http://toughmudder.com/

A picture is worth a thousand words, so click the link if you're at all interested in extreme fitness challenges.

Quote :

"Tough Mudder is not your average lame-ass mud run or spirit-crushing ‘endurance’ road race. It’s Ironman meets Burning Man, and it is coming to a city near you. Our 7-12 mile obstacle courses are designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. Forget finish times. Simply completing a Tough Mudder is a badge of honor. All Tough Mudder sponsorship proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. WARNING: A Tough Mudder is 3-4 times longer and much tougher than a typical mud run such as Warrior Dash. Only 78% of participants at our last event in New Jersey finished. Only those in reasonable physical condition should enter."

I'm probably doing the Vermont one in May (I live in upstate NY). If anyone out there is interested, we're getting a team together.

Also if anyone has ever actually done one of these, please share your experiences.

1/22/2011 7:19:23 PM

He's a mudder. His father was a mudder.
His father?
His mother was a mudder.
His mother?
He loves the slop.
The slop?
LOVES THE SLOP.

[Edited on January 22, 2011 at 8:36 PM. Reason : *]

1/22/2011 8:36:08 PM

I really want to do one sometime. Not in the immediate future because I'm not quite that bad-ass yet. They look ridiculous.

1/22/2011 9:18:51 PM

Just think about it.

If it was super tough then no one would go, and they wouldn't have these things to begin with.

You can do it.

1/23/2011 1:14:14 AM

The man they call Jayne?

1/23/2011 1:15:35 AM

one of my brothers is doing the one in austin coming up with a bunch of friends

1/23/2011 10:27:02 AM

the 12 mile part sounds the worst

Quote :

"Just think about it. If it was super tough then no one would go, and they wouldn't have these things to begin with. You can do it."

Quote :

"Only 78% of participants at our last event in New Jersey finished."

[Edited on January 23, 2011 at 12:13 PM. Reason : asdfsdf]

1/23/2011 12:12:56 PM

I like the fire. Nice touch there. All my fire-less races will now seem less satisfying.

1/23/2011 3:10:48 PM

I imagine the fire and electricity parts are gonna be kind of cheesy, more for show than anything. But I do think the running up and down the mountain over and over again part is going to be killer, especially considering a big chunk of the time I'm going to be wet.

1/23/2011 3:15:32 PM

i want to do this.

1/23/2011 3:59:12 PM

I put the one in Wintergreen, VA on my calendar, but that's in October

I'd like to do it, but we'll see how it goes

1/23/2011 4:27:44 PM

I will post pictures and give a synopsis of how it goes. I am really excited.

1/23/2011 4:42:55 PM

Why can't they bring this to NC? I know the "muddy buddy" is in VA, but I don't think it is really intense.

1/23/2011 6:06:40 PM

From the facebook page it sounds like the electricity part is the worst obstacle. Looks like fun, but hard as hell.

1/23/2011 8:56:11 PM

I did the Spartan Race in Brooklyn, Warrior Dash in PA, and the Tough Mudder in NJ last year. I plan on doing around 10 of these this year, including the VT Tough Mudder.

Here's my rundown on the Tough Mudder:

First off, I've never run that much in my life, so I paced myself big time to make sure I didn't hurt myself, probably could have gone quicker. Also, it was in November, and the water was absolutely frigid. I mean, by far the worst combination of cold and length of time in my life. For about 5 seconds after I jumped in the water my body was in total shock and adrenaline mode so I didn't feel a whole lot and tried to swim as fast as I could. Then the cold and pain kicked in and all my air got sucked out. I spend the rest of the swim screaming "FUCK" and "HOLY SHIT" across the lake.

The majority of the obstacles were great, and much, much better than the other two races I did. The only one that gave me a real problem were the monkey bars. They're gabled at the top, so you're going up and then down. Normally I'm sure I could handle this, but the bars were absolutely freezing, wet, and covered in mud. Also this was one of the last obstacles so at that point I was almost dead.

As for the electricity, I went through without getting shocked. Apparently the people having most of the problems were wearing beanies which had been soaked throughout the race. So yeah...that's like 6th grade science I guess...we probably should have all figure that out first.

For anyone interested in these this site has a pretty complete list of them:

http://www.mudruncentral.com/us-mud-runs/

I've only been able to find a couple that weren't on that site

[Edited on January 24, 2011 at 4:43 PM. Reason : more]

1/24/2011 4:27:46 PM

Wow thanks for sharing. I am really starting to get excited for our run in May.

1/25/2011 5:45:58 AM

Also the Tough Mudder has a really great "this is not a race, we're all in this together" aspect to it. If anyone is having trouble with an obstacle there are usually a couple people that will rush over to help.

1/25/2011 10:20:52 AM

I will be definitely participating in the Tough Mudder at Wintergreen in October, and possibly the Warrior Dash at Budd's Creek in May

2/6/2011 2:21:03 AM

too long, i don't like running enough for that shit

2/7/2011 3:39:15 PM

If you're in good physical fitness the "12 mile part" is the least of your concerns.

If you're like, yeah I want to do this crazy shit, then you should be able to jog 12 miles without much of a problem.

2/18/2011 12:47:53 PM

The one I signed up for was originally 8 miles, but I got an email the other day saying it was changed to 10 miles. I ran a half marathon last year without any issues in a little under 2 hours. I know that is not super fast, but I am not a real fast distance runner, so this 8 min/mile was pushing it for me. I really feel like I could run a long ways if I just conceded the fact that I was going to go at about a 10 min/mile pace, regardless of the terrain or obstacles. We shall see though.

2/18/2011 1:51:40 PM

this is probably the most bad ass race a 'normal' person can enter, and i know someone who has done it, twice

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Trail_du_Mont-Blanc

Quote :

"The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (also referred to as UTMB) is a mountain ultramarathon. It takes place once a year in the Alps, across France, Italy and Switzerland. The distance is approximately 166 km, with a total elevation gain of around 9,400 m. The race is run in one leg. Some believe that it is the most difficult foot race in Europe. While the best trailers complete the loop in slightly more than 20 hours, most runners take 30 to 45 hours to reach the finish line. There is no prize money awarded. From 2006, a second race Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix (half-loop) has also been organised, and a third race was added in 2009: "Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie". Today, the races consist of the following; UTMB: Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc (166 km +9,400 m) CCC: Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix (98 km +5,600 m) TDS: Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie (105 km +6,700 m) PTL: La Petite Trotte à Léon (250 km +18,000 m)"

2/18/2011 2:09:24 PM

^^

wait a minute... you need to run 8 min/miles?

that changes everything

jesus

2/18/2011 11:34:58 PM

Nah 8 min/mile was my half marathon pace.

I plan on running this much slower.

2/18/2011 11:50:29 PM

you must be in pretty good shape

8 min/mile for 13 miles ain't no joke

2/19/2011 1:07:33 PM

I won't lie, I was pretty proud of myself. Two years ago, right around the time I turned 30, I was getting pretty chubby and very lethargic. I hated where I was in life physically and I figured if I waited too much longer, it was going to be very difficult to turn things around. At one point I came one second away from failing the running portion of the PRT, which is a physical test we do every six months in the Navy. This was embarrassing in many ways.... firstly, because I am an officer and I try to set the example in every way, and secondly, because I used to silently ridicule the "lazy fatasses" who couldn't pass the Navy PRT. Granted, I had been on a submarine for the last three years with little opportunity to exercise, but I had turned into one of those lazy fatasses that I mocked.

I decided to do P90X a couple times through, and then Insanity, which got me into really good shape. Then I decided to tackle my biggest challenge, distance running. I had always hated it, but I knew it was a key part of my fitness that I was lacking in. I trained a whole lot, and as I said, I was very pleased with the results. I know I could improve on that time a little, but at the same time I also know that I never will be one of those really fast runners, which I am OK with. I am going to do the Tough Mudder, then a marathon later in the year, and then... I don't know what after that. I know my biggest motivation is always to try new challenges, so maybe I'll do a triathlon or something.

2/19/2011 7:29:00 PM

so i brought this up at work and a few of the guys said they'd train and do it with me if I really wanted to do it and needed a team

it begins

then again i just sent them the link and I'm pretty sure as soon as they see fire they're gonna go "bitch you crazy" :/

2/19/2011 10:07:27 PM

Which one are you doing?

2/19/2011 11:18:06 PM

there's one in VA in october. that should be enough time to train.

.......right?

2/19/2011 11:27:32 PM

Haha I would guess it all depends on your current fitness level.

2/19/2011 11:59:33 PM

I'm not totally out of shape. I'm just not at that level. But I could be by october I think.

I'm a tad worried about upper body stength. As I have none

2/20/2011 9:46:25 AM

This looks cool. I might have to enter one of these.

2/20/2011 12:54:17 PM

I would do all the obstacles but there is no way in hell I am running 10 miles. I'm too skinny for that nonsense.

2/20/2011 1:26:35 PM

you're too skinny to run 10 miles?

I think that might be the first time that's ever been said ever.

[Edited on February 20, 2011 at 2:04 PM. Reason : .]

2/20/2011 2:04:43 PM

haha, maybe he means that he can't spare all those calories he'd burn.

2/20/2011 5:40:43 PM

ddk - if you start doing pushups and pullups you will be as strong as you need to be.

2/20/2011 5:46:43 PM

so here's a question. how does one train to do pull ups if you can't even come close to doing one?

also I have a team of 4 already. me and 3 of my guy friends. I'm pretty excited! this is way better motivation to get in shape than "oh i wanna look good in a bikini". I love being competitive.

2/20/2011 7:23:09 PM

You can do chair assisted pull-ups (put your foot on a chair and use as required) or, gyms usually have a pull-up machines with counter-weights.

2/20/2011 8:37:49 PM

Or do negatives. Jump up to the top position of a pullup and lower yourself down as slowly as you can.

2/20/2011 9:20:01 PM

Quote :

"so here's a question. how does one train to do pull ups if you can't even come close to doing one?"

http://www.fiftypullups.com/

2/20/2011 9:45:57 PM

thanks everyone. I'll let you know when I can do my first one

2/20/2011 10:08:03 PM

Opstand that looks intense. I may give it a shot. Then I'll post a video of me trying to do doing 50 pull-ups so everyone can make fun of me.

2/20/2011 10:43:50 PM

Oh dag, pull-up party!

2/20/2011 11:09:19 PM

I'm 1/2 way through the JV level. I started the program able to do 6 really good form pull-ups (elbows fully extended after each one). I could do probably 10 or so without as good of form. I figure focusing on form will build the best muscle strength and tone, even if it takes longer to finish the program.

Also doing the http://hundredpushups.com/ program (currently on week 4) and thinking about starting the 200 sit-ups program this week.

Not doing the tough mudder, but doing this run in April: http://www.ruggedmaniac.com/greensboro-nc.html

[Edited on February 21, 2011 at 7:40 AM. Reason : link]

2/21/2011 7:40:07 AM

http://www.youmaydie.com

2/22/2011 7:42:47 PM

^ i read a long story written by a guy who attempted it and quit after some 22ish or so hours. Fucking insane race.

2/22/2011 9:48:49 PM

Haha there's something to shoot for.

2/22/2011 10:32:35 PM

I think that if you are trying to go for the bad ass route, then train for the marathon/ultramarathon events.

/hate

if you can do these then rock on.

2/22/2011 10:50:05 PM

FYI for those that haven't done this yet. This year's "mystery obstacle" is a habanero pepper. I eat spicy foods every chance I get, usually ordering the spiciest thing I can find on a menu. This pepper put me in serious bad shape for about 5 minutes. I only ate about half of it, including some seeds. The long and short of it is it makes running and doing obstacles much more difficult when your throat burns like fire with every breath you take.

A lot of people puked from what I read

5/3/2011 4:56:47 PM

I think this kind of thing (a race where the finishing order is irrelevant) is pretty dumb to begin with, but that ^ makes it even dumber.

I understand the appeal of testing your limits and all, but throwing in a pepper for no reason is just silly.

5/3/2011 6:08:39 PM