Welcome back Mudders! Here is the second installment of the Sydney Tough Mudder Review. If you haven't read the first half, you can have a look here. Nothing else needs to be said really, so lets just jump right back into it!
16) Walk the Plank
A great success was this obstacle. 3 large platforms to climb up and jump off into the water below. Not much waiting times at any point over the weekend, and a good sized area for spectators to watch. Not much to be said about this obstacle – it was great.
9/10 – Would have scored a 10/10 if there had been the higher Legionnaires jump which featured in Perth a couple months ago. This needs to reappear!
A great success was this obstacle. 3 large platforms to climb up and jump off into the water below. Not much waiting times at any point over the weekend, and a good sized area for spectators to watch. Not much to be said about this obstacle – it was great.
9/10 – Would have scored a 10/10 if there had been the higher Legionnaires jump which featured in Perth a couple months ago. This needs to reappear!
17) Everest
Everest. What can I say that everyone doesn’t already know? It is a killer, and probably the second most iconic Tough Mudder obstacle (after Electroshock Therapy).
In Sydney, Everest was the Movember sponsored obstacle, and a giant moustache was painted across the whole quarter pipe. I talked to a lot of people on course this last weekend, and lots of them said they were most worried about this obstacle. It’s easy Mudders! The one thing that I’ve found which gets me over every single time now, without any help what so ever, is when you are running up (at full pace) once you get to the point where you think you can reach the top or someone’s hand, take another two running steps up. Yes, you will be able to, especially with your momentum. That way, you will almost be able to fly over the top without using your hands (which I’ve done numerous times).
That’s it. Just take 2 extra steps up to the top, and you will make it pretty much every time.
9/10 – A great spectator obstacle, and I loved how it was set up this event, with the deckchairs for people to sit and watch, and the coffee hut and everything. Was a great vibe at this obstacle.
The only reason this doesn’t get the usual 10/10 that it deserves, is because there was no added extra Legionnaires part of Everest like in Perth. You can’t go backwards TM Australia! You have to move forward, and that extra couple feet was such a success in Perth!
Sorry about the poor filming!
Everest. What can I say that everyone doesn’t already know? It is a killer, and probably the second most iconic Tough Mudder obstacle (after Electroshock Therapy).
In Sydney, Everest was the Movember sponsored obstacle, and a giant moustache was painted across the whole quarter pipe. I talked to a lot of people on course this last weekend, and lots of them said they were most worried about this obstacle. It’s easy Mudders! The one thing that I’ve found which gets me over every single time now, without any help what so ever, is when you are running up (at full pace) once you get to the point where you think you can reach the top or someone’s hand, take another two running steps up. Yes, you will be able to, especially with your momentum. That way, you will almost be able to fly over the top without using your hands (which I’ve done numerous times).
That’s it. Just take 2 extra steps up to the top, and you will make it pretty much every time.
9/10 – A great spectator obstacle, and I loved how it was set up this event, with the deckchairs for people to sit and watch, and the coffee hut and everything. Was a great vibe at this obstacle.
The only reason this doesn’t get the usual 10/10 that it deserves, is because there was no added extra Legionnaires part of Everest like in Perth. You can’t go backwards TM Australia! You have to move forward, and that extra couple feet was such a success in Perth!
Sorry about the poor filming!
18) Hangin’ Tough
By this point of the event, we had run maybe 18 kilometres through brutal terrain, obstacles and mud. So for those who didn’t make it across Hangin’ Tough, I don’t blame you!
Once again, this was the first time this obstacle has made an appearance in Sydney. It was tweaked a little bit from previous Mudders this year, as the rings were higher than before, making it even harder for people to make it across, let alone reach the first or second ring!
On a personal note, I tried this obstacle 3 times this weekend, making it across the first and third time. The video below shows my first time ever completing this obstacle (on my first lap in sydney), as in Perth I had a broken hand and couldn’t make it past half way, and in Sunshine Coast I slipped off all 3 times in the pouring rain.
What I found made this obstacle really simple, was using my gloves. It was almost hard to let go off the last ring at the end, as they gripped so well!
All that being said, I feel unfortunately that this obstacle is phasing out Funky Monkey. This is the second time this year where there has been Hangin’ Tough yet no Funky Monkey. The monkey bars are my favourite obstacle, and I hope that in future events they can both feature!
8/10 – If the rings were even just an inch lower, many more people would have made it across. As it’s a new obstacle this year, just like Leap of Faith I assume TM Australia are playing around with it to find a nice level of toughness while still be able to complete it. Will definitely rate higher if the rings were an inch or two closer to the ground.
Apologies to the lady who I seemed to push straight into the drink!
By this point of the event, we had run maybe 18 kilometres through brutal terrain, obstacles and mud. So for those who didn’t make it across Hangin’ Tough, I don’t blame you!
Once again, this was the first time this obstacle has made an appearance in Sydney. It was tweaked a little bit from previous Mudders this year, as the rings were higher than before, making it even harder for people to make it across, let alone reach the first or second ring!
On a personal note, I tried this obstacle 3 times this weekend, making it across the first and third time. The video below shows my first time ever completing this obstacle (on my first lap in sydney), as in Perth I had a broken hand and couldn’t make it past half way, and in Sunshine Coast I slipped off all 3 times in the pouring rain.
What I found made this obstacle really simple, was using my gloves. It was almost hard to let go off the last ring at the end, as they gripped so well!
All that being said, I feel unfortunately that this obstacle is phasing out Funky Monkey. This is the second time this year where there has been Hangin’ Tough yet no Funky Monkey. The monkey bars are my favourite obstacle, and I hope that in future events they can both feature!
8/10 – If the rings were even just an inch lower, many more people would have made it across. As it’s a new obstacle this year, just like Leap of Faith I assume TM Australia are playing around with it to find a nice level of toughness while still be able to complete it. Will definitely rate higher if the rings were an inch or two closer to the ground.
Apologies to the lady who I seemed to push straight into the drink!
19) Fire in your Hole
For pretty much every returning Tough Mudder, this is the number one reason they have returned – to give this big bad boy a try! Who wouldn’t want to fly down a waterside, through a 5 foot high wall of flame and be thrown into a pool of water?
Honestly, it’s amazing. Check out the video of myself doing it below. The only downside, is there wasn’t much room for spectators to watch – I’m sure this would get as many spectators as Electroshock Therapy given the chance!
9/10 – Amazing obstacle. Just hope they can get the fires up higher and higher as the events roll on!
This only scored a 9/10, as you can see in the video of myself below, the lip at the end of the slide wasn't extremely big, and didn't send you very far flying as previous Mudder this year - a little disappointing to be honest (as you can tell by my reaction after flying into the drink).
For pretty much every returning Tough Mudder, this is the number one reason they have returned – to give this big bad boy a try! Who wouldn’t want to fly down a waterside, through a 5 foot high wall of flame and be thrown into a pool of water?
Honestly, it’s amazing. Check out the video of myself doing it below. The only downside, is there wasn’t much room for spectators to watch – I’m sure this would get as many spectators as Electroshock Therapy given the chance!
9/10 – Amazing obstacle. Just hope they can get the fires up higher and higher as the events roll on!
This only scored a 9/10, as you can see in the video of myself below, the lip at the end of the slide wasn't extremely big, and didn't send you very far flying as previous Mudder this year - a little disappointing to be honest (as you can tell by my reaction after flying into the drink).
20) Electroshock Therapy
This is the one obstacle everyone hates (not including that bastard Electric Eel - worst ever. I'm so glad it has barely made an appearance this year!). Quite a lot of people bypass this obstacle, and I really really do not like the Mudder Legionnaires bypass option on this one. Just because you’ve run a Tough Mudder before doesn’t mean you should bypass a little zapping. The finish line is literally 5 metres past the end of the shocks, and it only takes 4 seconds to run through! The shocks aren’t even that bad! Suck it up guys!
Anyways, this as usual was awesome, especially to watch (the running through isn't as great, especially the anticipation - that's what gets everyone!). Spectators absolutely love this one, and if you search on YouTube, you will find many many videos of people getting zapped. It’s awesome!
9/10 – Will be 10/10 when TM Australia take away the bypass option for Legionnaires. The only people who should be bypassing this obstacle are those with heart problems, metal in their bodies or anything else along these lines. You know, real reasons to not get zapped! Aside from that, nothing should be changed about this obstacle!
This is the one obstacle everyone hates (not including that bastard Electric Eel - worst ever. I'm so glad it has barely made an appearance this year!). Quite a lot of people bypass this obstacle, and I really really do not like the Mudder Legionnaires bypass option on this one. Just because you’ve run a Tough Mudder before doesn’t mean you should bypass a little zapping. The finish line is literally 5 metres past the end of the shocks, and it only takes 4 seconds to run through! The shocks aren’t even that bad! Suck it up guys!
Anyways, this as usual was awesome, especially to watch (the running through isn't as great, especially the anticipation - that's what gets everyone!). Spectators absolutely love this one, and if you search on YouTube, you will find many many videos of people getting zapped. It’s awesome!
9/10 – Will be 10/10 when TM Australia take away the bypass option for Legionnaires. The only people who should be bypassing this obstacle are those with heart problems, metal in their bodies or anything else along these lines. You know, real reasons to not get zapped! Aside from that, nothing should be changed about this obstacle!
So that was the Sydney Tough Mudder Review. How did you go? How do you rate this event – easier or harder than Sydney last year, or any other events? Was it your first time, or do you get a coloured Legionnaires Headband?
Let us know your thoughts! We met so many amazing people on course this last weekend, and I hope you did too. Tough Mudder is truly all about the comradery!
Adelaide Tough Mudder, the last of the season, is only 3 weeks away. Hopefully TM Australia can take the good from Sydney and implement it, and fix some of the problems that were faced over the last event. Make sure you find our Adelaide review in 4 weeks to see if anything was fixed!
So Hoo Rah Mudders, see you in a month, front row centre in the starting waves of both Saturday and Sunday in Adelaide! Keep up the training, and lets smash out the last event of the Tough Mudder Australasian season, and the last leg of the Tough Mudder Tour 2014 together!
#TMtour2014
Let us know your thoughts! We met so many amazing people on course this last weekend, and I hope you did too. Tough Mudder is truly all about the comradery!
Adelaide Tough Mudder, the last of the season, is only 3 weeks away. Hopefully TM Australia can take the good from Sydney and implement it, and fix some of the problems that were faced over the last event. Make sure you find our Adelaide review in 4 weeks to see if anything was fixed!
So Hoo Rah Mudders, see you in a month, front row centre in the starting waves of both Saturday and Sunday in Adelaide! Keep up the training, and lets smash out the last event of the Tough Mudder Australasian season, and the last leg of the Tough Mudder Tour 2014 together!
#TMtour2014