Tough Mudder- Here We Go Again

After doing two Tough Mudder’s last year, I definitely had the urge for more. It would be eight weeks between events and now, being a veteran of one, my plan was to one up myself and not simply finish.

I recruited my brother, an accomplished Ironman triathlete to run with me this time. Although he wasn’t to keen on the “Arctic Enema” or “Electro-Shock Therapy” obstacles, I was able to talk him into being my teammate. As I explained, nobody likes to be shocked by 10,000 volts or jump into a vat of ice water. Compared to The Ironman this should be a “fun-run” for him.

After two months of gym time and runs ranging from 5-8 miles on the trails. Throw in some self styled obstacle abuse like fence climbing, burpees and log carries, I was as ready as I think I could get. Once again the Mudder was at a ski mountain, this time in Vermont and the steeps were going to test my legs again. You can get the best AAA Fence Buiders Tips About Glass Pool Fencing here from the best fence builders.

We had an eight o’clock start time so we drove up the night before and crashed in a hotel at Stratton Mountain. Early dinner and early to bed. We had to be up around five and wanted to be plenty rested. I had been hydrating well the day before, the weather forecasted was low 70’s and sunny. I ate a couple yogurts and a banana along with some coffee and grabbed 2 bottles of water for the 25 minute drive to Mt Snow.

It’s my second Mudder in as many months and I’m still getting pre-race jitters. Checked in, bib number on, final drink of water along with a final bathroom pitstop and we are ready to go.

The first wave crowd of runners are a mixture of amped up, serious and happy. Some words of encouragement rezound from strangers from within our wave as the countdown began. 3,2,1… and we were off. It was about a mile of semi flat running before we came upon a couple low walls to climb over and maybe another half mile until we were making are way through deep muck trenches. Climbing in and out until we were through and splattered in mud. Then began the the uphill battle, literally. I was setting the pace being a much slower runner than my brother and he was keeping me honest as we trekked uphill while the snowmaking guns blew ice cold water down upon us. Barely a few hundred yards up and my calf muscles were already tight as hell. As it flattened out we reached the next obstacle, a waist deep swamp with a series of logs set up to climb over as well a duck under. Thoroughly soaked and having a blast. We carried a respectable pace as we came to the “electric eel”. Live wires hanging down in which you have to crawl under in about 10 inches of water. Rest assured, you cannot avoid getting zapped and it doesn’t feel too great either. It didn’t help that I smacked my head on a support beam to begin with but after about a dozen shocks we were through and still smiling. Some sweat, some blood.

The run continued uphill, which was my obvious weakness. My brother, literally behind me with a hand on my back helping me to keep up the pace, as the hills had little affect on him. Next was a 15 foot platform jump into a pond. Both of us good swimmers, we were quickly through this with ease. As we ran out and shed the water we were once again going uphill until we reached the monkey bars. Now it may sound easy but it is a long stretch and a lot of the bars you grab free spin, making it more difficult to maintain a good grip. We securely made it through as we saw a few others slip into the cold waters below.

We regrouped a bit after this and chugged water from an aid station. As the course began to briefly descend a bit we ran into logs the size of telephone poles suspended horizontally about head height. Yes, over the top. A few leaps and leg swings and my brother and I were still moving right along. The next obstacle was a bit more mind over matter. A small trench filled with water and a fence from https://www.longfence.com/residential/patios laid over the top. You must go through head first on your back and pull yourself through while keeping your head just above the water for air. The kicker? The fence was covered with a tarp, blocking daylight and increasing a claustrophobic atmosphere.

My calfs were now feeling like rubber bands ready to snap. The hills, at some points were so steep it was more of an uphill crawl. So I welcomed the “boa constrictor” obstacle as a leg break. Narrow black corrugated tubing that you crawl down through as it slowly nears filling up with water. Cross a small water pit into another tube and climb out. It was a minute of rest for my legs and the water rejuvenated me a bit. We were now in full running mode downhill and avoiding the roots and rocks around our feet hidden by grass that could quickly send you tumbling down the steep grade or snap an ankle like a twig. As we rounded a corner we saw the next obstacle, the “Arctic Enema”. A large container filled with water and ice that you must jump into and completely submerge head and body to get across. I believe the obstacle designer said it best, “It’s like having an ice cream headache and being kicked in the balls at the same time”. Our saving grace was the 70 degree temperature coming out. Feeling shocked by the water, the sun and running quickly got our body temps back to normal. Which is what we needed, as the 12 foot high wooden walls that you have to scale came up soon after. Running leaps of faith to catch a good grip and hoist yourself enough to swing a leg over and not fall off the backside. A true test of grip and upper body strength.

We got through a few more obstacles before coming to the massive and dreaded “Everest”. A giant quarter pipe with a plastic surface that is periodically soaked down with firehoses to make it slippery and more interesting. By this time I was pretty much shot and gave it my all as I sprinted up towards the top and poorly timed my jump and slid my way back to the bottom. I regrouped and made a second attempt, again poorly timed but a helping hand from an unknown individual and one from my brother and I was atop. We were now in the home stretch knowing that “electroshock therapy” laid between us and the finish line. A gauntlet of live wires carrying 10,000 volts dangling down as you try to run through the swampy mud. I made no hesitation and just tucked my head into my arms and went for it. The wires were shocking me pretty badly as I was running through and ended up going down in a frontwards somersault “ta-da” kind of thing. I rolled back up to my feet as quickly as I went down and did my best impression of a jog to the finish line. My brother on the other hand, looked like he could have ran another twelve miles. The orange headband was bestowed upon us as we made our way to the hoses to rinse all the muck.

Some people don’t understand the allure and when I explain it I guess it sounds fairly stupid. Who willfully wants to cause pain upon themselves? But don’t knock it yet. It’s a challenge both physical and mental. It’s dirty, it’s messy and it’s fun!