Usually, this one comes pretty early on in a Tough Mudder course. You’re still full of nerves and pumped up from the start line. You’ve run your first couple of kilometres (and hopefully aren’t exhausted yet) and you’re probably still pretty clean. Well, Kiss of Mud will put an end to that!
Obstacle: Kiss of Mud
Objective: Crawl commando-style through 20 metres of mud, with barbed wire just inches above your head and body. You’ll be forced to get down and dirty, belly-crawling through the mud in order to avoid getting caught on the barbed wire. The worst thing in the world? Getting your ponytail caught on the barb wire, not realising, and continuing to crawl forward. Not pleasant!
Difficulty: Physical - 6/10 | Mental - 2/10
This one can be hard on the forearms, hands and the knees, and you will need some decent core and leg strength if you’re going to get through this quickly.
Mentally it’s not overly challenging, unless you’re scared of the barbed wire - but this is Tough Mudder. Fear is not an option!
Objective: Crawl commando-style through 20 metres of mud, with barbed wire just inches above your head and body. You’ll be forced to get down and dirty, belly-crawling through the mud in order to avoid getting caught on the barbed wire. The worst thing in the world? Getting your ponytail caught on the barb wire, not realising, and continuing to crawl forward. Not pleasant!
Difficulty: Physical - 6/10 | Mental - 2/10
This one can be hard on the forearms, hands and the knees, and you will need some decent core and leg strength if you’re going to get through this quickly.
Mentally it’s not overly challenging, unless you’re scared of the barbed wire - but this is Tough Mudder. Fear is not an option!
The weather conditions and the number of people who have gone through this obstacle before you can make a big difference - the worse the weather, the worse the obstacle! Less mud will make it quicker to get through, but you’ll be very close to the wire and you’ll have to crouch very low, unless you want your face torn apart or your hair stuck in the wire, that is. When it’s really muddy, you might find yourself almost swimming through this challenge. Plus, when the ground gets worn down, you’re further from the wire so you might not have to crouch as low, but the mud will make it slower going.
How to complete: First of all, forget about being precious about the mud. You just did your nails? You’re wearing brand new neon compression clothes? Too bad. It’s time to get muddy, and you’ll love it!
Kiss of Mud is a simple obstacle - get down on your knees, drop to your stomach and commando crawl through. Be prepared for mud on your face, in your eyes, or your mouth – it goes everywhere! This obstacle is also a place where a lot of people bid farewell to their bibs. If you’re planning on keeping yours for prosperity, perhaps watch out for it here!
It does pay to be careful of the barbed wire – the last thing you want is to rip your skin or clothing open right at the beginning, and have to deal with that for the rest of the course. At Sunshine Coast, there were a few people whose leggings had some pretty embarrassing holes after this first obstacle – props to them for soldiering on, but I’m guessing they’d rather not have exposed their behinds to all the other runners!
A final note: It helps to pay attention to the Mudder in front of you, or else you might find yourself with a boot to the face ...
Training: Much like other crawling obstacles, such as Electric Eel, training methods useful for this obstacle include Commando Crawls and Planks. Practice with a few sets of crawling up a hill. It’ll make the real thing, on flat but muddy ground, loads easier.
Plus, at some Tough Mudder events, the Kiss of Mud obstacle is actually placed on an uphill slope. Now that’s a challenge you want to make sure you’re ready for.
Planks are also great for core strength. Hold your plank as long as you can, rest for half that time, hold the plank as long as possible again, rest half that time, and one last plank.
Finally, do plenty of Mountain Climbers. Try doing sets 15 on each leg, for four rounds. This will build up exactly the kind of strength you need to tear through this obstacle.
Our take: This isn’t one of Tough Mudder’s hardest obstacles, by any means, nor is it one of the most fun either. But while it lacks the extreme heights, extreme cold or extreme electricity of some of the more famous obstacles, it’s a great way to begin a lap, and makes sure people are getting down in the mud right from the start.
I’ve enjoyed it the most when it’s been seriously muddy, and when the wires have been nice and low. I’m short, and if the wires are a bit higher, I find I can crawl through normally which isn’t much of a challenge.
In Sunshine Coast, they had a longer version of your usual Kiss Of Mud in the Legionnaires Loop. With the huge amounts of rain that fell the night before, and day of that event, it was truly epic. And at the end of the course, it was pretty tough on the arms and knees!
This obstacle can also make for some pretty awesome photos, too. I didn’t get snapped doing this one at Sunshine Coast, but the ones taken of Michael show exactly how wet it was on course (see below).
And finally, be wary of rocks, sticks and stones while you are crawling through this obstacle - you will cut your forearms to pieces! I personally had to crawl using my elbows to pull me along, as my forearms were cut up so badly. It might be an idea to invest in some sleeve compressions just for this obstacle.
How to complete: First of all, forget about being precious about the mud. You just did your nails? You’re wearing brand new neon compression clothes? Too bad. It’s time to get muddy, and you’ll love it!
Kiss of Mud is a simple obstacle - get down on your knees, drop to your stomach and commando crawl through. Be prepared for mud on your face, in your eyes, or your mouth – it goes everywhere! This obstacle is also a place where a lot of people bid farewell to their bibs. If you’re planning on keeping yours for prosperity, perhaps watch out for it here!
It does pay to be careful of the barbed wire – the last thing you want is to rip your skin or clothing open right at the beginning, and have to deal with that for the rest of the course. At Sunshine Coast, there were a few people whose leggings had some pretty embarrassing holes after this first obstacle – props to them for soldiering on, but I’m guessing they’d rather not have exposed their behinds to all the other runners!
A final note: It helps to pay attention to the Mudder in front of you, or else you might find yourself with a boot to the face ...
Training: Much like other crawling obstacles, such as Electric Eel, training methods useful for this obstacle include Commando Crawls and Planks. Practice with a few sets of crawling up a hill. It’ll make the real thing, on flat but muddy ground, loads easier.
Plus, at some Tough Mudder events, the Kiss of Mud obstacle is actually placed on an uphill slope. Now that’s a challenge you want to make sure you’re ready for.
Planks are also great for core strength. Hold your plank as long as you can, rest for half that time, hold the plank as long as possible again, rest half that time, and one last plank.
Finally, do plenty of Mountain Climbers. Try doing sets 15 on each leg, for four rounds. This will build up exactly the kind of strength you need to tear through this obstacle.
Our take: This isn’t one of Tough Mudder’s hardest obstacles, by any means, nor is it one of the most fun either. But while it lacks the extreme heights, extreme cold or extreme electricity of some of the more famous obstacles, it’s a great way to begin a lap, and makes sure people are getting down in the mud right from the start.
I’ve enjoyed it the most when it’s been seriously muddy, and when the wires have been nice and low. I’m short, and if the wires are a bit higher, I find I can crawl through normally which isn’t much of a challenge.
In Sunshine Coast, they had a longer version of your usual Kiss Of Mud in the Legionnaires Loop. With the huge amounts of rain that fell the night before, and day of that event, it was truly epic. And at the end of the course, it was pretty tough on the arms and knees!
This obstacle can also make for some pretty awesome photos, too. I didn’t get snapped doing this one at Sunshine Coast, but the ones taken of Michael show exactly how wet it was on course (see below).
And finally, be wary of rocks, sticks and stones while you are crawling through this obstacle - you will cut your forearms to pieces! I personally had to crawl using my elbows to pull me along, as my forearms were cut up so badly. It might be an idea to invest in some sleeve compressions just for this obstacle.
There you are Mudders, the third Obstacle Series post written by guest writer Laura. The Tough Mudder Tour crew are tackling Perth, Australia Tough Mudder this weekend. Can't wait to see what they throw at us!
Who out there likes Kiss of Mud? While doing it, do you just go through the motions, or do you actually enjoy crawling through mud, sticks and rocks, almost getting attacked by barbed wire? Tell us your best Mud story!
Stay tuned over the next week for many more updates, including an Athlete Profile, more Obstacle Series posts, Perth Tough Mudder updates, and the highly anticipated Perth Review.
#TMtour2014
Who out there likes Kiss of Mud? While doing it, do you just go through the motions, or do you actually enjoy crawling through mud, sticks and rocks, almost getting attacked by barbed wire? Tell us your best Mud story!
Stay tuned over the next week for many more updates, including an Athlete Profile, more Obstacle Series posts, Perth Tough Mudder updates, and the highly anticipated Perth Review.
#TMtour2014