Tough Mudder and the Spartan Race
Discussion
I signed up for these thanks to peer pressure in the office but hadn't heard of them previously. One is in May and the other in June. They don't look remotely like my idea of fun but I can't back out now.
There's about a dozen of us signed up and I've paid for a PT to do some general cardio and circuit sessions in our car park once a week, as we aren't the fittest bunch.
Anyone on here done these challenges before? I'd welcome your views on what they are like and any advice on what kind of training is best in order to prepare us for these.
There's about a dozen of us signed up and I've paid for a PT to do some general cardio and circuit sessions in our car park once a week, as we aren't the fittest bunch.
Anyone on here done these challenges before? I'd welcome your views on what they are like and any advice on what kind of training is best in order to prepare us for these.
I've done Tough Mudder a few times before, one thing I can be sure of is you wont be the most unfit there.
Its a long course, but its ever so busy. Its 13 miles but 26 obstacles or so, an average of 1 every 1/2 mile, so you don't need masses of distance running fitness. As its busy there is often queuing for obstacles (which you can skip if you like) so you can get small ish periods of rest throughout whilst queuing.
As a base level of fitness i'd say if you can run 5k, have done some bootcamp/weights work, can pull up your own body weight i'd say you'd be OK. There is also a strong group spirit whenever i've done it, everyone helps everyone else help, its not about PB's, its about getting around, strangers or not.
Its a long course, but its ever so busy. Its 13 miles but 26 obstacles or so, an average of 1 every 1/2 mile, so you don't need masses of distance running fitness. As its busy there is often queuing for obstacles (which you can skip if you like) so you can get small ish periods of rest throughout whilst queuing.
As a base level of fitness i'd say if you can run 5k, have done some bootcamp/weights work, can pull up your own body weight i'd say you'd be OK. There is also a strong group spirit whenever i've done it, everyone helps everyone else help, its not about PB's, its about getting around, strangers or not.
Just signed up to the May, July and October Spartan races. Entered the age group to avoid the rush in open heats.
Avoided tough mudder and glad I have. Seems far more “team spirit” than Spartan which is a proper race with penalties for skipping obstacles.
Spent last weekend rigging up a rope climb in my gym at home!!!!
Avoided tough mudder and glad I have. Seems far more “team spirit” than Spartan which is a proper race with penalties for skipping obstacles.
Spent last weekend rigging up a rope climb in my gym at home!!!!
Thanks. I heard that you can bypass most of Tough Mudder if you wish, which begs the question why bother taking part?
I think I'll be ok as my fitness is at an alright level. I could do a 5k today and I've been in the gym 2-3 times a week for he past 20 years.
It's things like monkey bars and climbing ropes that scare me. I haven't done those since high school gym classes and I weight a lot more than I did back then!
I think I'll be ok as my fitness is at an alright level. I could do a 5k today and I've been in the gym 2-3 times a week for he past 20 years.
It's things like monkey bars and climbing ropes that scare me. I haven't done those since high school gym classes and I weight a lot more than I did back then!
Tiggsy said:
Just signed up to the May, July and October Spartan races. Entered the age group to avoid the rush in open heats.
Avoided tough mudder and glad I have. Seems far more “team spirit” than Spartan which is a proper race with penalties for skipping obstacles.
Spent last weekend rigging up a rope climb in my gym at home!!!!
100% accurate, and the reason I really enjoyed Tough Mudder was the team aspect - helping your own teammates but also waiting at the top of an obstacle to help the first members of the group behind.Avoided tough mudder and glad I have. Seems far more “team spirit” than Spartan which is a proper race with penalties for skipping obstacles.
Spent last weekend rigging up a rope climb in my gym at home!!!!
Certainly Spartan is more of a test of fitness. Don’t see the point of doing something like Tough Mudder and then bypassing the obstacles.
Suggest you invest in a pair of diving gloves - in our group, the bloke that got the furthest on the (wet) monkey bars had some, and he did much better than a few others who were actually much stronger, because they simply could not grip the wet bars.
Edited by spare_change on Friday 19th April 21:46
*Badger* said:
I've done Tough Mudder a few times before, one thing I can be sure of is you wont be the most unfit there.
Its a long course, but its ever so busy. Its 13 miles but 26 obstacles or so, an average of 1 every 1/2 mile, so you don't need masses of distance running fitness. As its busy there is often queuing for obstacles (which you can skip if you like) so you can get small ish periods of rest throughout whilst queuing.
As a base level of fitness i'd say if you can run 5k, have done some bootcamp/weights work, can pull up your own body weight i'd say you'd be OK. There is also a strong group spirit whenever i've done it, everyone helps everyone else help, its not about PB's, its about getting around, strangers or not.
This was my experience. Its a long course, but its ever so busy. Its 13 miles but 26 obstacles or so, an average of 1 every 1/2 mile, so you don't need masses of distance running fitness. As its busy there is often queuing for obstacles (which you can skip if you like) so you can get small ish periods of rest throughout whilst queuing.
As a base level of fitness i'd say if you can run 5k, have done some bootcamp/weights work, can pull up your own body weight i'd say you'd be OK. There is also a strong group spirit whenever i've done it, everyone helps everyone else help, its not about PB's, its about getting around, strangers or not.
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