More than Mud - Alberto Medellin

More than Mud is an article and interview series dedicated to documenting the incredible characters and stories that we come across in the world of OCR and outdoor adventure and endurance racing events. They range from everyday heroes to extreme athletes but all have unique and engaging stories to tell.

How Did You Get Into OCR Racing?

Ran my first OCR (Tough Mudder) in October 2012. Met some friends through mutual friends on Facebook and they were recruiting for a TM team. At the time, I had never heard of TM but I agreed to it anyway. Holy heck! I had never even run more than 6 miles at that point. We started training together and ground through our first OCR together. I was hooked. I signed up to run the Texas Spartan Beast a couple months later. After that, I knew I was a Spartan. Since then, I've completed multiple trifectas, the ultra beast in Vermont, Mexico Death Race, Summer Death Race (DNF), multiple GORUCK events, multiple ultra marathon trail races, 50 miler, and 100 miler. Currently training for the SISU Iron.

How do you describe what you do to people outside of the OCR community? (and why you do it)

I describe what I do as extreme endurance events. To me, those are events that last longer than 4-6 hours and go for 10+ miles. The longer and tougher the better. It could include an OCR, a GORUCK event (Tough and Heavy), or something like the SISU Iron (30 hours). I mainly do this to be a positive example to my children, family, and friends. I went from fat to fit in a short period of time.

What's been your most interesting or memorable moment in your OCR career so far?

Completing the Vermont Ultra Beast in 2015 is one of my most memorable. I DNFed in 2014 so I was back for redemption and I got it.

What's the best training or racing advice you've ever received?

You are capable of more than you think. When I first started on this journey in 2012, I had all of these self imposed limits that I placed on myself. As time went on, I realized that I could push past those limits if I let go of the fear of the unknown. I tell friends all the time, when you feel like quitting, just take another step. Rest, then take another step. Do this until you reach the finish line.

What inspires you?

Family and friends who are just starting their fitness journeys. I know what it takes to make that decision to make a change in your life. It takes a lot of resolve and grit to make the decision and even more so to stick to it.

Any race stats you'd like to share? Any goals for this year?

I'm no elite by any stretch so I don't have some amazing PR times to brag about. I have completed a 100 mile trail race. It took me close to 28 hours to complete. I'm most proud of that. I'll be going to Iceland in September to compete in a multi-stage trail race covering 110k. My immediate future is consumed with the SISU Iron at the end of April.

What's something about you that others might find surprising?

I was once a cigarette smoking, beer guzzling, cheeseburger smashing fat man. Most people that have met me recently can't believe that man ever existed.

Photos courtesy of Spartan Race

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