5 Tips To Conquer Your Next City Challenge Obstacle Race

The next City Challenge Obstacle Race takes place in Hoboken on October 1. Here are your top tips and advices to conquer your next challenge!

1. Mix Up Your Training

Roman Lukiw

City Challenge Obstacle Race involves crawling, jumping, climbing, and much more than just running. Mix up your training with a balance of cardio, weight lifting, and agility work out.

2. Dress For Success

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Try to avoid short-sleeve shirts and shorts to protect your elbows and knees. You will be expected to crawl, as well as get down and dirty, so be sure to wear the right gear.

3. Treat Practice as a Race Day

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People say practice makes perfect, and it’s absolutely true for obstacle races. Incorporate exercises that resemble what you will actually be doing on race day, so that when the big day comes, your mind and body are well prepared.

4. Stay Hydrated

Roman Lukiw

Be sure to drink plenty of water before and after the race. You will be losing a lot of sweat during the race, so it’s extremely important that your body is at its utmost condition. Luckily, there are several water stations throughout the course at the City Challenge Obstacle Race.

5. Have Fun!

Roman Lukiw

By far the most important tip is to HAVE FUN! While the City Challenge Obstacle Race is designed challenge your mind and body, its number one goal is to encourage athletes and fitness enthusiasts to form camaraderie and enjoy themselves.

So what are you waiting for? Go sign up for the City Challenge Obstacle Race in Hoboken on October 1 and let’s conquer these obstacles together!

OSR W10K, The Ultimate Urban Road Racing With Orchard Street Runners In NYC

Orchard Street Runners organized the annual OSR W10K that vetted some of the fastest female road runners against each other.

@ShadiNYC

I licked my arm and shuddered at what I tasted. My body, drenched in sweat after running 10 kilometers in a hot, humid summer evening, tasted saltier than the handful of pretzel crisps I had earlier. Though I immediately wanted to hop in a cold shower,something about the energy in the air at the finish line made me stick around longer. As I stood on the corner of Hester and Ludlow St. - chatting with photographers, volunteers, and spectators, and fellow runners of the OSR W10K - I realized the very bond and friendship created at events like this is what makes New York City’s vibrant urban running community so special.

@GrahamMacindoe

I became hooked on urban running after participating in Midnight Half, an unsanctioned half marathon designed for those who are not afraid to race on open city streets without a designated route or course marshals. When I found out that Joe DiNoto, the brainchild behind Midnight Half and founder of Orchard Street Runners, was organizing a similar running race, I signed up without hesitation for another exciting date night with NYC’s streets.

@OrchardStreetRunners

OSR W10K is a women’s 10K race (the men’s 10K will take place in August). Like Midnight Half, the race took place on the open streets with traffic. While there was a set route that involved crossing the Williamsburg and the Manhattan Bridges, the course was not marked so the runners were responsible for knowing the route prior to race day.

@OrchardStreetRunners

This year’s field, which was capped at ~15 people, featured some of the fastest female runners in NYC, including Olympics Trials qualifier and 2016 Midnight Half champ Caitlin Philips, OSR W10K defending champion Leighanne Sharek, and winner of 2015 Midnight Half Jennie Cohen.

@GrahamMacindoe

Precisely at 8PM, the OSR W10K commenced with a rolling start to the entrance of the Williamsburg Bridge. There were cash prizes at stake, both to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall finisher of the race, as well as a $50 bonus to the first runner to reach the pedestrian threshold on the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge.

@ShadiNYC

Due to the humidity, my body quickly heat up and I could feel the sweat trickling down my back within the first mile. As I ran along what felt like an endless straightaway of Kent Ave. in Brooklyn, I closed my eyes and imagined myself in an air-conditioned room with a pint of chocolate chip ice cream cradled in my arm. Then I heard a loud honk at the stoplight and realized I was running on open streets with traffic. “Keep your eyes open, Jane,” I told myself. Back to reality.

@DaPingLuo

The toughest part of the race for me was the climb on the Manhattan Bridge. Not only were my legs fatigued and my throat dry, but there were a couple cyclists who yelled at me, “Pedestrian path is on the other side!” Great, thanks for cheering.

@DaPingLuo

As I made my descent into Manhattan, I made a wrong turn and ran in the opposite direction. Luckily, I recovered from the mistake, quickly turned around, and pushed to the final stretch. There was a sizable crowd gathered at the finish line, all cheering loudly as the OSR W10K runners carved their way through traffic to the finish line.

Once the results were tallied, I realized I placed 4th place overall - just shy of the podium finish. Sure, I could have ran a bit faster, made the right turn at the bridge, and maybe eaten a little less before the race, but honestly, I had no regrets about my performance or the experience. Call me a masochist, but I can’t think of a better way to spend those 40 minutes - with the cars honking, cyclists yelling, sweats dripping, and heart pounding - than on the vibrant streets of New York City with other urban running enthusiasts.

Run Like a Girl: Celebrating Female Strength and Camaraderie at More/Shape Women’s Half Marathon

The first time I ran a race, I peed my pants. It was 2007, and I was at the first meet of the season for my high school’s cross country team. As I neared the end of what seemed like the longest 2 miles of my life, I lost all my willpower and alleviated my exhaustion with an emptying of the bladder. Since then, I vowed to never run again.

Flash forward to 2015. Someone had just stolen my fixie bicycle, so instead of going on a bike ride to meet my daily exercise quota, I decided to go on a run. As I pounded the pavement to the tunes of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” I was overwhelmed with a sense of euphoria - a runner’s high - during which I felt like I could run forever like Forrest Gump. Since then, I started running again.

Over time, I gradually increased my mileage. What started as a casual, 20 minute jog around the neighborhood turned into frequent long runs where I was traversing across different boroughs - from Manhattan to Brooklyn to Queens. I wanted to see how I would perform in a racing environment, so I decided to sign up for my first long distance running race in New York City: the More/Shape Women’s Half Marathon.

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Presented by Shape magazine in partnership with the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the annual More/Shape Women’s Half Marathon is one of the largest women’s-only half marathons in the US. More than just a running race, the event also highlights female solidarity, strength, and camaraderie. Indeed, while waiting at the start line with thousands of women around me, I felt empowered just by the presence of so many strong, inspiring women.

NYRR

With the blaring sound of a gun, I bolted from the start line to begin my 13.1 miles journey around Central Park. While some people may question the “joy” of running two full loops around the park, I surprisingly found myself truly enjoying the entire race. Both the variety in elevation, from the flat stretch along the Museum Mile to the dreaded Harlem Hill, as well as the scenic natural environs of the park, mitigated any boredom I may have experienced otherwise.

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Beyond all the sightseeing and people watching in Central Park, the majority of my focus was fixated on the road and the race. Whereas the first lap around the park was a chance for me to get to know the terrain, the second lap was all about refinement and speed. I knew I was going fast when I lapped a group of walkers around mile 8. Soon enough, I was running past a horde of joggers. My breath got heavier and my heart pounded faster; yet my body felt lighter and stronger than ever before. Motivated by the thought of indulging in a hearty meal after the race, I sprinted as hard as I could in the final stretch to finish my first half-marathon in New York City at 1:28.26, which was good enough for a 17th place finish.

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As I received my finisher medal - giving high-fives and congratulating other female racers - I felt so proud and privileged to run like a girl.

Top Five Running Races To Explore The Best Of New York’s Five Boroughs

The Five-Borough Series by New York Road Runners is more than just races; it is a celebration of what makes each borough unique, inspiring, and an amazing place to get out and get moving!

1. United Airlines NYC Half - COMPLETED on 3/20

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A spectacular tour of Manhattan - from Central Park through Times Square and down the West Side Highway to lower Manhattan - United Airlines NYC Half boasted more than 20,000 total finishers this year.

2. Airbnb Brooklyn Half - 5/21

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As the largest half-marathon in the country, Airbnb Brooklyn Half is an iconic 13.1-mile journey through the amazing borough of Brooklyn. The race starts near the Brooklyn Museum and ends with a finish at the iconic Coney Island boardwalk.

3. Queens 10K - 6/18

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Kick off the summer season by enjoying the beautiful Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a flat, fast Queens 10K for the third race in the 2016 NYRR Five-Borough Series. Queens 10K is a great training race for those running the TCS New York City Marathon.

4. New Balance Bronx 10 Mile - 9/25

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Explore Bronx with a 10-mile race through this vibrant New York City borough. With a new race title sponsor this year, the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile promises to be an even bigger and better event for all runners, friends, and family. You can also opt in for the New Balance Bronx 5K for a quick 3.1 miles race.

5. Staten Island Half - 10/9

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The final race of the NYRR Five-Borough Series is the Staten Island Half, a race dedicated to making a positive impact on the borough that hosts the start of the TCS New York City Marathon. Scheduled just four weeks before the TCS New York City Marathon, the Staten Island Half is a perfect tune-up for NYRR’s flagship event and features fabulous views of New York Harbor and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Top 6 Fitness Accessories To Help You Get In The Best Shape Of Your Life

From head to toe and beyond, here are the best accessories to keep you in shape all year round!

1. Compression Running Socks from CEP

Put on a pair of CEP’s compression running socks designed to minimize soreness after exercising, and you will notice a remarkable difference. CEP’s proprietary compression socks - made with open pore mesh structure in the calf and air channels in the foot - improves blood flow, reduces muscle soreness, and quickens recovery time following an intense workout.

2. Running & Fitness Belt from SPIbelt

There is no more need to stuff the keys inside your shoes or carry the phone on your hands while running. With the original running and fitness belt from SPIbelt, you can hold all your belongings - phone, keys, ID, credit cards, etc. - in its discreet yet convenient pouch around your waist. SPIbelt is not only lightweight, but also bounce-free and can be worn under or over clothing.

3. GPS Running Watch from Garmin

Run smarter, train harder, and become a better athlete with the Garmin Forerunner GPS running watch. In addition to tracking distance and calories burned, Garmin running watch also measures your pace, heart rate, and personal records. With a long battery life of up to 11 hours (training mode when GPS is enabled), you will never be without Garmin to track your activities.

4. Reflective Running Hat from Lululemon

Protect yourself from the weather - whether it be rain or sun - by wearing this stylishreflective running hat from Lululemon. The 360 degree, high-impact reflectivity presents unprecedented long-distance illumination, while the micro-sized glass beads printed onto the fabric maintains breathability. The hat’s mesh fabric lining is also sweat-wicking to help keep you dry.

5. Compression legwear from ITEM m6

When fashion meets technology, you get ITEM m6. The shaping effect of ITEM m6 legwear not only gives your legs lean, beautiful silhouette, but its precisely defined compression characteristics that fit perfectly to the shape of your body stimulates blood circulation to give you an extra energy boost.

6. Fitness & Nutrition Journal from Fitlosophy

Commit to achieving your fitness goals with Fitlosophy’s fitbook, the original 12-week fitness and nutrition journal for the serious goal-getter. Pick up your pen and start jotting down and tracking your fitness activities - strength training, cardio, and yoga - as well as your meals, sleep, and water intake. In no times, you will be in the best shape of your life.