Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 67, February 2015 | Page 40

OBSTACLE RACING

backyard racer
Last year’s Jeep Warrior Race Elite Black-Ops Series champion Marius Smith chats to Modern Athlete about
turning his backyard into a home-built training centre to mimic obstacles he’ll face on race day, and how he
approaches his obstacle races. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

MA: And last November you won the season’s final
leg at Heia Safari Ranch in Gauteng. What was it
like trumping a fairly competitive men’s field?
Marius: It’s the best feeling to conquer the course
itself and then beat the tough guys all wanting that
finish. It’s just motivated me to want more. For me
now, it’s about upping my intensity to tackle more
this year. After that win, it’s difficult to settle for
anything less. I wouldn’t say I’m a sore loser, but I
hate losing anything. I’ll always look to get a lead or
better my time.

MA: Getting through the Black-Ops course requires
sufficient training – especially focused on strength
work to get through something like the tyre-pull and
monkey bar swings. What do you focus on?
Marius: Last year I set up some obstacles at home
in Vereeniging to mimic and produce anything I
might expect on any course. Sometimes I make
training more intense to prepare properly. So I
tackle an obstacle then run about 2km to 3km
around the block. I do this five to six times to
get a proper workout. It can be anything from a
tyre-pull to focusing on the upper body stuff, which
competitors usually dread in a race. I train Monday
to Friday and that keeps my fitness up. I never train
the same. You can’t expect to increase your pace or
intensity without pushing your limit. Each day, I try
tackle one more obstacle or one more kilometre. I
try to bring down my lap times.
MA: The Black-Ops course features 30 obstacles
over 16km. Do you usually have a race plan before
going into an event?
Marius: You have to get over obstacles quickly and
analyse the easiest way to get from point A to B.
It’s both momentum and strength that you need
to harness. The faster, the better. Throughout, you
need to think about how to conserve energy. The
simpler technique, the quicker you’re going to get
to the other side. It’s also about keeping hydrated
and if you can lend yourself 30 seconds before the
next obstacle, then give yourself that breather. It
will be better than going straight in and having to
do it again and again. But my plan is to stick to my
pace and beat my own time before worrying about
others.
MA: And you’ll take that into your racing this year?
Marius: As always! Last year I also missed out on
the World Champs by a few hundred points, so I’d
love to get there this year. Competing against the
best international guys will be quite something.
Then there is nationals and getting as many
victories as I can. Competing and taking part is
always what comes to my mind first before getting
there first. It’s a great privilege!

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ISSUE 67 FEBRUARY 2015 / www.modernathlete.co.za

Images: Zoon Cronje

MA: When did you get into obstacle racing and
when did you realise that you have the talent to
compete at a higher level?
Marius: It was in August 2013 when a friend
invited me to compete at the Warrior event in Ballito.
I was always very fit and active. I was wrestling,
doing kickboxing and after watching Ninja Warrior
on TV, I figured that I’d love to try a competition like
that out. I entered the rookie event with my brother
and friend and we took an hour and a half to finish.
I realised my pace could handle more so I knew the
next natural step was competing with the elites.