Tough Mudder

CJ5318

So I am planning on running a tough mudder in 4 months, I am doing the couch to 10k program to prepare and some some calisthenic for exercise. I am in pretty crappy shape, I am about 330lbs, I used to be in much better shape and could run but I sort of need to start over since I am a few years behind (putting it nicely.)

So I am doing my running program (far short of the 10 miles), walking on the off days and getting extra running in when I can. I am fairly confident I will not be able to run the full 10-12 miles but I figure if I can run most of it and walk the rest as long as I finish it I will be happy.

My question is to anyone who has done these runs, what should I expect for obstacles? What would you recommend with training? also what should I do for clothing/shoes for this event (I know they will be destroyed)?

I know I wont be anywhere near as prepared as I want to be but I want to get as ready as I can. My goal for this one is just to complete it, maybe next year to actually be competitive in it. I want to make sure I am on the right path to be as successful as possible.

Thanks!

roxywho42

Google. There are tons of pics and videos. I want to do one eventually, but I'm not brave enough to sign up until I'm closer to ready.

DavPul

Trail running shoes (preferably machine washable)
Quick dry running gear (thermal style if it's cool/cold)
Chinups and lots of them

rkalin779

If you go to www.toughmudder.com it gives you all the information you will need. It also shows the obstacles as well and what training you will need for them. My husband and I are going to run it next year to give us a year to train for it. They also have training guides to get you ready and suggestions for what to wear. My brother in law ran it last year he had a blast. He said lots of upper body and running, but there is always someone at each course wiling to help. It has a teamwork atmosphere. We have been looking around our area for other "mudder" events to do as test runs so to speak before the big one next year.

matlab99

I did last year. It was a lot of fun! Yes you can mix it with walking and running. The obstacles are changing for this year. I'm going for the one in September. If there's anything interesting I'll keep you updated.

sculli123

I did the Merrell Down and Dirty a couple of weeks ago. Doing the Spartan Run this Saturday. As far as what to expect, most of them have the courses laid out on their websites and pictures / videos. You can always check out Youtube too.

fattymcrunnerpants

The one I did was 12 miles, so keep in mind it could be almost double what you're training for. Obstacles, you can see on their website. Actually doing them, many people in my time group could not do most of them without falling. I went around a few (the berlin walls and the underground tunnels, I was almost 200lbs at the time and didn't want anyone pushing me over anything and I'm claustrophobic) If you can't get through it they'll come pick you up and take you back. Keep in mind, though, that if it's going to take you a while to do it they WILL redirect you/ remove you from the course. So if you expect to go slow start with the earliest group.

I blogged about my experience here:
http://fattymcrunnerpants.blogspot.com/2012/10/thats-right-i-finished-what-could-be.html

iamworthy14

keep doing what your doing.....Core exercise would help. Quick drying clothing. Its a blast! Congrats on going for it! Have fun!

victoriajh

i did the whistler one - it was HARD but fun
my advice...

wear compression socks and items - even though it was a hot day we were cold after the water obstacles ( arctic enema was CRAZY)

train OUTSIDE- we did ravine training that was very helpful given it was up a mountain
core work- short runs ( @ 2 mles) and work up to a few LONG workouts ( it took us 4 hours)

wear gloves ( we got some at home depot)

dont stop and think at the obstacles JUST GO !!

have fun!!!

katerams

Build your strength up. There are a lot of obstacles you will need to pull/push yourself over or through.

Whenever I do mud runs I like to take a change of clothes, baby wipes, a snack bar and protein powder as well for after the race.
Most trail shoes will be fine, I know some people who do it in those 5finger shoes. I like vibrams, but ive worn nikes too. Just make sure they are comfortable. Once the mud drys you can use a firm brush to get most of it off.

For clothing, someone said thermals. I like compressions too, and a tshirt. Usually I'll pick up a race shirt or just any cheaper tshirt.

They usually have the course layouts on their website.

CJ5318

Awesome, thank you all for the advice I really appreciate it! I am pretty pumped about the run (even though I will probably be walking half of it) One thing I forgot to mention, a friend of mine is flying down from NY with 4 other people to do it so we will have a group which is great! I believe my friend and I are the only ones actually training for it the other 4 plan on walking most of it so that being said I shouldn't be the worst in my group haha. I know my friend and I will probably run (or I will as much as I can) and we will go through obstacles as a group. I will probably wait a little while but get the shoes and the clothes in the near future so I can get used to them.

I guess checking the website should have been my first move! I am going to review it now and come up with a plan for upper body strength, I guess I didn't realize it was so big, but with everyone telling me upper body and core I will increase that as much as I can over the next few months!

Thanks again everyone!

Pinkranger626

Which Mudder are you doing? My first one was in New Jersey which was mostly flat, my second one was in New Hampshire which was on a ski mountain and was much harder. Check out the terrain that you'll be running on and if it's on a ski mountain (most of them are at least up here in New England) I would highly suggest you add hill training to your workouts. Upper body and grip strength is another one that I would recommend.

As for clothes, I've found capris or longer to be the best as they help to protect your knees from scrapes and scratches, I always wear a tank top too. The women that I see wearing band-aid shorts and sports bras are always all sorts of banged up by the end. If you aren't ready to invest in trail runners then road sneakers will do I've run all of my races in road runners up to this year (I've done tough mudders, Spartans, and many other smaller ones). I can usually get a season out of one pair when i wash it out with the hose, although they do not smell very good after the first round. Make sure you tie them tight and double knot them. On the course find a puddle as soon as you can and submerge your sneakers, they then sort of suction to your feet and are less likely to come off in the mud. good luck!! I love Tough Mudder!

GillianMcK

Our guy's always say that the running is the most important, there are always people that will help get you over the obstacles, but they can't help you get there!!
After one of our guys ended up in hospital last year with an infection, I would say long tights (although he didn't learn his lesson and ran it in shorts again this year), legs gots scraped from the crawling parts, he ended up with an infection in his leg that put him in hospital for 3 days (just one of these things, might not have happened to anyone else).

Lots of walls and stuff to pull yourself up onto or over so upper body, Artic Enema you can't really practice for, just don't hesitate, get in and out!!! Everest is all about the speed you hit the bottom of the ramp at (don't slow down), electro-shock therapy, go through in a group, it seems to distribute the shock and not quite as painful!!!

If you want a laugh, search you tube for tough mudder 2012 AZ, and watch the guy on the far side at about 35 secs (it's hysterical for everyone else)!!

xcalygrl

My first OCR (obstacle course race) was a Tough Mudder. I was able to run about 5-6 miles non-stop before the event. With the obstacle breaks, I was able to run to about the 9 mile mark (our course was 12 miles total). I ended up walking/jogging the last 3 miles, but I still finished in 3.5 hours.

What to expect: 8-10 foot walls, hay bales, crawling in mud, having to go through underground tubes, carrying a log, going under a cargo net, the half-pipe, electricity, going over inverted walls, jumping into ice water, warrior carry, going up and down mud mounds, monkey bars, and walk the plank.

What to wear: NO COTTON. I wear compression shorts with a dri-fit shirt. Contrary to popular belief, your clothes may NOT be ruined after tough mudder. I have worn the same shorts in 3 different OCRs and another pair in 2 different ones. The shoes I wore in Tough Mudder were reworn in another OCR about 6 weeks later. I have since retired those ones and bought better ones, which have been through several OCRs and several more tough training runs. The best thing I can recommend is to wear somewhat tight fitting clothes with no cotton. Loose clothes may get snagged on stuff (i.e. barbwire) and cotton gets heavy when wet.

I HIGHLY suggest you carry at least 5 Gu gels, shot blocks, or gatorade chews. I carried five with me and was SOOO glad I had. I ate 3 myself, gave 1 to my team mate, and another to a guy laying on the side of the course cramping up. They do give out Gu gels and bananas along the course, but for me that wasn't enough. I ran my Tough Mudder in October 2013 in Houston, and it was pretty abnormally miserable (hot). It zapped a lot of people who weren't prepared for the long course in the heat.

Also, take a complete change of clothes and shoes, and bring a towel. If you have a spectator, ask them to carry your bag with your clean clothes in it. If you don't, TM offers a bag check.

Most importantly: go out and have fun. When you start that course, you are part of a huge team. Just about everyone on the course will help you if they can. I ran my whole Tough Mudder with one other person, but I had a team of about 10 by the end of it. We picked people up along the course and just stuck together. We helped each other over walls, helped cheer for each other on obstacles, and helped push each other forward to the finish line.