A personal trainer from Chorleywood took part in the Obstacle Course Race World Championships (OCRWC) last month where he finished in the top 20.
Roel Jansen and his daughter Sabrina, who attends St Clements Danes School took part in the three-day event on October 10-12 at the grounds of Nuclear Races in Brentwood.
Roel entered the 15km course which included 76 obstacles over a wet, muddy and freezing terrain.
The OCRWC World Championships offers a challenge unseen at well-known OCR events such as Tough Mudder. Less than 23 per cent within Roel’s age group (50-55) completed the 15K course successfully, and only 37 per cent of all participants completed it in total. Roel finished an impressive 16th in the world in his age category.
He said: “The course was carnage and absolutely brutal due to poor weather conditions – wind rain and low temperatures.
“After two days of events everything was now very slippery wet and muddy – the run up, the wall, the rope, the rings…all participants are tired and completely soaked in wet mud with many water obstacles to add to the risk of low body temperatures. Participants were even being removed from the course with hypothermia.”
On the Sunday, Roel competed in the 7km open with Sabrina, which gives non-qualifiers a glimpse of the obstacles a qualified competitor face.
The course takes them past tougher obstacles used or they are modified – many need specific training as the risk of injury without proper technique is huge.
Fortunately, they completed the course and Sabrina earned her OCRWC medal, which means she can take part in next year’s world championships in Vermont.
Roel added: “We had a great time on the course, plenty of laughs as well as challenges, with my wife Meera and younger daughter Olivia there to cheer us on.
“I was very proud and It was a truly great family day out (with plenty of mud!) I was so thankful that my children were there to witness and take part in the Championships and to capture and cherish some memorable moments.”
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