Tough Mudder is coming, what should I expect?

I plan on just having a good time and conquering each obstacle. I'm really excited about the run, I can't wait.
 
In preparation for Tough Mudder, I'm going to be running a Color Run this weekend. Pokey and I did one last year and it was a blast. It's a 5K that has color stations where volunteers pelt you with handfuls of colored corn starch. At the end of the run, you look like you've been through a tie dyed mess. It's pretty rad. :thumbup: I'm pretty excited to do it again.
 
You go, Lora! I've only done one mud run (and it definitely wasn't a tough mudder) so I have nothing to suggest except maybe extra towels in the car to put on the seat when you leave. Good luck and be sure to take before/after pictures!!
 
I have run two Mudders. They are awesome! They will have water stations every couple miles so a camelback is not needed unless you want to carry extra weight. Wear tight quick drying stuff like under armour compression shorts and shirt with athletic shorts over top. Wear tall socks and use duct tape to tape your shoes on and (loosely, so you dont cut off circulation) around your ankles to keep rocks out of your shoes. Eat a good meal before hand and properly hydrate the night before and right before. Drink at every water-station to avoid bad leg cramps. A tip for the warped wall... DO NOT TRY TO JUMP. Sprint all the way to the top, grab the lip, then swing a leg up. Have fun and embrace the suck!!!
 
Here I am getting a little electro-shock therapy



Going up Mt Everest



Going swimming



Jumping into the Arctic Enema with my buddy



Words cant describe shocking cold when you hit that icy water!!
 
We ran this one in the fall. It was about 55 degrees that day. The cold was the worse obstacle to overcome! Have fun!
 
I've been looking at weather for the run I'm scheduled for and I keep finding more and more talk about another polar vortex headed in for early this autumn. With temps in the area already peaking at 75, I have a feeling it'll be colder when I run. I don't want to have to wear more clothing than I have set out right, but I will pack some compression pants if I have to. The Arctic Enema is the one obstacle that seems the most daunting, and with colder weather already in the forecast it's seeming like a bigger obstacle than it did earlier this summer.


Riz2530, you've finished two Mudders. I'm curious if you have run the legionnaire's circuit. Some of the obstacles on that list seem more fun. I plan on doing plenty more Tough Mudders and I'm curious if the legionnaire obstacles are as fun as they "seem".
 
I have a pair of new balance 411 all terrain shoes that have lasted through the Gauntlet, Warrior dash, tough mudder, and mud factor this year. So good shoes will hold up. Just wash afterward. Best advice (seriously) duct tape your shoes to your feet. This allows your shoes to stay on, but keeps your feet from having the circ cut off due to cranking the laces down. Take it from a veteran of these types of runs. I've run approx 15 of these things. The mudder is definitely the toughest I've done by a long shot.
 
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Lora,

I haven't run the legionnaire yet. I am training for a different position at work that has a pretty intense PT requirement. I don't want to get hurt so I am holding off on a third Mudder. The Arctic Enema isn't difficult to get through. It is just the most intense cold for about 5 seconds. As soon as you get out you start to warm right back up, especially if they put it somewhere in the middle of the race and you are already hot. If you look at me in the picture as I am jumping, you can see I aimed right for the base of the barricade. This basically allows you to jump over half of the ice. Let your momentum from the jump carry you under the barricade and pop up on the other side. Its then about 12 feet until you get out.

Not sure how far you are running when training but don't be afraid to walk. Also every suggestion about trash bags, full changes of clothes, towels and stuff is great.
 
Riz2530 said:
The Arctic Enema isn't difficult to get through. It is just the most intense cold for about 5 seconds. As soon as you get out you start to warm right back up, especially if they put it somewhere in the middle of the race and you are already hot. If you look at me in the picture as I am jumping, you can see I aimed right for the base of the barricade. This basically allows you to jump over half of the ice. Let your momentum from the jump carry you under the barricade and pop up on the other side. Its then about 12 feet until you get out.

Not sure how far you are running when training but don't be afraid to walk. Also every suggestion about trash bags, full changes of clothes, towels and stuff is great.
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I think TM is putting the arctic enema at the beginning of courses now to minimize the shock people get when hitting icy water with high body temps. It's my understanding that the health risks associated with it are lessened that way. On mine it was the first obstacle, but it was after at least a mile of running in semi-dried mud.
 
On the first Mudder I did, 2 years ago, it was the first one. The mudder I ran last summer had it about half way through.
 
I have about a month of waiting before I know for sure what I think of it. As soon as they put up the course map, I'll be sure to share in what order the obstacles are going to be. The closer it get the more nervous I'm getting, that's one thing that I know for sure.
 
I've been doing quite a bit. For a while now, I've had a fairly regular gym schedule that I've been maintaining. I went to Tough Mudder's website and printed off the recommended training for each obstacle and have been trying to incorporate those exercises into my workouts. Best answer? A little bit of everything, cardio, weights, plyo, pushups, pullups, swimming when I can. What would you suggest?
 
Sounds like you will be good! When I showed up to the first mudder I looked around at some people and thought "SHIT! If that one can do this, I know I can!!!" Thats mean but hey, its the truth.

Also there will be times when you are just standing there waiting for your turn on the obstacle and will get a little active recovery. The biggest obstacle is our own brain. I am sure you will be physically ready. Only you can make yourself keep chugging along. When you cross that finish you will feel like you just conquered the world!


When I was training for the mudder I did circuit training. Run 1/4 mile on treadmill and then jump off and do a body weight exercise like pushups. I alternate 1/4 mile, exercise, 1/4 mile, exercise. About a week before the mudder I had done 16 1/4 miles/exercises. So the workout would be 4 miles of running and lots of pushups, pullups, situps, lunges, leg levers, air squats, and kettlebell exercises. It took me 9 months to work up to that many circuits. I can honestly say that After the mudder I felt like I had trained more than I needed.

My training has evolved into five or six 1/2 miles each followed by an upperbody, lowerbody and then core exercise. Sometimes i do olympic lifts between runs (dead lifts, cleans, presses and other barbell lifts). Other workouts include running 3 to 5 miles with a 20 pound weight vest on. I try to do at least one run day, two circuit days, and a weights only day every week.
 
The day is almost here! :eek: I keep watching videos that break down each obstacle and I'm getting more and more nervous. What the heck was I thinking! :eek:
 
You are gonna love it! Dont over think it! Just do it!!!
 
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