Tough Mudder

erimethia_fekre

Anyone ever complete one? How'd you prepare for it beyond your normal routine?

yesimpson

Never done one myself, but I'd be interested to see what people say as well!

spartan_d

I have done several.

First... kudos to you for deciding to train for this event. I've met too many people who were out of shape (or marginally in shape) and who decided to jump in without any training. You can survive the event under such circumstances, but I certainly wouldn't recommend taking this approach. You'd be in for a world of pain, and you'd be more likely to injure yourself. (I'm not just speaking hypothetically. I know one guy who tore a hamstring, for example, because he was pretty much a couch potato attempting this challenge.)

I'd say the most important first step is to make sure that you can run for at least eight miles straight. The Tough Mudder folks recommend at least six miles, but I think that aiming for eight miles would be more realistic if you want to avoid too much suffering. You don't have to run fast; just make sure that you're running.

Depending on the locale, some hill work would be good, too. Also, if the trail is very muddy, it will put a lot of stress on leg abductors, adductors, and other stabilizer muscles. Better strengthen your legs up in general and put in some trail running for good measure.

There will be some climbing, so try to work on your lats and biceps. Pull-ups are one of the best ways to prepare. So is core work. Push-ups would be good too, but they wouldn't be as helpful.

erimethia_fekre

Bump

betsy329

I am also signed up for Tough Mudder, as well as Battlefrog and Spartan. I have done OCR's in the past, and have found that upper body is a must. I do weightlifting twice a week, a trail run once a week, lots and lots of calisthenics, and the rest is running on the treadmill or swimming laps. I highly recommend doing a trail run at least once a week and lots of burpees, push ups, pull ups, sit ups, lunges, squats, and planks.

EvgeniZyntx

I've done 3. GREAT FUN.

Get your running up to 25-30 km a week (3-4 times, one long run). Do some hill work once your running is up.
Work on upper body strength. Pull ups, grip.

There are several books on specific training - not necessary, but can help with the jitters.
There are literally hundreds of videos.

Make sure you have appropriate gear - feeling cold during a TM will make you miserable.
I take a shoulder strap, water proof running bag with a few gels. The people I went with on my second TM were totally under trained and this caused our TM to last too long. Misery sets in if you don't fuel up.

jess_diarte

I signed up for one on May 1st. I haven't worked out in months! I hope 2 months is enough to prepare me for this. I signed up for the half, which I believe is 5 miles

esjones12

Obstacle course races require overall fitness. So focusing on your weakness will help you improve the most. Tough Mudder's don't tend to be very competitive. If you are doing it with a group and just looking to have fun, then improving your strength, upper body and grip might be a good focus. This will help you do better on the obstacles. If you are looking to kill the course or get into other OCR's like Spartan - I'd tell you running is the most important thing. Shaving minutes off your mile times will put you at the finish line a lot faster, even if you do fail an obstacle or two and have to do 30 burpees.

Again overall fitness is needed - cardio, strength, grip, and mental grit. I've seen people of all ages, sizes and fitness levels complete the most challenging OCR's. Your goals will dictate the intensity of your training. Feel free to message me an questions!

amandarawr06

I did my first TM last summer.... I did it with a friend who was SUPER in shape and one who did not train at all. The one who didn't train, ended up hurting herself and having to quit half way in.

So, I recommend training! Focusing on running first. You should be able to do at least 3-5km at a time. Once you can do that, I would add hills. TM Toronto was KILLER for the hills - I was not prepared for that... And you def. need some upper body strength training too!

Am signed up again for this year too!

Sued0nim

I wish I had the oomph to do it

It's nagging at the back of my mind ...maybe one day

I'm not a runner, not fond of it ..I can run about 2km without stopping on a treadmill at 8km/h, incline 1% ...could possibly go more but can't find the drive

dbanks80

jess_diarte wrote: »

I signed up for one on May 1st. I haven't worked out in months! I hope 2 months is enough to prepare me for this. I signed up for the half, which I believe is 5 miles

@jess_diarte if you're talking about the half marathon that is 13.1 miles not 5.

jess_diarte

dbanks80 wrote: »

jess_diarte wrote: »

I signed up for one on May 1st. I haven't worked out in months! I hope 2 months is enough to prepare me for this. I signed up for the half, which I believe is 5 miles

@jess_diarte if you're talking about the half marathon that is 13.1 miles not 5.

Oh no!!!!!

jess_diarte

dbanks80 wrote: »

jess_diarte wrote: »

I signed up for one on May 1st. I haven't worked out in months! I hope 2 months is enough to prepare me for this. I signed up for the half, which I believe is 5 miles

@jess_diarte if you're talking about the half marathon that is 13.1 miles not 5.

@dbanks80 I just double checked. It is 5miles.

jessef593

EvgeniZyntx wrote: »

I've done 3. GREAT FUN.

Get your running up to 25-30 km a week (3-4 times, one long run). Do some hill work once your running is up.
Work on upper body strength. Pull ups, grip.

There are several books on specific training - not necessary, but can help with the jitters.
There are literally hundreds of videos.

Make sure you have appropriate gear - feeling cold during a TM will make you miserable.
I take a shoulder strap, water proof running bag with a few gels. The people I went with on my second TM were totally under trained and this caused our TM to last too long. Misery sets in if you don't fuel up.

What do you mean by "gels"? I'm doing a spartan race this fall and possibly a tough mudder as well depending if I can get a small team together. I can do 10-12+ strict pull-ups, deadlift 2x body weight and squat 1.5x body weight. Cardio I will of course work on closer to the even. Trying to gain weight atm. Are those stats respectable for attempting the events?

spartan_d

amandarawr06 wrote: »

I did my first TM last summer.... I did it with a friend who was SUPER in shape and one who did not train at all. The one who didn't train, ended up hurting herself and having to quit half way in.

THIS is why I get annoyed when out of shape people talk about having completed a Tough Mudder without any training. Sure, you might be able to finish, especially if you half-*kitten* your way through, but there's a good chance that you will hurt yourself.

I also think that it violates the spirit of these races. These aren't necessarily meant to be competitions; however, they are designed to be challenging. Waltzing in without any preparation isn't *wrong*, but it doesn't reflect the intended spirit of these challenges either.

"But if someone goes in with a good attitude, who cares if they've trained or not?" I've heard people say. I think that reflects a false premise, though. I don't think one can claim to have a good attitude if they just slack off without scarcely any preparation, and then somehow just muddle through.

I know some would disagree. That's okay. I just think that one should make sure to prepare for these things. To do otherwise is foolish.

mochapygmy

jessef593 wrote: »

EvgeniZyntx wrote: »

I've done 3. GREAT FUN.

Get your running up to 25-30 km a week (3-4 times, one long run). Do some hill work once your running is up.
Work on upper body strength. Pull ups, grip.

There are several books on specific training - not necessary, but can help with the jitters.
There are literally hundreds of videos.

Make sure you have appropriate gear - feeling cold during a TM will make you miserable.
I take a shoulder strap, water proof running bag with a few gels. The people I went with on my second TM were totally under trained and this caused our TM to last too long. Misery sets in if you don't fuel up.

What do you mean by "gels"? I'm doing a spartan race this fall and possibly a tough mudder as well depending if I can get a small team together. I can do 10-12+ strict pull-ups, deadlift 2x body weight and squat 1.5x body weight. Cardio I will of course work on closer to the even. Trying to gain weight atm. Are those stats respectable for attempting the events?

Gels are energy gels. They are used to prevent endurance athletes from bonking. More simply they give you energy to finish.

Go to a local running store or R.E.I and buy a bunch of different kinds/flavors and start testing them out with your workouts now. Some your body will like and some you won't. Some taste disgusting. Don't try anything new on race day.

Personally I like Honey Stingers' Caffeinated Chocolate but everyone is different.

jessef593

If they're for energy Id probably just mix myself up a pre workout drink before hand. Probably consisting of caffeine, BCAAs, glutamine, citrulline mallate, and maybe some taurine. That would keep me going hard for at least an hour.

esjones12

jessef593 wrote: »

If they're for energy Id probably just mix myself up a pre workout drink before hand. Probably consisting of caffeine, BCAAs, glutamine, citrulline mallate, and maybe some taurine. That would keep me going hard for at least an hour.

Most of these events last more than an hour

Also, cardio is a HUGE part of OCR. I would start working on that sooner than later.

jessef593

The one I'm signing up for is only 5km. The average pace for it is about 45 minutes apparently. But yeah. Closer to summer I will as I'm still trying to gain weight for now

esjones12

jessef593 wrote: »

The one I'm signing up for is only 5km. The average pace for it is about 45 minutes apparently. But yeah. Closer to summer I will as I'm still trying to gain weight for now

@jessef593 - the Spartan website way underestimates the time to complete and the distances. If you are doing a stadium race then yes you will only be doing about a 5k due to space limitations. However it is packed with obstacles and PT moves. 45min is usually more like the average for the Elite waves, not the open waves. But nutritional support on course for stadium is not usually necessary.

If you are talking about a non-stadium race you are definitely look at more like 4-5 miles for a sprint. Depending on the venue you could be looking at a 4 hour completion time for a 4 mile course. Yes, I'm being serious. The PA Sprint for example is notorious for being harder than most Beast courses. The elevation gain is ridiculous. Hydration and nutrition on you is very important.

But if this isn't like your end all be all.....you will certainly finish the course. Your training will dictate how enjoyably you will do so. But I've seen people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and fitness levels cross the finish line. OCR is a fantastic sport that I highly recommend to everyone!

blues4miles

spartan_d wrote: »

amandarawr06 wrote: »

I did my first TM last summer.... I did it with a friend who was SUPER in shape and one who did not train at all. The one who didn't train, ended up hurting herself and having to quit half way in.

THIS is why I get annoyed when out of shape people talk about having completed a Tough Mudder without any training. Sure, you might be able to finish, especially if you half-*kitten* your way through, but there's a good chance that you will hurt yourself.

I also think that it violates the spirit of these races. These aren't necessarily meant to be competitions; however, they are designed to be challenging. Waltzing in without any preparation isn't *wrong*, but it doesn't reflect the intended spirit of these challenges either.

"But if someone goes in with a good attitude, who cares if they've trained or not?" I've heard people say. I think that reflects a false premise, though. I don't think one can claim to have a good attitude if they just slack off without scarcely any preparation, and then somehow just muddle through.

I know some would disagree. That's okay. I just think that one should make sure to prepare for these things. To do otherwise is foolish.

I concur. And life is the journey not the destination! I am always boggled when someone who has never run before signs up for a half-marathon in like a month. Why would you do that to yourself? Take pride in your training, try to enjoy it. Sign up for a 5k with plenty of time. It's like weight loss, work hard and consistently and you will probably be proud of your results. Try to lose 30 lbs in 30 days and well...