Today Is The First Ever National Obstacle Course Racing Day

Mark your calendars because today (July 18) is the first official National Obstacle Course Racing Day according to Warrior Dash. The day commemorates the first ever Warrior Dash race which took place on July 18, 2009 in Joliet, Ill., and has seen more than 3 million people complete its races since then. Fun fact: the following year, Warrior Dash launched the first obstacle course racing series nationwide, paving the way for the industry.

“National Obstacle Course Racing Day, is a day of celebration for everyone. Whether you’re a dedicated OCR athlete or newcomer to the series, we want everyone to celebrate their obstacle course racing experience,” said Ryan Kunkel, co-CEO of Red Frog Events, the producers of Warrior Dash. “We’re looking forward to celebrating National OCR Day for years to come and introducing a new wave of participants each year to obstacle course racing.”

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Generally speaking OCR events have become an internationally recognized sport over the years. Running USA 2015 data even found that OCR participation surpassed traditional marathon and half marathon participation combined.

“Warrior Dash helped lay the foundation for what has become a robust obstacle course racing industry,” said Brett Stewart, co-Founder of Mud Run Guide and US OCR Championships. “Warrior Dash continues to be a leader within the OCR industry, and has established itself as a great entry-level event for novice participants as well as a fun event for the most seasoned competitors.”

In celebration of #NationalOCRDay check out these tips on how to survive an obstacle course race and which ones to sign up for this year. Also, participants can sign up as a St. Jude Warrior when registering for a Warrior Dash 5K. All donations fundraised as a St. Jude Warrior will go to the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center in Memphis.

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