What is Tough Mudder REALLY Like?

September 27, 2012, 4:30 pmYahoo!7

Tough Mudder claims to be 'probably the toughest event on the planet' - but is it really? We took on the challenge to find out if the 21km hardcore obstacle course designed by British Special Forces is all it's cracked up to be.

Adventure

Banzai running expert Michael Hennessey stepped up to the Tough Mudder challenge with fellow teammate and 'The Renovators' TV presenter, Brendan Moar. Somehow, the Contour Camera that Michael took on the course survived the mud, ice baths and electrocution, to produce this nice little 5 minute summary. Enjoy!

Yahoo!7 Lifestyle Product Manager, Joe Bramwell-Smith, also rose to the occasion. Here's what he had to say about Tough Mudder at Glenworth Valley:

Tough Mudder was something that my team at work persuaded me to do. A few months out I was invited to take part with a link and some friendly banter. After accepting and looking through some of the obstacles I started to reconsider. I resolved to train like a demon in the months coming up to the race.

As the race day aoproached I started to realize that the training was not forthcoming and that I would be either bailing or doing the race cold. With some last minute peer pressure I found myself at the start line feeling weak, nervous, needing to pee and wondering what I had gotten myself into.

I can only describe the event as a 4 hour episode of wipeout. Where people happily hurl themselves into whatever obstacle comes next with joyful abandon and teamwork. The standout of the day for me was the mud mile. A stretch of paddock that had been made as muddy as physically possible. At points the only way through was to slither on your belly like a seal to try and avoid being unfortunately stuck in the mud. This wasn't really successful and more than once I found myself glued in place with a big grin on my face and total strangers helping to dig me out.

Suffice to say I had an absolute ball, I've never been so dirty or tired after an event but it was all worth it to be able to now say "I am a Tough Mudder"!. I highly recommend that if you do go, don't take anything with you that you don't want to then throw away. I tried washing my shoes and my laundry closet is significantly worse for wear.

What Brad Van Wely lacked in training, he made up for with enthusiasm, helping fellow team mates Sue Carter and Graham Evans complete the gruelling course with a huge smile their face.