Let’s be honest: training for an obstacle course race (OCR) in winter is an exercise in embracing absurdity. You’ve got the mud, the cold, the wind that feels like it’s personally attacking you—and yet, you keep going. Why? Because you’re an OCR warrior, and apparently, sanity isn’t part of the training plan.

Here’s a humorous look at what winter OCR training really entails:

1. Layering Like an Onion

Winter training starts with a simple task: dressing yourself. But by the time you’ve put on five layers, two pairs of socks, and gloves so thick you can’t even tie your shoelaces, you realize you’ve become less “athlete” and more “Michelin Man.”

Then, five minutes into your run, you’re sweating like it’s July. You strip off a layer, only to be smacked by an Arctic wind that makes you regret every life decision up to this point.

2. Muddy Mayhem

Ah, mud—the lifeblood of OCR training. In winter, it’s not just mud; it’s frozen mud. It’s the kind of sludge that sucks your shoes off your feet and laughs as you faceplant into it.

But hey, it’s “good for your grip strength,” right? Sure, if by “grip strength,” you mean clinging to your dignity while crawling through icy puddles.

3. Running in the Dark

Winter means short days and long nights, so most of your training happens in the dark. Headlamp? Check. Reflective vest? Check. Fear of running into nocturnal wildlife or a rogue tree branch? Oh, absolutely.

On the plus side, stumbling blindly through the woods builds character. On the downside, it also builds bruises.

4. Freezing Water Obstacles

Why wait for race day to experience the joy of hypothermia? Winter training offers plenty of opportunities to “test your limits” (read: lose all feeling in your toes).

You’ve got a choice: either avoid every puddle like it’s lava or embrace the soggy misery and tell yourself it’s “mental toughness training.” Spoiler: it’s not.

5. Creative Obstacles

When it’s too cold to go to an actual OCR training facility, you make do with what you’ve got. A picnic table becomes a wall climb. A children’s playground? Now it’s a monkey bar gauntlet.

Your neighbours probably think you’re unhinged. They’re not wrong.

6. Post-Training Recovery

Nothing says “athlete” like sitting in your car with the heat cranked up, eating snacks while your soaked clothes form a puddle on the seat. Recovery drinks? Nah, you’ve got a thermos of hot chocolate, and it’s the best decision you’ve made all day.

Why Do We Do It?

Despite the cold, the mud, and the sideways stares from strangers, winter OCR training is weirdly addictive. There’s something about pushing through the ridiculousness that makes you feel alive (and maybe slightly unhinged).

Because when race day comes, and you’re charging through obstacles with frostbite-free toes and a smug grin, you’ll know it was worth every frozen mile and mud-covered mishap.

So, bundle up, brave the elements, and embrace the chaos. Winter OCR training: it’s ridiculous, but that’s what makes it great.

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