It all started on a very warm night back in July. My weight had been steadily creeping up and I was feeling fairly miserable about it. I was chatting to my husband in the garden (over a gin or two) and telling him my summer plans to hit the gym, lose those extra pounds and get back into shape.
“Why don’t you do Tough Mudder?”
At first I thought he’d gone mad. My husband did it last year and he’s a lot fitter than I am. Trying to get to a point where I could run over 11 miles, whilst completing various obstacles and with a whole lot of mud thrown in, in just under 2 months seemed like Mission Impossible.
But he did have a point, I needed something to focus on and work towards. Plus there was a team entering from the gym so I wouldn’t be on my own. So spurred on by the gin I signed up that night before I could change my mind.
A big chunk of my summer holidays have been spent at the gym or getting out running. It’s been hard and there have been days where I really couldn’t be bothered but knowing I had Tough Mudder looming always spurred me on. Sunday morning lie-ins have been replaced with Warrior Training and getting to know the lovely girls (and a few men too) who would be running alongside me.
The weeks have flown and the 13th September arrived. It was a very quiet coach ride on a chilly Saturday morning as we all contemplated what lay ahead, and before we knew it we were arriving.
There’s a lot to be said for nervous adrenaline as we registered, got our race numbers, drew our numbers on our faces and waited! The buggers make you climb over a wall before you can even get to the start line, but at 8:20am we were off!
I’m not going to run you through every obstacle, I’ll be here forever, but here are my highlights:
Mud mile – it is what it says it is and when you’re stuck in mud unable to move you need a few friends on hand to help you out. The loveliest thing about Tough Mudder is that there is always someone willing to help, whether you know them or not.
Arctic Enema – or the ice bath. The Big Mr had warned me about this and said that none of the girls he had completed it with had managed to go under the tyres (you climb in and then have to swim under tyres to get to the other end). You can come out the side if you want. I hate being cold and this is one of the obstacles I had been dreading. I know that hubby expected me to climb straight out the side.
They’re not kidding when they say it’s cold, I climbed in and could feel myself starting to panic. I hung onto the side trying to regulate my breathing, whilst one of the men in charge came over to tell the lady volunteer they were behind schedule and to get people out if they weren’t going under. There was no way I was getting out, I stared him, “I’m doing this” It’s amazing the strength you get when trying to prove your husband wrong!
And the lowlights:
Hero Walls – the elation at climbing up a 12 foot wall, with a bit of help, soon vanished when instead of delicately lowering myself down I slipped and went down like a sack of sh*t. At least it provided a bit of a giggle for those around me!
Everest – despite four attempts and managing to grab someone’s hand three times I still couldn’t manage to get to the top!
It was tough and about 4 miles in I honestly thought I wasn’t going to finish, and if you’d asked me if I’d ever do another one the answer would have been a definite NO! But after hitting the 6 mile mark with a very welcome Energy Bar stand to refuel I started to believe I could get to the end.
Nothing beats that feeling when you see the finish line and are heading towards it. The only downside being that you are heading towards it through a sea of wires all set to give you an electric shock!
There have been quite a lot of pictures from the event and what hits me when looking at them is how much we are all smiling. The bad moments fade away and the lasting memories are the good ones. The ones where we were laughing and helping each other and applauding as we conquered another obstacle, or just managed to get unstuck from a pile of stinking mud.
A few years ago the thought of being covered in mud from head to toe would have sent me into a mild panic but it has been one of the best (and most fun) things I’ve ever done, so yes, I will be back for more. I’ve already signed up to do Survival of the Fittest in November and I’m sure I’ll be doing another Tough Mudder one day. If only to get to the top of Everest!
Oh blimey that sounds really really tough and Everest looks so high. You did amazingly well though and I’m not sure I could have got through even half of that. Your pink tutu manages to somehow still look very pink all the way through 🙂
Holy mozers Jo you must be super fit to have completed this! Well done you! My friend’s hubby signed up to Tough Mudder but chickened out of actually doing it #magicmoments
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Wow, a big well done. What an absolutely amazing thing to do, I can only just run up the stairs without bursting a lung so you did so well. Looks like you had an amazing time and those pictures are just great, you look brilliant even covered in mud! Thank you for linking up to #magicmoments
The Mummy Diary recently posted…Learning to Draw
lol what fun! you did really well and I am amazed you finished with all that mad.
jollyjillys recently posted…Magic Moments: Wonderful Cakes and New Friends
Wow that looks mental but in a good way,good on you for doing such a hardcore task! p.s loving the tutu 🙂
Well done, Tough Mudder looks like one serious challenge and I’m so impressed you managed to complete it! The pictures are great, don’t fancy the Arctic Enema, looks freezing! Popping in from Magic Moments.
bloody hell Jo you did amazingly!! Wow i am so impressed.
And you are right you are smiling all the way though and i sort of feel like i’d like to try it too now! Well done 🙂 xxx
Katie recently posted…Aldi ‘n’ Proud
Wow! I have so much respect for people who undertake feats of endurance like this. You’re amazing! And I love the tutu! Definitely do more!!!
Lisa Savage recently posted…Silent Sunday 21.09.14
You are SO inspiring! There I was patting myself on the back for entering my first 10 mile run and you’ve gone and done 12 miles PLUS an ice bath PLUS everest!!! Seriously impressed – you should be very, very proud of yourself x
Michelle Reeves (bodfortea) recently posted…Countdown to running 10 miles: 7 weeks to go
Wow wow WOW! This is seriously awesome and you are definitely one tough mudder! We had lunch with a friend last week who was doing TM also, and even he was approaching it with a bit of apprehension. Well done you, it must have felt just fantastic to prove your hubby wrong! Definitely not keen on the electric shock therapy at the end, urgh! Thanks for linking up to #AllAboutYou, and well done!
Mama and More aka Zaz recently posted…All About You Link & Pin Party
Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment. I’ve always been a spectator for these kinds of things (my husband is an avid marathoner), but your post now motivates me to try it.
Maria recently posted…The One with Fall Wardrobe Essentials
My husband and son would love to do one of these. I’m very impressed that you completed it and were still smiling! Love your pink tutu! Best of luck on the next one! #allaboutyou
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Oh my goodness this sounds pretty hellish to me but sounds like it was a really good experience at the same time. Lovely to hear how supportive your fellow competitors were too! Well done you, seriously, what an achievement! Xx #allaboutyou
Caroline (Becoming a SAHM) recently posted…Lifting the veil of denial
I got all teary eyed just reading this!!! You are awesome! Thanks for sharing your very inspiring journey. #AllAboutYou
: 0 Goodness me that looks and sounds really hard!!! Well done you for getting ‘stuck in’ literally!! Part of me does think, ‘cool!’ but not sure I could. You are a truly inspiring xx
#magicmoments and #allaboutyou
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That is amazing! Very well done to you! I run half marathons, but I hate being wet, cold and dirty, so I would never dream of doing something like this.
Sarah W (@sarahMo3W) recently posted…Lost again (MAD Blog Awards)
Popping back over from Loud n Proud 🙂
Notmyyearoff recently posted…The Little Things (Loud n Proud)
Other than being a very convincing argument against gin, what an experience. You seem to have found your calling. Well done.
Touchline Dad recently posted…Fear of injury
Amazing hun! Bet you’re feeling fabulous about finishing it (after a nice shower ofcourse! Lol xx) x
Chrissy recently posted…Silent Sunday 28/07/14