On the 3rd of August, the Desafío Cántabro will take place once again. This is a challenging OCR (Obstacle Course Race) that tests participants' endurance and strength through both the running/trail segments and the final obstacles. While I don't have a complete list of obstacles, I can share details about the 12k running track and some of the obstacles you'll encounter along the way. Get ready for an exhilarating experience that will push you to your limits!
The Dutch organization Strong Viking has published its OCR races for 2025 in the Netherlands (Wijchen, Amsterdam), Belgium (Hofstade, Gent), and Germany (Frankfurt):
I remember years ago stumbling upon webpages of Spartan Races and thinking to myself, "Wow, I want to do that!" But at the same time thinking "Impossible..." So, I started looking for places and videos to train for obstacle courses. One day, I went to a Ninja training circuit in the north of Madrid, but I didn't get any further than hanging like a sack of potatoes, unable to move any further... It all looks so easy on TV!
It wasn't until I found Brave Bulls, a team that provides training in different parks around Madrid, that I started to understand a little bit of the world of OCR.
So, what is OCR?
OCR stands for Obstacle Course Racing, which combines trail or mountain running with various obstacles. There are many interpretations of OCR competitions, but as I've seen them in Spain, the obstacles can be as simple as climbing a wall or a fence, or they can require quite a bit of technique, like climbing holds in suspension, or just brute strength, like moving a truck tire five times...
What I love most about OCR is that it combines strength and endurance, and most races take place in spectacular environments.
Popular races include:
