear website and join us for what promises to be one of the fastest and most exciting races in the 3K Series!

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Ever wondered what separates elite OCR athletes from weekend warriors? It's not just about doing more burpees or running faster—it's about understanding the science and purpose behind every workout.

In this revealing episode, Morgan, Chris, and Darren pull back the curtain on their training evolution, from their early days of random woodland workouts to their current structured approaches. The conversation takes fascinating turns as they debate the differences between tempo and threshold running, share their week-by-week training schedules, and discover that what feels challenging isn't always what drives improvement.

"The workouts I thought were changing me versus the workouts that actually changed me," Morgan reflects, highlighting how his perception of effective training shifted dramatically over time. Meanwhile, Chris advocates for simplicity with his "long run, fast run, and mixed run" approach, while Darren reveals how tempo runs—maintaining "uncomfortably comfortable" pace—transformed his racing.

Whether you're training for your first Spartan Sprint or gunning for OCR World Championships, this episode offers practical insights into training structure, workout selection, and most importantly, understanding the "why" behind each session. The hosts' candid admissions about confusion, overtraining, and misunderstood terminology make this an accessible, relatable deep-dive into OCR training philosophy.

By the end, you'll understand why Morgan believes "if you know the why behind your workouts, you should be in a very good place"—and how finding purpose in training creates both accountability and results in obstacle course racing.

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