Once I heard about this incredible event, which “aim(s) to replace Ironman as the preeminent brand in endurance sports”, I had to sign up. And of course, according to Fact #3 (“You cannot complete a Tough Mudder course alone”), I recruited my side-kick, Anamal, to join in on many peoples’ torturous definition of fun.
Now our next challenge wasn’t to “hit the ground running”, but was to figure out, how EXACTLY does one train for the Tough Mudder. Well, we found that answer out quite quickly, cause there is no one method of training. We had to explore all avenues, from running long distance, to working on short bursts of energy, to exhausting all forms of muscular strength, while still having the mental drive to keep going.
In order to prepare for the chill factor of both the mental and physical challenge of plunging into extreme conditions, Anamal and I created a trail run filled with random natural and man-made obstacles that we ran one week prior to the Tough Mudder. At the completion of this 3 hour run, we plunged into the Musconetcong River, which was 42 degrees on that brisk day in November. After emerging from the river, we realized that we were in no way prepared to face the extreme mental challenge that lay before us the following week. The only way to conquer every aspect of this event would be to dive in head first and have no regrets.
Weekly Training Schedule - in no particular order:
-long runs (Saturdays) that range from 8-11 miles
-Insanity
-Sparticus Circuit Training (from Men’s Health)
-Tough Mudder workout
-other cardio (Dance, bike, elliptical)
Now our next challenge wasn’t to “hit the ground running”, but was to figure out, how EXACTLY does one train for the Tough Mudder. Well, we found that answer out quite quickly, cause there is no one method of training. We had to explore all avenues, from running long distance, to working on short bursts of energy, to exhausting all forms of muscular strength, while still having the mental drive to keep going.
In order to prepare for the chill factor of both the mental and physical challenge of plunging into extreme conditions, Anamal and I created a trail run filled with random natural and man-made obstacles that we ran one week prior to the Tough Mudder. At the completion of this 3 hour run, we plunged into the Musconetcong River, which was 42 degrees on that brisk day in November. After emerging from the river, we realized that we were in no way prepared to face the extreme mental challenge that lay before us the following week. The only way to conquer every aspect of this event would be to dive in head first and have no regrets.
Weekly Training Schedule - in no particular order:
-long runs (Saturdays) that range from 8-11 miles
-Insanity
-Sparticus Circuit Training (from Men’s Health)
-Tough Mudder workout
-other cardio (Dance, bike, elliptical)
Race specs: 12 mile race with 32 obstacles
Nov. 12, 2011: Tri-State Tough Mudder: completed in under 3 hours...though time is not a contingency
No comments:
Post a Comment