One Runner’s Journey Into Obstacle Racing

We recently sat down with runner, Melinda Branch, and chatted about her journey into obstacle racing. Branch is currently one of the top contenders, each time she toes the line, in the SPARTAN RACE series–listed as "Best Obstacle Race", by our friends at Outside Magazine.

Born and raised
in Blue Springs, MO, I spent most of my early youth playing army with my two
older brothers and dress-up with my girlfriends. I liked to play rough but be a girly girl at
the same time. I also discovered that I had strength and a passion
for running. When I was just a
kindergartner, my PE teacher asked all the boys and girls to run around a dirt
track as she timed us. So, at six years
old, I took off around that track as fast as I could in my little purple dress,
and to my surprise, I came in first. This
was my first experience of running competitively, and I loved it.

After
entering junior high and high school, I joined the cheerleading squad and track
team. I ran AAU during my summers and
traveled with amazing athletes from all over. I am proud to say I was on the same AAU team as Muna Lee (Olympic
100/200m runner). However, my main track
events during the last two years of high school became the 400m and 800m. I loved running, but by the time I graduated from
high school, I was burnt out. I was
offered scholarships but a large part of me needed a break and wanted to just
‘relax’ and enjoy college life. So, off
I went to college strictly on academic scholarships.

An entire
semester went by before I realized I was missing a big part of my life:  running. I missed it. I missed the competition,
the way I felt emotionally/physically, the camaraderie, the lifestyle. Therefore, I decided to switch schools and
join the track team at University of Central Missouri State. That was the best decision I could have made. I ran the 400, 600, 800, and 4 x400m
relay and went on to become an All-American in the 4x400m relay. 

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in dietetics , I decided to further my education and attend the University of Kansas Medical Center to obtain my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I continued running throughout these years competing in numerous 5ks, several half-marathons, and two marathons, including the Boston marathon.

However, it wasn’t until April of 2012 that I competed in my
first obstacle race, the Ruckus Run. Not
only was I thrilled to place second female overall, I had discovered my passion
for obstacle racing. I continued on to
do the Tough Mudder and the Hoppin’ Mud Run within the next month. But, the true desire and love for obstacle
racing came after competing in my first Spartan race in Tuxedo Park, NY,
2012. Although I did not podium, I felt as though I had accomplished so much through
strength, will -power, and determination. I was hooked. Not only do I have
a new-found passion, but I have a wonderful group of new friends who share the
same ideals as I: to love life, crave
the adventure, endure the hardships, accept the challenges, take the risks, and
cherish the joy, sweat, and tears each race brings.

So, the next time you are debating which local 5k or 10k to compete in, give obstacle racing a try. You never know, you might just get hooked like I did!

—Melinda 

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