MudGear Profiles in Badassary 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? As an out of shape 22 year old, at the encouragement of my close friend, I ran my first Tough Mudder in Toronto. And it took us about 5 hours to complete. Even though my heels were bleeding from shoes that were too small, I loved every minute on that course. I immediately signed up for another. After that season, I looked in the mirror and was miserable, I was overweight and didn't feel comfortable in my skin, so I decided to do something about it. In June 2015, I began working out regularly and fixing my diet and I have lost over 30 lbs and gained a significant amount of muscle. At the end of 2015, I started running multi-lap mudders, for 30 miles in a weekend. That was just the beginning. This season, I have accomplished goals that I never imagined were possible and it all started with that first day on course. OCR has changed my life. I am fit, confident and happier than I have ever been and I am so grateful for our sport. What Are Some Challenges OCR Has Helped You Overcome? Throughout my childhood, I always felt like an athlete. I played sports regularly and I was always fit. Somewhere along the way, I fell off that train. At 23, I was overweight and unhappy. OCR has led me back to that lifestyle and I am the strongest and healthiest I have ever been. OCR has really helped me regain confidence. Confidence stems from hard work and the efforts I put forward on and off the course have allowed me to believe in myself in ways I never did. What Does The OCR Community Mean To You? Everything. My community is my family. The bonds I have made with other athletes is like nothing I have ever experienced and I am so grateful to share my life and many courses with them. As much as I love a number of different series, my real passion is with Tough Mudder. My Tough Mudder family is the most accepting and encouraging group of people I have ever met. It doesn't stop there, being out on course and receiving encouragement from strangers is what sets OCR apart from other sports. We want everyone to win. What’s Your Most Memorable Moment In OCR? My most memorable OCR racing moment was at BFX Toronto, which took place on my 24th birthday in July 2016. I set a goal of four laps for the day, and if I was capable maybe even five. I started out on my first, casually talking to another girl as we took turns gaining leads on each other. We caught up to the same pace on our second lap and chatted the rest of the day. We became instant friends. As we started to complete more laps, we noticed that we were gaining negative splits and decided to push for the last bit of our 4th lap to make it out for a 5th. I was surprised on my ability, I was able to exceed my original goal and earn a silver maple leaf. I ended up placing 5th overall and 1st in my age group, that coupled with a new lifelong friend made for the best birthday ever. Any Goals Or Race Stats To Share? Here is a link to my Athlinks profile, with a full breakdown of my 2016 season: https://www.athlinks.com/athletes/262053757. I have also ran 13 Tough Mudder events and over 20 laps last season, often being the first female to cross the finish line. I have also competed in World's Toughest Mudder. For free OCR training tips, get this powerful free OCR Guide: Warrior Strong - How Elite Athletes Become Resilient to Injury in Obstacle Course Racing
