This edition of the Obstacle Series features an obstacle so notoriously feared, that is it the most skipped challenge at any Tough Mudder event worldwide. The crowd love standing around watching people attempt this obstacle, and it always appears right before the finish line. You can hear the music blaring at the end of the 20km you've almost finished running, and you know that there is only one more obstacle left to overcome. You rack your brain trying to remember what the only challenge is left that you haven't completed. Then it hits you, just as you round the corner. You finally realise that the screaming you can hear isn't the crowd going wild for the Mudders crossing the finish line - it is actually coming from the Mudders. Mudders running through the 10,000 volt wires in the Electro Shock Therapy obstacle. How fun.
Obstacle: Electroshock Therapy
Objective: To run through 20ish metres of live electric wires, trying not to get shocked too much, while jumping over small knee height hay bales.
Difficulty: Physical - 3/10 | Mental - 11/10
This is the most hated obstacle out of all the 25+ Tough Mudder obstacles available. It appears at every single Mudder event worldwide, seemingly always just before the finish line, as if running the last 19.5km
Objective: To run through 20ish metres of live electric wires, trying not to get shocked too much, while jumping over small knee height hay bales.
Difficulty: Physical - 3/10 | Mental - 11/10
This is the most hated obstacle out of all the 25+ Tough Mudder obstacles available. It appears at every single Mudder event worldwide, seemingly always just before the finish line, as if running the last 19.5km
wasn't hard enough!
The physical difficulty is very low for this challenge, just like the Electric Eel, as all you need to do is run through this outrageous beast of a challenge. The Mudders that I have run have all had small hay bales (a foot or two tall) that needed to be jumped over while running through the Electroshock Therapy. The physical side is not the hard part of this obstacle. It's the mental aspect that kills everyone!
The worst part about this challenge is seeing the Tough Mudder volunteers hosing down the obstacle and the runners just before they run through. Water and electricity don't match! We are taught this at an early age!
Mentally, this is the hardest obstacle of all (hence the 11/10 rating). The anticipation of getting shocked is quite bad, and that is what puts most people off. Everyone knows that you will get shocked running through this beastly challenge. So knowing this fact, just suck it up, and run as fast as you absolutely can through to the end!
How to Complete: No matter how much you cry, if you stand still, the wires will not stop zapping you.
The worst thing possible with this or the Electric Eel obstacle is getting shocked in the face, or on your head. It is possible to get knocked out if this happens (I've actually witnessed this happen), and that never ends pretty. The way I have found best to run this challenge is to run at pull pelt, making sure that any slower runners in front of you are out of the way completely. While doing this, I use my arms in front of me like I'm swimming breast stroke, but instead of pushing water out of the way, I'm pushing the electric wires away from my body and face. Yes you get zapped quite a few times on your arms, but this is much better than just one single shock to the face or head!
Alternatively, you can run through, juking from side to side, trying to dance in between the wires. Just let it be known though, you will get zapped, so the best thing is to try and get through as quickly as possible.
Training: There is no training for such an obstacle, except maybe putting a fork into a toaster to get your toast out. (note. It shouldn't need to be said, but don't do this!)
Our take: As a Mudder Legionnaire, we have the opportunity to bypass this obstacle. But as a Tough Mudder bad-ass, we at TMTour2014 choose NOT to bypass anything on course!
Yes this obstacle sucks so much. Yes we always get zapped every time we run through. Why do we keep going back for more punishment? Because that is what a Tough Mudder is all about! Completing every challenge that gets thrown our way, no matter how big or small.
At Melbourne Mudder last March, the Sunday run was extremely windy down at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Track. So windy in fact, that the wires were almost blowing sideways. Mudder after Mudder ran down the left hand side of the obstacle, not getting touched by a single wire, as they were all blown over to the right. I held back for a few minutes, and didn't see a single person run through and get shocked. What a waste! Half assing it is not the Mudder way!
So I ran right through the wires, double the amount as usual as they were flying everywhere, and got shocked many many times. Wasn't pleasant, but I did get the biggest cheer from the crowd watching, as they knew I had done what the last 50 people didn't have the balls to do.
And finally, don't be one of those people who crawl on their stomach to get through un-zapped. Yes the wires hang a foot or two off the ground, but the crawling obstacle was kilometres behind you. Run through like the Mudder you are!
CAUTION: This obstacle is not for those with a heart condition, pregnant or have metal plates in their body.
The physical difficulty is very low for this challenge, just like the Electric Eel, as all you need to do is run through this outrageous beast of a challenge. The Mudders that I have run have all had small hay bales (a foot or two tall) that needed to be jumped over while running through the Electroshock Therapy. The physical side is not the hard part of this obstacle. It's the mental aspect that kills everyone!
The worst part about this challenge is seeing the Tough Mudder volunteers hosing down the obstacle and the runners just before they run through. Water and electricity don't match! We are taught this at an early age!
Mentally, this is the hardest obstacle of all (hence the 11/10 rating). The anticipation of getting shocked is quite bad, and that is what puts most people off. Everyone knows that you will get shocked running through this beastly challenge. So knowing this fact, just suck it up, and run as fast as you absolutely can through to the end!
How to Complete: No matter how much you cry, if you stand still, the wires will not stop zapping you.
The worst thing possible with this or the Electric Eel obstacle is getting shocked in the face, or on your head. It is possible to get knocked out if this happens (I've actually witnessed this happen), and that never ends pretty. The way I have found best to run this challenge is to run at pull pelt, making sure that any slower runners in front of you are out of the way completely. While doing this, I use my arms in front of me like I'm swimming breast stroke, but instead of pushing water out of the way, I'm pushing the electric wires away from my body and face. Yes you get zapped quite a few times on your arms, but this is much better than just one single shock to the face or head!
Alternatively, you can run through, juking from side to side, trying to dance in between the wires. Just let it be known though, you will get zapped, so the best thing is to try and get through as quickly as possible.
Training: There is no training for such an obstacle, except maybe putting a fork into a toaster to get your toast out. (note. It shouldn't need to be said, but don't do this!)
Our take: As a Mudder Legionnaire, we have the opportunity to bypass this obstacle. But as a Tough Mudder bad-ass, we at TMTour2014 choose NOT to bypass anything on course!
Yes this obstacle sucks so much. Yes we always get zapped every time we run through. Why do we keep going back for more punishment? Because that is what a Tough Mudder is all about! Completing every challenge that gets thrown our way, no matter how big or small.
At Melbourne Mudder last March, the Sunday run was extremely windy down at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Track. So windy in fact, that the wires were almost blowing sideways. Mudder after Mudder ran down the left hand side of the obstacle, not getting touched by a single wire, as they were all blown over to the right. I held back for a few minutes, and didn't see a single person run through and get shocked. What a waste! Half assing it is not the Mudder way!
So I ran right through the wires, double the amount as usual as they were flying everywhere, and got shocked many many times. Wasn't pleasant, but I did get the biggest cheer from the crowd watching, as they knew I had done what the last 50 people didn't have the balls to do.
And finally, don't be one of those people who crawl on their stomach to get through un-zapped. Yes the wires hang a foot or two off the ground, but the crawling obstacle was kilometres behind you. Run through like the Mudder you are!
CAUTION: This obstacle is not for those with a heart condition, pregnant or have metal plates in their body.
Do you have an Electroshock Therapy story? Are you as scared of this obstacle as most, or do you think it will be easy? Of course next time you go through this challenge you will be running, and not crawling, right? Good to hear!
The Obstacle Series. A new obstacle coming to you live every Tuesday and Friday!
Want to make a request for the next obstacle in the series? Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section down below!
20 burpees now thanks!
#TMTour2014
Want to make a request for the next obstacle in the series? Hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section down below!
20 burpees now thanks!
#TMTour2014