The Tough Mudder season is slowly coming to a close - with only two events left this year in Australasia. Melbourne, Auckland, Sunshine Coast and Perth were all amazing, but I've heard a whisper that Sydney will be the biggest so far this year! With just over a week until the Sydney Mudder, here is everything you could possibly want to know about the event!
The number one question I get asked about on my blog and across our social mediums, is about the upcoming obstacles in future Tough Mudder's, so lets go through what will be featured in Sydney next week! The old firm will all be back, including Arctic Enema, Mud Mile, Berlin Walls, Everest, Walk the Plank, and Electroshock Therapy. Among these regulars, will be first time obstacles for Sydney, Leap of Faith, Pole Dancer, Hangin' Tough and Fire in your Hole (only for the Mudder Legionnaires). Just from this list so far, it sounds like it will be a fantastic event, and that's before we even mention that Glory Blades, Devils Beard, Prairie Dog, Quagmire, Gas Tank Climb and Soldier Sling will be making appearances!
From the looks of the official map, TMHQ have mixed around the obstacles - Arctic Enema is the third obstacle and only a few kilometres into the event and Walk the Plank is a few kilometres from the end. This is a good idea, and one I have mentioned before, as the courses seemed to be getting stale because of the same order each obstacle was in at all the different events. That being said, Fire in your Hole and Electroshock Therapy are the last two obstacles, and should always be so!
Below you can see photos on course released a few days ago on the Tough Mudder Australia Facebook page, of the event in the building process. You can also get a copy of the official map here for your viewing pleasure.
From the looks of the official map, TMHQ have mixed around the obstacles - Arctic Enema is the third obstacle and only a few kilometres into the event and Walk the Plank is a few kilometres from the end. This is a good idea, and one I have mentioned before, as the courses seemed to be getting stale because of the same order each obstacle was in at all the different events. That being said, Fire in your Hole and Electroshock Therapy are the last two obstacles, and should always be so!
Below you can see photos on course released a few days ago on the Tough Mudder Australia Facebook page, of the event in the building process. You can also get a copy of the official map here for your viewing pleasure.
As there is less than two weeks until event weekend, entry prices have skyrocketed. Currently, tickets for either Saturday or Sunday are at $230. Steep, yes, but worth it? Some would say yes, some would say no. I personally would say if you haven't attempted a Tough Mudder before and you live in Sydney, then this price tag is well worth an experience of a lifetime, and stories to tell for years to come.
Sydney Tough Mudder is also offering some add on extras to enhance you Mudder experience, which are all relatively new to the Australasian circuit. Have a read and see if anything tickles your fancy. I've also given my personal opinion on all these extras in case you were on the fence for one (or more) of them.
Operation First Dawn:
Operation First Dawn is an exclusive add on for Mudders who want to run the Sydney course before anyone else, and before the course gets destroyed by the 10's of thousands of participants over the weekend. A small group will have a starting wave time of 7am(?) on Saturday, and will be able to tackle the course full on, and even get back in enough time to complete another lap if they so choose. Not only do you get to run before everyone else, but you get a Operation First Dawn exclusive t-shirt and bib, and a post event recovery pack.
My personal opinion is that this isn't worth the extra 70 bucks, especially on top of your ticket price. I have run in a few very first starting waves, and yes the course is so much more pristine compared to even the 3rd or 4th starting wave, but that doesn't really effect anything, does it? Tough Mudder is about overcoming the tough obstacles, not getting to Everest during First Dawn wave and climbing up before it gets muddy. That's my two cents anyways.
Tough Tents Weekend Pass:
Tough Tents is Tough Mudder's exclusive campground near the Sydney Mudder event site. This is a bring your own tent facility for Mudders who want to eat, sleep and breathe Tough Mudder over the weekend. You can "check in" from 2pm on Friday November 14, and have to "check out" by 4pm on Sunday November 16. Tough Tents Weekend Package is a 2 night booking.
This is a cool idea, especially as Sydney Mudder is actually almost 2 hours South of Sydney. For those who are participating on both days of the event, this is a fantastic option for you, and would make it much easier. Unfortunately I already have accommodation 15 minutes from the course, so I will not be camping overnight. If this is an option at the Melbourne event in 2015 though, I will most likely be taking it!
Apres Mud:
This is this official after party of the Sydney event. It is situated only 5 minutes from the course, and opens 5pm until late. There's a bar, music, fun, games and prizes, and will be pack to the rafters with fellow Tough Mudders. Your entry fee includes the chance to win some cool door prizes. Make sure you are wearing your brand new orange or Legionnaire headband and finisher shirt! Make sure you shout any Mudder wearing a 10x finisher black headband a drink (including the TMtour2014 crew!).
Ive got nothing to say about this, except I will definitely be there! Come find me and the crew, wearing the TMtour2014 shirts and black finisher headbands!
Sydney Tough Mudder is also offering some add on extras to enhance you Mudder experience, which are all relatively new to the Australasian circuit. Have a read and see if anything tickles your fancy. I've also given my personal opinion on all these extras in case you were on the fence for one (or more) of them.
Operation First Dawn:
Operation First Dawn is an exclusive add on for Mudders who want to run the Sydney course before anyone else, and before the course gets destroyed by the 10's of thousands of participants over the weekend. A small group will have a starting wave time of 7am(?) on Saturday, and will be able to tackle the course full on, and even get back in enough time to complete another lap if they so choose. Not only do you get to run before everyone else, but you get a Operation First Dawn exclusive t-shirt and bib, and a post event recovery pack.
My personal opinion is that this isn't worth the extra 70 bucks, especially on top of your ticket price. I have run in a few very first starting waves, and yes the course is so much more pristine compared to even the 3rd or 4th starting wave, but that doesn't really effect anything, does it? Tough Mudder is about overcoming the tough obstacles, not getting to Everest during First Dawn wave and climbing up before it gets muddy. That's my two cents anyways.
Tough Tents Weekend Pass:
Tough Tents is Tough Mudder's exclusive campground near the Sydney Mudder event site. This is a bring your own tent facility for Mudders who want to eat, sleep and breathe Tough Mudder over the weekend. You can "check in" from 2pm on Friday November 14, and have to "check out" by 4pm on Sunday November 16. Tough Tents Weekend Package is a 2 night booking.
This is a cool idea, especially as Sydney Mudder is actually almost 2 hours South of Sydney. For those who are participating on both days of the event, this is a fantastic option for you, and would make it much easier. Unfortunately I already have accommodation 15 minutes from the course, so I will not be camping overnight. If this is an option at the Melbourne event in 2015 though, I will most likely be taking it!
Apres Mud:
This is this official after party of the Sydney event. It is situated only 5 minutes from the course, and opens 5pm until late. There's a bar, music, fun, games and prizes, and will be pack to the rafters with fellow Tough Mudders. Your entry fee includes the chance to win some cool door prizes. Make sure you are wearing your brand new orange or Legionnaire headband and finisher shirt! Make sure you shout any Mudder wearing a 10x finisher black headband a drink (including the TMtour2014 crew!).
Ive got nothing to say about this, except I will definitely be there! Come find me and the crew, wearing the TMtour2014 shirts and black finisher headbands!
Premium Parking:
For $35 you can purchase a premium parking pass. which entitles you to park within 100 metres of the Mudder Village. Your tired and sore feet will thank you at the end of the race!
I have already condemned this in the past. In Perth the Premium Parking was literally 100 metres from the normal $10 parking, and there was a huge outcry about this. Do not purchase this parking pass - quit being lazy and walk the extra couple hundred metres to your car. You've just run about 20 kilometres, you can make it through the few hundred metres to you car!
Running of the Mo's:
Movember is upon us. For you chance to run in the ever popular 10am Mo Wave on either Saturday or Sunday, make sure you grow out your moustache gents, and ladies, we want to see those painted on mo's! Sign up here and come run with myself and my twizzled moustache extravaganza!
As I am running in the first wave of the day (not First Dawn) at 8am, I will hopefully be back in time to start my second lap with the 10am Mo people. Hope to see some killer staches this year!
For $35 you can purchase a premium parking pass. which entitles you to park within 100 metres of the Mudder Village. Your tired and sore feet will thank you at the end of the race!
I have already condemned this in the past. In Perth the Premium Parking was literally 100 metres from the normal $10 parking, and there was a huge outcry about this. Do not purchase this parking pass - quit being lazy and walk the extra couple hundred metres to your car. You've just run about 20 kilometres, you can make it through the few hundred metres to you car!
Running of the Mo's:
Movember is upon us. For you chance to run in the ever popular 10am Mo Wave on either Saturday or Sunday, make sure you grow out your moustache gents, and ladies, we want to see those painted on mo's! Sign up here and come run with myself and my twizzled moustache extravaganza!
As I am running in the first wave of the day (not First Dawn) at 8am, I will hopefully be back in time to start my second lap with the 10am Mo people. Hope to see some killer staches this year!
Wave times have been released for Sydney recently. Saturdays waves run from 8am until 1:15pm, and Sunday 9am until 10:45, with a new wave leaving every 15 minutes. This is a lot of waves being released compared to the previous Perth and Sunshine Coast events just past, which means that this will be a rather big event. I will be running on both starting waves on the weekend, and a few other laps, with wave times yet to be finalised. Stay tuned to see what the TMtour2014 crew are up to this event!
If you are running anytime over the weekend in Sydney, come find us and say hello. We love meeting fans and fellow Tough Mudder enthusiasts. I'll be wearing my black 10x Mudder Legionnaire headband and black Tough Mudder #TMtour2014 t-shirt. Just look for the dink with the top knot! Make sure you catch me at Electroshock Therapy - I've big plans for that, which you wont want to miss!
If you are running anytime over the weekend in Sydney, come find us and say hello. We love meeting fans and fellow Tough Mudder enthusiasts. I'll be wearing my black 10x Mudder Legionnaire headband and black Tough Mudder #TMtour2014 t-shirt. Just look for the dink with the top knot! Make sure you catch me at Electroshock Therapy - I've big plans for that, which you wont want to miss!
And that's about all you need to know for the upcoming Sydney Tough Mudder. A few final things to remember, don't forget your sunscreen, Mudder Legionnaire Headband, and to come find us and say hi! We'll be in the first wave, and a few other waves over the weekend, which we are working out currently, but will let you know on Facebook and Twitter in the coming days!
And lastly, you will need your TMtour2014's Tough Mudder Item Checklist, so you don't forget a single thing you'll need over the event weekend! Download it here.
And lastly, you will need your TMtour2014's Tough Mudder Item Checklist, so you don't forget a single thing you'll need over the event weekend! Download it here.
Hoo Rah fellow Mudders, see you in the pine plantations in Sydney next weekend!
#TMtour2014
#TMtour2014