For today’s post we have something a little different - the 7 most Deadly Tough Mudder Sins. Mudder veterans and Legionnaires should know most of these already, but for you newcomers to Mudder, these are the 7 evils which you must not commit on your first (or any) Tough Mudder weekend.
This is a list specific to Tough Mudder, so if you are running one of those lesser obstacle courses, you may have to find a different list of sins not to commit. So without further ado, here is your list of the 7 Deadly Tough Mudder Sins.
- Ignoring Camaraderie
- Racing for a time
- Skipping an obstacle because of fears
- Leaving a man behind
- Breaking the Tough Mudder Pledge
- Not eating properly pre-event
- Making eye contact in the showers post-run
This is a list specific to Tough Mudder, so if you are running one of those lesser obstacle courses, you may have to find a different list of sins not to commit. So without further ado, here is your list of the 7 Deadly Tough Mudder Sins.
1. Ignoring Camaraderie
You will hear this word many times throughout your Mudder weekend, whether it be your first, or 20th. Tough Mudder’s main principle is all about camaraderie. You will not be able to complete the course without the help and camaraderie of your friends, family, colleagues and random participants on the course. Obstacles such as Everest are not possible (for most people) without the help of your fellow runners. Tough Mudder holds camaraderie in such high regard, as many (if not all) other obstacle courses do not encourage helping others out but put race times above all else.
The second line in the Tough Mudder Pledge is “I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time”. It is Tough Mudder law that you do this!
You will hear this word many times throughout your Mudder weekend, whether it be your first, or 20th. Tough Mudder’s main principle is all about camaraderie. You will not be able to complete the course without the help and camaraderie of your friends, family, colleagues and random participants on the course. Obstacles such as Everest are not possible (for most people) without the help of your fellow runners. Tough Mudder holds camaraderie in such high regard, as many (if not all) other obstacle courses do not encourage helping others out but put race times above all else.
The second line in the Tough Mudder Pledge is “I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time”. It is Tough Mudder law that you do this!
2. Racing for a time
Following on from Camaraderie, is the second Tough Mudder sin – racing for a time. “I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race, but a challenge” - the first line in the Tough Mudder Pledge.
It has been heard a number of times at Mudder’s around the world, when the first participant of the day crosses the finish line, the announcer says something along the lines of “Well he/she obviously didn't help anyone out on course…”. This is a backhanded comment, as this person has clearly run the event trying to get the best time possible.
Tough Mudder is not a timed event. Yes it is possible to wear a watch, or work out what time you finished compared to what wave time you started in, but the Mudder experience is all about helping others out, not in winning the race. If you want to run an obstacle course for a time, go run one of those many carbon copied timed mud runs.
Mudder is all about enjoying the challenge, while helping out your fellow man. Don’t even think about entering a Tough Mudder event if you’re just trying to get the best time. Those kinds of people don’t know what Mudder is about.
(The only exception to this sin is the World’s Toughest Mudder – the 24 hour yearly Mudder race (note the only time I will use the word "race" in my blog articles) which has prizes and is timed. But that is a whole other event, which TMTour2014 will talk about at a later date)
Following on from Camaraderie, is the second Tough Mudder sin – racing for a time. “I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race, but a challenge” - the first line in the Tough Mudder Pledge.
It has been heard a number of times at Mudder’s around the world, when the first participant of the day crosses the finish line, the announcer says something along the lines of “Well he/she obviously didn't help anyone out on course…”. This is a backhanded comment, as this person has clearly run the event trying to get the best time possible.
Tough Mudder is not a timed event. Yes it is possible to wear a watch, or work out what time you finished compared to what wave time you started in, but the Mudder experience is all about helping others out, not in winning the race. If you want to run an obstacle course for a time, go run one of those many carbon copied timed mud runs.
Mudder is all about enjoying the challenge, while helping out your fellow man. Don’t even think about entering a Tough Mudder event if you’re just trying to get the best time. Those kinds of people don’t know what Mudder is about.
(The only exception to this sin is the World’s Toughest Mudder – the 24 hour yearly Mudder race (note the only time I will use the word "race" in my blog articles) which has prizes and is timed. But that is a whole other event, which TMTour2014 will talk about at a later date)
3. Skipping an obstacle because of your fears
“I will overcome all fears” – truer words have never been spoken before. The Mudder Pledge has so far held information about the first 3 Deadly Sins. I can see a pattern forming here ...
Whether you are afraid of heights, water, dark cramped spaces or electricity, this is the obstacle course for you! There is no better way to overcome your (mostly unjustified) fears then while on a Mudder course. You will have to jump off 10 metre high dives into water, you will have to crawl underground, and you will have to run through live electric wires. And why? To say that you did it! To say that you overcame your crippling fears! To say that you challenged yourself, challenged your fears, and won! It's for the story many years down the track to your grand kids, who probably won’t believe a word you say as you recount your story of running (willingly) through 10,000 volt wires for fun.
Fears are all in the mind. With all the safety precautions on course, it is perfectly safe to complete every single obstacle at every Tough Mudder. I know I personally have claustrophobia, but I still overcome it every event that I run (with just a little bit of swearing my head off after emerging from those damn tunnels in the Trench Warfare obstacle).
If you have a problem with a certain obstacle due to your fears, have a look through the Obstacle Series posts to find the obstacle you are having trouble in, and to find solutions and tips for your problem.
The worst feeling after completing a Mudder event, is knowing that you didn't jump in that lake, didn’t crawl the 20 metres underground, or skipped an obstacle just because of your irrational fears. All you need to do is chill out for a second, take deep breaths, and go for it. You can do it, as you’ll have your friends and comrades around you for support!
Legionnaires have the option of opting out at the Electroshock Therapy obstacle. Real Mudders don't opt out of anything!
“I will overcome all fears” – truer words have never been spoken before. The Mudder Pledge has so far held information about the first 3 Deadly Sins. I can see a pattern forming here ...
Whether you are afraid of heights, water, dark cramped spaces or electricity, this is the obstacle course for you! There is no better way to overcome your (mostly unjustified) fears then while on a Mudder course. You will have to jump off 10 metre high dives into water, you will have to crawl underground, and you will have to run through live electric wires. And why? To say that you did it! To say that you overcame your crippling fears! To say that you challenged yourself, challenged your fears, and won! It's for the story many years down the track to your grand kids, who probably won’t believe a word you say as you recount your story of running (willingly) through 10,000 volt wires for fun.
Fears are all in the mind. With all the safety precautions on course, it is perfectly safe to complete every single obstacle at every Tough Mudder. I know I personally have claustrophobia, but I still overcome it every event that I run (with just a little bit of swearing my head off after emerging from those damn tunnels in the Trench Warfare obstacle).
If you have a problem with a certain obstacle due to your fears, have a look through the Obstacle Series posts to find the obstacle you are having trouble in, and to find solutions and tips for your problem.
The worst feeling after completing a Mudder event, is knowing that you didn't jump in that lake, didn’t crawl the 20 metres underground, or skipped an obstacle just because of your irrational fears. All you need to do is chill out for a second, take deep breaths, and go for it. You can do it, as you’ll have your friends and comrades around you for support!
Legionnaires have the option of opting out at the Electroshock Therapy obstacle. Real Mudders don't opt out of anything!
4. Leaving a man behind
“I help my fellow Mudders complete the course” - more wisdom from the Mudder Pledge.
Thou shalt not leave a man behind! This is the sin that I personally feel most strongly about, as I have been left behind at an event once before, as was not happy at all about that!
If someone in your team is injured/hurt/slower than the rest, then the team slows down to their pace. You do not split up. You do not surge forward and leave a man behind. This is a cardinal sin. You are only as strong as the weakest link. Help that weakest link, don’t leave them. You started the race as a team; you should cross the line as a team. Simple.
On the flip side, if you see someone running by themselves, have a jog with them, and have a chat for a while. If you want, stick with them throughout the rest of the event. They will appreciate it immensely. This is what Tough Mudder is all about – camaraderie and sticking together as a team.
“I help my fellow Mudders complete the course” - more wisdom from the Mudder Pledge.
Thou shalt not leave a man behind! This is the sin that I personally feel most strongly about, as I have been left behind at an event once before, as was not happy at all about that!
If someone in your team is injured/hurt/slower than the rest, then the team slows down to their pace. You do not split up. You do not surge forward and leave a man behind. This is a cardinal sin. You are only as strong as the weakest link. Help that weakest link, don’t leave them. You started the race as a team; you should cross the line as a team. Simple.
On the flip side, if you see someone running by themselves, have a jog with them, and have a chat for a while. If you want, stick with them throughout the rest of the event. They will appreciate it immensely. This is what Tough Mudder is all about – camaraderie and sticking together as a team.
5. Breaking the Tough Mudder Pledge
“As a Tough Mudder, I pledge that I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race, but a challenge. I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time. I do not whine – kids whine. I help my fellow Mudders complete the course. I overcome all fears.”
Before every single Tough Mudder wave, at every single Tough Mudder event, worldwide, everyone belts out the Mudder Pledge. I’ve discussed a few of the pledge lines in the previous sins. If you break the Pledge while on course, consequences will be dire.
Abide by the Pledge and you will enjoy your Tough Mudder experience - nothing else needs to be said about this sin!
“As a Tough Mudder, I pledge that I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race, but a challenge. I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time. I do not whine – kids whine. I help my fellow Mudders complete the course. I overcome all fears.”
Before every single Tough Mudder wave, at every single Tough Mudder event, worldwide, everyone belts out the Mudder Pledge. I’ve discussed a few of the pledge lines in the previous sins. If you break the Pledge while on course, consequences will be dire.
Abide by the Pledge and you will enjoy your Tough Mudder experience - nothing else needs to be said about this sin!
6. Not eating properly before a Tough Mudder
Everyone knows these days that eating properly before a marathon, obstacle course or mud run, anything of the likes, is a necessity. If you go out the night before an event with the boys, have a huge parma at the pub, down a few pints, you will regret it the next morning guaranteed.
You need to hydrate yourself properly days before the event. Everyone should be drinking minimum 1 litre of water a day anyways, but in the days before your Mudder, you should be drinking more.
Carbo loading is a must if you want to get the best experience from your Mudder weekend as well. This doesn't just mean the night before your event you eat a big plate of spaghetti. Carbo loading starts days before your event.
When I run Tough Mudder on both the Saturday and Sunday, I personally like to drink 500ml of Gatorade Thursday night, Friday morning and night, Saturday pre-event, and post-event, and Sunday pre and post-event. That’s not including the litres of water I already drink per day. I also start my proper carbo loading on the Thursday lunch time at least.
During my runs, I eat plenty of bananas on course, and drink plenty of water. I don’t use energy gels, as I don’t believe I need the unnatural running high they give you – I prefer the natural energy from bananas and water.
TMTour2014 will be posting a full How To Guide for Carbo Loading soon – so stay tuned!
Everyone knows these days that eating properly before a marathon, obstacle course or mud run, anything of the likes, is a necessity. If you go out the night before an event with the boys, have a huge parma at the pub, down a few pints, you will regret it the next morning guaranteed.
You need to hydrate yourself properly days before the event. Everyone should be drinking minimum 1 litre of water a day anyways, but in the days before your Mudder, you should be drinking more.
Carbo loading is a must if you want to get the best experience from your Mudder weekend as well. This doesn't just mean the night before your event you eat a big plate of spaghetti. Carbo loading starts days before your event.
When I run Tough Mudder on both the Saturday and Sunday, I personally like to drink 500ml of Gatorade Thursday night, Friday morning and night, Saturday pre-event, and post-event, and Sunday pre and post-event. That’s not including the litres of water I already drink per day. I also start my proper carbo loading on the Thursday lunch time at least.
During my runs, I eat plenty of bananas on course, and drink plenty of water. I don’t use energy gels, as I don’t believe I need the unnatural running high they give you – I prefer the natural energy from bananas and water.
TMTour2014 will be posting a full How To Guide for Carbo Loading soon – so stay tuned!
7. Making eye contact in the showers post-event
And finally, the last Tough Mudder sin – making eye contact in the showers after your event. These showers are damn cold, and after running 20km no one really looks their best – especially covered in a thick layer of mud!
Guys, eyes off the birds stripping their clothes off. Ladies, eyes of the buff fellas! Communal showers may sound like a good idea pre-event, but afterwards everyone just wants to get clean and dry! One last comment about the cold showers – shrinkage! You can't look tough with it guys!
And finally, the last Tough Mudder sin – making eye contact in the showers after your event. These showers are damn cold, and after running 20km no one really looks their best – especially covered in a thick layer of mud!
Guys, eyes off the birds stripping their clothes off. Ladies, eyes of the buff fellas! Communal showers may sound like a good idea pre-event, but afterwards everyone just wants to get clean and dry! One last comment about the cold showers – shrinkage! You can't look tough with it guys!