Recently, I was (convinced) to sign up for a spot to run in the Tough Mudder race taking place in just under 6 months. I’ll admit I’m definitely going to have to train for this guaranteed-to-be-intense experience. Especially, after falling into a bit of a lazy phase after the holidays!
What is the Tough Mudder race exactly?
All Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. As the leading company in the booming obstacle course industry, Tough Mudder has already challenged half a million inspiring participants worldwide and raised more than $2 million dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project. But Tough Mudder is more than an event, it’s a way of thinking. By running a Tough Mudder challenge, the TM website says I’ll unlock a true sense of accomplishment, have a great time, and discover a camaraderie with fellow participants that’s experienced all too rarely these days. See photos and 3 facts about Tough Mudder after the jump.
I’m a little nervous about some of the crazy obstacle course challenges – I’ve watched a few videos from previous years and they are beyond intense; one of the course’s obstacle involves running through hanging, electrified wires, while another involves balancing acts, on small wooden beams, across ice-cold waters. Other adrenaline pumping challenges include running through fire, crawling through water filled tubes that exit into barbed wire, swimming through ice cube filled pools, and jumping off platforms into a lake only to swim to the next challenge. The entire course is about 12 miles long and ends with an after party for the contestants lucky enough to complete the challenge! Soo…let the training begin…after I finish this slice of pizza, relax, and take a dip in the jacuzzi. Ok, maybe I’ll start training tomorrow.
Photos from previous events:
This obstacle definitely relies on teamwork to help pull you up the wall which gets extremely slippery and muddy after the first few contestants have made their way up!
How do you train for running through fire???
Hold your nose and jump!!!! (Interesting costume choice, don’t you think?)
Hang on!!!
It’s electric! At first, this challenge looks harmless enough – what’s so bad about running through some hanging rope, right? Think again – these wires are surging with electric currents!!!! Ouch!!!
Better have some solid upper body strength to get through this challenge!
3 facts about Tough Mudder (according to their website):
Note: I don’t agree with their first fact – I love watching the NY marathon every year! And I definitely think that the training that goes into marathon running is admirable! Xo
FACT #1 – Marathon running is boring.
And the only thing more boring than doing a marathon is watching a marathon. Road-running may give you a healthy set of lungs, but will leave you with as much upper body strength as Keira Knightley. At Tough Mudder, we want to test your all-around mettle, not just your ability to run in a straight line, on your own, for hours on end, getting bored out of your mind. Our obstacle courses are designed by British Special Forces to test you in every way and are meant only for truly exceptional all-around people, not for people who have enough time and money to train their knees to run 26 miles.
FACT #2 – Mudders do not take themselves too seriously.
Triathlons, marathons, and other lame-ass mud runs are more stressful than fun. Not Tough Mudder. As hardcore as our courses are, we meet you at the finish line with a beer, a laugh, and a rockin’ live band. It’s pretty hard to take yourself seriously when you’re covered in mud and have just finished an obstacle called ‘Just The Tip’, so please don’t show up at a Tough Mudder without a sense of humor. Just check out the ridiculous team costumes in our event photos to get a feel for the spirit of Tough Mudder.
FACT #3 – You cannot complete a Tough Mudder course alone.
To get through mud, fire, ice-water, and 10,000 volts of electricity you’ll need teammates to pick you up when your spirits dip. To get over 12 foot walls and through underground mud tunnels, you’ll need teammates to give you a boost and a push. Tough Mudders are team players who make sure no one gets left behind. To that end, all Mudders are expected to uphold our ideals and exhibit teamwork and camaraderie both on the course and off it. All participants are asked to join us in reciting the Tough Mudder pledge before starting each event.