Six Reasons you know you were born to be a Mudder

1. You’re always looking out for specials on nappy san! You know you always get dirty and you’re post exercise cleaning will have other mudders envious.
2. You’re regularly late for work because of helping people cross the road. You have an innate need to help. One of the things you pledge at Tough Mudder is ‘to HELP my fellow mudders complete the course’
3. You once peed on an electric fence. This type of risk taking is exactly what you need and it will make ‘Electro Shock Therapy’ seam like child’s play.
4. You have an unexplained overwhelming sense of pride when seeing the colour Orange. The Orange headband you get when finishing Tough Mudder is what it is all about. Hold your head high and wear it with pride!
5. Every day you check the weather for a chance of Mud. Mud, mud and more mud. Mud is fun! Entertain your inner child and get out and play in the mud again. You’re allowed to!
6. You push kids out of the way (nicely) at the local playground to have a chance on the monkey bars. Simple obstacles like monkey bars should be easy right, when you see ‘Funky Monkey- The Revolution’ all you dreams will come true!

Want 10 reasons why you should do Tough Mudder? Click here

10 Reasons to do Tough Mudder

1. Kick start your fitness- Tough Mudders are addictive- Once you’ve done one you’ll be hungry for more.
2. Find your future partner- Many relationships have formed on a Tough Mudder Course. There has even been a marriage
3. Save on overpriced day spas– after being covered head to toe in Mud, the natural exfoliator will have your skin looking reinvigorated
4. Work off chocolate guilt– Sat up watching rom coms and ate too much chocolate, come work it off!
5. Earn chocolate guilt– Once you’ve done a Tough Mudder you’ve the right to eat Chocolate again!
6. Fashion Makeover – Nothing is more hip than the orange headband and Finisher T-Shirt
7. Bragging rights– Rub it in the face of everyone who HASN’T done one. Bragging rights for years!
8. Build self-confidence – The elation you feel when conquering something you didn’t think possible is awesome!
9. Makes you feel young again- splashing through mud, climbing monkey bars, laughing at strangers… you have the freedom to be a kid again
10. Getting a free beer handed to you– you won’t even have to open it! Someone will do that for you, because you are now royalty!

Want a 10 minute workout to get you ahead in Tough Mudder? Click here

 Crush the Berlin Walls

A full-body workout that will prepare you for Tough Mudder’s most difficult obstacles sounds brutal, right? Well, today’s your lucky day, because we have a workout that will get you ready to conquer anything in your path—including Berlin Walls. Oh, and it only takes 10 minutes.

This next kettle-bell circuit, will destroy your entire body—in a good way. The workout consists of two rounds of 5 minute cycles—with a single, glorious minute of rest in between— each round contains 5 exercises. (Each exercise is performed for 45 seconds, followed by 15 seconds of rest):

Single Arm Bent Over Rows

Overhead Reverse Lunges

Sumo Dead-lift High Pulls

Single Arm Thruster

Kettle-bell Swings

Do one round with your right arm. Enjoy your minute off, because after that you’re doing it again with your left arm. Yes, it’s tough, but it’s not called an Easy Mudder, now is it? Finally, start pushing yourself and build up your physical and mental strength. As a result, you’ll be able to conquer obstacles like Berlin Walls—a 10’ tall behemoth that requires teamwork, strength, and power to get over.

So stop what you’re doing, grab a kettle-bell, and get to work. If you get a good sweat going, you’ll find yourself on the other side of the Berlin Walls in no time.

Want to the ultimate abs workout? Check it out here

Becky Lamb does Tough Mudder

www.beckylamb.com

You may have seen that a few weeks ago via my instagram that I participated in Tough Mudder. Honestly, I have never been more terrified in my life. I was so unsure if I was capable of such a huge task, being only 6 months post partum and not having any extra training at all for the day.

It all started with an invitation from Biozet Attack, the official laundry partner of Tough Mudder (who;s products are awesome, by the way! Worked a treat on my clothes post-event). Which makes sense, considering how muddyTough Mudder really is. They were such a great team to work with! They had the complete set-up for laundry recovery for the day, as well as a wash bay to rid yourself of all that MUD! The crew were handing out free boxes of product too, so you left a little cleaner and ready to tackle your laundry. They had thought of it all!

They also asked me to bring some friends who wanted to participate along side me (they could probably sense my fear…) and so I invited Harriette, Alesha and Sarah. Thankfully, they all actually came so we were all in it together, bonded by fearful regret and commitment.

THE PREPARATION

Basically, there had been none of this for me (or any of us!), whoops! I was given two weeks notice for the event, but I had been training twice a week with a PT for about three months prior and had run 3km once about one month before (wow, huge). I also forgot my shoes on the day, and arrived in my havaianas. Nailed it.

Mentally, I knew it wasn’t something that was unattainable for me, as these events can’t be too difficult or impossible, as we were all mostly just averagely fit people who were entering. I was not going to be in tight competition for the fittest on the day, that was for sure. I knew I needed more of a positive headspace and a ‘can-do’ attitude as opposed to physical strength or fitness, so mentally I was just prepared to give anything a shot.

THE NERVES

I was so nervous! As we were approaching the start line amongst a hundred or so others, it dawned on me how nervous I really was. Our Biozet Attack team was about 30 strong, but the other girls and guys in our team were DEFINITELY stronger, faster and fitter looking than us.. Luckily, the presenter at the start of the race was hilarious and knew how to put us at ease. He reminded us it was not a race, but an achievement to finish, and I was finally starting to look forward to getting to that mud.

THE OBSTACLES

There were many obstacles on the course but in between was a lot of running space.. and there were a lot of hills (I hate hills!)! The first obstacle was a simple net, that we had to lift above our heads and it was a perfect ice breaker for the day. First challenge, completed (we didn’t die, yay!). Tick! It wasn’t long before we reached that delicious mud, and it was on. Hands, knees, face, hair, legs, arms, chest – you name it, it was covered.

It was fairly cold and the feeling of it soaking through my shoes was just delightful, but it was an achievement standing at the end surrounded by all your muddy friends, and just relishing in the moment together and letting go of all the haste of holding back. It was here that our team really started to work together and bond, which was swell because we certainly needed it for the next few obstacles!

A steep hill climb saw us head over to high walls and reach our first food and water station (I was so hungry, I forgot my breakfast and my shoes.. you see? So prepared..) so the food was a highlight. Another few hills saw us also complete a log carry and our second mud crawl for the day. Then, it was time to wash off on my favourite obstacle, ‘The Block Ness Monster.’

Basically, it was a big rolling rectangular cube in the water where you had to hold onto the box to lift yourself over, while your team rotated the box to assist. Once at the top, you were to turn and pull the box in the same direction to help your team over too. And then repeat on the following box, whilst remaining afloat.. teamwork made the dreamwork here, as we were all still very excited and keen to get it done together. And it worked!

Our final mud challenge was next – the mud mile 2.0. It certainly lived up to its name! Surprisingly, this was an obstacle that required help from your team, as the water was so deep and the mud was very slippery (obvious, right?). This was by far the slowest obstacle as it took so much time and effort to carefully get over each hurdle, and then help out a few others around you also. We actually lost Alesha here, as she was too busy helping everyone out over the hills, bless!

And then of course there were more painful hills (my legs were BURNING), a bit more mud, some piggy backing, a muddy slide, some more water and mud, and my other favourite, Everest 2.0 (a warped wall). I was quite happy I made this one first go, but you will see on my forearms how committed I was. Those scratches were raw from the sand against the ramp as we were pulled over the top. So much sting but such n amazing feeling to get to the top and then help others over too. SO much fun.

You can see the full list of obstacles here.

THE FINISH

This was bitter sweet as we prepared for the final obstacle. You first had to launch yourself up a slippery incline and then be helped by your team to make the final stages over the ramps. The finale was a huge water slide into the final water pool to cool off. What an achievement! We then collected our finishers tee’s and headbands and cooled down with a complimentary beer.. well, I collected mine and payed it forward to the biggest guy in my team who helped us over those walls in the early part of the event, and he certainly enjoyed it for me.

WHAT I LEARNED

I absolutely loved the experience, and paid for it physically or about a week after the event. It was so much fun! The obstacles aren’t tricky as such, they just require you to have a go and give anything a try. Plus, it was great to have my girls there with me too. Friends make it so much more fun (although I do recommend having a big burly man on your team to lift you over those walls!). Would I enter again net year? You betcha! Thank you Biozet Attack for having me – I can’t wait for the next one!

You can read more about Biozet Attack here and Tough Mudder here.

Happy Ending, is the largest and most unique obstacle to come from TMHQ’s Product Team. In 2018 it’s all about being #TougherTogether, and this behemoth obstacle is the physical embodiment of that idea. Happy Ending is a shared-finish experience for every Mudder—Full and Half finishers—to live and breathe the camaraderie and teamwork that makes this Tribe the best in the world.

So no matter which Tough Mudder event you’re conquering, you’ll need the tools to tackle this obstacle. For starters, you’ll need the help of your fellow Mudders—in the form of a human pyramid—to scale the slippery, 40-degree-angled wall. Once at the top, you’ll need to lend a hand to the struggling Mudders below before you channel your inner child and whoosh down the 30-foot slide into a pit of water. Before gathering your group of helping hands, follow these four training tips to build the adequate functional fitness for nailing this obstacle and earning your headband—which, come to think of it, might be the happiest ending of all.

1. GET MORE FLEXIBLE—EVERYWHERE

Being the “anchor” on a Happy Ending human pyramid typically requires you to squat down and have someone step on your shoulders to be the “second link” to the top. Getting into this squat requires immense hip, knee, and leg flexibility. Climbing up the “links” in the chain requires flexibility in the shoulders and hips since you’re taking giant steps up and over other Mudders’ limbs.

To get more flexible in the hips, try a butterfly stretch. Sit on the ground with your heels together and your hips open. Place your hands on your ankles as you draw your feet in while leaning forward slightly. (Keep a straight back!) For added stretch, try to move your knees towards the ground. You should feel your hips opening.

2. BUILD BALANCE AND STABILITY

Reaching the top is great—but if you can’t help others up the wall because you keep falling down, then you’ve missed the real point of Happy Ending (in other words: it’s about more than just you!). Perhaps the most important joint in conquering this obstacle is the ankle. Your ankles must be able to support one, two, three, or more people while your back slips against a greasy wall.

Work on ankle stability by trying to balance on a square foam pad or Bosu Ball on one leg for as long as possible. Then, switch legs. Do this for 3-4 sets, aiming to reach 30-60 seconds each leg. Remember to incorporate plenty of single-leg exercises into your Tough Mudder workouts, such as single-leg kettlebell deadlifts and single leg forward hops.

3. INCREASE UPPER BODY ENDURANCE

One struggle point during Happy Ending might be when you’ve grabbed someone’s hand/wrist/arm and you’re trying to either help another Mudder up…or you’re that struggling Mudder trying to get up. Eventually, the climbing Mudder might drop, unable to advance up the wall, due to a lack of back, arm, and chest muscle endurance. If you’re hanging there holding someone’s hand for a while, you should be able to use that anchor point to lift your own body weight up and over the top.

To help to build upper body endurance, do four rounds of this 4-move workout:

-5 Inverted Rows (or pull-ups for more advanced Mudders)

-10 Push ups (beginner Mudders can be on their knees)

-15 Biceps Curls (use a resistance band or dumbbells)

-15 Triceps Dips (this can be done off the floor, a box, or a bench)

4. GET A BETTER GRIP

At one point or another, grip strength become an essential part of getting over Happy Ending. This is especially true if you’re one of the Mudders who tries to really stretch it by using minimal Mudders below and grabbing a long-limbed Mudder above to pull yourself up without much stacking underneath you. During this obstacle, you’ll grab shirts, shoes, hands, essentially anything that’ll safely get you one inch closer to your headband.

Build grip strength by doing farmer’s carries, dumbbell shrugs, and dead hangs from a pullup bar. To perform farmer’s carries, stand holding a dumbbell in each hand at your sides using a neutral (palms facing each other) grip. With chest and shoulders back, walk forward for 10-50 yards, then turn around and walk back. For more grip-building tips, check out 5 Ways to Build an Iron Grip.

We recently asked some of most experienced mudders to share their toughest tips for first timers, thanks to EFM. And we got some amazing responses which we compiled into this blog post.

Then we got an email from Gordon Rhodes, an obstacle racing junkie, and it had so much good advice, we decided to share all his pearls of wisdom with you.

What gear? Do you need the name brands? Where to shop?

• Brand names? Yes and no. Certainly not necessary for your first run. Getting the RIGHT gear is the most important thing and you don’t have to pay a fortune. At a minimum simply AVOID cotton anything. It waterlogs, stretches, adding weight to you and chafe in places you’ll unlikely reach with the Savlon cream. Imagine the conversation post race asking your partner/best friend to help? No, me either! Get the wick away material from brands like Merrell (Polyester, Dri Fit etc) for your t-shirt, singlet, shorts, socks. Compression shorts/longs, compression singlet/t-shirt underneath highly recommended. Gloves worth considering. Sun block and a hat for the warmer months.
• There are plenty of gear tips online about clothing, shoes and hydration packs but for the first timer or rookie racer it can be confusing and potentially costly. Compression clothing is perfect for Tough Mudder and options like Merrell and online are great options. Worried about the ropes and monkey bars? Bunnings Madgrip work gloves at around $15 are simply the BEST gloves for mud running.
• That said, after my first event I was hooked but the memory of my old runners being water logged, weighing a ton and slipping over so many times made me want to buy a set of OCR appropriate shoes and a brand name was a must. Lightweight, cleat style soles and quick draining – perfect if you want to do more events comfortably and/or also if like me you want to push yourself a bit harder, Merrell shoes are hard to beat. Check them out in a bricks & mortar store for size then go online for a price check. Read the reviews online also. Often you can get a good pair of obstacle racing shoes under $100. Worth considering if you think you may like this crazy OCR stuff but also handy if you bushwalk, trail run, touch footy and other sports where extra grip is handy.

Don’t let the obstacles beat you before you start! Youtube is your friend!

• There are so many obstacle racing feeds to help you get over walls, climb ropes, survive monkey bars. Practice at your local park or gym and go to Tough Mudder with confidence. My favourite that helped me conquer Kong was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvwN1JMRRC8

Post Race tips – clean your gear

Whether it’s your first event or not the inevitable outcome is you’ll be muddy and in that post race euphoria you can overlook an important post-event job, cleaning your gear. Sure it’s the last thing you want to do as your muscles ache and you want to get home for a hot shower. From experience, taking ten minutes on the way home is time well spent compared to the lingering smell of wet muddy gear left for a few days or the mess it makes of your washing machine and the subsequent grief from the wife/partner/roomie. So here’s what to do:

• Rinse out what you can after the event and bag it all up in plastic shopping bags
• Pack in the car; handful of gold coins, small container dish washing liquid, old toothbrush & a plastic roller storage box (20L or bigger). Search out the nearest Car Lovers or similar style carwash before you leave.
• On the way home, drop into the carwash, and use the pressure gun (at low pressure, no need to squeeze the handle except for the soles of the shoes maybe) to wash and clean down your clothing, shoes etc. in the storage box. Unlikely to strike a cranky attending washing clothes instead of a car but if you do, give him/her a knowing look and point to that headband that you’re still wearing (head, neck, wrist). Respect!

Miscellaneous Tips

– If you wear a sports watch, protect it from scratches by wearing a sweat band over it or a few strips of clear sticky tape.
– You don’t need those expensive artificial tasting gels; honey shots, Medjool dates, Banana chips etc. carried in a snap lock seal bag are both a natural and cheaper option. Double wrap with gladwrap or foil if you’re worried about water breaching the bag seal. Carry in elasticised running belt.
– If you haven’t a group to run with don’t be afraid to run alone. So many good people to chat and laugh with along the way.
– Unless you have a pre existing condition or worry about hydration and/or you plan to go hard and run all the way, I wouldn’t bother with carry a hydration pack or water bottle. Take time to hydrate at the stations around the course.
– If you have room in the boot, pack a small esky, some spare water bottles and a bag of cheap frozen peas so you have a pliable, simple ice pack if you need it. Also, an old elasticised bottom bed sheet to throw over your car seat to avoid bonus mud stains in the car.
– Don’t expect hot showers. Have a pack of baby wipes in the bag or car. Even if you didn’t chafe, you will likely have mud in unlikely places! If it’s too cold for the shower, have a few small towels (think bathmat size) that you can lightly wet for a birdbath type wash before you get into the car.
– If you don’t stay for the after party/it’s more than 1 hour drive home stop at fast food joint on the way home. Nothing tastes as good as that Pizza or burger after burning 1,000 + calories on the course. Bonus points scored if someone gives you an admiring look after they spot your Finisher t-shirt and speckles of leftover mud. Double bonus points also acknowledging the other people in Maccas wearing the same finisher shirt. You’ve just joined a special group that have finished a Tough Mudder.
– Age and fitness are no barriers. I did my first OCR at 47 and still going strong at 51. I spoke to a bloke at my first TM in the carpark at the end. He was 130kg (down from 160kg) and struggled. He would mix a bit of running with longer walking and rest when needed. He set himself a goal and made it. – Just do it. Finishing a Tough Mudder makes you proud and proud of those around you. Whether it’s one item on a bucket list, conquering a fear (I’m not a fan of the electric shock as my photo shows) or simply the joy of finishing something bloody hard like this, I can guarantee you a nice boost of self-esteem in your accomplishment. If the 20km full course worries you, there is always the half Tough Mudder. Whatever you do, don’t withdraw if you have doubts. The 10km course is just as worthwhile. As someone that has never done a full marathon, I can honestly say that finishing my first ½ marathon was joyous. Plus, you often year the TM 10km finishers talking about doing the full TM next time! It’s all about finishing.

Mudders, you can thank Gordon later!

Lets face it, if you’re reading this you’ve considered doing a Tough Mudder. Or maybe you’ve done one before and it’s been a while. If there is one thing we here at TMHQ know, it’s that getting to one of our events is the best decision you will ever make. How can it not be when there’s an event for every fitness level? Hell, we even have ’em for teenagers. Just to be sure though, we did the research and compiled the most comprehensive list of excuse-busting reasons for you to get off your couch and get to an event.

1. Escape the ordinary – There’s nothing regular about our events. Come out and be different.
2. Have some next level fun – Impossible to avoid.
3. Finally get back in shape – What are you waiting for?
4. Kickstart your diet – Less sugar? More Protein? More plants? Whatever it is, now is the time.
5. Kickstart your new workout plan – With Everest 2.0 looming you’re gonna need to get explosive.
6. Get over your ex – “If I can do Electroshock Therapy I can stop texting Shirley”
7. Get under your ex – “Oh you did a Tough Mudder? Maybe let’s have coffee and talk things over?”
8. Meet new people – New people are cool. You are cool. Be cool together.
9. Become a part of an ever-growing tribe of Mudders – 3.5 million served.
10. Get outside – Have you seen outside? Its pretty rad.
11. Max out your bad ass potential – Go from Steve to Stephen.
12. Impress your friends – Impress them so much they try an event themselves.
13. Impress your significant other – Someone’s getting lucky tonight.
14. Impress your boss – “You know what? I’m giving you that raise”
15. Impress your dog – Trust us, your dog will love all the mud you bring home.
16. Raise awareness for your favorite cause – Make a team, get donations, change the world.
17. Find a boyfriend- Almost impossible to avoid once word gets out you’ve run.
18. Lose a boyfriend – Get through a Tough Mudder and suddenly cutting Brad loose won’t seem so hard.
19. Find a girlfriend – See 17
20. Lose a girlfriend – See 18
21. Get engaged – Take the next step on our big stage, besides, who’s gonna say no in front of thousands of people?
22. Get married – Seriously, email us if you’re up for a muddy wedding. We’re not the first but your guests will never forget it.
23. Get tatted up – Getting a tat is cool, getting a Tough Mudder is pure bad-ass. Just ask the 20k other people who have them.
24. Watch people fail – Mean, but it’s safe to say it’s 100% going to happen.
25. Watch people succeed – It might bring a tear to your eye.
26. Test Your Limits – You’ll find them on course, and probably push past them.
27. Drink a beer or 4 – or 5 if you want.
28. Eat some tasty food – Burgers for the win.
29. Badass obstacles – Trust us on this one. 2019 have 8 NEW on every course.
30. Mud, mud and more mud – Seriously, it’s ridiculous.
31. People watch – Short, tall, big, and small. We get all kinds of folks and we love em all.
32. Meet a wombat – It’s probably going to happen.
33. Meet a unicorn – Highly unlikely, but anything’s possible at our events.
34. Meet a T-Rex – It definitely has happened. Here’s to hoping it does again.
35. Give yourself a Mohawk – You’ve always wanted a reason.
36. Wear a tutu – You won’t be alone.
37. Find inner peace – There’s nothing more zen than emerging from ice cold Arctic Enema – The Rebirth.
38. Faceplant – it happens to the best of us.
39. Get inspired – See amazing people do some amazing things.
40. Be an inspiration – You’re amazing, go show other people.
41. Marriage counseling – Forget about who does the dishes, if you can get through this you can get through anything.
42. Brag to your friends – You won’t be able to stop.
43. Brag to your co-workers – You’re gonna have to stop, you have work to do.
44. You love laundry – If you’re weird and like doing laundry, Tough Mudder is 100% for you.
45. Teamwork master class – Nothing teaches teamwork like navigating barbed wire.
46. See the countryside – Seriously, it’s beautiful out there.
47. Take a vacation – You work hard, now go play hard.
48. Watch the sunrise – Get here early, or just run a Toughest – either way it’s glorious.
49. Watch the sunset – Get ready for a Toughest by taking in some natural beauty.
50. Face paint – One guy made his face a shark.
51. Cool bibs – Official as hell.
52. Electric shocks – Electroshock therapy is back in a big way.
53. Ice cold waters – Nothing gets the blood pumping like an Arctic Enema.
54. Big jumps – Conquer that fear of heights in the coolest way possible.
55. Recapture your youth – Funky Monkey will get you feeling like a kid again.
56. Wear short shorts – Just another place to show your legs off.
57. Get weird – There’s no judgement on a Tough Mudder course.
58. Trash your shoes – Give your shoes a muddy final send off.
59. Make a best friend- Hard not to when you’re crushing life together.
60. Laugh – Watch someone faceplant into some mud and try not to.
61. Cry – Snag that headband and tears of joy are a virtual guarantee.
62. Shiver – Maybe it’ll be Arctic Enema, maybe it’ll be that frosty cold brew. Either way its happening.
63. Overcome – Kong, Everest, Funky Monkey, everyone’s got an obstacle that intimidates them. Overcoming those doubts is what it’s all about.
64. Get dirty – If getting down and dirty is your thing, then we are for sure your thing.
65. Get clean – Just like showering in weird places? Grab a ticket and check out our base area.
66. Get a tan – Yes that right.
67. Improve your complexion – Treat your run as one big spa treatment.
68. Step on someone – Like the idea of using people as ladders? Weird, but if that’s your thing Pyramid scheme is just what you need.
69. Get stepped on – Like being stepped on even more? See 68.
70. Silence the haters – Haters gonna hate and there’s no better way to shut them up then destroying 12 miles of obstacle filled insanity.
71. Give the haters Something to hate – Like making people jealous? See 69.
72. Dance Like nobody’s watching – You read it on a sorority girl’s wall, and guess what, it’s true as hell. We pump the jams while you drink brews.
73. Do You – Be your best self, we’re pretty sure that means running a Tough Mudder.
74. Swag – Shirts, hats, bibs, stuffed animals and more. Every event has tons of cool swag to haul off. Check out our online store
75. Use Your GoPro (Finally) – You bought one, used it once and forgot about it. Now justify that purchase by getting some killer video on course.
76. Jump off sh*t – “If everyone else jumped off a bridge would you do it too?” Yes mom, we would.
77. Climb over sh*t – See 75
78. Make Mum proud – She brought you into this world, now show her your appreciation by being the best mudder you can be. Just don’t bring those clothes to her expecting her to wash them.
79. Make Dad proud – “When I was your age I had 3 jobs and a mortgage” – Ok dad, but did you ever run up Everest without help?
80. Friendship test – Not sure about Steve? Run him through mud mile a few times and you’ll find out all you need to know.
81. Significant other test – There’s no better way to see how compatible you are then seeing how you react in Electroshock Therapy. Are you together until the end, or are you gonna cut and run?
82. Gym, and laundry – Tough Mudder was designed to maximize your potential (you should also hit the gym before your event and you will most definitely need to do laundry after).
83. Become a motivational speaker – You’ll spend so much time cheering on fellow mudders Tony Robbins is gonna need to look out.
84. Treat yourself – Nothing like getting yourself a nice day of refreshing bad-assery.
85. Go full ninja – Tough Mudder obstacles are the perfect place to find your inner ninja
86. Because we said so – Yup, you should listen to us. We’re smart.
87. For world peace – If everyone in the world acted like they do at our events? Say goodbye to war and poverty, and hello to babes and beers.
88. Get some shut-eye – All Tough Mudder events are guaranteed to tire you out.
89. To meet us – We are some seriously cool people here at TM. One guy ate 20 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
90. Volunteer – If you like giving back, then come be part of our volunteer army.
91. Orange is your favorite colour – Come get your first headband. It’s orange. You’ll love it.
92. Will Dean – Will made up this whole shindig so we could get together and have a blast. Seems like the least you could do is try out his creation.
93. You like to party – Ain’t no party like a TM party. Our base areas are filled with music, food and beer. What more do you need?
94. You deserve it – How do we know? Lets just call it a feeling.
95. Give your couch a rest – Seriously, you’re making an imprint.
96. Netflix will wait for you – Instead of spending 3 hours looking for something you haven’t watched, spend it on course.
97. Work event – Get a corporate team package and team build the TM way.
98. Stag do – Send your buddy off with a muddy bang. An added bonus? You’ll be too tired to get into any real trouble that night.
99. Hen do – Weird straws and tiaras? Bring em all and get wild on course.
100. Family reunions- Mum, Dad, Siblings, Aunts, Uncles and even your weird cousin Drew. Bring them all and instantly become the raddest family on the block.

Have 2018 best friend goals? Want to get closer to your family? Or want to get even closer to the attractive next door neighbour? Feel like you are in need of some quality bonding?

2018 is your year to get your new bestie involved in Tough Mudder – ‘cos remember the best friendships are forged in mud! We don’t want you to get FOMO while you’re waiting to start seeing results at the gym, this is your year to really call yourself  a Mudder by getting your team together and hitting the course hard.

Whether you guys like to take it slow and gentle, or  prefer it quick and rough, the Tough Mudder course is designed to challenge you mentally and physically and ensure  you and your mates cross the finish line together.

Have you got some weak reluctant friends who don’t want to get down and dirty with you? We’ve got some great lines for you to use to convince your friends to join you at the next Tough Mudder.

THE TOUGH-LOVE METHOD

“Whiners are wieners. Do you want to be a winner or a whiner?”

“Winners think on their feet, winners take action, winners lead by example, and winners focus on Tough Mudder!”

THE CLASSIC CONVINCER

“Tough Mudder principles are teamwork and camaraderie , which means no Mudder gets left behind or forgotten.”

“We can do this together, and get dirty together!”

“I would never think of doing Tough Mudder without you. I’ve only heard great things!”

“We should volunteer for Tough Mudder so that we can get discounted tickets!”

“I know how much you love a cold beer. Imagine how much better that would be after you finished the Tough Mudder course?”

“Let’s cross Tough Mudder off our bucket-list. It’ll make us feel alive!”

If all else fails, THE BROWN-NOSER

“Tough Mudder is like having a spa day, while working out. Do you know how much people pay to be in mud?”

“Mate, we can finish this course like champions! You’re the best person I know who would get totally amongst the atmosphere and the comradery”

Consider this the start of a beautiful, muddy friendship…

Your friends and family might be posting about “cutting sugar” and “less screen time” but you’ve got different goals for the new year. If your sights are set on upping your Tough Mudder game, a plan of action is key to making it happen for you in 2018. Focus on consistency in your training, adequate food and fuel, and a tougher than thou mindset shift to make this year the best yet.

1. Train Consistently
Come the first week of January, you and everyone you know will be hitting the gym with a newfound sense of dedication that, let’s be real here, will probably dip by mid-February. Getting yourself to the gym in summer can be hard, so why not keep your training exciting by getting out there and enjoying the outdoors? Surfing, stand up paddle boarding, swimming, jogging, kayaking, all are great workouts and plenty of fun.

2. Travel To A New Tough Mudder Destination
Not sure what city (or country) deserves to top your travel list in 2018? Go online, find an event, and commit right now. Where else would you want to climb a Berlin Wall but Germany? Or why not head north to South East Queensland for a Toughest Mudder?

3. Cross Train With Low-Impact Movement
It’s easy to get caught up in one, static workout routine, but bodies crave variation (or else you run the risk of plateauing). Do yourself a favor and work something low-impact into your week: try some yoga, pilates, or maybe even take a barre class. You’ll likely introduce some balance into your life (quite literally) and keep your body limber and less injury-prone.

4. Keep It Simple & Fuel Up With Whole Foods
Whether you’re thinking about opting for paleo-based reset, some crazy-extreme juice cleanse, or want to try keto on for size, there’s one nutrition trend that everyone can get behind: whole foods. Keeping your diet simple and focusing on eating stuff you can name rather than artificial add-ins is the easiest way to stay on track with healthy eating. 2018 is the year we’re saying “cya” to chemicals. Sticking to these tried-and-true Tough Mudder staples will give you all the energy that you need to work hard and build muscle.

5. Crush The Obstacle That Terrifies You
Does the mere thought of Kong send shivers down your spine? Does toppling Everest 2.0 seem impossible? Ditch the negative thinking and get affirmative; if you let an obstacle intimidate you, it’s already won. Courses are meant to be challenging — the race would be boring if you had everything in the bag. So switch your mindset, and write up an action plan to make steady progress in the weeks leading up to your event.

6. Register For An Event That Freaks You Out
Change doesn’t come from comfort zones. If you’ve mastered a 5k or the Half, it’s definitely time to conquer that Full. Smashed a full course, then Toughest Mudder is ready and waiting for you. Trying to introduce a little tenacity into your 2018? Seek out a race in the competitive series.