How do you prep for a Tough Mudder, or similar events?
Replies
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depending on your fitness level and how well you want to do will determine the training that you need. Also, some event locations are harder then others.
I strongly agree with Apollo on a lot of things.
First things First:
1.) It's mind over matter
- this "challenge" is super mental and you need to believe you can finish and accomplish it whether you fall off the obstacles or not
2.) You need upper body strength if you want to get through the activities like monkey bars and wall climbs
3.) You need some form of cardio but not completely necessary if you are not sprinting this for top 10%
4.) More about having fun and getting dirty with your friends.
I ran this race in 2011 and as I was already somewhat fit I didnt worry too much. This was pre-crossfit for me but i played rugby and I had never run more than 6 miles straight before it. I just got in my head that I was getting through this.0 -
I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!0
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I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!
Honey, to get over any obstacle all YOU need to do is look at the nearest guy and say "hey buddy, you want to grab this fine piece of *kitten*?" He'll give you an up and over.0 -
I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!
Honey, to get over any obstacle all YOU need to do is look at the nearest guy and say "hey buddy, you want to grab this fine piece of *kitten*?" He'll give you an up and over.
Noted for the Michigan TM end of June - thanks for the tip haha0 -
That's how I'm getting through the Spartan in a week and a half. I'm just gonna flash my boobs when I need help over the rope wall.I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!
Honey, to get over any obstacle all YOU need to do is look at the nearest guy and say "hey buddy, you want to grab this fine piece of *kitten*?" He'll give you an up and over.
Hell, at that rate, I'll likely have my own palanquin escorted me through the race.0 -
I'd have to disagree with not needing help over the Berlin walls in the Tough Mudder as they're 12-15 feet high and have no footholds.
Forgot to mention: I'm a rock climber too. With a 1/4" ledge (i.e. the boards are not 100% perfectly flush), I can find a hold and climb a wall. The holds on those were more like 1" if you took the time to find them.
You a french model too?
Would bang.0 -
That's how I'm getting through the Spartan in a week and a half. I'm just gonna flash my boobs when I need help over the rope wall.I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!
Honey, to get over any obstacle all YOU need to do is look at the nearest guy and say "hey buddy, you want to grab this fine piece of *kitten*?" He'll give you an up and over.
Hell, at that rate, I'll likely have my own palanquin escorted me through the race.
Damnit, now I'm wishing I still had my boobs . . .0 -
That's how I'm getting through the Spartan in a week and a half. I'm just gonna flash my boobs when I need help over the rope wall.I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!
Honey, to get over any obstacle all YOU need to do is look at the nearest guy and say "hey buddy, you want to grab this fine piece of *kitten*?" He'll give you an up and over.
Hell, at that rate, I'll likely have my own palanquin escorted me through the race.
Damnit, now I'm wishing I still had my boobs . . .
Moon them instead, love. Just trust me on this one...0 -
I'd have to disagree with not needing help over the Berlin walls in the Tough Mudder as they're 12-15 feet high and have no footholds.
Forgot to mention: I'm a rock climber too. With a 1/4" ledge (i.e. the boards are not 100% perfectly flush), I can find a hold and climb a wall. The holds on those were more like 1" if you took the time to find them.
Hey folks, we're talking to mother freaking Batman over here.
No, just a girl who can do something better than you can. And you seem to have a problem with it.
BFF0 -
I find the Warrior Dash to be a good place to start for mud runs, they tend to be less rigorous, still loads of fun, but more doable for normal folks who don't have time to train like they'd like to. I have one in 2 weeks, I run fairly regularly, but haven't lifted in over 6 months due to injury. Even with my shoulder taped in place I should be able to get over the obstacles. If you can do upper body & core work they are a huge help, but you will see many people including myself at the WD that can't do a pull-up and still make it through. Have fun.0
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YOU TAKE THAT BACK. I'M BATMAN!I'd have to disagree with not needing help over the Berlin walls in the Tough Mudder as they're 12-15 feet high and have no footholds.
Forgot to mention: I'm a rock climber too. With a 1/4" ledge (i.e. the boards are not 100% perfectly flush), I can find a hold and climb a wall. The holds on those were more like 1" if you took the time to find them.
Hey folks, we're talking to mother freaking Batman over here.
And to the person saying "You have a problem because she's a girl who's better than you," stop talking about things you know nothing about. Apollo is extremely encouraging and helpful to all of his friends, regardless of whether or not their skill level exceeds his or their gender. He was simply pointing out the irony in the fact that she said, "You don't need to train." then went on to say she was a boxer, endurance runner, and rocking climbing, all of which would be considered....*drumroll*...training.
So, hows about you folks get your panties untwisted?
ETA: Also, if he was truly being sexist about it, don't ya think he would have said "Batgirl" instead of "Batman?"
You. I like.0 -
So it's real easy...if you're a boxer, endurance runner, and rock climber already.
If you aren't, maybe do some prep work.
Running, calisthenics, find a jungle gym and go nuts.0 -
That's how I'm getting through the Spartan in a week and a half. I'm just gonna flash my boobs when I need help over the rope wall.I just signed up. I didn't realize you didn't need training, but now that I know, I'm IN!
Honey, to get over any obstacle all YOU need to do is look at the nearest guy and say "hey buddy, you want to grab this fine piece of *kitten*?" He'll give you an up and over.
Hell, at that rate, I'll likely have my own palanquin escorted me through the race.
Lea, you're gonna kill it!0 -
I have a tough mudder workout that I saved from when I was going to do it and then didn't because I woosed out:
TRAINING & PREP
BASIC FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
Tough Mudder will punish you, no matter your shape, size, or current level of fitness. As such, we encourage all Mudders to increase their physical training in anticipation of the event. That said, the event is as much about mental toughness, grit, and camaraderie (and having a great time) as anything exclusively physical. In terms of what you are looking at: each Tough Mudder course will have 10-12 miles of hills, mud, water, ropes, walls, electric shocks, and fire. Check out the course map for the specific event(s) in which you’re enlisted to learn more.
How fit do you need to be? Basically, you should be in good physical condition – complete slackers need not apply. At a minimum we recommend that you are running regularly (2+ times a week, working up to 5 miles per run), able to do 15-25 push-ups in a row, able to bang out 6 pull-ups in a row (especially the dudes), and able to swim 50 yards without stopping (although you can skip the water obstacles).
It certainly helps to be a strong runner, and like we said you should be running regularly as part of your TM training, but a large share of our participants have never run 10 miles straight before. It’s not necessary to be a marathoner or half-marathoner (bor-ing) as your lungs will get a break when you do each obstacle. We mix up the drudgery with belly-crawling, wall-climbing, mud-slogging, ice-water dunking, monkey-bar traversing, huge slip n’ slides, etc.
As we like to say, Tough Mudder is about completing a fearsome challenge and discovering a new sense of accomplishment, not about running your knees into the ground or testing your maximum lung capacity. So while some Mudders are ultra-marathoners and others are super-jacked Rambo clones, most are regular people who take care of themselves and are looking for a true all around challenge, a super fun day with friends, and a goal on the calendar that will force them to step up their workouts.
Below is a rigorous version of the training program that we recommend, but feel free to create a program that suits your level of fitness and schedule. For a list of what Tough Mudder recommends you bring on event day click here.
THE WORKOUT
View a printable version of the complete Tough Mudder Workout.
The Tough Mudder Workout consists of 16 exercises that collectively work every part of your body. Some of this stuff can be seen in our favorite training video at the top of this page, although be warned that Mustache Man is crazy tough. Since you’re a busy person, each of the 16 exercises is designed as a 60-second cardio/strength combo. The final product is a high-intensity circuit that will torch everything in your body and send your fitness to a elite Mudder level. You’ll sculpt a rugged, gritty, and classically athletic body that’s Mudder Tough.
Do the circuit 3 days a week and perform each exercise once, one right after the other, spending no more than a minute on each one. Do as many reps as you can in that time, then move on to the next station, limiting yourself to 15 seconds of rest in between. Build your endurance to the point where one week before Tough Mudder you can comfortably do the circuit twice. Make sure to use a weight that’s challenging for the 20 or so reps you’ll be doing for each exercise. You can use dumbbells, kettle bells, or anything heavy with a handle for most, if not all, of the exercises below.
Exercise 1 – Running Man
To get yourself in peak cardio condition, you can either:
1) Get on a treadmill. Start jogging at a slow comfortable pace for the first 5 minutes, then increase the speed to a full sprint for a full minute before reducing the speed back down to a jog for a minute or two. Alternate this jogging and sprinting for 35 minutes. Build up to 1 hr.
2) Free run. As you head outside for a jog, choose a point or landmark in the distance that’s reasonably far and sprint to it. Do this 10 or so times throughout the course of your run, paying attention to mixing in jogging and sprinting equally. Again, build up to running 3-4 times a week and increasing your distance gradually until you can comfortably run 5+ miles.
Related Obstacle: The Braveheart Charge (& all of Tough Mudder)
Exercise 2 – TM PUSH-UP
Start out in a regular pushup position with two dumb bells in each hand. As you push your body upwards, rotate your torso at peak height and bring your right hand up behind you so that your hands are in a vertical line. Lower the weight so that you are once again in push up position. Do a push up, repeating with your left hand.
Related Obstacle: Boa Constrictor
Exercise 3 – THE FIST AND THE FURY
Grab a dumbbell, kettlebell, or anything heavy with a handle, in one hand and let it hang in front of you. Lower the weight below your hips and let it swing between your knees and legs. Try to keep your core sturdy and straight, explode upwards and swing the weight up to about eye level in a fully upright position. With control, do this as many times as you can, spending about 45 seconds on each arm.
Related Obstacle: Berlin Walls
Exercise 4 – SCISSOR KICK
From a regular standing position, take one big step forward and lower yourself into a forward stepping lunge. This is the start position. From there, explode off the ground, getting enough air under you to scissor kick your legs and land with your opposite leg forward and ready to crouch down to the lunge position. Keep doing this, alternating your legs on each jump/repetition for 60 seconds.
Related Obstacle: Fire Walker
Exercise 5 – BACK ROW
Grab a pair of dumbbells or kettle bells and bend over, holding them in each hand, making sure your back is parallel to the ground. Keep your core steady and pull the weights in a controlled manner up to your chest, hold at the top for the rep, pause, and repeat.
Related Obstacle: Hold Your Wood
Exercise 6 – DUMBBELL SIDE LUNGE
Grab your dumbbells and let them hang by your sides. Take a lateral step with your right leg, completely straightening your left leg. From there, bend forward at your hips, and touch the dumbbells to the floor by your right foot. Push off your right leg and make the same lateral lunge on your left leg. That’s one rep.
Related Obstacle: Swamp Stomp
Exercise 7 – PUSH UP + ROW
Grab two dumbbells and assume a pushup position, with your arms straight. Perform a regular pushup, but as you fully extend your arms at the height of the push up, take one dumbbell and bring it all the way to the side of your chest. Lower your arm and descend back ot the start position. Repeat with the other arm. That’s one rep.
Related Obstacle: Devil’s Beard
Exercise 8 – LUNGE + TWIST
Grab a heavy object and clutch it tight to the middle of your chest as you stand with feet shoulder length apart. Take a step forward as you would with a normal lunge, but as you lower your body with the weight, twist your torso to the right, pause, and return to a full upright position. Do the same with the opposite leg. That’s one rep.
Related Obstacle: Sweati Yeti
Exercise 9 – SHOULDER PRESS
Grab some dumbbells or small kettle bells in each hand and spread your feet shoulder length apart as you would for a squat. Bring the dumbbells up to your shoulders as if you were doing a shoulder press. Lower yourself as you keep the weights cocked at the shoulder, as you explode upward from the squat position, push the weights up and above your head.
Related Obstacle: Cliffhanger
Exercise 10 – DECLINE PUSH UP
Simple, quick, and easy. Get into a normal pushup position, but put your feet on top of an elevated park bench or box, arms extended out in front of you so that your body is perfectly parallel to the floor above the ground. Begin to do as many pushups as you can in the next 60 seconds.
Related Obstacle: Kiss of Mud
Exercise 11 – Quick Feet
Staying in the pushup position, rapidly bring each knee towards your chest, as if you were sprinting in place or pedaling a ridiculously small bike.
Related Obstacle: The *kitten*
Exercise 12 – Tough Chin Up
Just like your old man used to do, hang from a bar with either an overhand or underhand grip and pull yourself up – be sure to try and touch your chest to the bar, or get as close as you can. This will get progressively harder as the set wears on. Remember to do as many as you can for the full 60 seconds. Even if you have to take a slight break, be sure to finish the set.
Related Obstacle: Underwater Tunnels
Exercise 13 – Superman Plank
Get back into the pushup position you’ve grown accustomed to, placing your forearms on the ground and keeping your core – abs and hips – tight as possible. Hold this position for a full 60 seconds.
Related Obstacle: Greased Lightening
Exercise 14 – Drunk Superman Side Planks
Get on your side and hold yourself up by left forearm, creating a half triangle between your lats, forearm, and ground. Like a regular plank, keep your core tight – flex if you have to – and hold the position for 60 seconds, then alternate with your right side and repeat for another 60.
Related Obstacle – Walk the Plank
Exercise 15 – Angelina Jolie
Get in between two chairs, bars, or if at a gym, a dip machine. Grab each bar or handle with each arm and lower yourself slowly and with control, as you push up with your arms try to explode up, lifting yourself completely off. Be sure to start out slowly until you get used to jumping off and regaining control of the bars.
Related Obstacle: Ball Shrinker
Exercise 16 – THE TOUGH SQUAT
Take a dumbbell, kettle bell, or large stone, anything you can find, and hold it in front of your chest. Stick your hips out behind you, bend your knees, and lower yourself until you’re in a full squat position. Pause for a second for the burn to really set in and then push yourself back to the start position.
Related Obstacle: Death March0 -
Run
Burpees
Pull ups
Push ups
Squats
Box Jumps
(Repeat)
(Repeat)
(Repeat)
.......
You can register for the Spartan WOD (Workout Of the Day) for free and they'll email you everyday workouts to do in order to train for the Spartan Race or similar events.
http://www.spartanrace.com/wod/0 -
go have a mud brawl with a chick..0
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bump for later, looking at doing these as well0
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Run and cross train so you have the endurance to go over 12 miles. But sorry you can't prepare for Touch Mudders 10 thousand volts.
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Did my first 5K of any sort a couple of weeks ago, it was The Warrior Dash. Had a blast! The obstacles weren't really that difficult, and my goal was doing them all and finishing the race, not for any kind of time. I'm now looking into running Conquer the Gauntlet and Mud Fears Me in September, and possibly another one in October. Again, with a goal of doing all the obstacles and crossing the finish line...not worried about time. From what I've heard and what I can tell, they have more challenging obstacles, which is what I want. I want to keep challenging myself.
Next year, however, I will do them again with the goal of completing all the obstacles and beating my previous time...and so on, and so on.
As far as training, I didn't do anything really special, I did plenty of cardio for the running part, and general heavy lifting for the strength part. I know now that I need to work on jumping, which I apparently suck at. I look over the website at the obstacles and ask myself what I need to complete them, whether it's upper body or leg strength, balance or endurance. The previous post about running on trails was a good idea, as well as, if you have something around your area to climb, that wouldn't hurt either.
By next year I also hope to include Spartan and Tough Mudder to the list. I had a lot of fun with Warrior Dash and I personally like the idea of something more challenging then just running a street course.
The most important things to have when running these types of races:
A good attitude - you're there for fun
Confidence - you can finish the race
A goal - whether it's time, or completing all the obstacles, or just finishing at all...or all three, you need a goal
and if you're a slow runner like me, or plan to walk some/all of it...stay to the right.0 -
YOU TAKE THAT BACK. I'M BATMAN!I'd have to disagree with not needing help over the Berlin walls in the Tough Mudder as they're 12-15 feet high and have no footholds.
Forgot to mention: I'm a rock climber too. With a 1/4" ledge (i.e. the boards are not 100% perfectly flush), I can find a hold and climb a wall. The holds on those were more like 1" if you took the time to find them.
Hey folks, we're talking to mother freaking Batman over here.
And to the person saying "You have a problem because she's a girl who's better than you," stop talking about things you know nothing about. Apollo is extremely encouraging and helpful to all of his friends, regardless of whether or not their skill level exceeds his or their gender. He was simply pointing out the irony in the fact that she said, "You don't need to train." then went on to say she was a boxer, endurance runner, and rocking climbing, all of which would be considered....*drumroll*...training.
So, hows about you folks get your panties untwisted?
ETA: Also, if he was truly being sexist about it, don't ya think he would have said "Batgirl" instead of "Batman?"
My apologies, he came across kind of *****y.
My panties were never twisted, I just made an observation. If it was mistaken, no big whup.0 -
Run and cross train so you have the endurance to go over 12 miles. But sorry you can't prepare for Touch Mudders 10 thousand volts.
Was going to try and get a taser or an electric cattle prod.0 -
I'd have to disagree with not needing help over the Berlin walls in the Tough Mudder as they're 12-15 feet high and have no footholds.
Forgot to mention: I'm a rock climber too. With a 1/4" ledge (i.e. the boards are not 100% perfectly flush), I can find a hold and climb a wall. The holds on those were more like 1" if you took the time to find them.
You a french model too?
Law student. It's given me an inferiority complex that I overcompensate for with excessive athletic training. I figure if I can't out argue my colleagues, at least I will have the satisfaction of knowing I can outrun them and beat them up.0 -
How deep is the mud? I would like for someone to find my dead body after attempting this event in June.0
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Link for a training plan from a 2:22 marathoner coach....specifically for a tough mudder event. You want to finish or finish fast? It doesn't look easy. Have a fun event. : )
http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/training-for-a-tough-mudder/0 -
Tough Mudder is ...uh... tough.
Endurance: You need to train on trails. Most of the running is done in muddy, uneven surfaces which wears on you a lot more than just road running. Also, some of the obstacles can take a lot out of you, so you need overall muscle (upper body) endurance as well.
Strength: You need to be good at pull ups to get over walls and other climbing obstacles. Also, a good solid core will help you in everything.
Power: You need good explosive power to be able to sprint up steep hills.0 -
bump0
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In...
...for more race advice...
...without regard to the recipient's physical conditioning.0 -
Just did Spartan Sprint last weekend! My first obstacle race ever. I had planned on preparing for it and didn't but luckily I'm stubborn as a mule so I relied on pure determination to finish. It works
If you're planning on doing a Spartan race- do TONNNNS of burpees every day to prepare yourself for that. Otherwise I agree with everyone else HIIT, trail running and upper body strength will help a lot. They're so much fun!! I immediately started searching for more to do after I got home from it...and I WILL train for the next ones so I'm not so exhausted I can't enjoy my beer afterward 0 -
I'm doing the Toronto Fall Tough Mudder and I'm both super super stoked and super nervous. I am fit, a lot fitter than I was even 4 months ago. I can easily run 10K and while I'm not the strongest upper body, I've come far from where I was. I did my first ever hardcore trail run today, ankle deep mud, steep inclines and lots of deep forest running and I'm HOOKED. I only ran 4.6km, but BOY was that ever a work-out! I'm going to be kicking up my training, since I have until the end of September.0
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