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 !

signing a disclaimer which you wouldn't do for a Park run!
Except you do sign a form of waiver when you register for parkrun

Trail shoes - make sure they are not particularly grippy - most obstacles are wooden and wet, i never wear my trail trainers, i just wear older road ones. You won't need grip for between obstacles it's rarely muddy esp with this weather.

Gels - I wouldn't bother! There are so many water stations with both water and isotonic drinks and every other one provides protein snacks too.

Don't get caught up in the initial rush, take your time and don't be afraid to tell your team you need to slow down or you need help.

Sometimes at the obstacles. you just need a moment to think how to do them, work to your strengths. My upper body strength isn't great so i use my legs much more than some would.

Don't let anyone bully you into doing an obstacle that you REALLY don't want to do. I always avoid Shawshanked (one where you crawl up a big pipe then drop out backwards in to water) i just can do backwards into water!

In Birth Canal, just keep moving, try not to scoot to the edge, just stay ahead of the wave of water above you :)

I have signed up to do this later in the year too. The full mudder is only 10 miles (so shorter than a half marathon). I also have it on good authority that the organisers actually encourage you to go around any obstacle that you feel uncomfortable with and that for some of the obstacles they have separate ones for first timers which are easier. You can of course walk rather than run the 10 miles too. All of these factors were what led me to register in the end. I understand that there is a great camaraderie to it too and lots of people will offer help on the harder obstacles (even if you haven't entered as part of a team). I am just trying to get into shape now.

Good luck - go for it :-)

'Risky' and 'dangerous' are relative terms. Personally, I'd use them for extreme sports like base jumping or serious mountain climbing, where there is a distinct risk of death if you fuck it up.

There is a tiny chance you might get injured in a life-changing way in Tough Mudder (just as there is a chance of a serious accident every time you get in the car) and a slightly greater chance you might break something, which is a bit painful and inconvenient. Those are not 'danger'.

For all the marketing, this is, at base, a mass participation event, and not something you need to be Chris Bonington to do, witness the number of us mere mortals who have gone along and done it.

They're so much fun, even for a generally slow and scared plodder like me, do it! It does sound that with compression socks and all you might also be taking this very seriously, and perhaps that is part of the challenge? The people who enjoyed it more with us were focussed on the challenge and excitement of the course Vs the half marathon speed, it helps you to take the time you need and also to help others and do it together, which is half the fun. Good luck!

You do sign a disclaimer for ParkRun? Oh right, I'll get my coat

I do have great respect for anyone who enjoys the horror of a Tough Mudder. Just the description of The Birth Canal obstacle makes me feel slightly sick.

I think you have to be a certain type of person to enjoy it not me
Give me a nice normal race through some trees and a bit of nature and I'm quite fulfilled thanks.

Do it OP if you're doing it for you. You don't have to prove anything to anyone else.

The full mudder is only 10 miles (so shorter than a half marathon)

Not always! The first one i did was 13.5 miles. The last two were both 11.5 miles. And also bear in mind they are country miles, the going is much harder than running a road half marathon obviously.
I always wear my Garmin watch, if it's not on Strava it didn't happen
But distance is irrelevant, plenty of people walk a lot of it (but i get too cold and prefer to keep a steady slow run pace)

Thanks all, I'm 100% going to go for it.
.... if you're going through hell, you might as well keep going.

onthewrongside - I also suffer from primary infertility, so I know what you mean. I think having a project like this is helpful for some people, and very affirmative.

But do be nice to yourself as well. One of the big adjustments, I found, was learning that there were wonderful opportunities to do different things that were hidden inside this big grief. Some of them involve some physical or mental endurance, like this - others are much gentler, like having a lovely holiday, or going out for a big splurgey gorgeous meal. Being all 'discipline, discipline, discipline' can be an amazing way to keep putting one foot in front of the other when just doing that is hard. But learning to live fully - just in a different way- is important too.

It's in 4 days? Is it the Midlands? I am doing the half there on Saturday... and I also suspect I may die and am regretting saying yes 6 months ago, when it seemed like a good idea.

23/24 degrees - excellent, hopefully will warm up in between the muddy bits!

I did TM last year & had a right laugh-I did gash my leg on Pitfall though & now have a lovely talking point scar on my shin

@LordEmsworth I'm doing it in Queensland.

Just a point to note. If they have the A frames up this year and you’re doing them near the end when wet cold and exhausted go up alongside one of the helpers. I always have a moment of freaking out when I feel I can’t hold on because of wet hands when I go over. I always do but being next to a helper does help. They don’t always have an a frame but it applies to any climb high thing covered in mud when wet cold and exhausted.

I did it !
It was amazing and I'm very proud of myself. (I'm exhausted now)

Well done! I bet you're glad you did it now. Wasn't that dangerous was it

Congratulations!!!

Fantastic well done.

Well done, I read your post from the start, when you really sounded ready to cancel. You are so brave, what an achievement

Well done OP!

I did Nuclear Fallout a few years ago. Absolutely hate running, being wet and cold etc. Was even close to hyperthermia but do you know what... I loved it!! I haven't done one since, only because I'm even less active now but I'd do it again!

Whatever you decide... good luck xx

I think the whole point of these obstinate races are that they come with some risk, that’s what makes it fun. If your worried then don’t do it, stick to running with no obsticals. I would love to do it but can’t find anyone to do it with me and I’m too scared to do it alone. We have a local race here similar to tough mudder, I have been tempted to sign up several times but most people do it in teams.

It’s up to you if you attempt it but if it makes you feel to worried you could find something else to do?

Triple tie your shoes laces!!!! Lots of people lost a shoe last year it’s really good fun and a crazy what the heck am I doing sort of feeling. Everyone helps each other and last year two people did it in wheelchairs when I did it and people of all ages do it. I got some cracking bruises but I was more worried about the freezing cold but after a while you don’t even notice it.

There are changing tents afterwards, take lots of wipes and a black bag to chuck everything in and a big towel, no privacy and old clothes to travel home in. The cider at the end is much appreciated.

Oh you did it ! Well done 👍🏼

I did every single obstacle, ran it all and got up Everest first time ! I am stronger and fitter than I realised !

Well done! That's great news, use it as a reminder of how strong you are in the future.

OP well done!!

Best moment?
Worst moment?

Bet your team were pleased they lucked out with their “newbie”