Dirty Mudder Fudders!
I never really understood the draw to these long grueling events that are designed to break you. I’m not a runner, never have been. Even when I played sports I always hated the long distance “get it shape run”. I was never opposed to wind sprints, but the 5 miles runs you could keep. So what exactly drew me to the Tough Mudder well lets examine that.
Forever I’ve heard of the thing called a mid-life crisis. Guys going off the deep end looking for something they can no longer have – their youth. So instead they buy sports cars, dress inappropriately, go after women they are no longer suited for, and the list goes on. Well I never thought I was going to have a mid-life crisis, and as described above I’m still not having one. But it had occurred to me in the last year or so that I was trying to achieve and do things I found difficult in my 20′s. And to make things worse, I was willing to die while attempting them. So in fact I may be going through a little mid-life crisis at least mentally.
Only my mid-life crisis is coming out in something called a Tough Mudder. It’s a 9 mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit. It’s Iron Man meet Burning man. And it’s happening in the beginning of May at Mount Snow, and I will be there with 12 team mates trying not to break an ankle.
I first heard about the Tough Mudder when the temperatures are still allowing me to play golf and we were all not up to our belt loops in snow. My original thought, why would someone do that to themselves. But curiosity got the best of me and I went to the Tough Mudder web-site, and I have to say there was something there that intrigued me. Firstly because it’s at Mount Snow so its right in my back yard, but secondly I saw a finish line. See I’ve packed back on a few pounds, not a lot but a few. So I saw this as an opportunity to regain some discipline in my daily routine. Also the whole entire Mudder event is based on camaraderie and the whole idea behind the event is to finish the course, help your fellow Mudder and have a good time – it’s not about finishing first! Well if you don’t need me to finish first – I’m your guy!
In the Tough Mudder there are over 20 obstacles, Firewalker, Berlin Walls, Electroshock therapy, Kiss of Mud, Death march just to name a few. Each one of them designed to tax you physically and mentally. As if running a 9 mile mountain trail wasn’t enough. Needless to say being in some sort of good physical condition is important so let the training begin. I began doing something I never liked doing – running. I started with trail running, then the snows came (and kept coming), so I hit the pavement running at least three 5k’s a week. And here’s what I discovered, I still don’t like running for running’s sake, except when I’m on a trail. Which is why I’m not going it alone, I’ve assembled a team, they range from Personal Trainers to Bank Presidents, State Police to Radio Deejays, all committed to starting and finishing. Which is all you can ask in an event like this.
Six days a week is my goal, six days a week I’m either running down Canal Street or tossing around kettle bells at the gym. I try to alternate between strength and stamina. It would certainly be easier if there was a magic pill for it all, but there’s not. So for further motivation we’re supporting the Windham County Relay for Life (which is having it’s kick off at the VFW on the 15th) and the Wounded Warrior Project. Because no matter what happens during the Tough Mudder nothing can be as hard as a cancer diagnosis or serving your country during war time. So I keep that in front of me, and that keeps me going.
Besides, I have two chances to get recognized at the Mudder, one for being a top finishing male or SENIOR (45 and over according to them)!!! Really? What the Hell is Up with That?
