tough mudder question

caitlinrn83

I am registered for the TM in NOLA in March. I started running about 8 weeks ago and am currently consistently running about 2.5-3 miles 3x/week, and I just (as in this week) started incorporating Les Mills BodyPump classes 2x/week (LOVED it). I am a complete novice to both--my upper body strength is pretty much zero at this point.
For those of you who have done a TM or other OCR, is this going to be sufficient, with plans to increase my mileage each week and continue to the BP classes, to complete the race? Or do I need to focus my non-running days on something else?

kota4bye

I would increase your running up to at least being able to run a 10k comfortably. You'll definitely need upper body strength, body pump will help, but I'd add push ups/burpees/pull ups to your training as well. Also, grip strength. Do farmer's carries and just practice hanging from a pull up/monkey bar.

See you there!!

spartan_d

Not enough running. TM recommends being able to do at least six miles continuously. Personally, I recommend eight.

caitlinrn83

caitlinrn83 wrote: »

with plans to increase my mileage each week

I realize that I have to increase my mileage-I started running the end of March, and have worked up to a 5k so far and am working toward being able to complete a half in January.

Thanks for the feedback! I'm completely out of my comfort zone here, so I'm thankful for the responses!

caitlinrn83

Sorry. I sounded kind of snarky. Didn't mean to!

spartan_d

Not snarky at all.

Escloflowne

Depends what you want to accomplish in this TM, Tough Mudder is just a fun OCR, I don't find them hard, there are no time chips and no penalties for skipping or failing obstacles.

Just keep up the good work, enjoy the tough mudder and if you want to test yourself on an OCR course, do a Spartan Beast or something, it's much more competitive

caitlinrn83

Escloflowne wrote: »

Depends what you want to accomplish in this TM

In the future, I may look to something like the spartan, but this time around, it is simply about having fun and crossing the finish line

Ngegee

Don't be put off by the "not enough" comments. Sure, it would be good to get lots of training and miles in but these obstacle events don't have to be raced round, just finishing is a great feeling. Just go and enjoy yourself, it's even better with a few friends

oh_happy_day

TM is a fun OCR, there's no penalty for missing an obstacle and people help each other out. You could literally just walk the course and skip obstacles as required. There's also waiting time for obstacles so you get some recovery time between runs. Upper body strength is very helpful, as is grip strength. I would add in exercises like push ups, pull ups (or dead hangs), farmers carries etc. If you take your kids to the playground, have a go at the monkey bars!

caitlinrn83

oh_happy_day wrote: »

If you take your kids to the playground, have a go at the monkey bars!

This is EXACTLY what made me start going to the bodypump class-the monkey bars! I didn't realize just how little upper body strength i had!
Am going to start incorporating farmers carries and dead hangs!
Thanks!

SonyaCele

it depends on how well you wanna do. I've been to TM's where people take 8 hours and walk the whole course. Heck i've seen people in wheel chairs do the mudders. But if you wanna be first place or run it several times that day (and yes people do run it multiple times) then you gotta be strong and be able to run like the wind forever. Or you can do anything in between. Most people i know walk and run , and skip hard obstacles and just have a great day overall. Although i do know some of the worlds toughest mudder runners and they are insane maniacs and run 30 miles a day and spend 4 hours in the gym every single day for months and then spend a month sick in bed and wake up and start over again. i dont recommend that. but to each his own.

EvgeniZyntx

oh_happy_day wrote: »

TM is a fun OCR, there's no penalty for missing an obstacle and people help each other out. You could literally just walk the course and skip obstacles as required. There's also waiting time for obstacles so you get some recovery time between runs. Upper body strength is very helpful, as is grip strength. I would add in exercises like push ups, pull ups (or dead hangs), farmers carries etc. If you take your kids to the playground, have a go at the monkey bars!

One of the TM I did was with someone that was completely untrained. She walked the obstacles and that was completely miserable because given the time it took her to complete (6+ hrs) and unpreparedness she was extremely cold and injured.

The goal to complete is good. And the advice given makes sense - work on getting to 10K, work on hills and upper body strength, balance, jumping and landing.

kota4bye

^^ You'll enjoy it much better if you have the stamina to move quickly from obstacle to obstacle.....the running is the "easy" part of the OCR.

oh_happy_day

I agree and I've seen the same thing, it may not be particularly enjoyable if you haven't trained sufficiently. The upside is that you're not penalised with burpees for obstacle failures like in Spartan races. It is less competitive generally and people will give you a hand on the obstacles.

mhealea

With a tough Mudder your mileage should be fine. The most you run between obstacles is a mile. Upper body strength is good thing to have and good team mates. There are obstacles that you will need help with but there is plenty of people that help out.

girlinahat

I did a TM with very little training. Took about 4.5 hours, and I could barely move the next day.

Being able to run a 10k sounds a good aim, but strength and agility are your key things - you WILL be helped by others, and don't forget to help others back. I made about ten attempts at Everest, I was exhausted and just couldn't throw myself up. Eventually someone was dangled by the ankles to grab me. But I did it!

Don't be afraid to go around obstacles. No one NEEDS electric shocks, but try as many of the ones that take strength as you can. It's great fun.

I wish I'd trained more for mine for sure, I've done a shorter OCR since then (10k) and more running training helped me loads. Still couldn't do the monkey bars so that's something I'd work on.

MudRunChica

I do OCRs competitively, but have never done a TM (it's on my list). For training, I run three times a week (two 3-milers (T and Th) and a long run of up to 10 miles (Su)) and do crossfit four days a week (M, T, Th, F). I have two rest days, one is a total rest day (Sa) and the other is an active rest day of swimming (W).

ganzelly

I did my first mudder last October and am signed up for another in September. I was able to run 6 miles but wasn't prepared for the hills, running on grass (all my running was on roads) and running on sides of hills. Don't just run treadmills or roads, get some trail running. My hips and ankles were so sore I could barely walk for days.

And as others said, upper body strength is super important. I can do pull-ups and chin ups and still couldn't complete all the obstacles because I just didn't have the upper body strength. Monkey bars!!

slowbubblecar

I've done a few and agree with some of the others. You need to increase your running. On the running side, I would work up to the point where I would run at least an hour daily (6-7 miles/day) without being tired or sore the next day. I never ran longer than an hour a day to prepare. At that level of fitness, I was able to run the races without issue and the terrain still didn't get to me.

caitlinrn83

girlinahat wrote: »

I made about ten attempts at Everest, I was exhausted and just couldn't throw myself up. Eventually someone was dangled by the ankles to grab me. But I did it!

But you did it! If I can cross the finish line and say that I tried and that I was a prepared as I can be, I'll call it a success.

AlphaCajun

I don't know because NOLA will be my first as well, see ya there!

Pam_Shebamm

I signed up for TM last November with approx. 6 weeks to train.

The only runs I ever did were 5K. I was fine for the running part. I know everyone is telling you to run more, and it will help, but the obstacles break up a lot of the running.

Doing mine, I realized my upper body strength is crap. Funky Monkey was a swimming obstacle for me.

You have almost a year to train so I'm sure when the day comes, you will be fine. Also, when you do need help, just look for a strong-looking guy to help give you a lift over the walls (or whatever obstacle you're having trouble with). Everyone is really helpful.

Most of all, good luck and have fun!

caitlinrn83

AlphaCajun wrote: »

I don't know because NOLA will be my first as well, see ya there!

we're going to own it!

Chi_Warrior wrote: »

You have almost a year to train so I'm sure when the day comes, you will be fine. Also, when you do need help, just look for a strong-looking guy to help give you a lift over the walls (or whatever obstacle you're having trouble with). Everyone is really helpful.

Hey @AlphaCajun help me over the wall!

Noelani1503

Great thread! I just started preparing for this. I want to do some easier OCRs before attempting a Spartan. I guess I need to work on hills and burpees. And play on the monkey bars lol. Thanks Caitlin!

AlphaCajun

caitlinrn83 wrote: »

AlphaCajun wrote: »

I don't know because NOLA will be my first as well, see ya there!

we're going to own it!

Chi_Warrior wrote: »

You have almost a year to train so I'm sure when the day comes, you will be fine. Also, when you do need help, just look for a strong-looking guy to help give you a lift over the walls (or whatever obstacle you're having trouble with). Everyone is really helpful.

Hey @AlphaCajun help me over the wall!

For sure! I'll be there to lend a helping hand!

ChxSurf782

You're doing something right if your cardio is to a point where the running is truly your recovery period. If you're recovering during the obstacles - IMO - you're doing it wrong.

You've got time to work on upper body. Pushups, flexed-arm hangs or pullups, monkey bars, etc.

jpena412

mhealea wrote: »

With a tough Mudder your mileage should be fine. The most you run between obstacles is a mile. Upper body strength is good thing to have and good team mates. There are obstacles that you will need help with but there is plenty of people that help out.

Agree with this comment. You're fine with mileage, just continue to do that on a regular basis until your TM day. You won't be running more than that amount at one time, mostly a mile in between obstacles, and you can even walk some of the time. I know the one I'm doing in a month is on a mountain and have gotten the advice from folks that have done it at this location in the past that it's more important to build your endurance (think squats to build up leg muscles) over being able to run really long distances.

Good luck! I'm gearing up for mine and a total mix of excitement/ nerves!

AliceDark

Esjones12 is a MFP member, and she runs a really cool blog about OCRs: http://www.pushinglimitsocr.com. She did a post about getting ready for your first OCR: http://www.pushinglimitsocr.com/home/what-to-bring-and-expect-at-your-first-ocr

caitlinrn83

@AliceDark , thank you!

@jpena412 good luck!! I'm doing a "midpoint check" with a short OCR in Sept, and I'm nervous about that one! Let me know how yours goes!

jpena412

Thank you! This is actually my first TM, but I'm doing it with my husband, dad, and cousin who are all on their 3rd one... I figure if my 61 yr old father can get through it there is no excuse why I can't! Good luck with your midpoint check!