OCD FOR OCR

This race takes place at the Ottawa County fairgrounds where there’s plenty of parking available.

Race time was a windy and rainy 63 degrees weather. The family team at Black Swamp Runner offers three different races a year. Black Swamp Dash the first, has four timed waves and many open waves (timed waves are OCRWC and NORAM qualifiers). There is also a multi lap option for only $10. Two extremely fun night runs follow Black Swamp Dash, Moonlight Mud Run (August) and Night of the Dead Run (October). Both exceed expectations!

• Registration and Festival:

Registration for these events are easy online and they sometimes offer same day registration. Food and beverage are both available at the event.

• Pre-race MC:

Race director Troy Anthony (not to be mistaken for Anthony Troy) answers the call here with heartfelt words of appreciation for the racers, volunteers and for the sport. His honest, informative and sincere message comes across loud and clear as he prepares everyone for on course success.

• The Course:

This 3.2-mile course twists and turns through wooded trails, in and around a fairground field, and through the fair’s infield. A definite highlight in this race is at one point you’re wading through Lake Erie which was pretty surreal.

Black Swamp Dash boasts 26 legit obstacles. This is a band race for the competitive waves, but also offers options for none elites. Well-built obstacles spanning the length of this course are various walls, over unders, ramps, cargo nets, and some upper body obstacles as well.

Namely Big Foot, Little foot, a rope climb, Atlas stone carry and few other intense obstacles will have you on full T-Rex arms! Ohio has had a ton of rain this year, so courses like this one, which lack elevation made up for it with plenty of mud churning trenches and lake trudges!

Black Swamp Dash has everything you want in OCR minus the elevation. Whether you’re a new-by, someone looking to push themselves, or just all-around training you can get it with Black Swamp Runner.

Course hits and misses: Certainly, a hit here was having at least 10 obstacles that offered a normal side and an extreme side (family friendly). A very minor miss, is that the festival/village area could be fired up a bit, with the usual event activities and vendors. But most come to the event to run.

• The Bling:

Racers received a custom finisher t-shirt, a beverage, and an awesome custom finisher medal that links together with the finisher medals from the other up coming two races (mentioned above). If you run the threesome, your three finisher medals will connect like a puzzle and take the form of a foot. I absolutely love the finisher medal and the t-shirt design.

• #Racelocal:

Editors comment: Black Swamp Dash is part of the Ohio OCR Grand Slam, which is one of the best promotions in the OCR industry that helps support and reward racers for racing local OCR races in the state of Ohio.

All racers have to do, is participate in any 4 of the following 5 obstacle course races/events and they will receive a commemorative t-shirt for their accomplishments. Even more awesome, is there is NO COST for participating in this.

All you have to do is participate in any 4 of 5 of the following events:

1. Memorial Day Mayhem – May 27
2. Black Swamp Dash – June 15
3. Indian Mud Run – June 22
4. Nightmare Challenge 2019 – July 13
5. Mud Ninja – July 27
   
   

• Overall Feelings and Event Rating:

Black Swamp Dash put forth an army of volunteers which made race day run smoothly. There were no backups at the obstacles which was very refreshing. I would recommend this race to anyone who loves OCR and is looking to run a solid obstacle course. Support a great family event, run by a passionate OCR family!

I rate Black Swamp Dash 4.8 out of 5 stars and can’t wait for the next two races later in the year to complete the coveted Black Swamp finisher foot!

Article Written by: Troy Hall