Toughguy 2011

[Onzlouk]

Its next weekend, is anyone here doing it?

My entry has just come through the post, quite excited (read 'bricking it')

[Zeek]

My mate is doing it, he also did it last year. Good luck

[The jiffle king]

Wear the right clothes.....
Skin tight underlayers.... get some grippy gloves and tape them to your arms.... get a swimming hat... you´ll understand when you see the plunges, wooly hat (if you can sew some elastic so it cannot fall off.
And be prepared to throw it all away afterwards... even a boil wash did not work
Good luck and if you can run quickly, then do so as it´s the waiting on/in the obstacles that is the killer.....

[Wreckingball]

I've done 2 summer ones and this will be my first winter one..... I wouldn't say I'm fit at the moment and I'm not a small lad (17st)but on the upside I used to be a xcountry runner in my youth and regularly play both rugby and football, so I am bricking it just a tad!!!!

But if the summer tough guy is anything to go by, it's all about mental strength, you don't need to be super fit just bloody minded not to give in!!!!

[The jiffle king]

The quicker you are, the easier the Killing fields will be as it will get congested and you will get cold standing around. Hyperthermia is a real challenge (I got it) and the medical people are brilliant!! Soak it up, it´s one of the best events out there!!

[escort90]

im doing it this year, anyone got advice on what trainers to use? ive got some road trainers and astroturf boots, which would you recommend?

[V8 GMS]

I've invested in a pair of fell running shoes... they've got a serious moulded grip on them.
Spikes and studs are banned.

From what I;ve read, road running shoes are seriously inadequate - Good luck.

[Onzlouk]

Adidas trail trainers, make a massive difference in the mud.....and theres lots of mud.

[V8 GMS]

This is like shopping for tyres...

I'm in these:


Can't really get anymore grip than that (just wish my legs were up to it)!

[The jiffle king]

V8 GMS said:

This is like shopping for tyres...

I'm in these:


Can't really get anymore grip than that (just wish my legs were up to it)!

Inov8´s are very good. I resoled a normal pair of running trainers at Cheshire Shoe for 20 quid with Pyramids which worked quite well. Not sure if they still do them, but they worked a treat

[V8 GMS]

The jiffle king said:

Inov8´s are very good. I resoled a normal pair of running trainers at Cheshire Shoe for 20 quid with Pyramids which worked quite well. Not sure if they still do them, but they worked a treat

I've never seen re-soleing.. To they stick on a new sole, or do they cut a pattern into the existing one?

[excel monkey]

I'm doing it this year as well. Weather looks better than last year...

[Norbury90]

One of my mates is doing it. Everybody else thinks he's mad. He is driving himself there and back too, which will be interesting if he breaks something.

[Onzlouk]

Just been for the last run before sunday. It must have been bloody cold last year then because im freezing!

[escort90]

so how did you all do?

i got round in just under 3 hours but i was dragging my mate who was going down the last 2 miles or so of it

[Onzlouk]

Started from the back, i was one of those on the floor holding the planks everyone ran over!
Have never been in so much pain or so cold in my life but the feeling at the finish was great, and hot chocolate, mmmmm.
Finished on 2:29, so pretty chuffed for my first one.
That torture chamber was horrendous....i may have let out a very manly scream whilst being electric shocked for the tenth time
The country miles hills aswell really hurt....could go on forever

[escort90]

why where you holding the planks on the floor?

yeah that torture chamber was horrific, i got booted in the face few times and the climb out of the pipes at the back was bad enough!

[Onzlouk]

By the time we signed up the places were expensive, ours were 100 quid for the foxhole squad which were the back runners and we were a human carpet, that was part of the 'cheaper' ticket conditions! If you didnt want to do it you could roll down a big hill in a tractor tyre or pull a tyre with a rope attached to the 'old lad' or hang in a tree by your bootlaces .......

There were some loons who did some of it too!

My knees arent the best at the minute....agony describes it pretty well

[V8 GMS]

Well bugger me... I was quite surprised how dangerous some of the course was - loved it!
I didn;t see any proper injuries but plenty of people pulling over with cramps!

I started in the Ghoons (main pack) and finished somewhere in under 2 hours!

I thought the torture chamber was hilarious - I got the impression from all the screams that the electric shocks were a new addition and were catching out even the seasoned tough guys...

That water tunnel hit me a lot harder than I expected... Had a take a minute to compose myself before clambering up that next 40 foot cargo net!

The shakes that set in immediately after the race were hilarious... I threw my hot chocolate over face while trying to drink it :-(
Those showers were pretty useless - I think in hindsight the best approach is just to get out of the cold wet clothes asap...

Not in a rush to do that again!!!

[excel monkey]

Under 2 hours is pretty impressive. I took about 2.45.

Definitely would recommended to anyone thinking of doing this. I considered doing the 2010 event and eventually chickened out, so am glad I did it this year.