Ruckus Kansas City 2013—It’s Almost Here!

The week is finally here!  Ruckus Kansas City is only a few days away, and hopefully you are as excited as we are.

Sign up! Wednesday night at midnight is the deadline to sign up for Ruckus Kansas City, so first and foremost, make sure you have your heat time set up.  Then you are all set for the big day Saturday! 

Arrive on time! The Ruckus KC mud obstacle course is located at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, MO.  Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive well before your race, as there may be traffic.  Also, parking is $10 per vehicle, so we recommend carpooling. 

Check in!  Once you have arrived, check-in with a photo I.D. one hour before race time and receive your pre-race information.  There are three different levels of course difficulty (Challenge, Heater and Mini), along with divisions for Men’s Open, Men’s Master (45+), Women’s Open and Women’s Master (45+).  Be sure to show up for the correct one – we don’t want anyone accidentally competing in the 4-mile race instead of the 2-mile (yikes!). 

Dress appropriately!  You will be running, crawling and climbing through some challenging terrain, so we suggest wearing comfortable clothing you wouldn’t mind dirtying.  Previous participants have also suggested wearing pants, gloves and even costumes for some great photo-ops.

Celebrate! Stick around after the race for some great food and adult beverages (for those of age, of course).  Saturday is going to be a fun, challenging and memorable day for everyone involved.  Don’t miss out on the excitement and entertainment that is Ruckus Kansas City! 

See you soon, KC! 

Mini Ruckus Event for Boys & Girls Club of KC Tomorrow!

We love our RuckStars...especially our Mini RuckStars!  To kick off our Ruckus Kansas City event, we are hosting a highly visual Ruckus Mini to promote healthy active living in the Kansas City area.  

An estimated 300 Kansas City-area youth from local the Boys & Girls Clubs will participate in the most exhilarating yet rewarding opportunity to “give it their all” in the Mini Ruckus obstacle course time trial. With more than 25 urban and suburban schools represented, the Ruckus Mini event is designed to introduce youth to the fastest growing sporting event in the US with a mini course of challenging, yet achievable, obstacles. The event will serve as a backdrop to remind children of all ages the benefits of getting exercise, eating right and most importantly, staying healthy while having fun!

This event starts at 1:00 PM on Friday, March 29 and ends at 3:00 PM.  The Ruckus Mini will take place at 3831 E. 43rd Street in Kansas City, MO at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City (Thornberry Unit).

We can't wait!  

Top 5 Tips for Pacing Yourself During an Obstacle Course

Once you have sorted out the pre-competition details such as a clever team name and in which race you will compete, your focus should turn to the Ruckus course itself.  With April 6^th and Kansas City’s event rapidly approaching, we encourage our participants to have an idea of how they will attack the race.  We’re here to give you a few tips on how to pace yourself during this unique running experience—the mud obstacle course: 

 

1. Have a goal in mind before the race.  First and foremost, Ruckus is about enjoying a fun and unique style of exercise.  But we also understand and encourage our runners to push themselves to the best of their abilities.  Knowing your pace beforehand can be crucial.  So before you toe the starting line, try to have an idea of a time or position at which you hope to finish.  If you have partaken in a Ruckus before, try to beat your previous time.  Or maybe you want to try to finish in the top half of your starting wave.  Regardless, go into the race with a goal!   

2.  Run with a partner, or a few.  This is more of a personal preference, but if you are in the business of maintaining a steady pace, competing alongside a friend, family member or co-worker is a great way to not get ahead of yourself.  It’s crucial to plan ahead and make sure that you will be in the same wave as your teammate; otherwise your day might be ruined!

3. Don’t start too fast.  We can tell you right now that your adrenaline will be pumping as your grouping heads for that first obstacle.  But don’t get ahead of yourself!  There are more than 20 obstacles looming ahead of you.  Stay within your limits, especially if you are attempting the four-mile Challenge race.  The first quarter-mile of the course is not going to make or break your final time and placement, but if you don’t have any energy left with half of the race left, it’s a whole different story. 

4. Pick which obstacles you really want to attack.  With countless challenging obstacles littered throughout the race, you probably aren’t going to be able to give 100% on all of them.  After exploring the course, make sure you have an idea of which obstacles you can attack full speed ahead.  If you think you are upper-body strong, then go after the Nose Bleed Nets and Gr8 Walls of Ruckus.  If you rely more on your speed and agility, then attack the Down-n-Outs and Tirefield.  Either way, try to push yourself on at least a few of the obstacles!

5. There is no pace at the end of the race.  Plain and simple—give it everything you’ve got once you start sniffing that finish line.  You should be proud of yourself for having come out to exercise on a Saturday in the first place, but you should really make it worth your while and sprint the end.  You have the rest of the weekend to relax.  This is a perfect chance to earn some bragging rights over your running partner!

The way you run your Ruckus race is totally in your hands.  We just suggest you have an approach in mind.  We don’t want to find you taking a nap in the Mud Garden mid-way through the race!  So pace yourself and you’ll be a RuckStar.  

Swap Your Cover Photo for a Chance to Win a Free Ticket to Ruckus!

Want to win a free ticket to Ruckus Kansas City?  Now's your chance!  Simply swap out your Facebook cover photo for our Ruckus image and you could win!  Here's what you need to do:

• Upload the image (above) as your Facebook cover photo
• Tag Ruckus Sports in the photo
• If you win, we will notify you via Facebook!

Many will enter, only 5 will win.  So what are you waiting for?  Swap out your cover photo and show your Ruckus pride!  It may earn you a free ticket (or a reimbursement if you've already purchased your ticket) to Ruckus Kansas City on April 6.  Good luck!

Follow us on Twitter too! @RuckusSports

The Benefits of Breaking Through Your Comfort Zone

At Ruckus, we’re all about having fun. That’s why we created our amazing mud run obstacle course. It’s a place to get muddy, get silly and laugh with the people you love. But Ruckus is also about personal challenge. They don’t call it an obstacle course just because of the stuff between you and the finish line. Obstacles are challenges that must be overcome to achieve a goal, and that often takes a tremendous amount of discomfort. Ruckus will challenge you to get out of your comfort zone. Here’s three reasons why getting out of your comfort zone is a good, even great thing:

1. You will surprise yourself.
Getting out of your comfort zone will allow you the chance to see exactly what you can do...and you may be very surprised by the results! It’s easy to settle into our day-to-day routines and convince ourselves to stay away from challenges. Disruption of regularly scheduled programming is a good thing, and will remind you of just how much you are capable of. The feeling of achievement when you cross the finish line is a memory that will last for years.

2. Discomfort will stir personal growth.
When we are living life purely to pursue comfort, we can slip into a period of internal stagnancy. New, challenging experiences are the things that help us grow as people, not chasing comfort. Unchecked comfort has a tendency to contract our sense of possibility, while periodic experiences of discomfort can help us to remember exactly how we feel when we push past normal boundaries.

3. Your doubt will lose its power.
When we aren’t consistently challenging ourselves, self-doubt can creep in silently. Before we know it, not only are we not pursuing challenges, we’re actively avoiding them. Self-doubt can be crippling, and challenging ourselves in times of doubt will keep us from becoming our own worst enemies.

Facing obstacles and overcoming challenges are two paths toward personal growth. At Ruckus, we care that you have fun, and we care that you are fulfilled. We hope you’ll join us for the challenge!

Learn more from Ruckus on Twitter! @RuckusSports

Congrats to Our Ruckus Caption Contest Winners!

Not too long ago, we asked you to be clever, witty and hilarious and participate in our Ruckus Caption Contest.  Every week, we put out a new awesome Ruckus photo and asked you to come up with a caption for it.

Thanks to our amazing Facebook fans and Instagram followers, we got some great submissions.  But only 4 could win!

Congratulations to the following Ruckus Caption Contest winners—you came up with the best Ruckus captions we’ve ever heard!

Dinah Wiegers proclaims being a trophy wife isn't as easy as it may seem...

Anna Kossen encourages RuckStars to keep up.  

Anytime Fitness of Lawrence, KS knows what Ruckus is all about. 

Kristi Sasnett knows the importance of quality girl time. 

Congrats to Anytime Fitness of Lawrence, KS, Dinah Wiegers, Kristi Sasnett and Anna Kossen!  All 4 of you have won a pair of tickets to Ruckus Kansas City on April 6, 2013!

And a big thanks to everyone who participated in the Ruckus Caption Contest.  We’re glad you had as much fun with it as we did.

3 Tips for Getting into the Ruckus Champion’s Heat

So you’ve decided to participate in Ruckus – way to go! You’re joining the coolest mud running obstacle course in the world. We know you’ve done your training and you’re ready to compete.

Many of our participants go above and beyond the call of duty and shoot for making it into the Champion’s Heat. The Champion’s Heat consists of the top 10% of the men and women’s races from the morning runs.  The Champion’s Heat runs the same course in the afternoon, bringing their total Ruckus mileage to 8 miles for the day. The winners from each division bring home the coveted Golden Helmet!

Planning ahead for the Ruckus Champion’s Heat will be crucial to your success. Here are a few tips for achieving your Champion’s Heat goal:

• Train as if you are going to run the entire 8 miles. This will give you a lead in the regular Ruckus race, while also preparing your body for the Champion’s Heat later in the afternoon. If you are prepared to run 8 miles, the first course will go much smoother.
• Train on challenging terrain. Kansas City is full of steeps streets, lengthy tracks and outdoor stairs (the Plaza and UMKC to name a couple). Training on steep, challenging terrain will make the Kansas City mud run more approachable on race day.
• Pace yourself. It can be easy to overreach during the initial course if you’ve got the Champion’s Heat in mind. Remember, you need to be in the top 10% of your division to compete. Pacing is crucial to ensuring you don’t expend all your energy on the first course, leaving you empty for the Champion’s Heat.

We are so proud of all our participants. Your drive to be healthy and have fun in Kansas City’s great mud obstacle course reminds us of the difference we’re making through Ruckus. We can’t wait to see you out there...whether you’re in the Champion’s Heat or not!

Can We Be Addicted to Exercise?

You know that feeling of accomplishment after a tough, grueling workout?  The feeling that you can conquer the world even though you were lying on the ground “dying” about 10 minutes ago?  That feeling you get when you can’t help but smile on mile 8 of a 10 mile run?   These feelings come to us thanks to the body’s own exercise coping mechanism, endorphins.

Endorphins are natural chemical compounds produced by the body’s pituitary gland. Endorphins are produced during exercise, anxiety, moments of excitement and pain. Endorphins work by preventing the body’s nerve cells from producing more pain signals, leaving us with a soothing after-effect.  In addition to acting as a coping mechanism, endorphins are known to decrease appetite, induce a euphoric feeling and decrease anxiety. That’s why if you’re overly stressed or anxious about something, going on a run or working out is a great way to clear your mind and relax your nerves.

Too much of a good thing…

We’ve all heard of endurance athletes getting a “runner’s high”. As a race or event progresses, participating athletes begin to gradually lose the ability to feel pain and are often overcome with a euphoric feeling to keep going.  That’s a runner’s high (and sometimes, our RuckStars get it during our tough courses!).

This is also commonly known as being “in the zone”; think Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA finals when he had the flu. Research has shown that the more physically fit an athlete may be, the more receptive he or she is due to effects of endorphins. Additionally, as the demand for athletic performance increases, the amount endorphins released also increases. This correlation often has two side effects; the athlete is able to train harder due to a higher tolerance for pain. The other is that the athlete is exposed to high amounts of endorphins over long periods which can lead to endorphin addiction.

Can we be addicted to running?
Like anything, if you overdo it, you run the risk of developing an addiction. Addiction is commonly just associated with drugs, alcohol and substance abuse. When in reality, our body doesn’t need outside substances, it naturally contains addictive substances. An exercise addiction for example, occurs when someone develops a chemical dependence on the endorphins released from intense physical activity.
It may not seem like a bad addiction to have, but it can have severely adverse effects on one’s health.

Most exercise addicts aren’t aware of their addiction; they just believe they are living a healthy lifestyle, which, in theory, is good. But exercise addictions are a hidden addiction and can cause someone to overwork their body, even when injured. Their reasoning behind this is that they’ll only mentally feel better when they workout.  If they don’t, a feeling of low self-worth often sets in.

Being healthy is a good thing, but being healthy to the point of obsession is very unhealthy both mentally and physically. So in some ways, exercising addictions are just as damaging as substance addictions!

So how do you avoid exercise addiction?

They key to avoiding an addiction to exercise is by being aware and finding a balance. There is no need to beat yourself up for missing a day of exercise by going extra hard the next day. Being healthy isn’t just exercise either; it’s also important to have a healthy diet!

Here at Ruckus, we believe in living a healthy lifestyle, but we also believe you should be having fun while you do it. Because if you’re not having fun, what’s the point? If you’ve noticed that your exercise routine has become a chore, it’s time to infuse it with some fun!  And luckily for you, we have just the remedy!

Get more Ruckus tips & tricks on Twitter! @RuckusSports 

RuckStar Profile: Giselle McGaw

Name: Giselle McGaw

Hometown: Blue Springs, MO

Occupation: Pre-school teacher

Favorite Ruckus obstacle: Definitely the monkey bars!  I love that obstacle because it requires a lot of upper body strength and grip and it was very challenging to complete towards end of race when I was fatigued.

Preferred race-day gear: My preferred race gear, especially if it’s hot, is a sports bra and compression shorts. Its light helps me move faster...plus I get a better tan that way...lol.

Pre-race rituals: Energy drink for sure! Post…alcohol!

Advice to future participants: Always challenge yourself! You will never know what you can do until you try it. BE BETTER EVERYDAY and never give up! The reward is so much greater when you set a goal and accomplish it.

Favorite Ruckus memory: My favorite Ruckus memory was post-race in parking lot showering with a gallon of water!

What keeps your Ruckus-ing in 2013?  I have done 3 mud runs and I love the Ruckus run! It’s my favorite  because it has better obstacles and it’s a good distance—not too short or too long.  Ruckus has a great volunteer staff cheering you on.  The layout for spectators to watch and cheer you on is fantastic! That really keeps you motivated and going strong towards end of your race ;)

When I ran this race, I was recovering from a sprained right ankle and was wearing an ankle brace. Too me, the most challenging part was getting through all the mud and climbing with a weak ankle, but I did it! At 38 years old, I continue to push my limits and enjoy challenging myself everyday! I love to compete and adrenaline is my drug!! This year, I plan on making Ruckus a family affair and have my children there watching and possibly running it with me. I recommend this race to all my friends and look forward to doing it again this year!!

Register for our next Ruckus race—Kansas City on April 6th!  

Want your Ruckus profile to be featured on our blog? Find out how here! 

5 Tips for Your Ruckus Pre-race Prep

Ruckus is meant to be a fun and challenging event—it surely will test your mental and physical strength!  But just because it’s challenging, doesn’t mean it isn’t fun! In fact, the design of Ruckus is to be an exhilarating adult playground. We want all of our participants to get the most out of the Ruckus experience. To do so we recommend proper race preparation.  If this is your first Ruckus, take note!

What is proper race prep?

It’s simple.  Race prep is everything you do leading up to Ruckus. If you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry! We’re here to help. We’ve compiled a top 5 list of the most crucial pre-race prep tips that will ensure you’re ready to take on everything the Ruckus course has to offer—including Mt. Ruckmore!

1. Training
Ruckus Kansas City is a couple of months away, so you still have some time to train even if you may not be in Champion’s heat-shape. The Ruckus course encompasses obstacles that test your climbing, crawling, balance, strength, and most of all cardio abilities. Exercises that challenge these are what will get you Ruckus ready. Movements like burpees, pull ups, pushups and lunges don’t require a gym but are just as effective. When paired with running a couple of miles and practicing army crawls, you’ll be Ruckus ready in no time.

2. Nutrition
Your body needs fuel to run, just like a car.  The higher octane the fuel is, the better it will run. Loading up on carbohydrates isn’t for everyone.  In some cases, heavy carbs can slow you down. Protein, however, is essential to everyone—especially those looking to get fit! You’re muscles thrive on protein, so give it to them. Don’t forget to hydrate.  Our bodies are 85% water.  Drink according to your thirst.

3. Relax
Before race day, it’s important to take a day or two off.  Some light stretching and easy jogging can clear your mind and allow your body some recovery time. If you overwork your body, you won’t be able to perform at your best.

4. Wear what works
When it comes time for race day, wear something that is comfortable to you. Experienced RuckStars have suggested pants, gloves to provide grip and old shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Then again, some other Ruckus-ers have worn costumes!  We’ll leave that up to you.

5. Stretch
Along with eating something light that will provide you with energy and drinking plenty of water, the most important thing you can do on Ruckus race day is stretch. Once you enter the course, you cannot leave, so make sure you are stretched and warmed up before you’re race. This will prevent injury and allow you to perform at your peak.

If you follow these 5 tips, you’ll no doubt be ready to take on everything the Kansas City Ruckus course has in store. The most important thing to remember is to have fun! The Ruckus course is challenging.  Enter with the mindset of having fun first, as long as you give it your best, you’ll be rewarded!

Want more Ruckus tips?  Follow us on Twitter!  @RuckusSports

Ruckus: A Corporate Team Building Experience

“Quick everyone!  Get to the conference room!  It’s time for a team building seminar!”

Those words should never be said with enthusiasm. Ever.

There is nothing more boring than PowerPoint presentations and free bagels to “bring a team together”. Yet this activity is exactly what companies do to “excite” their employees about working together. Great teamwork isn’t developed with crazy fonts and smooth transitions.  Team building should be more...well...fun!

Teamwork makes the dream work.

So, if you want to build up your corporate team, what activity should you plan? That’s an easy one; Ruckus!

Build Emotional Bonds 
Ruckus helps build the emotional bonds that are the building blocks of trust and teamwork. The physically challenging course at Ruckus acts as the common enemy for your team to rally around. At the end of the Ruckus race, there’s nothing more rewarding than cheering all of your team members as you all cross the finish line, worn out and covered in mud. An out-of-breath nod to a teammate that says “that was tough and challenging but we beat it together” speaks a whole lot more than actually saying it in a conference room setting.  Plus if you can overcome our obstacles as a team, you can overcome a lot of tough clients together too!

Team Activities vs. Individual Activities 
When trying to build cohesiveness within your team, competitive events that are individual based don’t work. Activities where coworkers only have to worry about themselves are just as ineffective as seminars (think bowling, laser tag, or paintball). These types of activities create a “me first” mindset; participants want to shine individually and are only concerned with their own success. On top of that, if there is tension between some team members, do you really want to give them paintball guns?  We didn’t think so.  The best solution is to set up a team and run Ruckus together!

Foster Trust 
If you really want to build cohesiveness within a corporate team you won’t do it with terms like “synergy”. Trust falls are a great idea, but if people fail to catch you, trust isn’t the only thing often broken or damaged. True team building occurs when people are able to come together around a common cause.

Ditch the laser tag and steer clear of the conference room. Gather your team for Ruckus Kansas City on April 6, 2013 to turn your corporate get-together into a muddy good time! Sign your team up quickly because wave times sell out fast. Let Ruckus be your new corporate tradition!

Get more Ruckus tips, tricks and advice on Twitter! @RuckusSports

Top 10 Treadmill Workouts to Prep for Ruckus

Ruckus Kansas City isn’t until April 6, but now’s the time to start training!  The only problem is that Kansas City winter weather is a little unpredictable—one day, it’s mid-fifties and the next, it’s in the teens. Running in freezing cold is no fun (we all know that “my-lungs-are-on-fire” feeling!).

But rather than letting the winter weather deter you from training for our Ruckus mud run, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best treadmill routines that’ll have you in Ruckus shape, even when the thermostat is below 0! 

1.  30 Minute Intense Interval

2.  Walking Lunge Interval 

Do the same workout as above but during the resting segments, drop the speed to 1.2 and perform walking lunges.

3.   Short Intervals, High Incline 

4.  Speed Increasing Ladder

Same as the above workout but instead of a speed of 7, start at 6.6 increasing by .1 each segment. By the end of the 10^th segment, you’ll finish at 7.5 

5.  King of the Mountain 

6.  Climb the Ladder

Perform the King of the Mountain but this time, start low and increase every level. Start at an incline of 1 and raise 1 with each segment. Feel free to manage speed accordingly.

7.  Sprinter's Paradise

8.  Endurance Sprinter's Paradise

Same workout as above except you increase the sprinting interval time to 1:15 and decrease the resting interval to 45 seconds.

9.  The Ruckus

Also known as the never-ending sprint, this bad boy will get you in Ruckus shape in no time!

10.  The Ruckus Level 9000

If The Ruckus is a little too easy for you congrats—you’re a beast! If you need something more challenging, perform The Ruckus, but after each interval, bring the speed down on the treadmill so you can safely exit. Once off, perform 30 seconds of jumping lunges.  When complete, get right back to it. Yowza! 

These workouts are perfect for the beginner or those eyeing a golden helmet in the Champions Heat. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for Ruckus today and then hit the treadmill—you’ve got some training to do!

Are You Clever? Witty? Hilarious? Enter Ruckus' Caption Contest!

We know a lot of you RuckStars out there are pretty clever, witty and downright hilarious.  To participate in something like Ruckus, you have to have a sense of humor.  That's why we're opening up our Ruckus Caption Contest--a Facebook contest where our funniest, most creative RuckStars will truly shine!

Every week from Jan. 28 until Feb. 18, we will post a new photo on our Ruckus Facebook page and our Instagram account (@RuckusSports).  The person who comments below the photo with the funniest, wittiest or most hilarious caption will receive 2 free tickets to Ruckus Kansas City!

Many will enter, 4 will win.  What are you waiting for?  Take a stab at a hilarious photo caption on our Facebook page or Instagram profile today!

Follow us on Twitter, too! @RuckusSports 

Share Your Ruckus Story!

Have you had an amazing Ruckus experience?  Wish you should share your experience with other RuckStars?  Now you can!  Ruckus is looking to spotlight your stories on our blog and Facebook page!

Simply email the following information to Profile@RuckusSports.com.  

• Name
• Hometown
• Occupation
• Favorite Ruckus obstacle
• Preferred race-day gear (what did you wear on race day?)
• Pre-race rituals
• Advice to future participants
• Favorite Ruckus memory
• What keeps you Ruckus-ing in 2013?
• A photo of you running your Ruckus or post-race
• Email address 

Once we receive your information, your Participant Profile will be considered to be spotlighted on our Ruckus blog as well as our Facebook page!

What are you waiting for?  Share your inspirational story about how you got ready for Ruckus, tell us about a time when your kid finished the Ruckus Mini, or tell us about why you loved your Ruckus experience!  

Don't forget to sign up for the Ruckus Kansas City - the most popular waves are beginning to fill up!

Kansas City, YOU’RE NEXT!

This past fall, we went bonkers in Boston.  We brought our A-game in Atlanta.  And we slid through St. Louis.  And now we are excited to announce that Kansas City—YOU’RE NEXT!!

Ruckus is making its way to Kansas City on April 6, 2013 (you only have a few months to get in Ruckus shape!).  The KC obstacle course, with plenty of gorilla bars, air loops and cargo nets for everyone, is one of our messiest ever and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it.

Registration for Ruckus Kansas City is now open.  Register before February 15 to receive a special, early-bird price of $60.00 (Ruckus Heater) or $75.00 (Ruckus Challenge).  A price increase will go into effect on February 15—so register now!

And remember—Ruckus Kansas City isn’t just for avid runners.  It’s for families and for people who love to have fun and get some exercise!  Bring the kids and have them participate in our famous Ruckus Mini.  Ruckus is the perfect way to spend some quality, muddy outdoor time with your friends and family.

See you in KC!

The Ultimate Ruckus Q&A (and Other Awesome Ruckus Stats!)

Is Ruckus for me?  Will I be able to complete the Ruckus obstacle courses?  Is Ruckus better than Warrior Dash?  Where is a Ruckus near me?  What if I’ve never done a mud run before?  Will I survive?

You’ve got questions—we’ve got answers!  Below are some of our most popular Ruckus questions that you may desperately want answered before the Ruckus St. Louis on May 5^th!

Why should I sign up for Ruckus?

Whether you want to feel a sense of accomplishment, are in need of a workout milestone or simply want to have some muddy fun, there are a billion reasons to sign up for Ruckus.  According to our previous Ruckus Kansas City survey, 58% of participants signed up for Ruckus in order to fulfill a persona accomplishment.  41% of participants signed up due to motivation from friends and family members and 20% signed up to experience a fun weekend activity.  What’s your reason to cause a Ruckus?

Do I need to be “in shape” for Ruckus?

We won’t lie—Ruckus certainly isn’t easy.  But that doesn’t mean that you have to be in marathon-shape in order to compete.  Every year, participants from ages 2 to 72 and of all different skill levels compete in Ruckus.  We also offer a variety of different obstacle course lengths including a 4-mile challenge, a 2-mile heater and a Ruckus Mini. 

During Ruckus Kansas City a few weeks back, we found that 37% of participants were “avid runners” and participate in one or more road races a year (whether that be a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon or triathlon).  35% defined themselves as “general athletes” who simply work out on their own and consider fitness important. 

Should I do the 4-mile Challenge or the 2-mile Heater?

Great question—and it’s completely up to you!  Are you a sprinter?  Check out the Heater.  Looking for a little more running?  Sign up for the Challenge.  Our Challenge is the most popular Ruckus event with 88% of KC participants competing in it a few weeks ago. 

Have most participants competed in Ruckus before?

As a matter of fact, no!  53% of our KC Ruckus runners experienced the crazy obstacle course for the very first time. 

What about Warrior Dash, Spartan Run, Tough Mudder and other mud runs? 

Many of our participants have engaged in these other muddy obstacle experiences, too.  29% of our runners had participated in Warrior Dash, 4% in Mud Run, 3% in Tough Mudder and 2% in Spartan Run. 

Will Ruckus take place near me and how should I arrive?

Ruckus is currently taking over five different cities across the U.S. including St. Louis, Boston, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Kansas City.  A majority of participants travel 30 minutes to one hour to participate in Ruckus and usually arrive with friends in tow.

Keep in mind that not everybody that comes to Ruckus has to run!  We have outstanding spectating capabilities as well.  In fact, 77% of spectators thoroughly enjoyed watching Ruckus Kansas City a few weekends back. 

So, should I take the plunge?

We think so!  If you’re passionate about fitness, enjoy a challenge or want to bond with friends and family, Ruckus is the best obstacle course for you.

And if that doesn’t convince you enough, take a look at the numbers: 78% of KC Ruckus runners plan to sign up for the 2013 Ruckus Kansas City obstacle course!  Another 92% of participants would encourage friends, colleagues and family members to participate in future Ruckus events.  

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up now!

Kansas City Ladies Get Down and Dirty: The Adventure Girls’ Ruckus Experience

When Willow Lundgren was growing up, she wasn’t hosting tea parties, wearing puffy pink princess dresses or collecting Barbies.

“I’ll admit it,” she says. “I was a Tom Boy as a kid.  But if I added up all of the mud I’ve ever had on my body during my childhood, it would never add up to how much mud I encountered during Ruckus Kansas City.”

Willow was one of the seven members of a team known as the Adventure Girls.  The team was made up of a group of Kansas City girlfriends who enjoy going on adventures and getting a little down and dirty every once and awhile.  Some of them, as a matter of fact, have even trained for the rigorous runs such as Hospital Hill in Kansas City.  But according to members of the Adventure Girls team, nothing could prepare them for the challenge of Ruckus.

Together, the seven women pushed through the 4-mile Challenge course at Ruckus and finished with a time of 1 hour and 19 minutes.  But the Adventure Girls weren’t pushing for a specific time—they simply just wanted to laugh, create some memories and have some muddy fun.

One of the members of the Adventure Girls was Julie Meers, senior vice president of Missouri Bank.  Any other day, she’s a blazer-wearing, high-profile Kansas City business woman...but during Ruckus weekend, she turns out a muddy mess.

“We all achieved something individually during Ruckus, but we finished together,” said Julie.  “We sang songs, we got muddy and we loved every minute of it.” 

Her teammate and friend Willow (of InvenQuery), thought the same. 

“Ruckus is somewhat of a metaphor for life,” she said.  “In life, you come up against obstacles that look very intimidating.  But then, once you convince yourself to do the best you can and commit, you can overcome anything.”

So will the Adventure Girls come back for round 2 of Ruckus Kansas City next year?

“We all agreed the moment that Ruckus was over, that we would do it again next year,” said Julie.  “I would plan my schedule around something like this!”

Want a similar experience to what the Adventure Girls had?  Join us in St. Louis on May 5^th for Ruckus!  Register today and prepare to bring out your inner-Tom Boy!   

Ruckus Kansas City 2012 Photo Recap: Some of our Fav Shots

If you joined us last weekend for Kansas City’s muddiest, craziest, most chaotic mud run yet, you may want to relive the moment.  Lucky for you, we are providing a sneak preview of some of the coolest pictures from Ruckus Kansas City.  Take a look below and be sure to Like us on Facebook to see more photos from Ruckus Kansas City.  

You've been warned: There will be mud.  

RuckStars face Mount Ruckmore head-on. 

When we said you'd get messy, we weren't kidding. 

That's one way to climb the Ruckus ladder.

Because mud really brings out your eyes.

Facing your fears.

Big or small, Ruckus is for all.

Finishing up the obstacle course with a slide down Mount Ruckmore.

Blazin' her own trail. 

The chance to compare bruises.

Start with a run.  Finish with a crawl.  

Don't just run Ruckus...slide Ruckus, too.

Teamwork makes the dream work!

Who says dudes can't enjoy a mud mask?

Sometimes, tires aren't meant to roll.

Ruckus KC: For ages 2 to 92.

Redefining "laydlike" at Ruckus KC.  

Hang in there, RuckStars!

Nothin' but net during this Ruckus obstacle.

The bruises will fade, accomplishment won't.

Sometimes, the path to enlightenment has barbed wire.

Mount Ruckmore: Redefining "slip and slide".

Ruckus Team bringing you the biggest, best obstacles in KC.

Prepare for Ruckus Mini!

Swingin' from rope to rope.  Tarzan would be proud.

It's a whole new take on "recess".  

Giving their manicurists a run for their money.

Pre-mud jump!

When obstacles are in the way, don't go around them. Climb them.

Spidercrawling through this Ruckus challenge.

Still glowing after ropes, trenches and monkey bars.

Because you and your friends should have something to talk about.

Overcoming obstacles...with leaps and bounds!

Pat yourself on the back (as soon as you can lift your arms again!).

Proving that life is short and it's important to stir it up!

Make some noise!

The bruises will fade, achievement won't. 

Making those reps mean something!

A victorious slide down Mount Ruckmore (Hey, nice pants!).

Ruckus: Because everyone should know the meaning of OMG.

Seem like an event that’s right up your alley?  Register today for Ruckus St. Louis!  We will have the same photo coverage for the St. Louis event—and it’ll be an obstacle course you REALLY don’t want to miss.  After all, how many chances to you get to slide down Mount Ruckmore?  Or climb up a mound of tires?  Or swing across a mud pit like Spiderman?  Come out and play on May 5th.