Tough Mudder

“Holy sh**,my legs are going to fall off…”

Those are the words that kept repeating in my head between bits of insane laughter.  You know when you’re at the point where things can’t ANY worse, and the only thing you can do is laugh?  That is how I felt this past weekend (May 7^th & 8^th) as one of over 14,000 people who competed in Tough Mudder.  Not only was this New England’s very first chance to host the competition; it was also the largest athletic event in Vermont’s history.

It took place at Mount Snow in Vermont, and while I sit here three days later, muscles no longer aching, any bad thoughts that I had as I left the mountain are almost gone. Now, the only thoughts that surface when I think about Tough Mudder are ones of fun, achievement, accomplishment, and mud…I won’t ever forget the mud.

What is Tough Mudder?

The Tough Mudder not a race, but a challenge. Designed by ex-British Special Forces, it’s an obstacle course ranging in distance from 7-12 miles, with 24 or more obstacles scattered throughout the course. The Vermont Tough Mudder has been called one of the hardest of all the courses in the United States (there are also about 20 locations worldwide) because of the fact that it is on a New England ski mountain.  That, combined with the fact that in each Tough Mudder, the obstacles become more creative and challenging than the last. All participants who complete on the Vermont course endured over 13,700 feet of elevation change and 7,000 feet of climbing on the ten mile course, all while battling 28 obstacles.

 

 

Once I found out about this event I was hooked and immediately tried to put a team together. I originally received many responses from people saying, “Oh yeah, sure.  I’ll definitely do that.”  Then, after hearing about some of the obstacles on the course immediately changed their minds: “There’s no way I am running up and down a mountain six times and getting electrocuted!”

Another deterrent for people wanting to take part is that, unlike most races where nearly everyone finishes, Tough Mudder brags that only about 78% of the people who start the race actually finish it. That’s why they were surprised when the  participants in New England event  had an 83% finishing rate on one of the most difficult  courses ever.  That’s damn right.

The cost to participate is anywhere from $60-$180, depending on when you sign up; the earlier you sign up, the cheaper it is. The  purpose of Tough Mudder is to support the Wounded Warrior Project.  At the beginning of the event all participants take part in saying the Tough Mudder Pledge:

As a Tough Mudder I pledge that…
I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
I do not whine – kids whine.
I help my fellow Mudders complete the course.
I overcome all fears.

Training:

For me, training consisted of swimming approx 3,000 yards several times a week to help build up cardio and shorten my recovery time.  I also used a special weight and muscle training program that BJ Cardoza set up for me at his gym, Pinnacle Strength. After having completed the event and finding out whatever rest I was granted on the course (which usually came in the form of waiting in lines for obstacles), the only advice I can give for training is to do core exercises:. Also  do the stair machines and other leg workouts, or just start running up very steep hills. Not much else can prepare you because there’s nothing else like it.

Of course don’t forget about your diet.  You’ll need lots of protein and potassium to get your muscles ready, and electrolytes for the nonstop movement and shock your body will experience jumping into 45 degree water six times throughout the course.

The Event

We set out for Vermont the 7^th and stayed in a motel approxiamately 20 miles away from Mount Snow. The next day we woke up bright an early to prepare ourselves for the impending torture; after all the training and preparation, we finally started the race.

It seemed that there was no end to it, continuously going up and down and then back up the mountain.  Eventually we reached the point where all we wanted were real obstacles to go through to give our legs a rest from hiking up the mountain.

The first real obstacle was The Death March, which covered about 1.5 miles, straight up the mountain. It was a real slap in the face, and a warning  for what was to come.  Killa Gorilla was one of my favorite obstacles.  It required us to go up and down a 40-yard stretch of muddy mountain terrain four times, but that was towards the beginning before my legs felt like dog meat.

Heading down the mountain at any point was fine unless you tried to stop moving, in which you would have had better luck trying to stop running down a slip-n-slide. At every point there was mud, snow, or muddy water to tread through.

The coldness of the water obstacles throws most people off, but thanks to my annual visits to the Fairhaven Polar Bear Plunge, I was ready. Even so, The Glacier and Funky Monkey had me challenged.  Three rungs away from completing the Funky Monkey I slipped and was once again swallowed up by water with floating ice chunks in it.  We did, however, make it through the Electroshock Therapy without getting zapped, which I was very happy about.

The Berlin Walls are a series of four and twelve-foot high walls, which I found to be the absolute hardest obstacle of all.  This is due to the fact that unless you can jump up and grab the top of the 12’ high wall with your feet buried in mud, you simply cannot complete this obstacle without help from other individuals.

The Finish Line

“I think I just lost 2 years of my life.  Let me know if you find it next time you’re at Mount Snow.”

Overall the event was a total success. We had an absolute blast. If you want to keep time, you must do it on your own, so unofficially Aaron and I finished the event with  a time of three hours and 20 minutes.  I know it’s not a race, but what can I say? I’m competitive: We passed a lot more people than people who passed us.

We received our Tough Mudder T-shirts, headbands, and free Dos Equis (the event’s sponsor) beer. Yeah, it does seems like not a lot for what you put yourself through, but it was well worth it and I will absolutely be attending next year’s Tough Mudder Competition.

For all the MTV fans out there who can’t get enough of their Real World/Road Rule Gauntlet challenges, you best stay at home, you won’t survive this.

To View More Pictures from the VT Tough Mudder Event click HERE.  Tough Mudder can also be found on Facebook.