While training for ironman in 2013, I was invited by Santhosh to join him and his friends. They were doing this 'tough mudder' in Tahoe and I totally jumped at the opportunity. We did a gladiator run for practice locally in San Jose. And then we went to Tahoe to do the tough mudder event.
What's a tough mudder?
Tough mudder is basically a mud run / obstacle course. There are different kind of challenges along the way: something like -- monkey bars, lifting logs, climbing a rope, running fast and crossing over a high obstacle, jumping over obstacles, walking through ice completely submerged for a bit, jumping INTO water from more than 10 ft above, walking through live electricity wires. It is a challenge. But the good thing is that there's a lot of camaraderie. And it's a good fun event for team building or to do it as a group. A loop is typically about 5-6mi.
The Tahoe tough mudder was on the slopes of Northstar Ski Resort. Of course during the off season. So it was a hilly course, nevertheless, quite a fun one.
WTM
Sometime down the line, in one of their promotional emails, Tough Mudder sends some information about "World's Toughest Mudder" - do as many 5-6mi loops as possible in 24hrs. I got excited. And registered for it. :-) I registered for 2015. But 2015 wasn't a good year. So I extended the registration forward to 2016. It's basically an obstacle ultra run. (Ultra = ultramarathon = any run greater than 26.2mi.)
WTM 2016 - Preparation
The first few months of 2016 were spent getting more serious about the race - research and mental preparation. I ran into some really inspiring websites. I tried contacting some folks on the blogs but no cigar. Since I don't know anyone who is doing the WTM this year, these blogs/notes I found will be my inspiration.
After reading through some of the blogs, I could understand the challenge ahead. Some of the training practices that caught my attention in them:
- not using heater until the temperature went below 40F (getting used to cold)
- trying different wetsuits for run (it could get pretty cold at night)
- figuring out the correct gear (shoes, wetsuit, sleeping bags, etc.)
- pull ups or just hanging on to a bar (to improve arm strength)
- incorporating obstacles during the run : running/burpees/running/pushups/running.. so on.. (course specific training)
All these aspects of training are new to me. In order to get there, I figured, I need to first get the running endurance part out of the way. The confidence from that will likely help me focus on the other aspects of the race.
As in 2013 (when I signed up for multiple races along the way towards my first ironman race), I am going to train for some races along the way towards my first WTM!
I have to be an ultramarathon runner first before doing an ultra with obstacles! One easy (if there's something like an easy 100mi) 100-miler to train for is the Run de Vous in August. It has a flat course option and one can set up tent at the start point. It will be a good training for setting up the base at WTM as well. Having a successful run here would give me 3 good months of WTM-specific training afterwards.
Rock. And. Roll.
What's a tough mudder?
Tough mudder is basically a mud run / obstacle course. There are different kind of challenges along the way: something like -- monkey bars, lifting logs, climbing a rope, running fast and crossing over a high obstacle, jumping over obstacles, walking through ice completely submerged for a bit, jumping INTO water from more than 10 ft above, walking through live electricity wires. It is a challenge. But the good thing is that there's a lot of camaraderie. And it's a good fun event for team building or to do it as a group. A loop is typically about 5-6mi.
The Tahoe tough mudder was on the slopes of Northstar Ski Resort. Of course during the off season. So it was a hilly course, nevertheless, quite a fun one.
WTM
Sometime down the line, in one of their promotional emails, Tough Mudder sends some information about "World's Toughest Mudder" - do as many 5-6mi loops as possible in 24hrs. I got excited. And registered for it. :-) I registered for 2015. But 2015 wasn't a good year. So I extended the registration forward to 2016. It's basically an obstacle ultra run. (Ultra = ultramarathon = any run greater than 26.2mi.)
WTM 2016 - Preparation
The first few months of 2016 were spent getting more serious about the race - research and mental preparation. I ran into some really inspiring websites. I tried contacting some folks on the blogs but no cigar. Since I don't know anyone who is doing the WTM this year, these blogs/notes I found will be my inspiration.
After reading through some of the blogs, I could understand the challenge ahead. Some of the training practices that caught my attention in them:
- not using heater until the temperature went below 40F (getting used to cold)
- trying different wetsuits for run (it could get pretty cold at night)
- figuring out the correct gear (shoes, wetsuit, sleeping bags, etc.)
- pull ups or just hanging on to a bar (to improve arm strength)
- incorporating obstacles during the run : running/burpees/running/pushups/running.. so on.. (course specific training)
All these aspects of training are new to me. In order to get there, I figured, I need to first get the running endurance part out of the way. The confidence from that will likely help me focus on the other aspects of the race.
As in 2013 (when I signed up for multiple races along the way towards my first ironman race), I am going to train for some races along the way towards my first WTM!
I have to be an ultramarathon runner first before doing an ultra with obstacles! One easy (if there's something like an easy 100mi) 100-miler to train for is the Run de Vous in August. It has a flat course option and one can set up tent at the start point. It will be a good training for setting up the base at WTM as well. Having a successful run here would give me 3 good months of WTM-specific training afterwards.
Rock. And. Roll.
2 comments:
Wow Raghu, really inspirational! I wish I could do something close to WTM some day.
Thanks Jaya!! It starts with a wish. :-)
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