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The Black Gold Brute is a special kind of race held every year in Drayton Valley. It is an “Obstacle Course Race,” which means you do more than just run. You also jump, climb, and crawl.
The race was started by the Perrys. They love racing and wanted to bring that excitement to their home town.
“My wife and I first ‘caught the race bug’ in 2013. We have now done over 100 races combined since then … we felt it would be amazing to bring our own design to Drayton Valley,” said Rob Perry.
This year marks the fourth year of the event. Perry describes the experience as “four years of chaos and joy.”
This event is perfect for families who want to try something new together.
How long is the race?
The race is unique because it uses a “multi-loop” system. This means you run the same path more than once to go a longer distance.
The Loop: Each loop is 4.33 kilometres long.
Open Heats: You can choose to do 1, 2, or 3 loops. It is up to you!
Competitive Heat: These racers must finish 3 loops (about 13 kilometres).
Savage and Barbaric Levels: These are for very brave people who want to run up to 10 loops.
Who can compete?
You do not need to be a professional athlete to join. The planners want everyone to feel welcome. Perry explains that the race is for “anyone between the ages of 5 – 105.” The motto of the BlackGold Brute, #NoExcuses, is not just lip service paid to participants. It is a motto that underpins the whole event. From the mother who completed the race while undergoing chemo therapy, to the senior athlete who continues to come back every year, to the average person who is using the event to meet a personal fitness goal, athletes from all ages and stages of life have found ways to make the Black Gold Brute their obstacle race of choice.
Even if you are not in great shape or have an old injury, you can still participate. You can walk the course and ask other racers for help. The goal is to finish, not necessarily to be the fastest.
What kind of obstacles can you expect?
Every loop has 13 to 15 different challenges. You might find yourself crawling under a net or balancing on a beam. One of the most popular parts of the race is a large climbing structure. Perry calls it the Boston Brute:
“It is a 24-foot long Monkey Bar Rig. It starts at 9 feet high and goes up to 12 feet at the peak. It is truly intimidating to look at and challenging, but anyone can do it.”
If you are in the Open Heat, there is no penalty if you cannot finish an obstacle. You can just move on to the next one.
Training for the Brute
You do not need a gym to get ready for an obstacle course. You can practice right at home or at a local park.
Play at the Park: Spend time on the monkey bars to make your hands and arms strong.
Mix it Up: Try running for five minutes, then stop to do ten push-ups or sit-ups. This helps your body get used to moving in different ways.
Practice Balance: Try walking along the edge of a curb to practice staying steady.
Walk or Jog: Try to move for at least 30 minutes a few times a week.
Prices and registration
The Black Gold Brute takes pride in having a low price. The planners want to make sure everyone can afford to participate. “Comparable races in distance/number of obstacles/level of difficulty are currently featured at over $100 per racer. That would be their “Early Bird Pricing”. We are $50 for
18yrs and older (as well as Competitive Heat), $40 for 13-17 yrs old, and $30 for 5- 12. That price doesn’t increase as the race gets closer. Ever,” said Perry.
