Only one word can describe the Sydney Tough Mudder this past weekend – Brutal. No course so far this year in Australasia has come close to the toughness of this event, and I for one am extremely happy about this. Extremely sore, but happy!
There was barely a foot set wrong the entire weekend, which is fantastic. It really shows that Tough Mudder Australia listens to us fans and participants. But you haven’t come here to read about the little things that went right or wrong, you’ve come here to read all about the most important part on any Tough Mudder course – the obstacles! So here is the Tough Mudder Tour 2014 review of the Sydney obstacles!
There was barely a foot set wrong the entire weekend, which is fantastic. It really shows that Tough Mudder Australia listens to us fans and participants. But you haven’t come here to read about the little things that went right or wrong, you’ve come here to read all about the most important part on any Tough Mudder course – the obstacles! So here is the Tough Mudder Tour 2014 review of the Sydney obstacles!
I have rated and talked about every obstacle that was on course in Sydney. Overall it was a great course, but a few obstacle lacked something. If you don't know what some of the obstacles are, you can click on some of their names which will take you to their Obstacle Series reviews (if one has been uploaded for that obstacle).
Also, as this is such a long Event Review, it has been split into two parts. You can find the Sydney Tough Mudder Review PART 2 here.
- Michael
Also, as this is such a long Event Review, it has been split into two parts. You can find the Sydney Tough Mudder Review PART 2 here.
- Michael
1) Kiss of Mud
The first obstacle of the course, and the first chance to really get muddy. The crawl was only about 10 metres long, but was quite muddy even during the starting wave. As the day and weekend wore on, and more and more people crawled through, the mud got lower, making the barbed wires above our heads higher and easier to crawl on hands and knees, rather than on our stomachs. With the rain on Sunday, this obstacle was able to keep extremely muddy throughout the entire weekend, which was good.
7/10 – too short, too easy later in the days, but nicely muddy. You might want to think about long leggins and long sleeve tops just for this obstacle alone - you should see the scratches all down both arms and legs from this one!
The first obstacle of the course, and the first chance to really get muddy. The crawl was only about 10 metres long, but was quite muddy even during the starting wave. As the day and weekend wore on, and more and more people crawled through, the mud got lower, making the barbed wires above our heads higher and easier to crawl on hands and knees, rather than on our stomachs. With the rain on Sunday, this obstacle was able to keep extremely muddy throughout the entire weekend, which was good.
7/10 – too short, too easy later in the days, but nicely muddy. You might want to think about long leggins and long sleeve tops just for this obstacle alone - you should see the scratches all down both arms and legs from this one!
2) Glory Blades
Glory Blades was the first test of strength for this event, and were strategically placed at the very top of the first hill climb of the day (and not a small hill either). Two blades as per usual, jutting out at a 45 degree angles. These are always a killer to get over by yourself, and much easier as a team. There is a simple way to get over yourself though, which you can find out in the Obstacle Review for Glory Blades.
9/10 – One of the tougher obstacles in this event. One suggestion for Tough Mudder? Give us three blades next time – really stick it to us!
Glory Blades was the first test of strength for this event, and were strategically placed at the very top of the first hill climb of the day (and not a small hill either). Two blades as per usual, jutting out at a 45 degree angles. These are always a killer to get over by yourself, and much easier as a team. There is a simple way to get over yourself though, which you can find out in the Obstacle Review for Glory Blades.
9/10 – One of the tougher obstacles in this event. One suggestion for Tough Mudder? Give us three blades next time – really stick it to us!
3) Arctic Enema
What can I say – this obstacle is damn cold! There was 3 big skips filled with water and ice this weekend, but for half of Saturday and all of Sunday one of the skips were closed for some reason. For the first couple of hours on Saturday, the skips were filled up to about chest height, but after about 11am Saturday onwards for the rest of the weekend, it barely made hip height. This meant that it was possible to go under the barrier without putting your head underwater. Even with the volunteers yelling at all the Mudders on Sunday, barely any of them put their heads under because they didn’t have too.
What this obstacle needed was more ice and more water. This has happened at most events this year, but it is an easy fix. What I would like to see is a bigger freezer container with more ice bags to fill up the skips when needed. I want to see Arctic Enema full up throughout the entire event weekend!
6/10 – A great obstacle (one of my favourites), yet a big let down with how low the water levels got, and the shutdown of a third of the skips!
4) Mud Mile
Just like every other event I have run in, the Mud Mile starts of all pristine and perfecting looking – filled with mud and high banks to crawl over. But by about the 4th or 5th wave, these banks start getting wrecked, and big chunks get ripped out, leaving big gaps almost big enough for people to walk straight through the entire obstacle. This happened again in Sydney. In the first wave, it was extremely hard to get over the banks by myself, yet by lunchtime on Saturday, barely anyone needed a hand over. On Sunday it looked like nothing was done overnight to fix this problem either.
I did however like the extra Mud Mile around the corner from the first one. Just as you get out and continue on your way, nope. Another Mud Mile in your face!
6/10 – Another good obstacle, just let down by not enough upkeep. Even if it was ‘repaired’ somewhat overnight, it would be much better for the Sunday runners, and would score higher.
5) Devils Beard
Devils Beard has only featured in a couple Australasian events this year, and because of its simplicity, I assume will be featuring in many more upcoming events. I don’t think we’ve written about this obstacle before in the TMtour2014 blog, so what it is is just a giant net which you have to crawl under. It is quite large and heavy, and extremely difficult to even crawl under on all fours, let alone just walk under. A trick that I’ve found which works for myself though, is to walk backwards hunched over, letting the net slide over your back.
I did like the volunteers at this obstacle in the last few events, who have all been yelling at us runners to make sure we crawl on our stomachs, as that’s the way it ‘supposed’ to be completed.
7/10 – A simple, yet somewhat taxing addition to the obstacle circuit.
6) Cliff Climb
This was a pretty cool use of the land. We had to climb up a cliff face, almost vertical, for about 15-20 metres. Difficult in places, and really challenging.
9/10 – Not really an obstacle, more a use of the terrain, yet still fun, challenging and enjoyable. Hopefully Adelaide and future Mudders use the layout of the land more like this.
7) Hold Your Wood
I like this obstacle, as it involves both strength and teamwork. Carry a piece of wood, either a couple feet long for the singles, or 6-7 feet long for the teams, around a 100 metres circle track back to the beginning.
If I had one gripe with this obstacle in Sydney, it would be that the track was much too short. At a walk, it took less than a minute to walk around the track. If I was to fix it, I would make the track 2-3 times longer, and have many many more team logs, and less single person logs. That way it would be more than likely that you have to carry your wood with someone else – comradery!
7/10 – A little easy, yet a good strength/team working obstacle.
8) Soldier Sling
Tough Mudder Australia supports the Soldier On foundation, and this is their obstacle. Carry someone over your shoulder, or piggy back someone 100 metres, than switch for the second 100 metres.
This is a good way to meet some of your fellow Mudders on course if you are in a team with an odd number of people or just running by yourself. I carried/got carried by 3 randoms over the weekend in my laps, and had a great chat with them for the next few minutes, learning their Mudder stories and why they were there.
Maybe at your next event, carry someone you don’t know and who isn’t in your team. A two minute bonding session can have a lasting impact on your weekend.
8/10 – A good obstacle for a good cause.
What can I say – this obstacle is damn cold! There was 3 big skips filled with water and ice this weekend, but for half of Saturday and all of Sunday one of the skips were closed for some reason. For the first couple of hours on Saturday, the skips were filled up to about chest height, but after about 11am Saturday onwards for the rest of the weekend, it barely made hip height. This meant that it was possible to go under the barrier without putting your head underwater. Even with the volunteers yelling at all the Mudders on Sunday, barely any of them put their heads under because they didn’t have too.
What this obstacle needed was more ice and more water. This has happened at most events this year, but it is an easy fix. What I would like to see is a bigger freezer container with more ice bags to fill up the skips when needed. I want to see Arctic Enema full up throughout the entire event weekend!
6/10 – A great obstacle (one of my favourites), yet a big let down with how low the water levels got, and the shutdown of a third of the skips!
4) Mud Mile
Just like every other event I have run in, the Mud Mile starts of all pristine and perfecting looking – filled with mud and high banks to crawl over. But by about the 4th or 5th wave, these banks start getting wrecked, and big chunks get ripped out, leaving big gaps almost big enough for people to walk straight through the entire obstacle. This happened again in Sydney. In the first wave, it was extremely hard to get over the banks by myself, yet by lunchtime on Saturday, barely anyone needed a hand over. On Sunday it looked like nothing was done overnight to fix this problem either.
I did however like the extra Mud Mile around the corner from the first one. Just as you get out and continue on your way, nope. Another Mud Mile in your face!
6/10 – Another good obstacle, just let down by not enough upkeep. Even if it was ‘repaired’ somewhat overnight, it would be much better for the Sunday runners, and would score higher.
5) Devils Beard
Devils Beard has only featured in a couple Australasian events this year, and because of its simplicity, I assume will be featuring in many more upcoming events. I don’t think we’ve written about this obstacle before in the TMtour2014 blog, so what it is is just a giant net which you have to crawl under. It is quite large and heavy, and extremely difficult to even crawl under on all fours, let alone just walk under. A trick that I’ve found which works for myself though, is to walk backwards hunched over, letting the net slide over your back.
I did like the volunteers at this obstacle in the last few events, who have all been yelling at us runners to make sure we crawl on our stomachs, as that’s the way it ‘supposed’ to be completed.
7/10 – A simple, yet somewhat taxing addition to the obstacle circuit.
6) Cliff Climb
This was a pretty cool use of the land. We had to climb up a cliff face, almost vertical, for about 15-20 metres. Difficult in places, and really challenging.
9/10 – Not really an obstacle, more a use of the terrain, yet still fun, challenging and enjoyable. Hopefully Adelaide and future Mudders use the layout of the land more like this.
7) Hold Your Wood
I like this obstacle, as it involves both strength and teamwork. Carry a piece of wood, either a couple feet long for the singles, or 6-7 feet long for the teams, around a 100 metres circle track back to the beginning.
If I had one gripe with this obstacle in Sydney, it would be that the track was much too short. At a walk, it took less than a minute to walk around the track. If I was to fix it, I would make the track 2-3 times longer, and have many many more team logs, and less single person logs. That way it would be more than likely that you have to carry your wood with someone else – comradery!
7/10 – A little easy, yet a good strength/team working obstacle.
8) Soldier Sling
Tough Mudder Australia supports the Soldier On foundation, and this is their obstacle. Carry someone over your shoulder, or piggy back someone 100 metres, than switch for the second 100 metres.
This is a good way to meet some of your fellow Mudders on course if you are in a team with an odd number of people or just running by yourself. I carried/got carried by 3 randoms over the weekend in my laps, and had a great chat with them for the next few minutes, learning their Mudder stories and why they were there.
Maybe at your next event, carry someone you don’t know and who isn’t in your team. A two minute bonding session can have a lasting impact on your weekend.
8/10 – A good obstacle for a good cause.
9) Lumber Jacked
This was a killer in my 3rd lap on Saturday, and last lap on Sunday. We had to jump over a log which was at about chest/head level for most people. Quite difficult by yourself, but easy enough with a boost from someone.
The only problem I found with this obstacle was that the log was simple cut down from a forest (or wherever), and hadn’t been sanded down or anything. It was very rough, and lots of people got cut up pretty bad while trying to get over. A quick sand down of the logs, or even if they were wrapped in something, like a Tough Mudder logo riddled plastic sheeting, would have made the obstacle much nicer.
6/10 – Too much blood loss from all the scratches for this obstacle to rate any higher. Apply one of the suggestions I just mentioned above, and would probably rate an 8 or higher out of 10, as it was quite difficult, and made you rely on your team mates, which is what Tough Mudder is about.
10) Prairie Dog
This obstacle barely even rates a mention in this review in my opinion. We had to crawl through a 3 metres long tunnel, and exit out into a pond, where we had to walk through to the other side. It was silly, and poorly designed. I think that instead of this, Tough Mudder Australia should have placed Sewage Outlet – basically the same obstacle, but with the added drop into the water, rather than just climbing out of the tunnel into it. Sadly, Sewerage Outlet has only made an appearance at the Sunshine Coast event this year in Australasia.
4/10 – I don’t rate this obstacle at all, and give it a high rating of 4/10 only because I had a few good laughs at people trying to get out of the tunnels by turning onto their backs, and trying not to fall into the water, yet falling head under (myself included).
Sewage Outlet scored an 9/10 for myself on the Sunshine Coast. Tough Mudder Aus – take note!
11) Berlin Walls
This is the obstacle everyone has a love/hate relationship with. I know on my first lap as I turned the corner and saw these bad boys towering over me, I was extremely happy to try them. But by my third lap, I hated them so much! Don't even ask how I felt about them on my 4th and last lap for the weekend!
This obstacle, no matter how much help you get from your teammates, always takes a toll, and is extremely difficult. At this event, there was two walls. The first wall had a piece of wood you could half step on a couple feet off the ground, to give you a boost. On the other side there was another step about 5 foot off the ground, so you could stand on and help people over.
The second wall was a little different. It was about a foot shorter, but didn’t have a step to help you over.
9/10 – Always a high scorer. Lost points for having a smaller second wall, but gained them back by not having the step to help over that same wall.
12) Quagmire
This obstacle changed quite a bit over the weekend. What it was was a big whole dug into the ground, with a steep slope on either side which you walk/slide/fall down to get in and up to get out of, and the middle filled with water.
On my first lap, it was extremely difficult to climb out of, as there was no one around me at the current time, and nothing to help me out. Somehow I managed though, yet I wondered at the time how others would fare.
On my second lap (a couple hours later) there were some poles in the ground on the slope to get out, which people were using to pull themselves out. This was a good idea, and helped people quite a bit.
On my third lap on Saturday, around 3 o’clock, there was the addition of a cargo net from the bottom to the top of the exit slope. People were basically walking out of the obstacle at this point. I thought this made it much too easy, and elected to climb out using the cargo net to a very minimum. (On Sunday the cargo net was still in place).
7/10 – Would have scored a 9/10 if no extras were added to help people out of the obstacle, and would have scored an 8/10 if they didn’t throw in the cargo net and just kept the poles to use for help. Still, it was a fun and challenging obstacle.
This was a killer in my 3rd lap on Saturday, and last lap on Sunday. We had to jump over a log which was at about chest/head level for most people. Quite difficult by yourself, but easy enough with a boost from someone.
The only problem I found with this obstacle was that the log was simple cut down from a forest (or wherever), and hadn’t been sanded down or anything. It was very rough, and lots of people got cut up pretty bad while trying to get over. A quick sand down of the logs, or even if they were wrapped in something, like a Tough Mudder logo riddled plastic sheeting, would have made the obstacle much nicer.
6/10 – Too much blood loss from all the scratches for this obstacle to rate any higher. Apply one of the suggestions I just mentioned above, and would probably rate an 8 or higher out of 10, as it was quite difficult, and made you rely on your team mates, which is what Tough Mudder is about.
10) Prairie Dog
This obstacle barely even rates a mention in this review in my opinion. We had to crawl through a 3 metres long tunnel, and exit out into a pond, where we had to walk through to the other side. It was silly, and poorly designed. I think that instead of this, Tough Mudder Australia should have placed Sewage Outlet – basically the same obstacle, but with the added drop into the water, rather than just climbing out of the tunnel into it. Sadly, Sewerage Outlet has only made an appearance at the Sunshine Coast event this year in Australasia.
4/10 – I don’t rate this obstacle at all, and give it a high rating of 4/10 only because I had a few good laughs at people trying to get out of the tunnels by turning onto their backs, and trying not to fall into the water, yet falling head under (myself included).
Sewage Outlet scored an 9/10 for myself on the Sunshine Coast. Tough Mudder Aus – take note!
11) Berlin Walls
This is the obstacle everyone has a love/hate relationship with. I know on my first lap as I turned the corner and saw these bad boys towering over me, I was extremely happy to try them. But by my third lap, I hated them so much! Don't even ask how I felt about them on my 4th and last lap for the weekend!
This obstacle, no matter how much help you get from your teammates, always takes a toll, and is extremely difficult. At this event, there was two walls. The first wall had a piece of wood you could half step on a couple feet off the ground, to give you a boost. On the other side there was another step about 5 foot off the ground, so you could stand on and help people over.
The second wall was a little different. It was about a foot shorter, but didn’t have a step to help you over.
9/10 – Always a high scorer. Lost points for having a smaller second wall, but gained them back by not having the step to help over that same wall.
12) Quagmire
This obstacle changed quite a bit over the weekend. What it was was a big whole dug into the ground, with a steep slope on either side which you walk/slide/fall down to get in and up to get out of, and the middle filled with water.
On my first lap, it was extremely difficult to climb out of, as there was no one around me at the current time, and nothing to help me out. Somehow I managed though, yet I wondered at the time how others would fare.
On my second lap (a couple hours later) there were some poles in the ground on the slope to get out, which people were using to pull themselves out. This was a good idea, and helped people quite a bit.
On my third lap on Saturday, around 3 o’clock, there was the addition of a cargo net from the bottom to the top of the exit slope. People were basically walking out of the obstacle at this point. I thought this made it much too easy, and elected to climb out using the cargo net to a very minimum. (On Sunday the cargo net was still in place).
7/10 – Would have scored a 9/10 if no extras were added to help people out of the obstacle, and would have scored an 8/10 if they didn’t throw in the cargo net and just kept the poles to use for help. Still, it was a fun and challenging obstacle.
13) Leap of Faith
This was the first time Leap of Faith has appeared in Sydney, and 90% of the participants this weekend were first timers for this obstacle. You could tell this by the extremely long waiting times and queues to try it (It has appeared in most of the other Mudders in Australia this year).
This is definitely turning into a fan favourite obstacle though. What you do is leap over the water off a platform, grab onto the cargo net and pull yourself up until you reach the top, climb over and down the other side.
At the last event, in Perth September, the Leap of Faith cargo net was almost dangerously low to the water. People were leaping and trying to not only catch onto the net with their hands, but trying to place their feet in the bottom rungs of the net. I saw a few people’s hands slip, and their legs getting caught up in the net. Not safe. Tough Mudder obviously noticed this as well, as they placed the bottom of the Sydney event cargo net at about eye level this time, which was maybe 6 feet above the water.
I feel personally, and I know a lot of other people feel the same way, that this was a little too high. Talking to the volunteers on Sunday at the obstacle, and they said very very few females had made it all weekend, and half the males were not making it either. I think that the net was maybe a few inches just too high. Hopefully in Adelaide next month, Tough Mudder will split the difference between Perth and Sydney, and lower the net just a little bit, so more people can make it across.
That being said though, I still loved this obstacle, and personally made it (just) on all three attempts over the weekend.
8/10 – Lost points for being a touch too hard for most people, and if this is rectified in Adelaide, would probably score a 9/10 or higher. Definitely one of the new fan favourites!
14) Pole Dancer
Another new obstacle for Sydney, and one most people wouldn’t have tried before. This is a pure test of strength, as you use only (note ONLY) your arms to climb over the poles, which are placed maybe 2 feet apart. The first half is slanted uphill, and the second half is slanted downwards.
The way to do it (which is probably pretty bad for you in all honest) is to lock your shoulders and elbows, and keep them as straight as possible, while moving one hand a couple inches forward, then the other hand. The hardest part is getting over the top, changing from going uphill to downhill. At this point, most people who have made it this far fall, as you are leaning forwards to get momentum on the slope up, but as you change to the downwards part you forget you are leaning forward and topple over.
A word of advice? Don’t try and stop yourself if you fall – shoulders WILL be ripped out of sockets!
There were 4, maybe even 5, sets of poles going at once, which was good compared to the 2 when this obstacle made its first appearance back in the Sunshine Coast event. Even so, there was a very long wait in Sydney towards the end of the days.
And finally, people – stop using your legs to slide down the end, or even to climb up the first half! No feet or legs allowed on this obstacle – hands only!
9/10 – Aside from the waiting times, this is a fantastic obstacle. I don’t know any other way to cut down waiting times aside from building more lines though, but hopefully this is doable in Adelaide!
This was the first time Leap of Faith has appeared in Sydney, and 90% of the participants this weekend were first timers for this obstacle. You could tell this by the extremely long waiting times and queues to try it (It has appeared in most of the other Mudders in Australia this year).
This is definitely turning into a fan favourite obstacle though. What you do is leap over the water off a platform, grab onto the cargo net and pull yourself up until you reach the top, climb over and down the other side.
At the last event, in Perth September, the Leap of Faith cargo net was almost dangerously low to the water. People were leaping and trying to not only catch onto the net with their hands, but trying to place their feet in the bottom rungs of the net. I saw a few people’s hands slip, and their legs getting caught up in the net. Not safe. Tough Mudder obviously noticed this as well, as they placed the bottom of the Sydney event cargo net at about eye level this time, which was maybe 6 feet above the water.
I feel personally, and I know a lot of other people feel the same way, that this was a little too high. Talking to the volunteers on Sunday at the obstacle, and they said very very few females had made it all weekend, and half the males were not making it either. I think that the net was maybe a few inches just too high. Hopefully in Adelaide next month, Tough Mudder will split the difference between Perth and Sydney, and lower the net just a little bit, so more people can make it across.
That being said though, I still loved this obstacle, and personally made it (just) on all three attempts over the weekend.
8/10 – Lost points for being a touch too hard for most people, and if this is rectified in Adelaide, would probably score a 9/10 or higher. Definitely one of the new fan favourites!
14) Pole Dancer
Another new obstacle for Sydney, and one most people wouldn’t have tried before. This is a pure test of strength, as you use only (note ONLY) your arms to climb over the poles, which are placed maybe 2 feet apart. The first half is slanted uphill, and the second half is slanted downwards.
The way to do it (which is probably pretty bad for you in all honest) is to lock your shoulders and elbows, and keep them as straight as possible, while moving one hand a couple inches forward, then the other hand. The hardest part is getting over the top, changing from going uphill to downhill. At this point, most people who have made it this far fall, as you are leaning forwards to get momentum on the slope up, but as you change to the downwards part you forget you are leaning forward and topple over.
A word of advice? Don’t try and stop yourself if you fall – shoulders WILL be ripped out of sockets!
There were 4, maybe even 5, sets of poles going at once, which was good compared to the 2 when this obstacle made its first appearance back in the Sunshine Coast event. Even so, there was a very long wait in Sydney towards the end of the days.
And finally, people – stop using your legs to slide down the end, or even to climb up the first half! No feet or legs allowed on this obstacle – hands only!
9/10 – Aside from the waiting times, this is a fantastic obstacle. I don’t know any other way to cut down waiting times aside from building more lines though, but hopefully this is doable in Adelaide!
15) Gas Tank Climb
This was a good way to use the terrain of the Sydney farmland as part of the course. There was a giant gas tank, maybe 2.5 metres tall and rounded, with a cargo net thrown over the top for us all to climb over. Sounds simple, yet surprisingly difficult. I did personally overcome it every time, but it was difficult.
As only two people could climb at once over it, and there were 2 gas tanks next to each other, there was a huge wait time for this obstacle again. There was another 2 sets of gas tanks after the first set, both with cargo nets at the base obviously ready to be thrown over by a Mudder staff member, but this never happened over the weekend. This could have cut down waiting times, if all three sets of Gas Tanks were used, and people were told to only climb one set. That would have split the waiting time down to a third.
7/10 – Good use of the surroundings, but not a favourite of mine. I’m hoping this gets replaced with something else in upcoming events, like climbing over a hay bale pyramid (can’t remember the name of this, or where I’ve done it, but it’s been done before to great success).
This was a good way to use the terrain of the Sydney farmland as part of the course. There was a giant gas tank, maybe 2.5 metres tall and rounded, with a cargo net thrown over the top for us all to climb over. Sounds simple, yet surprisingly difficult. I did personally overcome it every time, but it was difficult.
As only two people could climb at once over it, and there were 2 gas tanks next to each other, there was a huge wait time for this obstacle again. There was another 2 sets of gas tanks after the first set, both with cargo nets at the base obviously ready to be thrown over by a Mudder staff member, but this never happened over the weekend. This could have cut down waiting times, if all three sets of Gas Tanks were used, and people were told to only climb one set. That would have split the waiting time down to a third.
7/10 – Good use of the surroundings, but not a favourite of mine. I’m hoping this gets replaced with something else in upcoming events, like climbing over a hay bale pyramid (can’t remember the name of this, or where I’ve done it, but it’s been done before to great success).
So that's the first half of the Sydney Tough Mudder Review. The second and final installment of the Sydney Review is up, and you can find it here. The obstacles in the second half of the course just get bigger and better - you don't want to miss out!
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