Tough Mudder

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Discussion

thenortherner

1,502 posts

163 months

Monday 10th June 2013
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Looking forward to seeing the individual competitors photos.

I was amazed how many heats there were, with people still setting off well into the afternoon. Really looking forward to the 17K version of this in July too:

http://www.toughguy.co.uk/NW12-EVENTS.php

I managed yesterday in 2H 40M - quite happy with that considering my left hip and calf gave in after 6 miles. The only obstacle I didn't manage was the 9ft wall, my hip was too bad to swing over the top of it.

Really, the only thing the irritated me a bit was paying £10 to park my car and walk a mile to the start line. Then having to walk back to the car post registration - and all the way back again!!

Hoddo

3,798 posts

215 months

Wednesday 12th June 2013
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I'm signed up to the NW one in October at Cholmondeley estate.

To those who have done an event like this: what training would you recommend?

I am training for my second triathlon in August but aware I may need to learn how to run further than 5km in one go! What distance would you train for?

Upperbody - is this a key area or should I focus on getting my overall weight down a bit (6ft and 86kg + v.modest muscle).

All help appreciated.

thenortherner

1,502 posts

163 months

Wednesday 12th June 2013
quotequote all
Hoddo said:
I'm signed up to the NW one in October at Cholmondeley estate.

To those who have done an event like this: what training would you recommend?

I am training for my second triathlon in August but aware I may need to learn how to run further than 5km in one go! What distance would you train for?

Upperbody - is this a key area or should I focus on getting my overall weight down a bit (6ft and 86kg + v.modest muscle).

All help appreciated.
Although the course is around 12 miles, the run is broken up with the obstacles, so you're maybe only running continuously for no more than 2-3 miles as a maximum. Before I'd done my first event I'd only run 10K as a maximum. Most people agree if you're capable of this then you're fine.

I'm seriously lean and don't have any massive upper body strength at all and I don't struggle with most of the obstacles. Worst comes to worst is that you drop off the monkey bars and land in the water. Besides, most people are more than willing to lend a hand to anything you're struggling with.

For me, it's the mental grit that will get you through rather than super-athletic ability. Don't underestimate the cycle of getting soaking wet through, eventually drying off, repeat, etc. I'm sure it was the ice bath that caused the painful cramp I got on Saturday's Tough Mudder.

There's plenty of training plans out there, but I didn't take notice of any. Get yourself fit, be determined and you'll be fine.

Good luck and give me a shout if you've any more questions.

Hoddo

3,798 posts

215 months

Wednesday 12th June 2013
quotequote all
thenortherner said:
Although the course is around 12 miles, the run is broken up with the obstacles, so you're maybe only running continuously for no more than 2-3 miles as a maximum. Before I'd done my first event I'd only run 10K as a maximum. Most people agree if you're capable of this then you're fine.

I'm seriously lean and don't have any massive upper body strength at all and I don't struggle with most of the obstacles. Worst comes to worst is that you drop off the monkey bars and land in the water. Besides, most people are more than willing to lend a hand to anything you're struggling with.

For me, it's the mental grit that will get you through rather than super-athletic ability. Don't underestimate the cycle of getting soaking wet through, eventually drying off, repeat, etc. I'm sure it was the ice bath that caused the painful cramp I got on Saturday's Tough Mudder.

There's plenty of training plans out there, but I didn't take notice of any. Get yourself fit, be determined and you'll be fine.

Good luck and give me a shout if you've any more questions.
Fantastic, thanks thenortherner

dirty boy

14,697 posts

209 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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A mate of mine has just done one, and said something like hill training would be good as their course started with some serious hills snaking up.

He also said, there's a lot of pulling yourself up and over things, so body strength exercises would be good...pull-ups, chin-ups and core exercises such as planks would be handy.

He also said the ability to run for a couple of miles and recover quickly are more important than being able to run for 10 miles non stop. It's a lot of start stop, so motivating yourself mentally to get going again is the hard part, which echoes the post above.

I'm training for the September one in Yorkshire.

Hoddo

3,798 posts

215 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
dirty boy said:
A mate of mine has just done one, and said something like hill training would be good as their course started with some serious hills snaking up.

He also said, there's a lot of pulling yourself up and over things, so body strength exercises would be good...pull-ups, chin-ups and core exercises such as planks would be handy.

He also said the ability to run for a couple of miles and recover quickly are more important than being able to run for 10 miles non stop. It's a lot of start stop, so motivating yourself mentally to get going again is the hard part, which echoes the post above.

I'm training for the September one in Yorkshire.
Sounds like Triathlon brick training sessions may well help with my stamina here. Thank you for the info.

fiatpower

3,035 posts

171 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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Couple years ago i did tough guy with no training and hadn't run further than a couple of miles and was quite overweight. I finished it, albeit with a slow time, so alot of the challenge is a mental one.

However i'm doing two tough mudders this year and possibly tough guy again and want to finish them with a good time. I'm planning on going fell running and lots of cross country running.

deadmau5

3,197 posts

180 months

Friday 14th June 2013
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dirty boy said:
He also said the ability to run for a couple of miles and recover quickly are more important than being able to run for 10 miles non stop. It's a lot of start stop, so motivating yourself mentally to get going again is the hard part, which echoes the post above.

I'm training for the September one in Yorkshire.
That's how I'm training for the Welsh one on September 21st. 1.4 mile run followed by circuits, repeat x3/4/5.

I'm quite looking forward to it!

Centurion07

10,381 posts

247 months

Friday 14th June 2013
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deadmau5 said:
dirty boy said:
He also said the ability to run for a couple of miles and recover quickly are more important than being able to run for 10 miles non stop. It's a lot of start stop, so motivating yourself mentally to get going again is the hard part, which echoes the post above.

I'm training for the September one in Yorkshire.
That's how I'm training for the Welsh one on September 21st. 1.4 mile run followed by circuits, repeat x3/4/5.

I'm quite looking forward to it!
That's probably the best way of doing it, however, you need to make sure you can run at least half the distance in one go as I found although my CV was up to the job and there's never more than 2 miles between obstacles, my joints didn't enjoy the overall distance quite as much. Those 1.5/2 miles segements add up.

deadmau5

3,197 posts

180 months

Friday 14th June 2013
quotequote all
Centurion07 said:
deadmau5 said:
dirty boy said:
He also said the ability to run for a couple of miles and recover quickly are more important than being able to run for 10 miles non stop. It's a lot of start stop, so motivating yourself mentally to get going again is the hard part, which echoes the post above.

I'm training for the September one in Yorkshire.
That's how I'm training for the Welsh one on September 21st. 1.4 mile run followed by circuits, repeat x3/4/5.

I'm quite looking forward to it!
That's probably the best way of doing it, however, you need to make sure you can run at least half the distance in one go as I found although my CV was up to the job and there's never more than 2 miles between obstacles, my joints didn't enjoy the overall distance quite as much. Those 1.5/2 miles segements add up.
Yeah I've heard that as well. I ran 4.2 miles last night in 33:42 which is the furthest I've ran for a few years. If I could do 8 minute miles on the day I'd be very happy.

Defcon5

6,183 posts

191 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
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If there are 25 obstacles over 12 miles, then surely you won't ever be running for more than a ,ile at a time?

I'm hoping there might be a bit of queuing at obstacles to give a bit of recovery time too

Centurion07

10,381 posts

247 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Defcon5 said:
If there are 25 obstacles over 12 miles, then surely you won't ever be running for more than a ,ile at a time?

I'm hoping there might be a bit of queuing at obstacles to give a bit of recovery time too
Depends how they're spaced though doesn't it? The longest distance I ran for was between 1.5 - 2 miles, and as I mentioned previously, if you have a reasonable level of fitness your cv system will cope, it's the joints and maybe your muscles that need to be capable of doing 12 miles in one session (not non-stop).

James1760

226 posts

176 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
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A work colleague has done this and he said there was a lot of queuing so there will be time for recovery. The only problem I see with that is potentially losing heat while waiting.

I am on the Yorkshire mudder in Sept, only just started taking the training seriously so this could be interesting!

I think I will work on recovery rather than distance, for me cardio is going to be an issue! I enjoy the gym but mainly weights.

Defcon5

6,183 posts

191 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
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I'm doing the Yorkshire one too James, late on n the Sunday, so will be a nightmare with all the churned mud ha!

Terminator X

15,080 posts

204 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
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fiatpower said:
Couple years ago i did tough guy with no training and hadn't run further than a couple of miles and was quite overweight. I finished it, albeit with a slow time, so alot of the challenge is a mental one.

However i'm doing two tough mudders this year and possibly tough guy again and want to finish them with a good time. I'm planning on going fell running and lots of cross country running.
Why on earth would you run TG again?! Mentalists only need apply ...

TX.

dirty boy

14,697 posts

209 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Defcon5 said:
I'm doing the Yorkshire one too James, late on n the Sunday, so will be a nightmare with all the churned mud ha!
I'm on the Yorkshire one too thumbup

Early start I think? 9 ish from memory.

fiatpower

3,035 posts

171 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Terminator X said:
Why on earth would you run TG again?! Mentalists only need apply ...

TX.
Well i'm much fitter now and i want to see what time i can do when fit as opposed to cronically unfit!

Alexw88

56 posts

139 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
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Spartanrace are good events with vairying distances, 5k 12k and 24k iirc. I shall be doing 12k september midlands and 24k november cant beat 10% off to with a code I have.Not tried a tough mudder event yet.

Defcon5

6,183 posts

191 months

Monday 9th September 2013
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Did the Yorkshire one yesterday, I was crippled last night, couldn't walk!

Absolutely fantastic even though, really enjoyed it.

Worst bit for me - Arctic Enema, (swimming under an obstacle in icy water that they keep throwing bins full of ice into) couldn't breath when I came out of the other side, the coldness literally took my breath away.

Best bit - hauling other people up Everest, hard work but very rewarding!

I'm covered in bruises and scratches, but my lip and will probably require a knee replacement at some point in the future now but I definitely do another one.

Don Veloci

1,924 posts

281 months

Monday 9th September 2013
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Defcon5 said:
Worst bit for me - Arctic Enema, (swimming under an obstacle in icy water that they keep throwing bins full of ice into) couldn't breath when I came out of the other side, the coldness literally took my breath away.
Exactly this! Only need to be under water for a couple of seconds and I remember trying to get my breathing to behave before ducking but not hang about in there.
Good and enjoyable challenge all round though and probably will have another go.
(TM Scotland 2013)