And a no shortage of nearly freezing water, muscle-straining obstacles to crawl under, climb over and jump through, accompanied by an extra helping of arbitrary discomfort and a wee bit of electrocution. That’s the Tough Mudder, a 10-mile obstacle course designed to weed out anyone looking for a good time at one of the more popular “mud runs”.
Their philosophy, right from their website:
What is the philosophy behind Tough Mudder?
The Tough Mudder series is being launched because there is not an event in America that tests toughness, fitness, strength, stamina, and mental grit all in one place and all in one day. Sure, there are a few that will test these things – for thousands of dollars and a week of your life. But in one day in one location? We don’t think so. Other summer sun and fun mud runs? Forget it – unless you want to run alongside your 60-year-old grandmother. Tough Mudder is a truly exceptional event for truly exceptional people. Fair weather runners should stay at home.
I competed on a team [called the “Mudder Lovers”] of nine, where the eight others were SWAT team paramedics, including my regular training buddy Andres, who also ran the 113-mile TransRockies Run as my partner, as well as the 50K and 50M races I’ve run and dozens of other runs totaling 100s (1000s?) of miles. I figured I’d be the weak link on the team but I held my own, thanks largely to my big running base. But, it was humbling to be part of a group where I could say with certainty that I wasn’t the fastest, strongest, quickest, most intense, nor did I have the greatest endurance. And I certainly wasn’t one of the more athletic. Or the smartest, most skilled, accomplished, or motivated. But, what I am is well balanced and not totally lacking in any area and I came into the race healthy and well-trained.
Our course included 18 obstacles along an off-road course that included climbing a 12-foot wall and jumping about 20 feet into a frigid lake, which we then swam across. And there was the section (that we did twice) that had us running the steep, muddy hills of a motocross course and then wade through a 3-foot deep, 20-foot long pit filled with murky water that was being kept at about 35 degrees via the liberal addition of bags of ice. Of course there were cargo nets and bales of hay and hip-high mud trenches. The only areas I struggled with (read: failed) were the monkey bars (my torn left labrum makes swinging difficult)
and the balance beams (clumsy + knobby-soled shoes not a good combo).
But, the day was still a success – our team stayed together and finished in a respectable time without any major injuries.
Exiting the ice pit:
Another lake to cross:
Climb and plunge – that’s me “flying”:
Enjoying the punishment:
Too much fun?
Not a good place to fall:
Smiles and beer:
Females: how many proper pull-ups can you do? (one set, palms facing forward, starting from full hang with arms straight and pulling until chin fully clears bar and back to full hang before attempting another)
And now, for something a little different on the race schedule: http://toughmudder.com/events/texas-dallas/texas-course-map/
A bit (ok, a lot) more about yesterday’s race for (a) major running nerds, (b) fans of tales of self-imposed suffering or, (c) Mike Randall voyeurs.
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Cactus Rose 50-Mile Trail Race recap – October 30, 2010
[Copied from email on 10/31/2010]
Since you expressed some interest in my first 50-mile race effort, I’m sending you this lengthy but not-at-all-comprehensive race report. My race was yesterday, out in the Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera, Texas, population 857. Located a few hours southwest of Austin, the area is sometimes referred to as the “Cowboy Capital of the World”.
Training leading up to the race went well, with quite a few long runs, including weekly runs between 24 and 31 miles. But, more than logging miles for the sake of a big total, I opted for much more speed in my training, in large part due to the recommendations of Martin Hyman. Most weeks during my 4-ish month build-up included intervals (typically mile repeats) and either a solid tempo or hill-specific run. I also added in some random workouts for fun, like a hard 5-miler and a 10k trail race (placed 3rd overall in a very weak field). More than anything, I remained flexible during the training block and worked a LOT on taking in more nutrition on the run (which was a notoriously difficult part of my longer runs).
I went into race day well rested and feeling strong. My good friend and frequent training/racing partner, Andres, had a very erratic and rough build-up to the race. He is normally a stronger runner than me at every distance regardless of terrain but my ability to train more and rest consistently was not available to him. He had worked 8 consecutive days leading up to the race and missed a number of key workouts earlier in the training cycle due to circumstances outside of his control. In the week prior to the race, as part of his SWAT training, he had massive required physical training as well as the very unpleasant experiences of being tasered, gassed with tear gas and pepper spray, and bouts of sleep deprivation. Just getting to the starting line was an effort and every bit of his renowned toughness and overall fitness were called on. Though he was originally shooting for a top 5, he instead asked to run the race with me, which I eagerly accepted.
The course is notorious for its difficulty, from the constant steep hills to the countless hazards ranging from loose rocks and chunky roots to leg-slicing plants to overgrown single-track where the ground isn’t visible through the foliage. The race started at 5am and we really lucked out with weather. When the sun came up we had clear skies, with highs reaching the 80s. Aid stations were roughly 5 miles apart on the 25-mile loop, with the second loop reversing in direction. This eventually made for some interesting times, as runners from both our 50-miler and the concurrent 100-miler crossed paths regularly over the course of the day. Turns out there were many runners who inexplicably didn’t start, and many others who DNFed, both of which seemed odd to me given the nice, dry, relatively comfortable racing conditions. For the 50-miler there were, I believe, 90 signed up for the race and 75 starters. Final results are pending.
The 2.5 hours of running in the dark were wonderfully cool, probably upper 30s, but slow going due to my low-power headlamp and the pitch black night. We ran conversationally for most of the morning, power hiking the climbs, running smoothly on the somewhat rare flats, and taking the downhills as quick as we could safely handle. There was a water crossing I didn’t see until I was knee deep and I fell one time, fortunately on a stretch of dirt covered ground. No damage done. We wasted little time at the aid stations and I was happy to take in about 2 gels per hour, in addition to lots of sports drink and an assortment of whatever other high-calorie foods I could stomach. Potato chips, which I almost never ordinarily eat, became my immediate go-to at most stops.
All was going really well through about 30 miles. At that point, it was warming up and I actually had some of my strongest-feeling miles of the day. But, coming out of the 35-mile aid station it was becoming clear that Andres was starting to hurt. Over the course of many, many 20-30 mile runs, as well as other grueling non-running workouts, hard labor days, and multiple races together, I’d never seen or heard Andres complain about physical discomfort. But, as we kept moving Andres was showing uncharacteristic signs of fatigue and additional aid, food, pace changes and my dorky attempts to raise his spirits weren’t doing the trick. After hours of an increasingly alarming downward spiral that included nausea, general weakness, a loss and mental acuity, and blurred vision, he expressed his concern that he’d DNF. The trek from between 40 and 45 miles became painfully slow and I am pretty sure we both were quite concerned about him doing long-term damage to himself.
There have been many times Andres has pulled me through rough patches and I was eager to do whatever I could to help him out. The whole situation was quite a turnabout – I was actually feeling stronger as the miles ticked off, really eager to run harder for miles at a stretch relatively late in the race. As we approached the 45 mile aid station nothing was certain but I just couldn’t imagine us not both finishing. After a slightly longer than average aid stop – where Andres was able to get off his feet for a while and get an earful of encouragement/shaming from a super-volunteer named Olga – it became clear that we would finish the race together. We were even able to pick up the pace a bit out of the aid station and finish with a reasonably strong final mile.
We crossed the line together resulting in an identical time of about 11:32 that was good for a shared 10th place. I don’t think there was anyone close to us, either in front or behind. Without the unexpected bonk, I know that we have the skill to have caught/stayed ahead of at least one or two runners who finished faster. But that’s what keeps us racing and I am happy to have been able to share this one with a friend.
I’m not sure precisely what kind of racing I’ll be doing next. I am confident that I could have gotten through another 10-15 miles so I’m curious about an attempt at 100k. 100 miles still seems very, very distant and, really, I’m not sure if my passion for that distance is there, given volume of training and recovery time necessary for the effort. My interest right now is more for triathlon and much greater speed at distances up to the marathon. In any case, I need to let my body rest for a bit and, while that doesn’t sound like much fun right now, I’m really glad my enthusiasm for training and racing hasn’t waned. The more I see the accomplishments of “masters” runners, the more I realize that my best running is very likely ahead of me. And, even if that isn’t the case, it can be a part of my life for a long, long time.
Thanks for your interest in my pursuits and I hope you are doing well.
My first 50-mile race (yes, running nonstop) was today and an all around success. Ran start to finish with good buddy Andres and we tied for 10th place overall on a very challenging trail course in crazy-rugged Bandera, Texas. Many scrapes and obvious soreness but I found the experience easier than expected.
DBO is triathloning. He started the day early, greased up, rubbed down, and well on his way to sweating by 6am. He should just about be out of the 1.2 mile swim, with a 56 mile bike up next.
DBO is a little over 5 hours in and halfway through the first of two 6.5 mile run laps. Only words as he passed us: “I have to do that again?”.
DBO done!
Today’s run had me up at 3am but really came together well. A little over 31 hilly, rocky miles (i tacked on a solo mile at the end to make sure I hit at least 50k).
I finally had a strongly long run start to finish, even outkicking my normally faster training buddy on the last couple miles, which I think we covered in under 15 minutes. Negative splits on both the second and third 10-mile loops and I really think I could have gone another loop without much pain. Time to replace those “lost” 4000 calories.
3am wake up for long trail run, trying to beat the heat. Pitch black, almost 80 degrees already, with 87% humidity. Some pain ahead for these next 4-5 hours
10 miles on the treadmill yesterday and 25 more today was almost enough time to get me caught up on 2 months of MMA news and Poker After Dark.
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Kolleen Gordon Fletcher That is a lot on a treadmill.August 18, 2010 at 9:13pm · Like -
Mike Randall Yeah, but it is either treadmill or getting up at 3am to run outside from 4am to 8am before it gets too hot. I’ve also really grown to appreciate treadmill time and I think it helps my performance since the belt doesn’t slow down when I’m tired.August 18, 2010 at 10:00pm · Like -
Amy Shapiro are you training for the nyc marathon?August 19, 2010 at 5:10am · Like -
Mike Randall Nope, though that is one I’d sure like to do someday. I’m training for a 50-mile trail race – lots of long, tough, but very slow miles.August 19, 2010 at 11:14am · Like
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Todd Hagle 25 miles? pffft if you did 50 you could at least get caught up on jersey shore as wellAugust 19, 2010 at 7:01pm · Like
STL friends: anyone up for a conversational-pace run today or tomorrow? I’d especially like to catch up with those friends I haven’t seen in a while.
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Josh Wallach Mr Randall, it is supposed to be a balmy 99 today in stl, 98 tomorrow. My running will be in my basement gym on a treadmill im afraid.August 11, 2010 at 10:43am · Like -
Brian Rockette Wish I could join you.August 11, 2010 at 5:40pm · Like -
Matthew Carter I made the run but you weren’t there. What gives?August 12, 2010 at 2:41pm · Like
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Kind of Like Fun 
