<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It was a long road from the 2014 Killington Beast back to OCR for me. The 6 months prior to this event had been a constant battle to regain strength, speed, and motivation. This race reminded me why I love running races, why I put myself through these things, and why I bother with "health &amp; fitness" at all.<br /><div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-507bEijS744/VgccRebhHtI/AAAAAAAAeKY/ZGuMjN0IDzU/s1600/IMG_20150412_131239409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-507bEijS744/VgccRebhHtI/AAAAAAAAeKY/ZGuMjN0IDzU/s200/IMG_20150412_131239409.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div>On Saturday, 4/11/15, I ran F.I.T. Challenge IV - Epic F.I.T. and I have to say...<u>it was exactly what I needed.</u> It challenged me, it tested me, it pushed me, and it renewed my drive for all things health &amp; fitness!</div><div><br /></div><div>So what was so great about Epic F.I.T.? How does it rank? Why was I so sore the next day...<i>and so happy about it?&nbsp;</i><br /><i><br /></i><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Epic.</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>This event was just </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">done right</i>. Robb McCoy, the man behind F.I.T. Challenge, knows how to put on a top notch event, and he has struck again with the 4th installment of his series.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://www.sothisisfitness.com/2014/11/5-keys-to-great-race.html" target="_blank">The Score:</a></b><br /><br /><b>Pre-Race: 8<br />Race Day: 9<br />The Course: 10</b><br /><b>Support / Swag: 9&nbsp;</b><br /><b>Post-Race: 8</b><br /><br />Just an all-around well-executed event. Things promised were followed-through on, the course was outstanding, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Would I run this race again? <b>Heck yes I would.</b><br /><br /><b>Pre-Race - 8</b><br /><b><br /></b>There were a fair number of promotional emails/Facebook posts and I certainly didn't forget the race was coming. The "pre-race email" came out the week before the race - I was impressed that it came to me as I wasn't actually officially registered for the race...I was signed on as a volunteer! Good on ya, F.I.T. Challenge! I DID check with some friends who pre-registered well in advance, and there were PLENTY of emails sent to participants.<br /><br /><b>Race Day - 9</b><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBezysHz4gU/VdMb8-q3lKI/AAAAAAAAdtg/fFC5cO_scmc/s1600/IMG_20150411_075758643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBezysHz4gU/VdMb8-q3lKI/AAAAAAAAdtg/fFC5cO_scmc/s400/IMG_20150411_075758643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b>I must say, I had a pretty good race day experience. </b>Checking in as a volunteer was super-easy - this can normally be a pretty tedious or confusing process. I watched a number of regularly registered runners checking in as well, and it looked to be a pretty quick and painless process. Near registration there was a small festival area with some vendors and a rep from OCR World Championships (yes, this is an OCRWC Qualifier...wow!). There was also ample room to hang out, stretch, and prepare.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1GSccXvHJg/VijI_Hm2GGI/AAAAAAAAgY4/UkXDaR5AqVk/s1600/11073993_831901773564837_2627680150545396605_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1GSccXvHJg/VijI_Hm2GGI/AAAAAAAAgY4/UkXDaR5AqVk/s320/11073993_831901773564837_2627680150545396605_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;">Our Team - Photo Credit: Mary Donohue</td></tr></tbody></table>As part of the New England Spahtens, I was a member of the day's largest team, which meant I got to hang out pre/post race at our largest team tent. Took a minute to figure out where it was - and once I did I discovered the restroom situation was INDOORS! Huzzah!<br /><br />Already ran your race? <i>Want to run another lap? </i><b>Go for it!</b>&nbsp;$15 gets you a new timing chip and you're off to the races (again). Manage 5 laps and you get a special plaque for doing 25K of OCR.<br /><br />All in all...everything leading up to crossing the starting mat was pretty darn smooth.<br /><br /><b>The Course - 10</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmfkvAq-FFg/VijIE7YQ7QI/AAAAAAAAgYs/sp-Mo7ITX4Q/s1600/10845812_831899546898393_1622263705756634095_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmfkvAq-FFg/VijIE7YQ7QI/AAAAAAAAgYs/sp-Mo7ITX4Q/s320/10845812_831899546898393_1622263705756634095_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Mary Donohue</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><b>The course was <u>excellent</u>. </b>There's no two ways about it. F.I.T. Challenge really nailed it all - use-of-venue, variety, quality, and quantity of obstacles...it was just <i>really well-done</i>. <u>Top-freaking-notch.</u>&nbsp;I'm genuinely impressed here, in case you couldn't tell.&nbsp;The course was also INCREDIBLY well-marked - trust me...while volunteering post-race I pulled hundreds of flags, a ton of caution tape, and MANY arrow signs...so I can <i>personally</i>&nbsp;attest to that.<br /> <br /><br />I want to point out that part of what helped this race have such an excellent course was the #OCRUnited element - <b>they played well with others</b>. ABF Mud Run, ORTC at Shale Hill, Grit 'n' Wit, Blizzard Blast and more - Robb McCoy and his crew aren't afraid to work with others to put on a successful event. This is something that helped him in planning, execution, race-day experience, the course itself...all areas got a boost.&nbsp;<i>Other, bigger races could learn something from F.I.T. Challenge </i>in this regard. <i>Take notes, big 3.</i><br /><br /><b>Support/Swag - 9</b><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EjbAEfzZvKs/VijHM5sH_uI/AAAAAAAAgYY/9KuH3nfxF7k/s1600/IMG_20151022_071608295.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EjbAEfzZvKs/VijHM5sH_uI/AAAAAAAAgYY/9KuH3nfxF7k/s320/IMG_20151022_071608295.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b>Swag and Support was good - above average, even!&nbsp;</b>Swag included a cotton t-shirt, a logo'd headband (similar to what you get at a Spartan Race, but no bib number), and finisher's medal. I love the medal - shaped like a Wreck Bag (added to the #OCRUnited feel - lots of local races are embracing Wreck Bag). NE Spahtens also got some "cheap sunglasses" (you know, the plastic Wayfarer knock-offs?) with Spahten F.I.T. printed on them. I'm a sucker for "cheap sunglasses", and I think everyone else is too, let's be honest. Thanks F.I.T.!<br /><br />Age group awards were provided (nice), and as an added bonus (I mentioned this before) for those who managed 5 (timed) laps there was a special plaque involved. Nice touch. Not to mention that whole "OCRWC Qualifier" thing.<br /><br />Support was good - <i>especially </i>when you got to the #OCRUnited parts of the course, especially the big cluster with "rigs" by the big Shale Hill truck. There was a volunteer at every obstacle, as there should be, (some more engaged than others) and I was aware of medical support that was available.<br /><b><br /></b><b>Post-Race - 8</b><br /><br /><b>Post-race was pretty good too.</b>&nbsp;Once you cross the finish there was water, Hint Water (review coming) and though I didn't stop to look, I <i>think</i>&nbsp;there was food of some sort (bananas maybe?). The little festival area was there, so First Aid Shot Therapy was there with their "shots" (think 5 hour energy...but aspirin) in case you were hurtin'. There was a cool little podium/backdrop area for photo ops and awards, but aside from that...if you're not running another lap (which you could for $10 or $15)...when you finish the race that's kinda it. <b>Pack it up and go home. </b>You could certainly hang out, though...it IS a state park (and very pretty, I thought).<br /><br />I personally would've gone back over to the NE Spahtens tent to hang out if I hadn't immediately gone over to volunteer (he was grossly under-supported for PM volunteers. Shame on people for bailing). That's how I wrapped MY day up, and it was kinda fun to break it all down :)<br /><br /><b>Overall, I had a great time and would certainly go back.</b><br /><br /><b>At the end of the day - </b>this <i>was</i> a great race. What you've got in F.I.T. Challenge is a great, very well-constructed, very well-thought-out, and very well-executed Obstacle Course Race. You can tell the owner/race director and the team that works with him (i.e. family and friends) really cares about the event and making it great. <b>That's why I love local OCR's </b>and why I will always seek them out. The big-name races are really turning me off lately, and "the little guy" keeps impressing.<br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rItZMRRVn-M/VijIC7t7GfI/AAAAAAAAgYk/5KqJgPTNJdM/s1600/11136175_831896266898721_7937356905526464364_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rItZMRRVn-M/VijIC7t7GfI/AAAAAAAAgYk/5KqJgPTNJdM/s320/11136175_831896266898721_7937356905526464364_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />F.I.T. Challenge V is this fall on 11/14/15, and <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fit-epic-fifth-challenge-email-us-for-a-discount-code-tickets-16941529571?utm_campaign=new_event_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=eb_email&amp;utm_term=viewmyevent_button" target="_blank">you can register via this link</a>. If you're not already committed to something...<b>I heartily recommend you register.</b>&nbsp;Whether you're a rookie or a rockstar, you'll have fun at this event.</div>