Sherpa is good

Sherpa is good

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

The "Sport" of OCR: Who Knew? (The Unexpected Part Four)

I confess that when I wrote my three piece series on the sport of OCR back in 2015 I didn't expect I would be writing a Part Four. Especially so soon. And yet, here I am.

Even just three or four weeks ago I didn't know we would be HERE.

And where is here? Well, as it turns out, a lot of work was being done, quietly, to put a bunch of pieces in to place. The first sign that something was moving was in January, when the UIPM (the International Federation for Modern Pentathlon), announced that they would be presenting a Mixed Relay obstacle version of their Laser-Run event at the UIPM World Cup #1 in Los Angeles the last week of February.

The release stated:

First, the UIPM's strategy of having the Mixed Relay included in future Olympic Games programmes starting with Tokyo 2020 was discussed at length. It was unanimously agreed that this innovative format will include Obstacle Course Racing as part of the Laser-Run discipline. This addition, with strong ties to the historical traditions of the Modern Pentathlon, will add additional value to the Modern Pentathlon event, and the Games itself, and UIPM will campaign strongly for its inclusion.

Secondly, it was reported to the board that more than 50 cities have registered for the new UIPM Laser-Run Global City Tour, which begins in Port Louis, Mauritius.

Finally, the UIPM Secretary General, Shiny Fang, briefed the board on the agreement signed with the TV network Eurosports at the beginning of January. In the context of the partnership, Modern Pentathlon will reach a broader audience with the live broadcast of the UIPM 2017 World Cup Final in Lithuania, in June, and the UIPM 2017 World Championships in Egypt, in September.


Source: https://www.uipmworld.org/news/uipm-new-executive-board-meeting-samaranch-jr-elected-1st-vice-president

(I included more than just the mixed relay obstacle portion of the statement above because I think it is important to note that the UIPM is also expanding and promoting the Laser-Run event internationally. The Laser-Run is technically the last combined two events of the modern pentathlon, but they have been promoting it as a stand alone event due to its broad appeal and ease of implementation.)

As you can see, UIPM intends on trying to make the obstacle version of the Laser-Run a medal event in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. I don't expect the obstacles at the LA event to be too extreme by OCR standards, but if it is accepted by the IOC as a medal event, it sets the stage for bigger and better things in the future.


At the same time, Ian Adamson and others have been hard at work assembling the pieces to build the Obstacle Sports Federation (the International Federation for Obstacle Sports), along with putting in to the place the framework for the national federations, including USA Obstacle Course Racing.

Per the USA OCR website, the US National Championship will be held in Miami on April **th. The US OCR Team will be chosen from that race, and the US team will likely have the chance to compete at a PanAm competition in the fall.

The website is here: http://www.ocrausa.org/calendar.html

So...wait...what??

That escalated quickly, huh?

Rather than spend time writing about the ins and outs of all of this, what I would really like to do is comment on what I think about it all. We already have OCR media organizations out there to cover the nuts and bolts, I'm really here to provide commentary and insight. :) Of course, that's not to say that I don't find all of the ins and outs incredibly interesting (especially the chosen race format), but we can save that topic for another day.


The topic for now is "what does all of this mean?"

There is no conclusive answer, but this is why all of this excites me:

First of all, even though the Obstacle Laser Run is a Pentathlon event, if it becomes an Olympic medal event, it really opens up some possibilities for OCR, just maybe not in the way you have always imagined it.

The imagined acceptance of OCR in to the Olympics is as follows: start an international federation, start fifty national federations, come up with rules and standards and all of that, have a number of congresses and other required governance meetings, have some championships and whatnot, and then ask the IOC if you can be in the Olympics.

And the IOC says "Uuummmm, we recognize you as an official sport now that you've done all of that, but no, you can't be in the Olympics."

Because let's face it, there are a lot of officially recognized sports that aren't in the Olympics. While it is true that a few of them have been "fast tracked" to meet the IOC's interest in new and innovative sports that attract younger audiences (like surfing), in general, the process is extremely long.

But enter Modern Pentathlon, which has been in the Olympics since 1912. They approach the IOC and say "Check out our cool Laser Run event. It's already a part of the Pentathlon, but we have been building support for it all over the world and now we added some obstacles in it to make it even cooler." What will the IOC say? Well, we will have an idea after the Los Angeles event.

If it makes it all of the way through the voting (in July or September) and becomes a medal event in 2020, it puts the obstacle "genre" formally in front of many more people. And perhaps more importantly, it draws a whole new pool of athletes who aspire to make it to the Olympics.

But that by itself isn't the big deal.

We also have the (virtually simultaneous) formation of international and national federations for OCR. We have competition rules and obstacle standards and race formats. We have races and championships that occur outside of any particular OCR brand. We have inclusion. We have, well, an actual sport. (And yes, in many cases, we have spectators.)

Of course, many people won't really care for this. Hell, some of the top racers in OCR today won't care for it. Primarily because (and I've spelled all of this out in my previous articles), as of now, "OCR" has come to mean longer, technical mountain races. If you are a strong mountain/ultra runner, you are loving how things are currently.

And I wouldn't expect this version of OCR to go away. Or, at least I don't think it should go away. As both a "sport" and as a recreational activity, hundreds of thousands of people love the grind of long Spartan Races and Tough Mudders. It is clearly fulfilling a need/desire. But that is just one version of OCR.

There are many other groups of athletes who have been waiting for a version of OCR that matches their interest and skill set. I know a number of track athletes and ninja warriors who have been very hesitant to go do a 2-4 hour Spartan Race, but they might jump right in to an all out 3200 meter track-based sprint obstacle race, or a 3k-5k cross country style obstacle race.

The more interest people show, the more variety we may end up with. And hasn't that always been one of the stated goals of Spartan? To not just serve as a sport but to get people off the couch? To be a lifestyle? Well, to do that you have to meet the needs of many different types of people, not just the ones who can fit in to the mold of what Spartan has created (which is pretty great, by the way, just not totally inclusive).



I see this all as a one-two punch. And one that can inject some new blood and vitality in to OCR. How the punches land, and what effect they will have, remains to be seen. But I am hopeful that we are really just now beginning to see all that "obstacle course racing" entails. The current OCR race formats plus an Olympic Games event plus a cross country "sport" format plus continued growth in shows like America Ninja Warrior begin to paint a broader stroke, both in potential participation and in commercial appeal.

It will be an interesting year.




49 comments:

  1. I feel that is one of the so much vital information for me. And i'm satisfied reading your article. But wanna remark on some common issues, The website taste is great, the articles is in point of fact excellent : D. Excellent job, cheers capitalone.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. The sports fan who recognizes this greater purpose is viewing that enjoyment from a biblical perspective. Temporal enjoyment is a gift but it is not an end. FUN88

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the amazing works guys I've incorporated you guys to my blogroll. itunes store login

    ReplyDelete
  4. Been hunting down such a wonderful blog like this for quite a while.
    beginner olympic triathlon training plan

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for your insight for your fantastic posting. I’m glad I have taken the time to see this. du doan cup C1

    ReplyDelete
  6. The sports handicappers as a rule have the information and assets to gather and dissect the fitting information and make a provide details regarding the current patterns in the sports.bong88

    ReplyDelete
  7. Doubtlessly this is the absolute most ideal path for kids to seek after their enthusiasm for sports, build up their capacities, and take advantage of the experience. Be that as it may, is it?nflstream

    ReplyDelete
  8. At the most abnormal amounts where adversaries are uniformly coordinate in all territories, one mix-up can regularly result in a success or misfortune. softball pins

    ReplyDelete
  9. We offer high-quality predictions on football betting. So welcome to the world of sports predictions. Visit : http://www.fixed-matches-here.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. world cup football offers live sports, HD streams for both the home and away broadcasts of every televised US sporting event. Along with the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS and college football and basketball games, you can stream major boxing matches and UFC fights Visit : http://www.worldcupfootball.me/

    ReplyDelete
  11. We urge you now it is a time to cut the cable and to get what you want – try us first. We offer free streaming services and you’ll be able to watch every out-of-market game live or if you are thinking about on-demand matches in HD quality, we can help you in the same as well.Visit http://www.playoffstream.com/

    ReplyDelete
  12. It doesn’t matter where you are – in college, at work or traveling, for your favorite sports now you don’t need to depend on any cable connection.Visit http://www.worldcupfootball.me/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Don't include your feelings while betting: in the event that you wager in the games alongside your feelings, at that point be prepared to confront greatest defeat. latest betting sites

    ReplyDelete
  14. The CSOne is web-based maintenance management software designed for maintenance and repair service providers. It is specifically designed to fulfill the requirements for these services and successfully improved productivity of thousands of users around the world free premium tips

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nhờ công nghệ tiên tiến, w88hcm được biết đến như là nơi tham gia những trò chơi trực tuyến w88hn đáng tin cậy và tốt thuộc top hàng đầu tại Châu Á.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Indeed, even at expert levels, these fundamental abilities for their sports is significant for pinnacle execution in sports. The collection of abilities required and the force of how these aptitudes are performed at the most astounding levels are considerably progressively intense.https://cleverbowling.com/

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is the excellent mindset, nonetheless is just not help to make every sence whatsoever preaching about that mather. Virtually any method many thanks in addition to i had endeavor to promote your own article in to delicius nevertheless it is apparently a dilemma using your information sites can you please recheck the idea. thanks once more. trực tiếp liverpool vs man city

    ReplyDelete
  18. world cup football offers live sports xs 3 mien moi nhat, HD streams for both the home and away broadcasts of every televised US sporting event kqxs 3 mien

    ReplyDelete
  19. A betting exchange allows members to lay an event (e.g. for a horse to lose). A back / lay sports arbitrage bet occurs when the price offered by a bookmaker is higher than the lay price available on a betting exchange for the same selection.토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am very enjoyed for this blog. Its an informative topic. It help me very much to solve some problems. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. https://188loto.com/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Golf shoes help you in moving in the grass that makes the field of Golf course. Caps just as shirts are the absolute most significant prerequisites on the Golf course. So as to shield your skin from harm due sun-consume, you should discover appropriate concealing also. how to watch the masters

    ReplyDelete
  22. If you want to earn money by betting on your favorite sports, the first step you need to take is to find a physical or online sports book that allows betting on your chosen sports game. volleyball rules dig

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nets are used in sports events such as tennis, volleyball, basketball, and badminton. The goals on the other hand are used with posts and crossbars such as in football and soccer. In baseball, while this sport does not use a goal or net, it however uses a wicket or a base.메이저사이트

    ReplyDelete
  24. Trãi nghiệm thực tế da ga cua sat ở các sới gà lớn mà mình hằng ao ước. Hình ảnh sắc nét, âm thanh sống động với những tiếng quăng bạc ra cược của các tay chơi. Những bồ gà này trực thuộc các quốc gia được hợp pháp về loại hình cá cược. da ga thomo là hình thức live truc tiep da ga hằng ngày. Theo cung giờ diễn ra ở các bồ gà lớn, trực tiếp cho sư kê xem như đang có mặt tại trường gà.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Of course, the food is also important as most people who come to sports bars will usually go for simpler food. Thus, food that is grilled lightly with some light sauces will usually be the food of choice in places like these. hockey gifts

    ReplyDelete
  26. Quickly drawn by essayist's restrictive method for composing.
    토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is true in sports, sbobet login as well. Many coaches worth their salt will point to the advantages of playing multiple sports as kids. The variety that playing more than one sport offers a youngster keeps feeding their enthusiasm.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I feel that is one of the so much vital information for me. And i'm satisfied reading your article. But wanna remark on some common issues, The website taste is great, the articles is in point of fact excellent : sbobet88 Indonesia

    ReplyDelete
  29. I am always looking for some free kinds of stuff over the internet. There are also some companies which give free samples. But after visiting your blog, I do not visit too many blogs. Thanks. combat fighter system reviews

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. tournament shuttlecock

    ReplyDelete
  31. Consider not betting for a week or two. This will help you obtain a better view of things. Also, 우리카지노 know that in sports betting not all seasons are in your favor. You should know that most punters increase their bets every time they lose a couple of bets because they think that they can't miss all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also http://soccerstreams.top

    ReplyDelete
  33. Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting? I'm pleased I discovered it though, ill be checking back soon to find out what additional posts you include. redditsoccerstreams

    ReplyDelete
  34. In all sports and games, there are certain skill sets and skills that chiropodist penarth are considered basic and necessary. These must be achieved by athletes before they can play at a higher level later.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wow, cool post. I'd like to write like this too - taking time and real hard work to make a great article... but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though. https://totalsportek.news/mlb-streams/

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi there! Nice stuff, do keep me posted when you post again something like this! Sports Blog It

    ReplyDelete
  37. Nice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for informative post. link w88

    ReplyDelete
  38. It was a very good post indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it in my lunch time. Will surely come and visit this blog more often. Thanks for sharing. this website

    ReplyDelete
  39. If more people that write articles involved themselves with writing great content like you, more readers would be interested in their writings. I have learned too many things from your article. http://crackstreams.news

    ReplyDelete
  40. In addition, there is a $70 registration fee to the land transfer tax. mortgage payment calculator canada A large financial company can help you have more desirable mortgage features and rate by comparing rates which is available from multiple providers. mortgage payment calculator canada

    ReplyDelete
  41. A big yes to this brand naming agency as well! Their new online course really is an eye opener in developing strategies for the success of naming  my new business.  read also

    ReplyDelete
  42. Thank you so much for the post you do. I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job. best badminton racket for beginners

    ReplyDelete
  43. Up to now, it seems, this probability factor has had to be determined by the sheer experience of a few seasoned professional gamblers, or by trial-and-error guesswork by lesser mortals. keputusan 4d

    ReplyDelete
  44. Vstar79 – nhà cái hoạt động trong lĩnh vực casino trực tuyến và cá cược thể thao đang thu hút đông đảo người chơi.

    ReplyDelete
  45. A readymade longboard will save your both money and time. visit here

    ReplyDelete
  46. There are so many options available at various websites concerning longboards. my company

    ReplyDelete

  47. da ga sv388Phát trực tiếp cho người xem không có điều kiện thời gian hoặc khoảng cách địa lý. Không thể đến tham gia, hình thức đá gà này ra đời giải quết toàn bộ các bất cập.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This amazing is very much unquestionably great. All these smaller fact is manufactured working with number with credentials know-how. I actually enjoy the reasoning the best value. 온라인홀덤

    ReplyDelete