Tough Mudder

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Has anyone here been to a Tough Mudder event? I've noticed one scheduled in my area in September. I really need something to work towards since workout routines can be monotonous.

I'd like to know about the training anyone has done to gear up for.the event.

I'm about to do my first TM in just over a month. Amongst a variety of exercises to keep things interesting, I've been doing a lot of lunges and squats to prep. Also trail running as much as I can. And pushups/pull-ups. I'll keep you posted on my experience and what I learned/would do differently. Good Luck with your training!

Thanks, I do a lot of walking with a 20lb vest. I can't say there's a method to my madness at the gym; I just work the muscle groups that don't feel sore and give myself a goal of 100 ab exercises to complete.

I stopped taking creatine over 1yr ago, all the crazy energy I used to have is gone, I'll start back up in late summer though, I just need to establish some of the momentum myself first. Do you take any supplements?

I don't take anything other than my basic multivitamin and occasional scoop of whey protein powder for extra protein. I've been focusing on eating healthier overall and making sure I get a good balance of nutrients from my diet, and staying hydrated. Being conscious of my food choices and making sure I am hydrated has helped my muscle recovery and energy levels. Also, using a foam roller on my muscles after working out (myofascial release) makes a big difference in reducing my soreness for the rest of the day and helps me feel like I can jump back into another hard workout the next day.

I like the weighted vest idea. I might give it a shot for the times I'm not at work.

Update! I completed the New England Tough Mudder yesterday!

I hear the terrain is different in other areas and not as hilly, but New England TM is held at Mt. Snow, and there was a TON of steep hills. Pretty much over half the course was up steep ski slopes, and the other half was back down them. Thick fields of mud up the my shins in lots of places. Running wasn't an issue because it was so steep it was nearly impossible to run-even for the best of runners (a friend who runs competitively finished in 2hr45min and he said he didn't even run uphill because it took way more energy and wasn't any faster than walking/trudging through the mud at that point).

Electric Eel and Electroshock therapy weren't as bad as I thought they would be. Arctic Enema was brutal- the only way to prepare would be to take ice baths and dunk your head underwater- and even that won't be enough. Monkey Bars were damn hard- you need serious grip strength and upper body strength to pull yourself up the incline- flat playground bars don't nearly approximate, it's more like a swinging pull-up with one arm. I fell after 3 bars. I ended up bypassing the Ball Shrinker and Walk The Plank because you couldn't touch the bottom; I was pretty depleted of energy, not a great swimmer, and my heart condition seems to kick in in cold water. Not a great combo if the goal is to avoid having to be rescued from drowning. My teammates who did them said they weren't bad. Also had to bypass Everest- a teammate's inhaler got messed up and he was in rough shape so I loaned him mine and stuck with him to make sure he didn't pass out.

All in all TM was an awesome experience. It felt so good to cross the finish line and grab that beer. I'll be working on my swimming and overall endurance so that next year I have a better shot at going through the serious water obstacles. I will also put more time into quickly hiking steep mountains to prepare. And I will make sure to carry a little fuel with me as I felt like I was bonking by mile 6/7 and the banana halves at a couple water stations weren't quite enough to keep me going. Water stations themselves were pretty well placed, which is good because I was worried about that. Also, I will wear sunscreen as it turns out that being covered in mud will not protect you from the sun!

Good stuff,
I am in training 4 months to go.
I can climb a rope sort of now - its all down to technique really.
Can do 3 chin ups (pull ups) but im a girl so working on that.
Lots of running, cycling, yoga, and rockclimbing also surfing and swimming in the ocean during winter to get used to the cold.
Will start the boot camp exercises next week.
I think I may need gloves to help with the monkey bars and the rope climb - anyone else use gloves?
Also how do you avoid loosing a shoe in the mud - ive heard that is a hazzard?

Can't wait.

I found gloves helpful- more for crawling through all the grit and not wrecking my hands so I could hold onto the monkey bars later than for actual grip on the bars themselves. I duct taped my shoes to help keep them on- over the top of my foot and under my arch and then around the back to the top of my laces. One foot stayed taped the whole way through and the other stayed for about half the race through the worst of the thick mud. Definitely recommend duct taping, I would have lost my shoes in the mud for sure if I hadn't.

Cool thanks for the tips. What kind of gloves did u get