It took the winner 1 hour and 18 minutes to complete. Does anyone know is athletic background? Would a steeple chaser be the best for an event like this? Chris Solinsky pops in my head as someone who might be good at this event. Or would a navy seal be better than a distance runner?
I vote for a decathlete with more endurance than the usual decathlete.
What is the total distance? What are all the obstacles?
A good cross country runner could get a decent lead in the early stages, I think it's like about 5 or 6 tough cross country without there being much in the way of obstacles.
Then you do two laps of the assault course type bit which involves lots of water and stuff, guess it's a bit like a military style course but not that 'strength' orientated because they like everyone to be able to manage the stuff.
There are bits that involve getting fully submerged under a bridge and scrambled through and a lot of wading waste deep for 50 metres at a time or so. Super muddy too.
They have detailed course info on their web site:
vivalarepublica wrote:
I vote for a decathlete with more endurance than the usual decathlete.
The thing is though, none of the obstacles are that skilled that a decathlete would have any advatage at over an average coordinated endurance athlete. So I vote a distance runner or triathlete over a decathlete.
Before I even saw your mention of it, I was thinking steeplechaser.
I think a cross country runner would be best, it is just endurance and mental toughness, areas where true cross guys excel. Also, it just so happens that I am a true cross-type person, I think I could win this with a little training, is there any prize money?
ronner wrote:
vivalarepublica wrote:I vote for a decathlete with more endurance than the usual decathlete.
The thing is though, none of the obstacles are that skilled that a decathlete would have any advatage at over an average coordinated endurance athlete. So I vote a distance runner or triathlete over a decathlete.
Some upper body strength would definitely help when low crawling under barbed wire. It may not look like it but low crawling will take a lot out of you if you are not conditioned for it.
I can't believe these guys were running through fire. I'm not sure if it was just the camera angle but it looked like they were running right through the flames. GOOD GOD, I can't imagine a RD in his right mind ever trying to pull that off in the US. It's a shame cause that looks fun as hell.
I think Max King would do well at this.
Great photos. That's one race I wish I'd done.
With all that mud it's going to suit a cross country runner. The courses here are completely different to in the US. Hilly and usually really muddy.
Or a crazy fell runner. Like the winner:
http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=55812
The ultimate would probably be an international cross country runner from the forces - as they do all that obstacle course stuff.
"England Tough Guy"
An oxymoron if there ever was one.
I might do it next year. It's the crawling under barbed wire that I'm most worried about.
I think it will suit cross-country runners (as in England style XC, not US style XC) with above average natural co-ordination, core strength and suppleness etc.
A few years ago an acquaintance of mine won it. He was a good (not great) XC runner, and had recently left the army.
I'd go with an army distance runner, like nate pennington.
Dean K. - end of thread
Agreed!!
BW852 wrote:
A few years ago an acquaintance of mine won it. He was a good (not great) XC runner, and had recently left the army.
PR's?
The site says to estimate your time you should double your 10 mile time. I guess the winner could run a pretty fast 10 miler.
