I might seriously injure myself doing this?

[Onthewrongsideof30]

I'm fit and active. Train 6 days and due to a bit of personal unhappiness (fertility issues) have decided to throw myself into exercise, while I deal with the grief. I'm due to do a tough mudder shortly. Half marathon with army style obstacles. I have trained for it.
However I have read about all the things that can go wrong, broken teeth, infection, broken ankles etc. plus they make you sign a waver for person injury. I'm scared, I love running but I don't like being cold, dirty, heights or in small spaces. All of which the obstacles will involve. Should I swallow my pride and cancel or face the fear and do it anyway? Help !

Things could go wrong with any kind of exercise.

Things could go wrong on the trip there.

That said if you have decided it’s not for you don’t do it. I am a runner but have no intention of ever doing a tough murder type thing as it’s not for me

I’ve done loads of mud run/obstacle courses and I think it is unlikely you will seriously injure yourself. It could happen but the vast majority of people are fine.

Whether you’ll enjoy it or not is another thing given you don’t like being cold and dirty - you basically spend the entire race being those two things! No shame at all in pulling out if you don’t want to do it.

Sorry to hear about the fertility issues

I did this last year and loved it! However, I do enjoy heights, enclosed spaces, getting muddy and wet! People do get injured. A man in front of us broke his leg whilst trying to get up the obstacle known as Everest. As the name suggests it is very very tough. Good luck if you decide to do it.

If you don't want to do it you don't have to, sounds like it's not really your thing. Perhaps find a challenge which inspires you - what about hiking and tackling the three peaks? Better scenery than the tough mudder! I've found I don't like artificial heights like lifts and shopping malls but can happily stand on top of The Old Man of Coniston after a lovely morning of walking and nattering.

It's the fear of Everest that has set me off !!!!

I don't like being cold, dirty, heights or in small spaces.

Well why did you sign up!??

I don't like the above either so in my opinion, I would think not doing it is preferable.

But you will be told to get on with it here. That it will make you feel good.

But I wouldn;t.

I had a broken ankle a few years ago.... it wasn't from doing a tough muddler though, it was broken in my garden when I missed my footing. My point being that accidents can happen anywhere and anytime, even when the perceived risk is low or deemed as non-existent.

I guess it depends how important this particular challenge is to you. Is there an option of finding another challenge without the risks that you're worried about?

You can injure yourself doing allsorts of things OP you can't let it stop you doing fun stuff. You've done the training so you are in a great position for TM, don't take silly risks and you should be fine. DH injured his shoulder 2yrs ago doing a TM (have done previous OCR) and it's knackered now with little strength but he doesn't regret doing TM at all. Life is for living, enjoy your TM

But is it a more male focused event ? Will I just look weak and foolish in comparison?

I watched my husband do this last month. It looked amazing and wish I had of gone for it instead of just watching (although he did the full marathon - I would have only done the half).

If on the day you do panic about the obstacles then you do have the choice to go round them. You don't have to do any of them if you don't want to, although you may come to regret it.

The electrocution part was the best bit in my opinion (as a spectator).

Its not a male focused event - there were thousands upon thousands of people competing and a very even mix of men and women.

I saw a couple of hen and stag parties running the course!

I think you definitely need to come up with an alternative. You should be looking forward to it not dreading it. I think it's great you're taking control back by launching yourself into exercise but that control means you don't have to do a single thing that you don't want to. Not one thing

Should I swallow my pride and cancel or face the fear and do it anyway?

Surely all you gain from it is pride anyway. I'd cancel. Well, no, I would never have signed up... But I don't see why it has to bruise your pride to cancel, who would know? Feign a dodgy ankle or something if you must.

Are you doing it alone, or with others? If you’re part of a team then you’ll be absolutely fine and the camaraderie will get you around! If you’re on your own you’ll be relying on strangers to assist which is fine as people are super helpful but can make you feel a bit awkward if you’re not super gung Ho yourself.

I love obstacle course races but I wouldn’t sign up if I really hated cold and dirt I am scared of heights, I just try not to look down!

Do it!! I've done Tough Mudder 3 times already, and doing my fourth in August.

Brilliant - much better than other obstacle races, and i have done a lot

I've done three of these - you will enjoy it. I get scared too but you don't have to do anything you don't want to. The tremendous sense of achievement afterwards is amazing. As for 'male-focused', no it is largely full of middle-aged men and women desperately trying to prove they are still able-bodied (I count myself among them!).

Go for it!

But is it a more male focused event ? Will I just look weak and foolish in comparison?

Absolutely NOT. It's like being in a giant team, everyone helping everyone. You can avoid any obstacle if you really do not fancy it, but my advice is to at least attempt something, nobody cares if you decide you can't do something.

are you being sponserd if so you cant really pull out now

if not just pull out theres exercising then theres doing an obstacle course

"The electrocution part" ? Eh? I thought they just did mean stuff with added mud and water. Electrocution seems a bit extreme........ Wanders off to do gentle exercise involving calm breathing.

I have a bunch of random strangers from Facebook who kindly adopted me team. They are all vets, I'm their newbie. I signed up as I wanted the challenge and something to throw all the sadness at. I plan on having a cry on the course and leaving it there. But now I'm worried about my beautiful teeth !

Why don't you do it as a laugh?

And stop as soon as you get uncomfortable or feel like you might lose your teeth?

It's not for charity, just to push myself.

I'm clumsy and hate heights, sop I would never sign up to anything for this, even though I'm a keen runner! It's just too far out of my comfort zone.

having said that, the people who take part seem to really enjoy it, and it appears to be a good mix of men and women.

You will get wet and dirty, you're helped up the wall thingy if you can't get up it so I'm told - I'm not nearly brave enough to do this!

My dsis's did it - some have done it twice - with a group of mainly women - and only one of them cried. None lost any teeth, but you will have some smashing bruises on your legs.