Tough what?

This post is dedicated to my friends who are competing in the Tough Mudder this weekend.  Let me tell you about it.

About a year ago, my running buddies asked me to participate in a different kind of endurance event.  It’s an extreme event that test’s your mental toughness as well as your physical toughness.  The creators of this event claim that it is probably the toughest event on the planet and after participating, I have to agree.  So when my buddies explained all the details of the event to me, my initial thought was: “We’re going to do what?”

The Tough Mudder is a relatively new event that put’s you through the ringer.  It’s a ten to twelve mile run with military style obstacles thrown in along the way.  Here are three key things you should know about the event.  I’ll try not to scare you.

First.  You will swim in ice cold water.  When I say Ice cold, I mean that there is, literally,  ice in the water.  I’m talking about breath taking, mind numbing, teeth chattering, somebody -shoot-me, kind of water.  Expect it to be about 36 degrees and expect it multiple times.  Nervous?

Second.  It is an endurance event.  To complete the Tough Mudder, you must be able to run longer distances.  You’ll run up steep hills and through thick mud.  You’ll log some serious miles on top of the military style obstacles.  Still want to do it?

Finally.  You’ll be shocked.  Not by all the obstacles and the miles.  Not by the ice cold water.  You will be shocked… by electricity.  The final obstacle of the Tough Mudder is called “Electro shock therapy”.  While running towards the finish line, you must run through a gauntlet of  hanging live wires, some of which send out 10,000 volts of electricity.  When you get hit with one of these… you know it.  It has been known to knock people unconscious.  I’m speaking from experience.  Are you scared?

Normal running events like 10K’s and marathons are fun.  But if you really want to test your toughness, try something a little different, like the Tough Mudder.  Are you up for it?  Does this sound like your cup of tea?