Tough Mudder - my thoughts/advice

jacksonpt
jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I see a lot of posts from people asking about the Tough Muddder - how hard is it? how should I train? etc. The advice given is usually pretty good, but since I just finished my first TM, I thought I'd take a minute to post my thoughts (and maybe *kitten* myself out for some attention).

I did Tough Mudder Philadelphia, which was fairly hilly. Not brutally so, but very little actual flat ground which made it hard to recover and get in any kind of a rhythm during the run sections. The obstacles were pretty standard - lots of dragging yourself through water, lots of climbing up and over things, and a few pulling yourself through/over things.

Basically, it felt like 10 miles and 3 hours of intervals.
- drag yourself though some obstacle
- walk for 30 seconds to let your HR come down
- run for a few minutes
- drag yourself though some obstacle
- and so on

The running sections aren't long enough to challenge a runner, and the obstacles aren't hard enough to challenge someone who is reasonably strong. The challenge (at least IMO), is the constant transitioning from the lower intensity of running to the higher intensity of the obstacle, along with the sheer duration/length of the race.

So as far as training goes, I think the things to focus on are fairly obvious. The more comfortable you are with interval training the better. Have a reasonable cardio base (or be happy with walking the majority of the course). Have some decent upper body strength - pull-ups and dips are crucial as the majority of the obstacles require that you pull or push yourself over/through things. Some lower body strength is good too, as the legs can certainly help with the climbing, but most people who are used to carrying their own body weight around all day should be fine. After that, it just comes down to being able to last the full course, so knowing how to fuel/hydrate yourself is a good idea.

On a side note, all the obstacles are doable without help. Some are certainly easier, and some people might have more fun with a team, but the race is very doable on your own. I raced solo, completed every obstacle with no help, and finished in just under 3 hours. It was awesome.

Replies

  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    WOOHOOOO!! :drinker: Congratulations!

    Thanks for the write-up. :smile: Just under 3 weeks to mine EEEEEEK!
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    I'm with you, running endurance & lower body are an added bonus, but due to the course layout it is hard to actually "race".

    I'm small so some of the walls are daunting, but I made it over every obstacle without assistance (I have a shoulder injury and can't quite do a pull-up anymore).

    I guess my single biggest piece of advice is to approach the obstacles with excitement not dread. If you are reasonibly fit, you can do it so don't tell yourself you can't.
  • madisonsteelex
    madisonsteelex Posts: 295
    I did the philadelphia one on saturday! The hills were brutal, definitely the worst part. The running was the only part I had trouble with, since it was over 90 degrees outside and I was focusing more on strength training. I would definitely say get your miles up if you're training for a tough mudder and run outside.
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    Great recap and you are spot on about the intervals. Run, obstacle, walk, run, wait for obstacle, rinse, repeat. It's nice to finally see someone not make the TM sound like an impossible feat. Of course it's challenging, but I see a lot of "make sure you can run 7 miles straight, do X pushups, do X pull-ups, etc." advice given to those who haven't done it.

    A lot of people never try it because they feel they will never be ready. Props to you for going solo.
  • HappyElizabeth
    HappyElizabeth Posts: 231 Member
    Congratulations!!! You are supremely awesome!
  • JusticeGirl25
    JusticeGirl25 Posts: 703 Member
    I've heard trying to fully submerge yourself in the ice cold water will help. Take a cold shower with the clothes you will wear for the Tough Mudder and see how that goes.

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