A little over a week ago, I had the opportunity to film this legendary Adventure Race called Primal Quest. The event took place in Squamish, British Columbia which has been a place that I've always dreamed of visiting for as long as I can remember! The whole experience was great, I learned a lot about the sport, met some inspiring athletes, and connected with some pretty cool people like Luis Escobar, who is known for being one of the 7 American runners featured in the best-selling book "Born to Run".
I didn't really take any pictures while I was there, but I did create this video =) If you have an interest in going on adventures, visiting amazing places, and being part of a team, then you may want to give Adventure Racing or Expedition OCR a try.
Heck no I didn't participate in this event ;) I had the opportunity to film the FIRST EVER 24 Hour Enduro OCR Championships, but I'll have you know it wasn't easy.
As most of you know, I run the OCRTUBE media project and when I film endurance and adventure sports events, it is my own policy to not use any type of motorized vehicles. I prefer to run the course, or hike it in my case so that I can experience more of what the athletes are going through.
Sure as a filmmaker i can get better shots and be more productive, but I think that's the beauty of OCRTUBE videos, it's real and raw. I try my best to give a true recap of what actually happened, as well as go through the same tough conditions that all the participants go through (weather, terrain, and even snakes) to really share the story of what went on during the event.
With Veteran Filmmaker Josh Stephenson
For this event, it was cold, wet, muddy, and I had to be on the lookout for wild animals. The snakes are what really scared me, but luckily it was winter time in Australia during this event, so most of the snakes were nowhere to be found, I was pretty darn happy about that.
Overall, the event was well-run, the organizers: Tru Grit Obstacle Race and the OCR World Championships were great and good about keeping everything on time, which is a rarity in the OCR industry.
I'm not much of a race review type of person, so I won't even try, but here's my race recap video of the 24 Hour Enduro OCR World Championships in Sydney Australia, hope to see you there next year!
24 Hour Enduro OCR World Championships - Australia 2018
With Tru Grit Founder and Adrian, Founder of the OCRWC
With 24 Hour Enduro Champion, Lachlan Dansie
Arnel is a donation-based filmmaker, digital nomad, sponsored adventure traveler, and online Beachbody Coach. Connect with me if you are into obstacle course racing, filmmaking, entrepreneurship, world travel, or need some health and fitness coaching & motivation. Facebook connect here, email him here.
Here is a quick video that I made for all of my OCR friends gearing up for the upcoming 2017 race season. I have traveled all year gathering footage from races that I have filmed from Europe, Central America and all of North America/Canada. It's been a great adventure, but when the journey finally ends, another one begins. This is for all who continue to challenge themselves on and off the race course. You inspire me to continue doing what I do, and I am forever thankful.
FIND YOUR WHY
Right now it is off-season for me, and it's nice to be able to relax and spend time with my family. But I am already excited for the coming year. I will be starting my OCR film season in January by donating my time in Monterrey Mexico on an OCR Orphan Adventure Trip. You can find out more details here if you would like to join us for the next one!
Packing OCR Swag for Orphans
Thank you for all of your support, thank you for watching my videos, thank you for choosing me as your Coach and accountability partner, but most of all....thank you for your willingness to succeed despite all the obstacles that you have been through all year long. Keep fighting for you dreams because even though it may not look like its doing anything, it is!
Looking forward to seeing and meeting all of you next year!
I filmed the last east coast Spartan Race for my OCRTUBE Media Project to benefit charity. The race was located a little over an hour south of Jacksonville, FL at a place called Florida Cracker Ranch in Bunnell, FL.
Although the course was flat, the most difficult part of the race based on the the interviews with some of the athletes was the technical terrain consisting of a lot of sand, mud, and un-even single-track that was just cut a few days before.
Do you enjoy Beachbody Workouts and Obstacle Course Racing? Ask to join my FREE OCR Accountability Group on Facebook, and I can assist you with training for your next obstacle in life, message me here!
So while most of the obstacle course racing world was doing as many laps as they could at the World's Toughest Mudder in Las Vegas, I was in New Orleans supporting a local event called Battle Races. Not that I didn't want to be at WTM, it was because I've been traveling for several months and filming a race every weekend, I just wanted to take a little break, and stick to a event that was nearby.
I've heard of Battle Races since last year and always wanted to check them out, and I'm so glad that I did. The race founders, a husband and wife team, really made the event what it is. I've filmed and participated in a lot of OCR and endurance events since 2011, and so it's pretty hard to impress me, but Battle Races was definitely a top notch event. Good people, high-quality obstacles, and a great venue.
Without further ado, check out the video that I created for them, I had a blast, and I look forward to seeing this race series grow in the following years!
Battle Races New Orleans - Fontainebleau State Park - 2016
Do you enjoy Beachbody Workouts and obstacle course racing? Ask me about joining my FREE online accountability group called Beachbody OCR Fit, you will love it! We do monthly challenges to help you train for any race, and just life in general. All fitness levels and goals are welcome =)
Beachbody Performance: Official Nutrition for Ironman North America
Had a blast at the Savage Race Florida event this past weekend! I remember the first time I did a Savage Race was back in 2011, it was an Orlando event and I did it with my coach team and friends! It was from that moment on that they were and continue to be one of my TOP 3 obstacle races to attend.
My first Savage Race - 2011
Here is a recap video that I did for my OCRTUBE media project, it was EPIC!
Do you enjoy Beachbody Fitness and OCR? Message me to join my FREE Online Group on Facebook where I host specific Online Beachbody OCR Camps for all fitness levels. Contact me here =)
See you at the next race!!
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So I've been making obstacle course racing (OCR) videos with my GoPro since 2011, and I've not only seen the FAST-GROWTH of this sport, but I've also witnessed the decline and extinction of many race companies, as well as athletes who have come and gone. I've filmed many athletes from their very first race to when they hit OCR Celebrity Status on national television. I was there when OCR wasn't even cool, we didn't know what to call it back then. I was pointing cameras at everyday people in mud way before NBC Sports and ESPN got involved. I've seen this sport grow from the VERY beginning, and it's been an amazing journey.
I'm not the type of person who get's involved with the politics of what goes wrong, and why decisions are made, that's not my cup of tea. If you've seen any of my videos, you will notice that I just focus on the positive side of things, and try to just share the sheer beauty of the sport. OCR has changed my life in many ways. I have met some wonderful people, and have experienced the most beautiful and toughest places on the planet, and it just saddens me when I see companies fold.
I create videos to help the sport grow, and when race companies fall from the face of the earth, I feel sadness for the athletes, as well as the companies. I look back at some of my "terribly-edited" videos from the past, and all I can see is joy. What other industry can get average people off the couch to pay hundreds of dollars to get tortured on a Saturday, and for some races...a whole weekend? OCR! =)
I know first-hand as an entrepreneur how difficult it is to run a company, so I understand that it's all about the bottom line. Companies do care about their fans, but they have lives and families too, and I think people sometimes forget about that. The only thing that we can do is respect each other's decision, and stop being judgmental about things that do not benefit us in a positive way.
I appreciate everything that these companies have strived for. They do what I love doing which is ripping people off the couch and making them feel more than just someone who has a 9-5 job. It's about regaining happiness, being humans again, sharing it with others, and that's how OCR has grown as one of the fastest growing sports in history.
I also do not believe in just one company. I do not call myself just a "Spartan" or a "Tough Mudder", I am an OCR fan. I believe that in order for this sport to grow much bigger than it is today, we need to stop criticizing other races and embrace what each of them are doing. People hate burpees, like they hate their jobs, but guess what, that's what is putting a roof over their head right now. When you do a burpee, it's a challenge, and whether you like doing it or not, the bottom line is that it is changing you, and isn't that what you wanted to do in the first place when you signed up for an obstacle race?
I see so much negativity with the industry, and I just block it all out because I only choose to see the bright side of things. I know that asking everyone to be positive is impossible, but if I can just help one person see the light of day, then I feel that it's a start.
I mean, if we had more people who would just be more positive, open-minded and choose OCR, instead of just ONE company, then we would probably have more amazing OCR options to choose from versus watching the companies that we love become extinct.
Love the sport, love OCR, it's time to help it grow. #OCRForLife
Here are the 6 Extinct OCR's that I've filmed and miss: *OH, and don't laugh at my old videos, I had to start somewhere =)
I had the opportunity to be a part of the first-ever 24 hour BattleFrog Extreme Race in Miami called the BFX24. It was amazing to be able see history being made and to run with, film and motivate the new breed of OCRX athletes as they conquered 5+ mile loops continuously for 24 hours. It was very inspiring!
Please feel free to check out the VIDEO that I created specifically for this event. If you would like to help me with my OCRTUBE.com, a cause-related media project, it's simple, just share the video to help raise awareness for causes like wounded warriors, youth sex victims around the world, as well as assuring that our planet stays healthy and fit for years to come. My media project is focused on helping the sport of obstacle racing grow while giving back globally via video sharing.
Check out the 5 minute video recap that I made from the BattleFrog Championship 2015 event. The event was hosted at the Rock Springs Run State Preserve venue. I had an amazing day filming, running, coaching, motivating, and hanging out with my media and coach team. Huge thanks to Coach Amanda Nelson and Coach Gabby Campos for helping me with this video.
It was great seeing everyone at this event, and hope to see more of you at the next one. If you need some OCR motivation or would like some Free Online Coaching from me using Beachbody Fitness, feel free to connect with me. Ask me about my upcoming online challenges, you will love them!
Check out the Full Recap Video that I created along with my media partner and Mommy Coach Amanda Nelson. OCRTUBE.com is a not-for-profit and cause related media project that I started thanks to my Beachbody Coaching Business. Fully funded by my online fitness ventures, our purpose is to help the sport of obstacle course racing grow, and to raise awareness for our preferred charities. There is nothing better than having the ability to motivate and inspire someone to get off the couch, train for a race, do a race, all the while making a difference, is there really anything else?
I believe that this was the first time that I have ever filmed a BattleFrog Obstacle Race with near perfect weather! It was just beautiful during the event!
The fast Miami course was not as intense as the Atlanta event a few weeks before, and with only one Platinum Rig, it's probably a good thing since the BattleFrog Championships are just around the corner. Some of the athletes who placed at the Miami event were at last week's World's Toughest Mudder, which to me is pretty insane.
The BattleFrog Series Miami was hosted at Amelia Earhart Park, and the again, you couldn't ask for more perfect weather! Enjoy the video that I created, and I hope to see you at the next race!
Goofing off after a full extreme day of filming and running
Tallapoosa, Georgia? Do you mean Tallahassee, Florida? HA HA, that's exactly what I said when I found out that the BattleFrog Atlanta event was not actually in Atlanta, but over an hour away from the city. At any rate, the Foxwoods venue in Tallapoosa was the perfect setting for a butt-kicking good time! WATCH VIDEO BELOW
The guys who make BattleFrog Series one of the Top OCR Races in the World
I was there filming for my Not-For-Profit media project OCRTUBE.com along with my fellow partner in crime, and Beachbody Coach Amanda Nelson. We had an absolute blast chasing some of the BEST athletes in the world. We took full advantage of our Beachbody PerformanceHYDRATE to ensure that we could last all day, and trust me, we KILLED some RECOVER soon after, well.....after we took a shower at a truck stop lol. That's how you get the MUD off when you travel from race to race. Ok, maybe you don't understand ha ha, so maybe just enjoy this beautiful bean footage from this amazing, but brutal OCR event.
What do you get when you have 2,000 people and 30+ solid obstacles in the swamp lands of Clermont, Florida on Halloween Night? Well folks, it's called the Monster Challenges Halloween Edition =) I had the opportunity to film this small homegrown obstacle course race, and it was an absolute blast, check out the video here:
Monster Challenges - Halloween 2015
If you are ever in the Florida area, check out the Monster Challenges and give it a shot, you won't be disappointed, tell them Arnel sent you! =) Visit Monster Challenges here.
Would you like to train for the next obstacle course race or mud run? I've been to almost every type of obstacle race out there. I've filmed and participated in races all over the USA and Canada. I have coached people online through their health and fitness, and I would be happy to help you too! Feel free to message me for some FREE advice on how you can train for your next race using Beachbody Fitness and Nutrition, I'll coach you for FREE! Looking forward to chatting with you!
All I can say is what an EPIC event that Savage Race put together this past weekend in Dade City, Florida. Savage Race is like OCR's (obstacle course racing) "Best Kept Secret". The event was on point from the staff, the obstacles, and the festival area. Staying innovative is something that I notice from this company. They may not be as big as Spartan Race and some of the other veteran companies out there, but I'm telling you, they have a lot of what most OCR companies don't have (from my experience), and that's "class". I would have to say that they fit the bill as being the "White Glove Service" of the obstacle course racing industry. But don't let that fool you, their obstacles are down right challenging.
My Mud Run Fun friends, they love to have a good time!
I 've been attending, participating, and filming the Savage Race for about 3 years now, and they are definitely on my TOP 3 OCR list when it comes to "must do" events. If you haven't been to a Savage Race, I highly encourage it. Take a gander at my latest Savage Race video, and feel free to connect with me, I'd love to meet up with you at a race event. If you love health, fitness, OCR's and just being active, I'd love to add you to my #FitFam network. Enjoy the video =)
I had the opportunity to film the Mud Titan obstacle course race this past weekend on September 19th, 2015. This was the 2nd time that I filmed this particular event for my non-profit OCR project "OCRTUBE.com" which specifically focuses on helping the sport of obstacle racing grow through GoPro videos. Located just outside of Tampa, the Mud Titan 4 (fourth year) was hosted in Plant City, FL. The property was huge. There was only one thing, it unfortunately was raining for days leading up to the race which lead to a lot of the obstacles being under water towards the beginning and the end of the race.
The first thing that I normally do once I arrive at the event is check out the course, especially the start and finish line area, as well as the spectator area. I arrived at the Mud Titan race and almost immediately started walking into shin to knee deep swamp water. I said to myself, this is going to be very interesting. But with anything, I always look at the positive side of things. Heck, this is Florida, and this was a Mud Run right? One of the most challenging things about an obstacle course race is the ever-changing terrain, you just never know what you're in for. Yes, the property was under a lot more water than usual, but who cares, that's just another obstacle to deal with, and I think the athletes including the fun runners were ok with it.
Top Male - Jay Flores, Top Female - Shelly Hawk
At any rate, the event was super fun and challenging. Something that I would recommend to the Mud Titan event organizers would be to implement some sort of penalty or mandatory obstacle completion for the Elite Wave. I actually witnessed "more than usual" athletes skipping or purposely failing obstacles to get ahead of other athletes, and this could have been prevented if there was a set protocol for this, as well as having better trained volunteers during the competition waves. Other than that, it was a great event which I highly recommend to anyone who is in the Florida area.
Good times at Mud Titan 4 - Plant City, FL
So without further ado, check out the video that I created, and hope to see you at the next race. Also, being that I am an avid OCR enthusiast and athlete, as well as an Online Fitness Coach via Beachbody, I would love to help any of you train for the next race, or simply just train for LIFE in general. Life is filled with a ton of obstacles, but if we learn to keep ourselves happy through health and fitness, we can conquer anything! Message me here to learn more about my upcoming online fitness challenges.
Watch Video - Mud Titan 4 - Plant City, FL (September 19th, 2015)
I bought the new GoPro Hero4 Session a few days ago and tested it at the Gator Mud Run in Waldo, FL. The event was hosted by the Trojan Race Series and was held at the Waldo Motorcross Park.
Gator Mud Run - 2015
First and foremost, I am a GoPro Enthusiast! If I am not recording my P90X workouts on my iPhone, I am religiously using my GoPros! I was a little hesitant at first to buy the new GoPro Hero4 Session because it is a little less quality than the Hero4 Black, but I decided to give it a shot.
Just a few differences between the Hero4 Session and the Hero4 Black:
- The Session has a 8mp camera versus a 12mp that comes with the Hero4 Black
- The Session is waterproof to 33' while the Hero4 Black can go to depths of 131'
- The Session shoots high quality 1080 max, while the Hero4 Black goes up to 4K
- The Session comes to you fully waterproof, while the Hero4 Black requires a waterproof casing
- The big difference is the SIZE!
What I like most about the GoPro Hero4 Session:
- Easy one button control. Turn it on, and it starts recording. When you stop recording, the camera automatically shuts off. This saves me so much battery life!
- It's already waterproof and rugged, no casing required!
- Can be used with existing accessories.
- Dual mic system front and back. If the wind is blowing in the front, the camera automatically will begin using the rear mic....BRILLIANT!
Yes, you lose some quality, but it works well with what I'm using it for. I really have no need to shoot 4K, but I would definitely love the camera to shoot 12mp like the Hero4 Black, I think it eventually will. I'm happy with it, and I would definitely recommend it!
So do you want to check out the obstacle course racing video that I created with my new GoPro Hero4 Session? Check it out here:
I am really enjoying the BattleFrog Series events because they are very well-organized, the people and the staff are courteous and seem very passionate about what they do. On top of that, the obstacles are high quality, meaning that they have spent some considerable time on them, unlike other events where the obstacles seem unsafe, and just put up to make some quick money. The one thing that I really look for is how a company treats and manages their employees and volunteers. I don't think that there was one obstacle that I went through without a volunteer trying to push and motivate my team and myself. This is what people will remember, a lot more than the obstacles, people will remember how they were treated, and how much you care. I overheard one of the BF staff members talking to a couple volunteers, and this is what he said to them:
"You have to remember that these racers are being challenged, they are tired, and maybe on the verge of quitting. We cannot let that happen, we have to motivate them, push them past their comfort zones, and help them find out what they are about"
I really liked that, and I will always remember the BattleFrog Series in that way.
The Elite and Masters Wave Start Line
The BattleFrog Atlanta event was hosted at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, GA. I was very familiar with this location as this is where I did one of my coldest races in my career, the Georgia Spartan Sprint. The layout for the BattleFrog was totally different which I really liked, but there seemed to be a lack of hills this time, but the back to back obstacles definitely made up for it. I really enjoy fast courses, and this event had some good trail runs.
If you haven't signed up for a BattleFrog Event, I encourage you to make a point to do so. They have courses for every fitness level including children and even a place for the extreme endurance athlete. I think there were a couple people who did 6 laps around the main course which totaled to about 32 to 34 miles, and that's with some extreme obstacles, pretty impressive if you ask me. My team "Team Dynasty OCR" did 3 laps and earned their BattleFrog Extreme Medal, it was amazing to be there and witness their struggles and their triumphs. That is what our team is all about anyways, it's not about just one person, it's about TEAM.
So anyways, I made a quick 5 minute video of the event, so feel free to watch and share so hopefully we can get more people off the couch and start getting active, because that's what we were all meant to do with our lives. We're all naturally primal, so get out there and be yourself, push your limits, see what you're made of, and most importantly, have fun!!!
Arnel Banawa is a Star Diamond Beachbody Coach focused on ending the trend of obesity and helping the sport of obstacle course racing grow worldwide. Connect with me - click here!
