A couple of years ago, I kick-started my motorbike racing career. As I was preparing to compete on my Medlar Racing SV650 motorbike on racetracks throughout UK and Europe, I knew I needed to up my physical fitness training. Being fit was going to play a vital role in my successes in the sport.
I wanted to start running to build up my cardio endurance, but I always found it difficult and a bit boring. I’d heard about a challenge run called Hell and Back and I signed up thinking it would motivate me to start running in earnest.
I didn’t do much practice running in the lead-up, but I still decided to go ahead and give it a go. I joined the start line and when the whistle blew, I climbed over bales, ran through tyres, clambered over walls and ran around what I couldn’t get over.
Army training
It was like army training! I was hooked right away, so I signed up for every obstacle course race in the country that year. It meant a lot of motoring around the length and breadth of the country on the weekends when I wasn’t away racing, but it was worth it.
I have made some amazing friends from all over the country and have begun training regularly with them. A group of us even qualified for the European Obstacle Course Racing Championships and I also competed in the Irish Obstacle Course Championships and came second!
It’s a great sport and can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. It always challenges me and I love training with my friends all the while becoming stronger, faster, fitter and happier. For anyone curious, I would say sign up and give it a go. I haven’t looked back.