Everest. Just hearing that name brings fear to any Tough Mudder. As you round what you think is the final corner before the finish line, you almost walk smack bang into it. There it is, in all it's glory. Everest. You thought you were almost at the finish line? Think again! Arms hanging dead by your sides, legs dragging behind you, you're completely stuffed. Here is how to overcome one of Tough Mudder's most iconic obstacles!
Obstacle: Everest
Objective: To get up and over the quarter pipe Everest. Once up the top, have a look around at the views, then help a few people climbing behind you.
Difficulty: Physical - 10/10 | Mental - 8/10
Physically this is a killer. Having to run up a quarter pipe on a normal day is hard enough, but towards the end of a 20km Tough Mudder, all covered in mud and whatever else? Now that is tough. Anyone that has completed a Mudder will always tell 2 stories - one about the electric obstacles and the other about Everest. It truly is the iconic Mudder challenge.
Mental difficulty is quite high on this obstacle, as it is almost always one of the last challenges on the
Objective: To get up and over the quarter pipe Everest. Once up the top, have a look around at the views, then help a few people climbing behind you.
Difficulty: Physical - 10/10 | Mental - 8/10
Physically this is a killer. Having to run up a quarter pipe on a normal day is hard enough, but towards the end of a 20km Tough Mudder, all covered in mud and whatever else? Now that is tough. Anyone that has completed a Mudder will always tell 2 stories - one about the electric obstacles and the other about Everest. It truly is the iconic Mudder challenge.
Mental difficulty is quite high on this obstacle, as it is almost always one of the last challenges on the
course. By this time, you've been running for up to 3 hours, and have been getting slower and slower. Now you have to climb this mighty obstacle? An almost impossible task, you think to yourself. Not true! Don't let these thoughts seep into your head. You can see written across Everest at lots of events, "No Quit In Here". So get rid of those negative thoughts, and overcome this monster!
How to Complete: There are two ways you can go about this challenge. The first, and easier of the two (which most people attempt) is to run up the quarter pipe, jump and grab one of the many hands hanging down from above, and have those people help drag you over the top. The second option is to sprint up and grab the top and pull yourself up unaided. This is the goal for many Mudders, but is not always achieved.
Either way, what you want to do to overcome this beast, is to first try and dry your muddy hands off - you'll need all the grip you can get. Take a huge run up, and absolutely sprint as fast as your tired legs can carry you. Run up the ramp, pumping your legs as hard as you can. If you are going to leap and grab someone's hand, or reach the top by yourself, either way, do not stop running. The further you run up, the easier it will be. If you think you can just reach someone's hand hanging off, take another step or two. This will guarantee you get to the top.
When you feel hands grab around yours, don't expect these people will drag you up themselves. Your job isn't complete - you have to help get over the top still! There are a few ways to get from hanging by someone's hand to standing on top, but the easiest I have found personally is to swing your leg up, get someone to lift it over the top, and then the other leg. At this point you will be hanging upside down - but don't freak out! With both your legs over the top, it will be easy to just do a sit up (with the help of those on top) and shuffle your way over the edge.
Training: The most effective way to train for this obstacle, is to actually go to a half pipe in some skate park, and try to get to the top. This is one of the Tough Mudder obstacles that you can do real world specific training for.
Another great exercise to train for Everest is hill sprints. If you are really into your fitness, then hill sprints should be in your schedule already, but if not, add them immediately!
And finally, pull-ups. Increasing your pull-up count will greatly improve your upper body strength, and make Everest that much easier. None of those chin to bar pull-ups though, we want to see chest to bar! Try 4 sets of 6 reps, and slowly increase this when you can.
Our take: I have not been able to attempt Everest this year in my 4 runs so far, due to my shoulder injury at the start of the year, but my experience on this challenge in my two runs in 2013 were memorable. Both times I stopped running a few steps too soon, and missed the outstretched hands waiting for me, slid down and had to try again. I did make it in the end however. With more specific training this year, from the next Mudder onwards, I will be aiming to overcome this challenge unaided!
There are tons of Everest stories out there in the Mudder community, and we want to hear them! How many tries did it take for you to get up and over? Were you a beast and got up first try, or did you need people to help pull you over? Was there even a human ladder formed, which you walked your way up? Give us a shout in the comments below!
How to Complete: There are two ways you can go about this challenge. The first, and easier of the two (which most people attempt) is to run up the quarter pipe, jump and grab one of the many hands hanging down from above, and have those people help drag you over the top. The second option is to sprint up and grab the top and pull yourself up unaided. This is the goal for many Mudders, but is not always achieved.
Either way, what you want to do to overcome this beast, is to first try and dry your muddy hands off - you'll need all the grip you can get. Take a huge run up, and absolutely sprint as fast as your tired legs can carry you. Run up the ramp, pumping your legs as hard as you can. If you are going to leap and grab someone's hand, or reach the top by yourself, either way, do not stop running. The further you run up, the easier it will be. If you think you can just reach someone's hand hanging off, take another step or two. This will guarantee you get to the top.
When you feel hands grab around yours, don't expect these people will drag you up themselves. Your job isn't complete - you have to help get over the top still! There are a few ways to get from hanging by someone's hand to standing on top, but the easiest I have found personally is to swing your leg up, get someone to lift it over the top, and then the other leg. At this point you will be hanging upside down - but don't freak out! With both your legs over the top, it will be easy to just do a sit up (with the help of those on top) and shuffle your way over the edge.
Training: The most effective way to train for this obstacle, is to actually go to a half pipe in some skate park, and try to get to the top. This is one of the Tough Mudder obstacles that you can do real world specific training for.
Another great exercise to train for Everest is hill sprints. If you are really into your fitness, then hill sprints should be in your schedule already, but if not, add them immediately!
And finally, pull-ups. Increasing your pull-up count will greatly improve your upper body strength, and make Everest that much easier. None of those chin to bar pull-ups though, we want to see chest to bar! Try 4 sets of 6 reps, and slowly increase this when you can.
Our take: I have not been able to attempt Everest this year in my 4 runs so far, due to my shoulder injury at the start of the year, but my experience on this challenge in my two runs in 2013 were memorable. Both times I stopped running a few steps too soon, and missed the outstretched hands waiting for me, slid down and had to try again. I did make it in the end however. With more specific training this year, from the next Mudder onwards, I will be aiming to overcome this challenge unaided!
There are tons of Everest stories out there in the Mudder community, and we want to hear them! How many tries did it take for you to get up and over? Were you a beast and got up first try, or did you need people to help pull you over? Was there even a human ladder formed, which you walked your way up? Give us a shout in the comments below!
Every Tuesday and Friday a new Obstacle Series post will be coming out to you. Make sure you don't miss one, so you know what to expect on your next Mudder adventure!
Which obstacle has you stumped? What couldn't you overcome? What do you want to read about in the next Obstacle Series post? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below!
Now get outside and do some hill sprints!
#TMTour2014
Which obstacle has you stumped? What couldn't you overcome? What do you want to read about in the next Obstacle Series post? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comment section below!
Now get outside and do some hill sprints!
#TMTour2014