Things get muddy, as Cristina Lutcan joins us to talk about her love for obstacle course racing. She recounts how a military camp gifted by her parents introduced her to crawling in the mud and climbing ropes. Over the years, Cristina embraced both the Tough Mudder’s community-focused, non-competitive nature, where fun and teamwork are central, and Spartan races that push her limits and emphasize upper body strength, intense terrain, and individual endurance. She describes obstacles such as cold water plunges and mild electric shocks, and reflects on the inner resilience needed to push through moments of doubt. Plus, she adds tips and words of motivation for those considering their first race.

Guest Bio

Cristina Lutcan (she/her) is a seasoned UX Designer and community builder with a passion for design, community, and entrepreneurship. Her diverse experience includes projects with startups and large corporations, including recent roles at Slack and TELUS Digital. As the founder of UX Design Talk, one of the largest design communities in Toronto, she has empowered hundreds of designers to gain practical skills in a collaborative environment. Cristina also hosts the UX Curious Podcast, where she dives into the applications of UX across various industries.

Links

Cristina’s website: https://cristinaux.framer.website/

Cristina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristinalutcan/

Credits

Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.