The Essentials of Obstacle Race Training

Scaling walls, crawling through mud, climbing ropes, and sprinting across rugged terrain. Obstacle course racing is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, and it's gaining popularity around the world. The sport is grueling, demanding, and intensely satisfying if you prepare, train, and know what to expect.

Only "The Essentials of Obstacle Race Training" can ensure you will be ready. Authored by David Magida, founder of Elevate Interval Fitness and member of the Spartan Race pro team, and Melissa Rodriguez, former contributing editor for "Mud & Obstacle" magazine, this in-depth guide breaks down the events, obstacles, common difficulties, and strategies for negotiating all challenges. Most important, it presents the tools and the plan to prepare--physically and mentally--for the unforgettable adventure that awaits.

Inside you'll find 80 of the most effective exercises for grip strength, mobility, balance, power, strength, and endurance as well as 30 workouts you can immediately start to use. You'll also find advice on conquering course challenges, preventing injuries, and selecting events and mental strategies for focusing, concentrating, and overcoming fear.

Through experience and expertise, Magida and Rodriguez have created the most complete, accessible, and effective guide to the sport. Whether you're competing for your first or your hundredth event, preparation and confidence are key. With "The Essentials of Obstacle Race Training," you'll conquer every challenge.

David Magida is the founder of Elevate Interval Fitness, which provides group classes focusing on high-intensity interval training. Magida is certified as a group fitness instructor with the American Council on Exercise and has spent years teaching obstacle race training classes. He regularly provides expert commentary on obstacle race training for "Men's Fitness." He is a founding member of the Spartan Race Pro Team and serves as the host of NBC Sports "Spartan Race."

Magida has been racing OCR since 2011. In only his second race he reached the podium for the first time and realized he had found his calling. That day Magida realigned his focus from training for road running and triathlon races to training for OCR.

Over the next two years Magida ranked in the top 10 nationally in the Spartan Race Points Series (9th in 2012 and 5th in 2013) as well as other race-ranking systems. He was one of the first 10 men in the United States to receive professional status. With 17 podium finishes and 7 victories in Spartan races during his career and more than 30 podium finishes in OCR events, including more than a dozen victories, Magida has consistently proven himself to be a threat every time he toes the line.

Magida operates Elevate Interval Fitness facilities in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. He has also been a guest blogger for the Spartan Race Blog and Obstacle Racing Media.

Melissa Rodriguez is a fitness trainer, industry analyst, and obstacle racing enthusiast. She has held a personal training certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine since 2003 and a certified strength and conditioning specialist designation from the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2005. Although she trains clients with a range of fitness levels and athletic goals, she has a passion for coaching beginners. Rodriguez also has undergraduate degrees in English and biology as well as a master's in business administration.

Since 2008, Rodriguez has served as a research analyst, report writer, and project manager for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). As IHRSA's senior manager of research, she regularly presents research findings and opportunities at national and international conferences and is a regular contributor to "IHRSA's Club Business International" magazine.

In recognition of obstacle course racing's potential, Rodriguez started following the sport in early 2011 when she trained and prepared a client for the Tough Mudder. Since then, she has maintained a blog on her website, MyExerciseCoach.net, which offers fitness and training guidance focused on obstacle course racing for beginners. She also maintains ObstacleRaceWorld.com, a website dedicated to tracking and analyzing the business of obstacle racing. Rodriguez is the author of the book "12 Weeks. 22 Workouts. Your First Obstacle Race and Obstacle Race World: The State of the Mud Run Business," the first-ever industry report on obstacle racing.