OCD FOR OCR

The 2017 OCR season is coming closer to its end and for the most part, just a few epic races/events remain for 2017. Soon it will be time to plan your 2018 obstacle course race schedule and I have written this article to help you make a wise decision and add Rushwood to your bucket list of races for 2018. For fun, I decided to write this article in a who, what’s, where, when and why format:

• Who?

Rushwood Race is a military inspired obstacle course race that in my opinion does a way better job at living up to its military inspiration than a lot of the other more well know military inspired obstacle course companies like BattleFrog, BoneFrog, and CMC.

• What?

Rushwood is an 8+ km race that has over 55 obstacles that include versions of most of the obstacles experienced racers have grown to enjoy and look forward to. The obstacles include multiple sections of going into water and aggressive natural rock terrain rope climbs going both up and down. The course has been completely redesigned every year and it’s been like running a new venue each and every time. In addition, the Rushwood team has continued to add bigger and better obstacles every year, which makes the race stay unique and fresh.

The bottom line is, if you race, obstacle courses for the obstacles and challenges and not just to spend all day trail running, Rushwood is your kind of race!

• Where?

Rushwood is located at Saint-Édouard-de-Maskinongé, Quebec Canada hidden in Canadian farm country and is well worth the drive across the border into Canada.

• When?

As of the writing of this article, a 2018 date has yet to be determined/announced, but the race has historically taken place either the first or second week of September. I will update this article with the actual date when it’s announced.

• Why?

This one is easy to answer, you have already learned above about the amazing obstacles and how Rushwood utilizes the terrain (especially for a military inspired race). In addition, to the obstacles and terrain, Rushwood delivers the entire package, they have one of the best MC’s (Anthony Horng Perso) in the business, an amazing festival area, and when you combine the MC, the DJ (playing a killer playlist), the Canadian military on site with real weapons and a real urban battle tank (that you can climb on and get your pictures taken), several awesome food and drink vendors (including Monster Energy giving away free drinks all day), a non-stop show that takes place every time a new wave is sent out on the course and last but not least, the hard-working Rushwood team of volunteers & staff you end up with one of the best festival area’s I have seen anywhere and its good times and smiles all day.

Rushwood delivers the total package, a great course, with great obstacles, an amazing terrain, several water entries (most obstacle races sadly don’t have enough or any), an amazing festival area including a great MC and DJ, the Canadian military in full effect (which I personally always enjoy), a non-stop show, and for a medal-whore like myself, an always cool and unique finisher medal (This year’s finisher medal had bullet holes in it!).

Rushwood has several versions of the race to challenge all levels of racers, including an epic Elite wave, and the final wave/race of the day is referred to as the Mission version because racers have to carry something heavy with them the entire time and complete all the obstacles (I am pretty sure help is still allowed). Two years ago, we had to carry a heavy car tire, last year it was a propane tank filled with sand, and this year it was a rucksack that racers had to carry/lug the entire course.

• Final Thoughts:

Rushwood is an amazing race/event and I really hope both Americans and Canadians will make it a priority to do the 2018 race, I know I am planning to do it again, I hope to see you there as well!

Photo Credit: 3-Seconds

Article Written by: Walter F Hendrick (OCRSandy)