THE REIGN OF TERROR WARRIOR
If you are what you eat then you must have eaten a legend! You’re a take no prisoners, get the mission complete kind of person. There’s no doubt you are doing the competitive wave before all the amateurs muck your course up. You are a competitive obstacle course race nut and proud of it. You’ve been there, done that, earned the t-shirts (and wristbands, bandanas, bobble hats etc.!) You avoid the ‘Team’ competitors like the plague and may even skip an obstacle or two to evade getting caught up in all that camaraderie nonsense which, let’s face it, could cost you a place in the top 10.
Most likely to be overheard saying…’I wish there were more upper body obstacles’ or ‘Get out of my way now’
Reign of Terror preparation…other obstacle course races all over the country, maybe even Europe.
The night before Reign of Terror you…hydrate (water or whiskey) and get a good night’s sleep
Most likely race attire…may compete in Fancy dress to detract from your ultra competitive nature but you know that the Batman or Cat woman outfit is lightweight, aerodynamic and will actually shave seconds off your finishing time.
After successfully completing Reign of Terror you will probably…down a quick celebratory protein shake (or whatever freebies are given out at the race!) before heading on to the next O.C.R. venue.
THE LONE REIGNER
You have a competitive streak in you but think you hide it well. You didn’t sign up for the competitive wave as no one can know you love beating others. You may have signed up with a group of friends or workmates under the pretence of being a ‘team’ player but the minute the klaxon sounds they won’t see you for dust.
Most likely to be overheard saying…’Reign of Terror, is that next week, I completely forgot about it’ (you say as you hide the countdown timer on your home screen) or ‘yeah I agree we should all stick together and help each other’ (never in a million years)
Secretly you think…I’d be well able for the competitive wave.
Reign of Terror preparation…you covertly up the intensity and length of your normal workouts, add in a bit of strength training, clean up your diet a bit more and get more daily protein hits but if anyone asks you aren’t doing anything differently in preparation for Reign of Terror
The night before Reign of Terror you…cut the finger tops off your gloves as you’ve heard it will give you a better rope grip.
Most likely race attire…you’ve read the Reign of Terror race wear tips numerous times and have everything needed to ensure a speedy passage through any obstacle
After successfully completing Reign of Terror you will probably…wait at the finishing line for the others in your group to cheer them on…and so there is no doubt that you finished first.
THE ACCOMPLICE
You and a friend signed up together in a moment of madness and there is no way on earth you are doing it without each other. You probably have little or no obstacle course experience (in fact you are a little allergic to exercise in general!) but you will get through this together and run (or crawl) hand in hand over the finishing line. Each obstacle will take you double the time of any other participant as you both discuss meticulously how best to approach it without letting go of each other.
Most likely to be overheard saying…’Sure we can always walk between obstacles and skip the ones with any type of wall or water feature’
Reign of Terror preparation…you concentrate more on preparing your minds more than anything else by constantly reassuring each other that you aren’t going to die while doing the Reign of Terror and that it is going to be fun.
The night before Reign of Terror you…go to bed early but don’t sleep at all as you constantly face time each other going over in detail your exact meeting time, meeting place and what to do in case of separation from each other (code red!)
Most likely race attire…really old, on their last legs active wear as anything that touches the course will have to be burned afterwards! Actually you’ll probably just grab another family member’s gear.
After successfully completing Reign of Terror you will probably…get onto social media straight away to update all your profiles with your Reign of Terror survival snaps…oh and you will definitely do the 10k next time.
THE COMRADE
You signed up for Reign of Terror in a group of either friends or workmates. Everyone agrees it’s going to be great for ‘bonding and team building’. You are all at varying levels of fitness, from cross fit fanatic to couch potato layabout. You all wait in packs and take over every obstacle on the course as you guide each and every lemming (sorry member) of your team through every hurdle. Oh and of course the preparations for the night out after are as important as the event itself.
Most likely to be overheard saying…’Sure it’s all fun and games at the end of the day’ or ‘It’s only fair that we wait for everyone and finish all together’
Reign of Terror preparation…getting the team together and organising co ordinating gear for the course was all the preparation needed..right?
The night before Reign of Terror you…engage in loads of hilarious banter on your Reign of Terror WhatsApp group.
Most likely race attire… same as all your fellow comrades of course, your group may have had custom t-shirts made for the event or at least have decided on a colour scheme. Striped war face paint is obligatory to be a fully fledged, respected member of the team.
After successfully completing Reign of Terror you will probably…bask in the glory and pain of the many high fives, hugs and backslaps of your fellow comrades, then try for hours to get a group photo on the podium before herding off together to the nearest watering hole.
THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR
You probably signed up with a group and will start the race like any other punter but you aren’t just any other punter are you! Your ‘no man gets left behind’ mentality is your gift and your curse. At the sight or sound of a competitor in need you are there to encourage, motivate, pull, drag or push them to safety. You aren’t opposed to being used as a human bridge if needs be. Someone must have pulled the ‘q’ section out of your dictionary because you just don’t know the meaning of the word ‘quit’.
Most likely to be overheard saying…’Get on my back, I’ll carry you over the line’ or ‘Please understand I’m just an ordinary person’
Reign of Terror preparation…carrying really heavy bags of shopping for your elderly neighbours.
The night before Reign of Terror you…have deep and meaningful thoughts like ‘it’s not who I am underneath but what I do that defines me.
Secretly you think….’I should have worn a cape’ and ‘I’d make an epic marshal’
After successfully completing Reign of Terror you will probably… immediately resume life as a normal, everyday mere mortal and fade away into the crowd with the odd salute from some grateful participant you gave a piggy back to earlier.
THE WAR HORSE
You signed up with your GAA team mates for the challenge and anyway you are always looking for something new to give yourself the edge come match day. You know there is no ‘I’ in team but there is in Reign of Terror so once the klaxon sounds it’s everyone for themselves. You will do the course to the best of your ability and make sure you beat as many of your teammates as possible.
Most likely to be overheard saying…’I should have pulled the GAA socks up for the nettles part’
Reign of Terror preparation…matches, training sessions, ice baths, strength work and… possibly the bit of farming.
The night before Reign of Terror you…volunteer to do the trial run of the Reign of Terror just to warm up for the morning.
Most likely race attire…you mean business so its full club match wear-jersey, shorts and socks…damn it boots aren’t allowed.
After successfully completing Reign of Terror you will probably…head off to training .
