As told to Sinead Mulhern.
I made the trip north of Toronto for my fourth Tough Mudder recently. That event just keeps me coming back. If I was to properly describe my experience at these obstacle course events, I’d have to start by explaining that with each time I do a Tough Mudder, I’m reminded of why I enlist in these types of activities. There are many reasons why I’m addicted to the Tough Mudder but a big one is that having it on the calendar keeps me on track with my long term fitness goals. When you sign yourself up, you have to train long and hard in the months leading up to the event to feel strong and capable when Tough Mudder morning rolls around.
This isn’t some sort of simple race. Physically, it’s demanding. The hills are steep and grueling, the mud-drenched course is slippery so runners have to work to get an extra grip without falling. As for the obstacles, well, they test your strength, patience and really put your training to the test. I guess what I’m saying is that you certainly can’t wing it. Fake your training, and the Tough Mudder course will find you out. You prepare for months, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding on the actual day.
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I think there’s also something to be said for how much it pushes you beyond your (perceived) limits. Participating in the Tough Mudder nudges me outside of my comfort zone– and I develop as a person because of that. It’s so easy to settle into day-to-day activities that don’t make this demand. Generally, as people, we like to stick with what’s known and what’s comfortable. We stay within our comfy little bubbles unless we’re provoked to leave. When we do, that’s when we learn and grow. That’s when the real magic happens.
So that’s why I keep entering into Tough Mudder events.
But I have to give credit to the friendships I’ve forged over the years because that’s another big draw. The people who I’ve met, the inspirational stories I keep hearing and the camaraderie that happens out on the muddy course is unlike anything I have experienced. There’s just a certain culture and atmosphere that comes with this event.
Once I came across that, I fit right in.
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Runners who show up ready to take on the obstacles and plunge their sweaty bodies into the mud, know that it just feels like one big family out there. And first timers are always encouraged by the event’s mantra: “I help my fellow Tough Mudders complete the course.” Those words soothe pre-race nerves and it’s not just talk. That is seen in action everywhere along the course.
“The people who I’ve met, the inspirational stories I keep hearing and the camaraderie that happens out on the muddy course is unlike anything I have experienced.”
It’s important for me to note that it has also translated into real life. I think this is my favourite part of being a Tough Mudder.
This year, there was an added bonus for me. I was part of the Merrell All Women team. It was such a lovely mix of people and it allowed me to meet even more new friends who share this common interest.
We were in touch regularly to motivate each other and exchange tips. The team was a nice blend of returning runners, one’s new to the Tough Mudder and even some who had competed in the World’s Toughest Mudder.
Because we had such a mix, everyone provided some much-needed perspective. For example, race insight from returning Tough Mudders was appreciated by first-timers who needed guidance. For returning veterans, seeing the looks of excitement on newcomers’ faces on the day of the event was rewarding as well.
As for the course this year, I would say I really enjoyed it compared to in year’s past. Put plain and simple, it was amazing. As a returning participant, I could tell that Tough Mudder really put a lot of thought into where the course would run. The geography of Mount St. Louis, Ont. (about an hour and 45 minutes north of Toronto) was perfect.
“Pushing yourself beyond what you thought you were capable of and having people cheer you on is like no other feeling in the world.”
In the past three years, I felt that the course was a lot of up and down, up and down. Hauling my body up and down the mountain took a toll. This year though, it was varied. The course took a lot of twists and turns and weaved in and out of the mountain. As a runner, it was fun terrain to experience. The obstacles, as always, were just as innovative and exciting.
So needless to say, I’m coming back. I’m looking forward to running another one again soon. My teammates and I have already talked about doing more Tough Mudders out of Toronto to reconnect over another road trip.
That’s the thing about these types of things: they really are addictive. Pushing yourself beyond what you thought you were capable of and having people cheer you on is like no other feeling in the world.
To make your way through the mud, consider trying Merrell’s All Out Crush shoes to conquer the terrain and the obstacles.
