Strength & Speed

Listener's send in questions and host Evan Perperis provides answers.  Topics include: What race series should be addded to a bucket list? #1 mistakes OCR athletes are making, when to run part of the 48 hour long Endure The Guantlet, talking about overtraining, how to bounce back from three races in a row, what to look for in a personal trainer, worst approach to in season training, layering/clothing for Ultra-OCR and more.   This episode brought to you by dryrobe, the worlds most advanced training robe.  #getchanged #staywarm Music provided by Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush.

Conquer The Gauntlet Co-owner David Mainprize joins Evan to discuss his latest project including Conquer Youth, the only race series just for kids.  Additionally, they talk the future of CTG, Conquer Fitness (CTG's gym in Tulsa, OK) and how Conquer Youth is vital to growing the sport of OCR in the midwest.   This episode brought to you OOFOS.  After a hard day of racing, training or taking your kids to Conquer Youth, nothing will feel as good as OOFOS recovery sandals.  Music provided by Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush.

Para-Olympian Dan Kosick talks about his training with skiing, his experience with Newbsanity's Obstacle Course Racing crew and how he earned his 50 mile brown bib at World's Toughest Mudder.  Plus, Evan may have started off the podcast putting his foot in his mouth (pun unintended) and gives a shoutout to MudGear!   This episode brought to you by Health IQ.  Safe drivers deserve lower rates on Health Insurance, so athletes deserve lower rates on life insurance.  Click the link and see if you qualify today. Music courtesy of Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush. 

Major League Eater Derek Jacobs, who also does OCR in his spare time, joins Evan for a comparisson of the two sports.  Derek talks about competing at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating World Championship, how his body can handle that much food, his training, his recovery and more.  Additionally, the two talk about the future of Major League Eating and how the sports governing body relates to OCR.   Music by Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush Episode brought to you by Health IQ.  Safe drivers deserve lower rates on Health Insurance, so athletes deserve lower rates on life insurance.  Click the link and see if you qualify today.

Jay Flores talks about his day job inspiring young minds in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics), how he became Master of the Rig at OCRWC 2017, how he sets goals (such as joining the Conquer The Gauntlet Pro Team) then how he followed through and his experience racing at the Warrior Race in South Africa.   This episode brought to you by Health IQ, securing you lower rates on life insurance for being physically fit.   Music provided by Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush. 

3rd place finisher at Tough Mudder X, Kevin Righi, joins Evan to talk about his training leading up to an epic finish at the first TMX event, his plans for 2018 and how Crossfit relates to OCR training.     This episode brought to you by Health IQ, a life insurance company getting you the rates you deserve by saving athletes money.

Ep44: Ultra-OCR athlete and owner of Adriane Alvord Dressage joins Evan and Brenna for a episode full of laughs.  Adriane talks about dressage the lessons learned from a surprisingly dangerous sport and how it translates to OCR.  Brenna and Adriane also discuss upcoming TV shows as well as historical performances in BattleFrog including the one and only BFX 24.     This episode brought to you by Health IQ.  As an athlete you deserve better rates on life insurance, click on the link to find out if you qualify for savings today!

Founder of OCR World Championships, Adrian Bijanada, joines Evan to discuss the plethora of OCR acronyms and the future of the sport.  They discuss the recent creation of the American Obstacle Course Racing Association, if the International OCR Union is still around, how he views Obstacle Sports Racing Federation and more.  The episode ends with Adrian providing teasers of his three championship events, Enduro 24 in Australia, NORAM in Vermont and OCRWC in UK.   This episode is brought to you by Health IQ, as an athlete you deserve lower rates on life insurance.  Click on the link and find out if you qualify for savings today.  

Strength & Speed Dev Team and Battle Corps Athlete Christopher Balven joins Evan to talk abou their first race of 2018, The Abominable Snow Race in Lake Geneva, WI.  Also in this episode Chris talks about Dirt Runner's DRX Games (an OCR Skills competition in Marseilles, IL), the expanding local OCR scene in Wisconsin Area (Highlander, Frontline) and the first OCR buyout of The Battlegrounds.  Evan chimes in with his solution to bigger brands buying up local venues.   This episode is brought to you by Health IQ, a life insurance company giving you the rates you deserve as active people. Intro from Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush.

In our first ever bonus podcast, NorthmanRace's Marco Bédard joins Evan to talk behind the scenes at the Winter Olympics just in time for 2018's opening ceremonies in South Korea. As a biathlete at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Marco had a behind the scenes look at the experience, the training, the support, the ceremonies and he even shares some thoughts on the wild post-Olympic parties.   This episode brought to you by dryrobe, pick up the world's most advanced changing robe so you can #staywarm this winter. Intro/Outro courtesy of Marc Capaldo and Madison Ambush

Tough Mudder X Champion, reigning Broken Skull Champion and former BattleFrog Pro Corinna Coffin joins Evan and Brenna to talk how she trains to win everything from Crossfit competitions to top level Obstacle Course Races.  Also, Brenna gets her first taste as solo podcast host halfway through the episode.  For more information on Corinna and her training read about her in an interview in the back of "Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite OCR".   This episode brought to you by Health IQ.  If you are an athlete you deserve lower rates on life insurance and Health IQ can help. Intro/Outro from Marc Capaldo and Madison Ambush.  

Nutritionist and Strength & Speed Athlete Luc Labonte joins Evan for a discussion on popular diets and the benefits/negative aspects of using them for an OCR athlete's diet.  If you enjoy this episode don't miss the S&S articles section of the website which includes several articles by Luc with another one publishing next month.     This episode is brought to you by Rock Tape, the kinesiology tape designed for the rough conditions of OCR. Intro/Outro courtesy of Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush

Former Canadian Olympic Biathlete, former BattleFrog Pro Team Athlete and owner of the Northman race Marco Bedard joins Evan to discuss starting his own race series.  Includes details about the unique aspects of the Northman race, the Northman marathon, how his series has a historical background, the Northman Team and future plans for the race series    Episode brought to you by Oofos, feel the oofoam and treat your feet with recovery sandals.   Intro/Outro courtesy of Marc Capaldo from Madison Ambush.

Owner of Binghamton, NY's permanent OCR facility Newbsanity, Jarrett Newby joins Evan for an episode talking about lessons learned from motocross that can be applied to OCR, his top ten finish at both 3k OCR World Championships and the 24 hour long World's Toughest Mudder and Newbsanity's Worst Birthday Ever.  Worst Birthday Ever is kind of like Death Race but you are treated the worst and your family/friends can watch.  Plus, Jarrett shares his tradition of his off podium finisher pictures.   Episode brought to you by dryrobe, it's freezing this year, #staywarm with the world's most advanced changing robe.  Great for use as pre/post race, as a winter coat, as a blanket in your own house or as a portable changing area on a hot race day. Intro/Outro from Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush.

In a uniquely formatted episode, one of the best Ultra-OCR athletes Allison Tai joins host Evan Perperis for a pre/post race interview regarding Spartan's 24 hour Iceland World Championship race.  The first 20 minutes were recorded a week before the race and the second half of the episode was recorder a week and a half after the race.  Allison talks expectations, performance and how it all played out.   This episode brought to you by Oofos, recovery sandals that absorb 37% more impact then tradiational shoe foam.   Intro/Outro provided by Marc Capaldo of Madison Ambush.

In what will most likely be our most controversial and downloaded episode ever, Evan uses his personal experiences from Iraq and research done on tells of lie detection to analyze the Ryan Woods failed doping result from OCR World Championships 2017.   Thanks to the Obstacle Racing Media and Link Endurance podcasts for the use of their audio.     Episode brought to you by Strength & Speed, if you are looking for more information by Evan, check out his book on preparing and racing OCR. Outro music provided by Marc Capaldo and Madison Ambush.

Editor in Chief of Mud Run Guide and the 1st Pro OCR Athlete, Margaret Schlachter gives Brenna and Evan a history lesson in the sport of OCR.  If you are curious about the early days of the sport, what the first Spartan Race ever was like and how Margaret made the leap from a hobby to a full time job racing/in the media, this episode is a must listen.   Episode brought to you by Marena Sport, for medical grade compression and chaffe free shorts for Ultra-OCR check out Marena Sport. 

The day of recording, Ryan Woods became the first athlete in OCR to fail a drug test.  He said he accidentally confused DHEA with DHA.  Nutritionist Luc Labonte and trainer Jared Renyer join Evan to talk about this news, providing their opinions and what is the likelihood of this happening to someone.  This was easily the most uncomfortable and hardest topic to talk about on air but we at S&S view it as necessary.  Education is the first step in anti-doping and we hope this podcast helps more than it hurts.   Episode brought to you by JRen Fitness, for personal training needs from just getting off the couch to the professional OCR athlete, check out Jren Fitness. 

2nd place team at World's Toughest mudder (WTM), Team Merrell, consisting of Wesley "Dr. Red Tights" Kerr and Evan Perperis discuss their startegy, pacing, fueling and performance at the biggest 24 hour Ultra-OCR in the world.  In this special episode, Miles Keller joins in the discussion (aka takes control over most of the podcast) to find out what WTM was like and interviews the team.  Stick around to the end to hear a special shout out to Sue Harvey Brown and Merrell.   Episode is brought to you by Merrell, makers of trail running shoes that are perfectly designed for OCR.  Take a look at their Tough Mudder branded All Out Crush, Trail Glove and Peak Agility Flex if you are shopping for a new pair of shoes.

Owner of JRen Fitness and personal trainer Jared Renyer talks OCR off-season training.  Lots of great tips in this episode including what to work on in your off-season, specific movements to improve rig skills, isolation movements to build an overall stronger body and whether you should be training with weights as an OCR athlete.  Plus, Evan picks Jared's brain on Spartan's new age group categories.   This episode brought to you by Merrell.  Be sure to check out their full line of OCR shoes in addition to the softest jacket known to man, Men's Micro-Lite Puffer Jacket.