Rats Run Kupferzell

Stronger – Faster – Harder

Last Sunday we went a little bit off topic and went together with Paul to a regional obstacle course race. The races was part of south German based series of events called Rats Run. The events normally consists of a lot of mud and trails, so are very suitable for orienteers. As our decision to start was short term, we had started in the last start group. This means there were some obstacles that were blocked with early runners, so that you had to fight to pass through. But we make it all to the finish. No one makes a individual podium but we finished 3rd with the team. For Jakob and me it was the 4th team podium, we different teammates. In Kupferzell we won 2019, finished 2nd in 2023 and 3rd this year. Last year we finished 2nd in Hintersteinenberg. You can find plenty of pictures on the series web page. But I din´t spot any of our team on it.

Rats Runners OCR Kupferzell

After being alone at the Rats Runners events in 2021 and 2022 we were back with a team. Nico joint Jakob and me so we had a competitive team again. Last year the event in Kupferzell was mid June and really hot. This year it was still warm but much more likeable conditions. His year they were able to update the course and the course had a nice amount of trail and forest track running. Obstacles at the rats runners series are not too extreme or strange and often fit orienteers demands very well. So I could recommend orienteers to try such event. Not only for training effect but also to annoy established OCR runners a little. We had quite good results. Nico finished 2nd in Young and Wild (youth), Jakob 3rd in Rats (men’s main) and I was 6th in silver boy (men’s 40+). Together we finished 2nd in the team competition (Rat Pack), so everybody has a trophy to tacke home.
You can find the results here and pictures here.

Battelfield Bühlertann or playing in the mud

After one year break the Rats Runners obstacle races are back. In 2019 I run two races (Bühlertann and Kupferzell) of the series. This year only Bühlertann will take place. The race in Bühlertann is hosted by the local motocross club that has a lot of experience with mud. Originally we planed to run with a team and challenge for the victory in the team category as we did in Kupferzell 2019. Unfortunately several date changes made me a solo starter. The running course is 10.5 k mainly trail/cross with several river crossings an steep and slippery parts. Hard people can go for two rounds. Perfect running terrain for orienteers. Highlight is the motocross track in the end of the course. Design of all obstacles made it possible to get other it alone. Obstacles are mainly place on two parts of the course. After one third around the BMX course (muddy challenge) and at the very end of the course (field of tears, 10 obstacles on the last 600 m). If anybody asks why to do this the slogan of the series “Stronger people are harder to kill” is a good answer. I not completely satisfied with my run as had some problems with strength (gym was closed too long) and running speed (too less orienteering competitions). I managed to run 3 mins faster than 2019 and finished 4th in the Silver Boys (M40+) class 2 min behind 3rd place. For next year I´ll try to manage the podium and hopefully we will have a team again.
My GPS track: https://www.attackpoint.org/sessiondata.jsp?sessionid=7563731
Pictures: https://www.rats-runners.de/buehlertann-2021.html
Results: https://www.rats-runners.de/ergebnisse.html?eventCode=RR-2021-03&classCode=RP