Yellow Backpack Adventures

I’ve always liked to challenge myself with new adventures. Back in the fall of 2018 I had just finished my first half marathon. After taking some time off to recover I was back on the search for my next event. Coincidentally my friend reached out to ask if I was interested in completing a Tough Mudder. I had never heard of the event but after doing my research I was hooked! We immediately started working on putting together a team.

Registration Process

When registering for an event, you are given a table of the event, date, event type, and venue. From there you select where you would like to run your Tough Mudder, and what type of event you want to do. We decided to run the 5k event in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Each of the event types occur at various times/dates during the weekend which gives you the opportunity to choose your start time.

There’s also an option for spectators as well. The spectator pass will allow those who want to attend but not participate in the event to walk along the course on a designated path to support their teammates. They also have access to the Tough Mudder Village before and after the race. Spectators do need to register and pay a small fee to obtain a spectator pass.

Tough Mudders are the type of event where a big team is encouraged. My friend and I already had some people in mind who might be willing to participate. We registered as co-captains and using the Active dashboard, we were able to visit our team portal to send out invitations and any updates via email. This made it super easy to track participants. We also had a team group chat for any quick communication.

If you are unable to put together a team don’t fret! You can still participate, just make sure to let the staff members know at check-in that you’re a solo runner. There will be plenty of help along the course.

What to Expect:

• Lots of mud!
• High energy.
• Scrapes and bruises.
• Challenging obstacles.
• Team camaraderie to help you through those obstacles.
• Laughs and encouragement along the way.
• Post event celebration.
• A shirt, headband, and cold beer to celebrate your finish.

The course obstacles and terrain may differ depending on what event length you choose and where you choose to participate. No matter what, you should be okay with the possibility of climbing under barbed wire or ropes, being submerged in freezing cold water or under mud, and being shocked with live wires. Check out their full list of obstacles here for all of the possibilities.

How to Train:

When registering for an event like this, the next train of thought for most people is how to train for the event. This event will require cardio, agility and strength training. When establishing a training plan, you should first consult with your doctor or primary physician. To make it easier, Tough Mudder has provided free training plans on their website.

Race Day

The morning of the race I remember it being a chilly, overcast day. There was also a bit of drizzle so I was not enthusiastic about running around in the mud for the next couple of hours.

Once we go to the race, the energy shifted. We went through the check-in tents and received stickers for our wave start time. We dropped our bags off at the bag dropped and then began stretching. As we neared our start time, our wave was corralled at the start line. We stretched some more as a group and the host kept us entertained and hyped us up to begin.

Our specific race started off with a mile jog before we hit our first obstacle. My team didn’t quite know what we were getting ourselves into at first, but we had a blast. I absolutely loved the team aspect of the event. It wasn’t about the competitiveness of finishing the race first, but more about everyone helping each other make it through the course. 

Upon completion of the course we got to hang around in Tough Mudder Village. We received headbands as we crossed the finish line, and got to drink a nice cold beer as finishers. There were also trailer showers available to clean up a bit post-race. After showering, we enjoyed the music and purchased food because we were staving.

If you’re thinking about challenging yourself in the new year, I would highly suggest trying out a Tough Mudder! Check out the upcoming events here!

Disclaimer: My experience with Tough Mudder was pre-Covid. Things may have slightly changed since then, but I will give an update on my experience after my race coming up in February!