Last updated: August 12, 2026
OCR411 is an independent informational website focused primarily on obstacle course racing in North America. This Editorial & Independence Policy explains the standards OCR411 uses when researching, writing, updating, correcting and monetizing content.
The Basic Rule
Money, free products, race entries, affiliate relationships, advertising and access do not determine OCR411’s editorial conclusions.
If a material commercial relationship exists that could reasonably affect how a reader evaluates content, OCR411 intends to disclose it clearly.
Editorial Independence
OCR411 is not operated as the official publication of any individual race organization, governing body, equipment manufacturer, retailer, sponsor or affiliate network.
Race organizations and commercial partners do not receive a right to dictate OCR411’s conclusions merely because they advertise, provide affiliate opportunities, submit information, provide access or otherwise have a commercial relationship with the Site.
OCR411 does not accept payment in exchange for changing a factual conclusion, concealing a material problem or converting criticism into praise.
How OCR411 Researches Information
The appropriate source depends on the question being answered.
For current race rules, distances, divisions, penalties, schedules and organization-specific requirements, OCR411 generally prefers current information published by the race organizer or another appropriate primary source.
For medical, injury, infection, public-health and safety subjects, OCR411 may rely on government health agencies, medical literature, published research and other appropriate professional sources.
For questions involving race atmosphere, community behavior or what an event feels like in practice, firsthand experience and racer or community observations may provide useful information that an official rulebook cannot.
Those types of sources serve different purposes. OCR411 attempts not to present a participant’s opinion as an official rule or a race organizer’s marketing statement as independent evidence of participant experience.
Primary Sources and Current Rules
Obstacle course racing changes frequently. A rule that was accurate several seasons ago may no longer apply.
When current rules materially affect an article, OCR411 attempts to check the most recent reasonably available official information before publication or significant revision.
Readers should still verify event-specific information with the organizer before making decisions involving registration, competitive rules, mandatory equipment, safety procedures, refunds, schedules or other time-sensitive matters.
Fact, Analysis and Opinion
OCR411 publishes both factual information and editorial analysis.
A statement about the current published distance of a race is a factual claim that can generally be checked against an organizer’s materials.
A statement that one event feels more competitive, social, technical or group-oriented may involve interpretation, firsthand experience or broader community observation.
OCR411 attempts to make those distinctions clear when they materially affect how the information should be understood.
Race Organizer and Third-Party Submissions
Race organizers, sponsors, participants and other third parties may provide OCR411 with corrections, event information, photographs, announcements or other material.
Submission does not guarantee publication and does not give the submitting party editorial control.
OCR411 may independently verify, edit, summarize, decline or remove submitted information.
If a submission contains promotional claims, OCR411 may distinguish those claims from independently verified factual information rather than reproducing the promotional language as fact.
Corrections
OCR411 would rather correct an error than defend one.
If a reader, participant or race organization identifies information that appears factually incorrect or outdated, OCR411 may review the issue and revise the content when appropriate.
Corrections are evaluated based on the available evidence, not on whether the person requesting the change likes or dislikes the original coverage.
When possible, correction requests should include a link to an official rule, event page, source document or other evidence that allows the issue to be verified.
Corrections may be submitted through the Contact page.
Updates Are Not Necessarily Corrections
An article may become outdated even though it was accurate when originally published.
For example, a race organization may change its distance, penalty system, pricing, ownership or event schedule after OCR411 publishes an article.
Updating an article to reflect a later change does not necessarily mean the original article contained an error.
Affiliate Relationships
OCR411 may participate in affiliate programs and may receive compensation when a reader completes a qualifying transaction through certain links.
The availability or amount of an affiliate commission does not determine whether OCR411 discusses, criticizes, recommends or declines to recommend a product or service.
Affiliate relationships are addressed more fully in the Affiliate Disclosure. Pages containing affiliate links should also contain an appropriate disclosure near the relevant commercial content.
Sponsored Content and Advertising
If OCR411 accepts sponsored content, paid placement or another arrangement in which compensation is connected directly to publication, the commercial nature of that content should be disclosed clearly.
Advertising does not automatically constitute editorial endorsement of the advertiser, its products, its races or its claims.
A sponsor or advertiser may identify a factual error concerning itself, but commercial status does not give that party a right to suppress accurate criticism or require favorable editorial treatment.
Complimentary Products, Services and Race Entries
OCR411 may occasionally receive complimentary products, discounts, services, media access or race entries.
When such a relationship is material to how a reasonable reader would evaluate the resulting coverage, OCR411 intends to disclose it.
Receiving something without paying the normal price does not guarantee favorable coverage and does not prevent OCR411 from identifying problems or limitations.
Reviews and Recommendations
If OCR411 publishes a review or recommendation, it should reflect the information reasonably available at the time of publication and OCR411’s independent editorial judgment.
OCR411 does not promise that every product, race or service discussed will be appropriate for every reader.
Price, availability, specifications, race formats and individual experiences can change after publication.
Safety and Medical Content
Health and safety content receives different treatment from ordinary lifestyle commentary because inaccurate information can have greater consequences.
Where practical, OCR411 attempts to support significant medical, injury, infection and public-health claims with appropriate professional, governmental or published research sources rather than relying solely on racer anecdotes.
All such content remains general educational information and is subject to the Medical & Safety Disclaimer.
Use of AI and Editorial Tools
OCR411 may use software, research tools, editing tools or generative artificial intelligence to assist with activities such as drafting, organization, summarization, research support or quality control.
Such tools are not treated as authoritative sources merely because they produced a statement.
OCR411 remains responsible for the material it chooses to publish, and factual claims that require verification should be checked against appropriate sources when practical.
Conflicts of Interest
If a personal, financial or other relationship creates a material conflict that could reasonably affect how readers interpret coverage, OCR411 may disclose that relationship where appropriate.
Disclosure does not automatically eliminate every potential conflict, but readers should be given information necessary to evaluate relevant relationships for themselves.
Third-Party Trademarks and Organizations
OCR411’s discussion of a race organization, product, trademark or company does not by itself imply sponsorship, endorsement or affiliation.
Third-party names, marks and logos remain the property of their respective owners.
Editorial Changes and Removal
OCR411 may update, expand, consolidate, correct or remove content as the Site develops.
An article is not guaranteed to remain available permanently merely because it was previously published or indexed by a search engine.
Questions About This Policy
Questions about OCR411’s editorial standards, corrections, sponsorship disclosures or commercial relationships may be submitted through the Contact page.
This Policy should be read together with the About OCR411 page, Affiliate Disclosure, Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Medical & Safety Disclaimer.