Tough Mudder training

Tony_Goose

My brother wants me to do the Tough Mudder next June, and I'm not sure what to do. I want to do it, but I'm nowhere near in shape enough to do it. Anyone have any ideas on what I need to do to train for this? I looked through the website, and I don't think I could even complete one of the training circuits right now. How can I get started training? I'm going to start working out, but I haven't yet. Where should I start?

Thanks in advance guys

LoosingMyLast15

you just started. seriously you're requesting help so your training has already started. first start working out. right now almost anything you do will help you. you have plenty of time to train for tough mudder. i would probably start hiking (or going for walks and build up to a run) then start upper body strength training. one step at a time though. if you start looking at this event as a whole you'll get overwhelmed. good luck!

LesliePierceRN

I trained all last winter for two warrior dashes that I ran in the spring.. Here's what I did: I ran at least three miles at least three times a week. I took Bootcamp, Piloxing and TRX/Kettlebell classes at least twice a week, sometimes three (not each, but in total I had two to three of one or the other of these classes in a week's time). We got in our first WD and realized that we were WAY strong enough for the obstacles.. the run near killed us! We'd been street running.. we should have been trail running. So between WD 1 and WD 2, we ran trails and scaled back on the crosstraining. This We all shaved 15 minutes off our times that way.. This year I'm gonna run one WD and one TM.. I plan to pretty much repeat last years training, with some modifications after the WD (there are two months in between the events).. We're gonna up the trail running distance for the TM, and concentrate on areas of weakness as far as strength goes (eg, the girls are gonna really work on pull ups, etc.)

MorganLeighRN

Start trail running! Work on upper body as well. You can do it!!!

Run for a mile or two and than do calisthenics (burpees, push ups, pull ups, lunges, squats, etc).

yeshualovesme

Okay look at me. I am 40, 40 pounds overweight, and didn't do the training aside from brisk walking an hour a day five days a week. I did the Northstar Tahoe one, and it was uphill for the first 5 miles. You WILL NOT regret doing it. If you do the actual training - you'll fare better for sure. But, if you can finish being like me - you can finish strong if you train some now. It is 1/3 physical and the rest is mental - really. I would recommend jogging to a park and hitting the monkey bars. Now, ours didn't have the nutrition on the trail as promised. We got 1/2 a banana which really did NOT cut it. So what I did is packed the Energy Bar liquid energy packs (didn't require water) - one pack for every 30 minutes of exertion, and I packed a tube of protein liquid - 43 grams with BCAA's (took this 1/2 way through). I was able to run 4 out of the last 6 miles!! Not boxer jog - run. I also was not crazy sore the days following. You can do this and it is a life experience you won't forget. The bigger the group the better for the walls and for Everest. Also, the obstacle in my profile - if they have it on yours - is hard because of shoes! Leave your shoes on the other side and do this one barefoot. OR have lower profile shoes. Anyway, good luck - hope you do it! I'm doing it again next year, but I'll be in WAY better shape

DavPul

I don't understand the part where you THINK you can not complete the training circuits. So you're posting a Can I Do This question before you've even tried to do it? Go ahead and pick out 18 exercises from the circuit that you think you can do and ACTUALLY TRY TO DO THEM. Doing>Trying>Talking about trying. Those 18 exercises can be done in your backyard and it will only take you 27 minutes.

It's not that hard. I've got a Tough Mudder coming up too. 12 miles of muddy hills and obstacles in February. I can't run 12 miles on flat dry land. I can't run 6 miles on flat dry land. But know what? You're walking most of those courses anyway. If you can walk, you can complete the course.

The obstacles are a different story. You're going to need some level of strength and endurance to clear the obstacles. You have to option of passing by the obstacles, but that seems like a tremendous waste of $150. That's why the Tough Mudder training is nice. They actually have each exercise keyed to an actual obstacle from the course.

You've seen the training. Now go do the training. If, after tying your damnedest for the next 30 days to do the training you can't complete 30 mins, come back and we'll talk about it. Maybe we work out a new plan, maybe we decide the Tough Mudder isn't for you. But for Pete's sake, please try something before you tell me you can't do it.

Colstriper

There is a training guide on the Tough Mudder website.

916lude

Start trail running! Work on upper body as well. You can do it!!!

Run for a mile or two and than do calisthenics (burpees, push ups, pull ups, lunges, squats, etc).

Yup. This.

Mini_Medic

"It is 1/3 physical and the rest is mental - really. "


This. If you think you can't, you won't. If you try you will succeed.

I suggest running trails and working on balance/coordination and upper body unless you are already strong up top. I am weakest on top so that is my focus for overcoming the rope climbs and walls/mesh net climbs. Mud runs are a bunch of fun, don't let them intimidate you. Try to do the circuits before you say you can't. Give it a go, you would be suprised at what your body can do.

Joreanasaurous

I've always wanted to do one of these races. But I always had excuses of not being fit enough and not wanting to embarrass myself. I think you all just motivated me to shut up and just do it.