Industry News
The Economics of Independence: How Small OCR Race Series Survive and Fight for Their Piece of the Market
May 4, 2026
The Economics of Independence: How Small OCR Race Series Survive and Fight for Their Piece of the Market
Independent OCR race series face real pressure from Spartan and Tough Mudder’s market dominance. Here’s what the economics actually look like — and how the independents that survive are doing it.
The Course Builders Among Us: OCR Athletes Who Are Designing and Coaching the Sport Forward
A look at the athletes who compete hard and then turn around and build the sport — as coaches, course designers, and community architects shaping what OCR becomes next.
Ireland Is Calling: Your Guide to the FISO OCR World Championships in Limerick, August 2026
The FISO OCR World Championships land in Limerick, Ireland this August. Here’s your complete guide to the course format, travel logistics, and whether this race belongs on your 2026 calendar.
Through the Mud and the Lens: The OCR Photographers Who Capture What Words Can’t
Inside the world of OCR event photographers — the volunteers, pros, and passionate community members who haul cameras through mud, water, and barbed wire to capture the sport’s most defining moments.
Light Up the Course: The OCR Athlete’s Guide to Headlamps for Night Racing and Early-Morning Training
Night races and pre-dawn training sessions demand more than a headlamp from the camping bin. Here’s everything you need to know to pick the right light for obstacle course racing.
Eat the Inflammation Down: The OCR Athlete’s Guide to Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition
Chronic inflammation is the silent performance killer for OCR athletes. Here’s how to use what you eat — before, during, and after training — to keep it in check and race stronger.
The Backyard Builders: Meet the OCR Community Members Bringing the Course Home
Inside the grassroots movement of OCR athletes who build their own obstacle rigs at home — the setups, the community, and what it says about how deep the sport’s roots really go.
The Sponsorship Gap: Why OCR Still Can’t Land the Brand Deals the Sport Deserves
OCR has the athletes, the audience, and the story — so why do major brand sponsorships keep going to road running and triathlon? A hard look at what’s holding the sport back and what needs to change.
Darkness Falls: A Guide to OCR Night Racing and the Events Worth Running After Dark in 2026
OCR night racing is growing — and it delivers an experience that daytime events simply can’t replicate. Here’s what to expect from the format, which events are running in 2026, and how to prepare for racing when the sun goes down.
One Shot, One Chance: The Complete Deep-Dive on Cracking the Spear Throw
The spear throw is Spartan Race’s most notorious obstacle — and statistically, its most failed. Here’s the complete breakdown: grip, mechanics, the tether, training at home, and the mental game that separates the athletes who nail it from those grinding out 30 burpees.
Dressed for the Mud and the Deep: The Complete OCR Wet-Weather and Water Obstacle Kit Guide
When the course goes cold and wet, your gear either protects your performance or tanks it. A complete guide to neoprene, compression, dry bags, and footwear for wet OCR conditions.
The OCR Mental Performance Playbook: Flow States, Arousal Regulation, and Race-Day Anxiety
Obstacle course racing doesn’t just test your body — it tests the six inches between your ears. A deep dive into the science of flow states, arousal regulation, and race-day anxiety for OCR athletes.