obstaclemudrunner.co.uk
ForEliteAtheletes toFunRunners
8
Kelly Burgess
says...
As Rick’s wife, I kind of
joined by default. Each
time I watched Rick at a
race I was slightly envious,
it looked such fun. It took
a while for me to pluck up
the courage to join in. I’m
a fun runner and we pride Team RAW on creating the
family feeling. It doesn’t matter to us whether you’re first
or last. We all cheer each other on. Rick and I have 3
Rawlings – Jake 10, Scarlett 8 and Luke 3.
As a team of adults and children we have lots of fun,
play fighting in the mud and jokes are never far from
anyone’s lips. My proudest moment has to be watching
Rick progress in something he is very passionate about.
To see him genuinely happy is worth all his hard work.
Training days are fun and I love
seeing the Rawlings enjoying life
outside.
Tom Wilson says…
I was looking for a team to
join. I met some of the team
and decided it was for me. I
really like the blue team kit
too. I heard about them from
a variety of locations across
the country, from London right
through to Edinburgh. I’ve
been a member for 10 months
and have done approximately
60 OCR’s. I class myself as a
competitive runner. I have a
future Rawlings but considered
5 months to be perhaps slightly
too young to start. My best
experience to date was keeping
my band at the OCREC.
RACE: TEAM
open to everyone, regardless of ability
TEAM RAW
Back in 2014, 3 friends named Rick Burgess, Bob Parsons and Kim Bolton decided it would be fun
to start up a little team. After running 2 winter Tough Guys they realised OCR was here to stay.
Numbers quickly grew as they invited family and
friends of all abilities to join them and before long
there were enquiries from all across the country
asking whether they too could join.
It was agreed that anyone from across the country
could join and that the doors of Team RAW would
remain open to everyone, regardless of ability.
The team now has over 120 members from fun
runners to elite and a whole load in between.
It was also apparent that with adults, in lots of cases,
came kiddies too. Hence “The Rawlings” were also
born in 2014. We think it’s important to include and
share with the kids and get them involved too plus
it helps to keep them active. They are, after all, the
future of this sport.
Grant Pearson
says...
As I did more and
more races I saw more
and more Team RAW
out on course and I
loved how prestigious
they appeared to be. I
was looking for a team but really didn’t want to be
competing. RAW offers membership to anyone at
any level. Both my wife and I joined in 2015. I first
spotted a sea of blue shirts coming across the finish
line at Night Reaper, that’s when I knew I wanted to
be part of it.
I think most teams have the same camaraderie,
recognition, friendships and family. RAW focus more
on completing rather than competing. Their mantra
is simple to help others and enjoyment comes first
over winning although the odd win is good too. I’ve
been a member for 16 months and have done 34+
OCR’s now. I am a fun runner and my 2 Rawlings
ages 10 and 8 have both done 10 runs each.
The beauty of being part of a team is that you never
run alone. I’ve met some truly great people and for
someone who finds it quite hard to mix with others,
OCR and RAW have helped me tremendously. I’ve
had so many great experiences, I genuinely can’t
pick a best one.
Meet some of the team featured here.
They share some information with us about why they are part of it.
