Be Early

Obstacle races can be absolutely packed. It will probably take a long time to find a parking place and register for the event. Oftentimes the events just aren't prepared for the crowds, and people end up spending hours in line. Plan to arrive at the very least an hour before your wave time and see what you can do about carpooling or getting a ride. If you do find yourself with some time to kill before your wave, then check out the course, warm-up well and you may even be able to go out before your scheduled time if you really want to.

Warm-Up

Yes, a good warm-up can prevent injuries, but did you know that it will enhance performance? If you are running competitively (even against yourself), you must devote 12 minutes or more to getting the blood flowing and opening up the capillaries. It is only after you warm-up for that time period that all of your capillaries will be open and the blood will be moving so that you can run your fastest and give your best effort in the race. So spend some time jogging, and do a few sprints and push-ups.

Choose Wisely At The Start

The starting lines in some races can have upwards of 600 people, and most of them will start out at a faster pace than they can maintain for the whole race. If you are running a race competitively, then work your way to the front and be ready for the quick pace that many will start at but few will continue. If you are hoping for a competitive time, it is helpful to beat the masses to the first obstacle or two, or you might lose some time waiting in line for the initial obstacles.

If you are not aiming for a competitive time, you might consider hanging back a little while, and then enjoy passing people as they slow down. If you are at all intimidated by the first obstacle, this is a good strategy because if you stick with the rest of the crowd, you will have to tackle the obstacle with a lot of people who are anxious to be on their way. If you take it easy at the beginning, you will be around less competitive participants when you tackle your first obstacles.

You Can Do It

Half of the battle when it comes to many obstacles is the mental blocks that you will encounter. Races don't disclose the specific obstacles on the course, so that you have that "uh oh, I didn't know I was going to have to do that!" feeling when you first spot an obstacle. Our survival instincts kick in and tell us not to get near the fire, get shocked or climb 50 feet up on a tower. All of these intrinsic, natural and healthy fears can trigger that panicked feeling in your gut as you approach an obstacle. But instead of letting yourself wallow in this fear, use the time as you are approaching the obstacle to watch how other people are completing it successfully (or unsuccessfully as the case may be).