<Photo Credit: M. Tyger Photography>
A gifted runner, Janet Barry, earned a Division 1 scholarship to run Track and Cross Country at UNC Charlotte where a serious injury nearly ended her collegiate running career in her Freshman season. Prayer, seemingly endless rehab work, and dedication helped her avoid surgery and continue running when many thought she would never run again. Beating the odds, she ran all four years (2008 – 2012) at UNCC, where she was a double major earning degrees in Communication and Psychology. Barry is now an account executive at Charlotte Magazine, where she earned “rookie of the year” honors for her achievements at work and is now earning accolades a professional on the Obstacle Course Racing circuit, where she has garnered seven sponsors including Natural DNA Repair, Rim-Tec castings, Mudgear, Inspyr Socks, Beet Performer, Athletics8, and Yup Brands. She sees OCR as a metaphor for life and hopes to inspire others overcome obstacles in their lives with her own story of perseverance.
EM: You were a runner in college so, what was it about OCR that got you hooked?
JB: In the spring of 2015 after moving into the city of Charlotte I started running with members of the Charlotte Athletic Club and hitting the track regularly for speed workouts. I was soon stronger than I had ever been in college. I jumped into a couple 5K’s and ran 18:07 and 18:05; solid results but still not near my potential so I decided to see how my running talent would carry over into the elite heat at the Washington DC Spartan race. Out of the gate I was the first female and I remember thinking, “Am I really leading this elite pack right now?” I had cameras on me and the Spartan staff covering my steps. About a mile in I fell back to mid pack as we hit more strength-oriented obstacles— as I had only done minimal weight training prior to the race. Whenever there was a long spurt of running I took full advantage of it. By the end of the race I finished with a solid 5th, which technically qualified me for the world championship in Lake Tahoe. It was at that moment I knew I had found my sport. If I could qualify for worlds off of a few speed workouts on the track I grew very excited thinking about what I was capable of if I began serious weight training… and so my OCR journey began.
EM: How would you recommend a runner go about making the leap to OCR?
JB: If you are a runner looking to start doing OCR races you will want to add more grip strength training, balance training, and weight training to your workouts. Rope climb, monkey bars, squats, weights, and a lot of functional movements.
EM: What is your favorite course, favorite obstacle, and why?
JB: My favorite course was the Alabama Spartan Super. It’s a bit of a bittersweet course to me but, in the end still my favorite because of how beautiful it was. The course was extremely sandy which played a role in tearing my plantar, I was in a lot of pain the last three miles. But this was my first overall win, I also nearly completed the monkey bars and the rig on this course. It was stunningly beautiful with all of the sand dunes, cliffs, tumbleweeds, and unique trees and vines. My favorite obstacle is the Hercules hoist. I am able to leverage my body in such a way that makes me quite speedy on getting that sand bag to the top!
EM: What was the most difficult obstacle you encountered either on and off the course?
JB: During my time at UNCC I competed as a Division 1 runner in cross country running (fall), indoor track (winter) and outdoor track (spring). During that time, I suffered numerous injuries, but persevered and ran all four years. My worst injury occurred one month into my freshman year when I was pushed far beyond my limits. After suffering a herniated disc and bulging disc in my lower back I was told by many I would never be able to run again let alone compete. Through prayer, hard seemingly endless rehab work, and dedication I beat the odds and avoided surgery.
EM: What are some things you gained from OCR that have benefited you in everyday life?
JB: Obstacle racing has taught me many things which I carry through with me in everyday life. Obstacle racing is unpredictable. You never know which obstacles are going to be at each race, where they are going to be, or how fast you will complete them, or in some cases if you will pass them. As in life, OCR racing is unpredictable and you have to be able to adapt and keep pushing forward and always be open to change and discomfort.
