NF-Themed Adventure Race

[ravnos]

I wasn't entirely sure where to post this. I may cross post into my own battle log just to keep track of the ideas in case it ends up happening in a non-affiliated way, but...

 

Side note - I have a feeling something like this is happening at Camp NF, which I'm not attending. That being the case, I'd like to keep this separate from that as well.

 

In light of one rebel's recent experience at a poorly run Spartan Race, I've decided to put some ideas I've been having for a new obstacle race on paper. The concept is basically having a race designed around different specializations, rather than a single standard race that only fits a specific type of athlete (which seems to either be Assassin or Scout these days). Also, this is a fairly complex idea, so I apologize in advance for the length. I'm going to save a few posts beneath this first one for updates.

 

The Concept:

The idea behind an obstacle/adventure race is to challenge the participant and force him/her to test his/her boundaries. It seems to me that outside side of the more extreme races (IE - The Death Race, which was created by the person who went on to create the Spartan Race and is a bigger testament to his original concept), this idea has been lost in most, if not all of them at this point. The Spartan Race has lost it in the Sprints, but regains it in the longer races. The problem there is that it still only fits a single type of athlete - the Ranger/Assassin who also enjoys semi-long distance running (IE - not me, lol). So how do we change that?

 

Adaptive races. This concept could follow the class system that the Rebellion already uses. Several different courses that range in length that focus on the skills that each class has, or is seeking to acquire. The Scout race would be longer and require mostly endurance style obstacles. The Assassin race would incorporate Parkour. The Ranger race could be designed more like a traditional Spartan Race. The Warrior one would focus more on strength-based challenges (and less on running, think more powerlifting meet). The Druid and Monk ones are TBD, and the Adventurer's one would incorporate ideas from all of them.

 

The Details:

Here's a break down of my general ideas for each race.

 

Warrior "Race" - The race for warriors would probably more closely resemble a lifting meet than a race. Powerlifting challenges, maybe a Farmer's Carry, some movement between challenges. End with a stretching challenge haha. Distance not important.

 

Assassin Race - A Parkour challenge course. This would be pretty basic. An obstacle course specifically designed with Parkour in mind. You could have it set up for specific vaults, or simply include the obstacles and allow the participants to choose now they navigate it. Also including climbing and some body weight challenge. Probably about 3K?

 

Ranger Race - This would probably more closely resemble the traditional Spartan Race, with a series of strength- and endurance-based obstacles that would need to be met over the distance of about 5K. Incorporate some lifting, some body weight, some movement-based challenge.

 

Scout Race - I'm thinking either an 8K or 12K footrace or a triathlon. This isn't really my area of expertise.

 

Monk Race - Uhhhh... 3K with sparring/martial arts-focused challenges? No idea.

 

Druid Race - Also not sure... a 3K with yoga-based challenge?

 

Adventurer's Race - This one would incorporate challenges from all of the above. I'd think... about the length of a 5K with at least 5 challenges from each of the other races... some lifting, some endurance, some body weight/parkour, etc.

 

The Problems:

Okay, so there are a lot of problems with this idea. A traditional obstacle/adventure race is a single course, which is relatively easy to set up. This wouldn't be, plain and simple. Other issues are funding, location, and timing. The larger Spartans have multiple heats that take place over two days. If this were just a trial were do you have it where people can participate and spectate/stay overnight? How much would entry cost? How much does renting the space and setting up an obstacle/adventure race cost? Things I just don't know.

 

The Rest:

What are your ideas? Is this something NF should look into? Is it something we as a community should look into? What do we do for the Monk and Druid races? Are there ways to improve these? What about specific challenges/obstacles?

[ravnos]

Saved.

[ravnos]

Saved.

[ravnos]

Saved.

[ravnos]

Saved.

[ravnos]

Saved.

[ChristArtist]

Here in clermont, florida there is a place that runs a monster race twice a year.

They might be open to something like this and they have the equiptment... and it's near orlando.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Balthazar]

for monk what about obstacles with more of a western martial arts, rather than eastern martial arts flavour?

 

i.e.; - hit a certain ring or objects with archery, hack through a pig with a battleaxe, hammer a post in with a warhammer, hit a moving target with a hatchet?

[T2sarahconnor]

Nice ideas! Would be nice to set one course up that you could choose the path at junctions that would test the specific guilds. So if you were a monk you would go right at a certain point, then later if a warrior would go right for their specific challenge. This way everyone could do the same course but choose their obstacles at a certain point. Then all NF ers could be at the same event.

Also run it as a 2 day event so the volunteers are the people who run the course on a different day. This would ensure a little empathy.

[ravnos]

Nice ideas! Would be nice to set one course up that you could choose the path at junctions that would test the specific guilds. So if you were a monk you would go right at a certain point, then later if a warrior would go right for their specific challenge. This way everyone could do the same course but choose their obstacles at a certain point. Then all NF ers could be at the same event.

Also run it as a 2 day event so the volunteers are the people who run the course on a different day. This would ensure a little empathy.

 

Definitely to both of these ideas. I was debating the "single course with different obstacles" vs. "different courses" route, and I think having a "single track" with different obstacles for different classes might be the best way to do it - that would also allow people to kind of pick and choose their own way and difficulty level!

 

Also - obviously it would be staffed by NFers!

[Teros]

I think the easiest way to set something like this up would be to have a 'base race' and then at the obstacle area; have a 'class challenge'.

 

Obstacle Area #1: Sandbag pull. The 'base race' has you pull up a sandbag that weighs 100 pounds. All classes do that once; EXCEPT if you're a warrior. That would mean you pull the 150 pound bag twice, which is right next to the 100 pound bags.

 

Obstacle Area #2: Wall Leap. The 'base race' is getting *something* over the wall.  If you're an assassin, that would obviously be getting yourself over the wall 3 times. If you're a warrior, there is a tire that you can pick up and throw over the wall. If you're a ranger; you're a mix; so you can throw 3 50 pound sandbags over the wall.

 

etc.  This way there's only a tiny bit extra to make the certain obstacle harder based on the class.  Since scouts are endurance; the distance BETWEEN the obstacles is the challenge- hence they run it twice; but can pick an choose to do 10 out of 15 obstacles each time or something.

[Edigo]

this could be an event

 

each race at its own time, with areas for other classes to cheer on and watch to get inspired

 

there could be penalties like the burpees when you pass an obstacle, but some thing making sense to each class

 

yoga could be an actual yoga class, beginner, int, advanced showing skills. or a demo of what the best can do to inspire. With a meditation.

 

Or the event could start and end with a beginner yoga to warm up and strech to finish, with some meditation somewhere in between ?

 

this could be a big area with various obstacles, and each class goes into it a different/way path. For instance warriors have to do 3-5 circuits of the hard obstacles; rangers gotta run the lengh 3 times etc. That way you don't need to organise as many paths ?

 

this is really insteresting Ravnos

[Balthazar]

Minimising the amount of obstacles with a pick your own adventure style for each obstacle will be a space saving, cost saving more communal way to race methinks

Tyre flipping for warriors, tyre sledge hits for rangers and monks, tyre jumps or decline press ups for assassins jogging backwards between two tyres for scouts

Muscle ups for assassins, pull ups for warriors and rangers,monkey bars for scouts

Heavy sled pull for warriors, sled jog for scouts, sled sprint for rangers, sled pull then sprint for monks

Sledgehammer knock a post in for monks, post shoulder press for warriors, leap frogs for scouts and rangers

Should there happen to be water, swim for scouts, rope bridge for rangers and monks, sit in a raft and pull yourself across for warriors.

Full punch bag front squats for warriors, overhead slams for rangers, strikes for monks, roll across a distance for scouts

Adventurers have a certain amount of warrior, scout, monk, ranger activities they have to do but they get to pick which obstacle they do each class at

[Hanksdottir]

Here in clermont, florida there is a place that runs a monster race twice a year.

They might be open to something like this and they have the equiptment... and it's near orlando.

 

I haven't been to Orlando since 1976, Navy Bootcamp! It was pretty back then. But if the humidity is up its brutal! I was there in May & June... yeah - I did a lot of running in those 8 weeks. When it got over 90F they would let us walk from place to place, instead of "double-timing", when we weren't in formation, marching.

As a convention town, they probably have decent accommodations for large groups of people... Then we could go to disney world to recuperate arrgh!

[Hanksdottir]

Also - obviously it would be staffed by NFers!

Yeah, none of those woosey "Red Shirts"

People with empathy, please.

[Cheerful Dame]

Nice ideas! Would be nice to set one course up that you could choose the path at junctions that would test the specific guilds. So if you were a monk you would go right at a certain point, then later if a warrior would go right for their specific challenge. This way everyone could do the same course but choose their obstacles at a certain point. Then all NF ers could be at the same event.

Also run it as a 2 day event so the volunteers are the people who run the course on a different day. This would ensure a little empathy.

A "Choose Your Own Adventure" Race. You have come to a fork in the road to the left you can see . . . to the right you can see. . . which direction do you choose to go??? Love it.

[T2sarahconnor]

I also think posting what the race is ahead of time so everyone can train a be prepared. Maybe a couple water/mud pits added but why is so much more impressive if you don't know what the course is? Don't I still have to train as hard if not harder if I know? Why can't it be okay to be successful?

[ravnos]

I also think posting what the race is ahead of time so everyone can train a be prepared. Maybe a couple water/mud pits added but why is so much more impressive if you don't know what the course is? Don't I still have to train as hard if not harder if I know? Why can't it be okay to be successful?

 

In defense of Spartan Race, "being prepared for the unknown" is part of the point behind the creators vision of it and Death Race... but yes, I agree that at least SOME hints at what obstacles will be included is a good idea. I'm also thinking of incorporating some ideas from Ninja Warrior *coughSalmonLadderscough*

[T2sarahconnor]

I love me some ANW! Maybe we can invite Stephen Amell to show us how it's done. ( all oiled up of course)

[DarK_RaideR]

I'm so excited about this idea and so sad that I live in Europe. NF does have that effect on me a lot lately...

[Balthazar]

I'm so excited about this idea and so sad that I live in Europe. NF does have that effect on me a lot lately...

Come visit us in the UK Dark RaideR!

 

We are only a short flight away

[DarK_RaideR]

Come visit us in the UK Dark RaideR!

 

We are only a short flight away

 

I'm trying to make it to this meeting, look it up

[ChristArtist]

I haven't been to Orlando since 1976, Navy Bootcamp! It was pretty back then. But if the humidity is up its brutal! I was there in May & June... yeah - I did a lot of running in those 8 weeks. When it got over 90F they would let us walk from place to place, instead of "double-timing", when we weren't in formation, marching.

As a convention town, they probably have decent accommodations for large groups of people... Then we could go to disney world to recuperate arrgh!

my bootcamp was here in 1978!!! July and August! I went to Disney world here with bootcamp, when to disney land when I was stationed in San Diego!

Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk

[ChristArtist]

I think someone should share this with the powers that be!

Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk

[ravnos]

I'm planning on spending some time this weekend updating the original post and putting new ideas into it.