Tough Mudder Myths!

This weekend I am about to take on my 7th Tough Mudder and finally get the headband I’ve been wanting so much… The Pink One!!

This time we are a team of 15 and split about 50/50 of newbies and legionnaires.  No surprise, there are feelings of self-doubt and the usual pangs of anxiety, not to mention the fear that creeps in and makes you question your ability.  Having been there myself and trained many people to complete Tough Mudder, I have listed the myths that surround events like these.

I will hold everyone back.  I’m addressing this one first because it’s the one I hear the most.  Tough mudder is a team event and prides itself on the core values the founders Will Dean, a former British counter terrorism officer, and Guy Livingstone, a former corporate lawyer, started with back in 2010.  The main principles revolve around teamwork and camaraderie, so obstacles are designed to involve team work and many often play on common human fears such as height, fire, water and electricity.  You will probably find that your team will have a mixture of fears.  What one person is afraid of, another person isn’t.  Most importantly you will be briefed during the warm up of the rules pictured below!

I can’t run 12 miles – That’s ok, you don’t need to be able to!  The course is designed military-style so you’re going to be running for about a mile then stopping for an obstacle. Your run training can be short frequent distances like 2-3 miles at a time, there’s no need to train up to the distance in one go.  Don’t forgot the event isn’t timed so there’s no pressure to finish at a certain time.  If you need to walk between obstacles, so be it.

I need to be super fit – Not true, you just need to be committed to working out regularly (because you will reduce your risk of injury if you’re physically prepared) and have some mental grit and determination.  That is all really.  Many of my clients say the training sessions they do are more challenging than the event itself!

What if I can’t do the obstacles – you have 2 choices, try it and see or go around it.  It would be silly to attempt a water obstacle if you can’t swim, likewise you may be carrying an injury which means you can’t pull yourself up Everest.  Just be sensible and help your teammates who are completing, the best you can.  There is no shame in going around an obstacle, like there’s no shame in attempting the monkey bars and plopping straight into the water below (guilty!)

Tough Mudder is one of my favourite events for laugher and sportsmanship.  I love the teamwork it brings as well as the physical and mental challenge.  Despite completing it (almost) 7 times, I do still get terrified by certain obstacles and have to work on overcoming my fears.  I would encourage you to do the same because when you face them head on, you strengthen your mind from tough to tougher!

In the words of John Wayne: “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway”

The famous and hideous Arctic Enema.  This picture of Filomena and I captures it all really!  What I tell myself at the top is “it’s over in under 10 seconds”   My Gopro was the proof – from start to finish we were in and out in 7 seconds.