Usually we only run around in mud if it's at a festival. But this time we are going to OCR — Obstacle Course Racing at Reffen. And no, our OCD helps us nothing here.
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Disclaimer: Apropos Magazine received access or a review copy. As always, we share our own impressions — unfiltered.
Six stars
Nordic Race has existed since 2012 and is Denmark's largest OCR organiser. They are serious, thorough and professional in a way we rarely experience in the world of music and games. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail. We don't quite have a handle on how much sweat and pain we can endure ourselves, but we do have a vague hope that the arena format at the Reffen helps a little. The audience gets to be constantly close to the participants -- cheering, perhaps judgmental -- and that creates an intense atmosphere that you rarely get in a forest on summer vacation.
Obstacles we already fear
We've looked at the list: Monkey Valley, Pyramid, Power Pulls, High Wall, Irish Table, Hammertime... and all that. At first we thought it was the line-up for next year's Copenhell. We've tried military runways 25 years ago, crawled in woods 30 years ago. That experience goes roughly right to nothing.
Then we saw the images from previous races: very trained, muscular types struggling with the same obstacles. If they were sweating and moaning, what should we not do? It was kind of discouraging, but also motivating in an absurd way -- if they could, maybe we could too. The completion rate statistics weren't there to reassure us, but to remind us that even the fittest struggle with some of the obstacles.
But it helps that the whole thing is only 5 kilometers -- in theory. Rumours also go that you can make penalty rounds if you don't dare, and yes, we fervently hope we don't get sent on the long round.
Exercise, or something similar
We've tried to train a little bit. Running, strength exercises, a few attempts at pull-ups. Mostly to be able to climb onto the ropes without crying. It doesn't seem like much, but it's a place to start. If you want to have a realistic chance of making it through, it's actually a good idea to run some walks, do some core and arm strength, and practice pulling yourself up. There are also beginner heats, where you can get help from a coach so that you do not end up as a total loser at the first hurdle. For those who want a bit more, there are also elite teams where the tempo is cranked up and it becomes far more intense.
Unity, charity and absurd respect
The Nordic Race is more than mud and pain. They focus on community, charity and inclusive experiences — even for people who don't normally move on OCR tracks. We should cheer for each other, laugh a little at ourselves, and hope or fear that someone films it so we can use it as social proof for our self-esteem later on.
This is an experience where people with very different experiences come together, help each other and cheer. It's not just a race -- it's a chance to try boundaries, physically and mentally, but still have some fun along the way.
Excitement, nervousness and anticipation
We're excited but nervous. It's going to be physically tough, the audience sees everything and we don't know how many times we're going to think, 'What have we got ourselves into? ' But we also know that it will be fun, intense and -- after all -- an experience we will soon forget.
Mud, rope, sweat and a bit of humiliation await. Our OCD won't help, but maybe we'll be fine anyway. Our recommendation for other newbies: practice a little before, start on the beginner route with a coach, be prepared to be sent on some extra rounds, and take it all with a strained smile and look forward to the satisfaction afterwards. And for the more hardcore: the elite team awaits -- if you dare.
We'll take up the fight and we can't wait to see what we can survive.
