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 Tough Mudder and OCR go hand and hand like peanut butter and jelly. The iconic orange headband and obstacles such as electroshock therapy are common when obstacle racing is mentioned in common conversation. Although what most people do not understand Tough Mudder is actually a mud run and not an obstacle race. 

 

Tough Mudder began in 2010 with it's first event in Pennsylvania and has grown into one of the "Big Three" and most recognizable names in the industry.

Over one million people will participate in a Tough Mudder in 2014. 

 

The Tough Mudder pledge is: 

 

"As a Tough Mudder I pledge that...

I understand Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.

I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.

I do not whine, kids whine.

I help my fellow mudders complete the course.

I overcome all fears."

- from www.toughmudder.com

 

Because Tough Mudder is not a timed event and results are not recorded it should be classified as a mud run. The typical course is between 10 - 13 miles and has between 25-30 obstacles throughout the course. All of the obstacles are optional on the course and if an obstacle is shipped there are no penalties that are incurred for the failed obstacle.  Participants who take on the Tough Mudder are looking to push themselves to the next level and step out of the daily norm. 

 

Some of the defining obstacles in a Tough Mudder are Everest, Arctic Enema, Electric Eel, Electroshock Therapy, and the Funky Monkey. A little about each obstacle...

 

Everest

Everest is a often greased or muddy quarter pipe which participants have to get up and over. This obstacle is often tackled as a group and people help each other up and over the ramp. It is one of the biggest and most intimidating obstacles to people when they first see it. 

 

Arctic Enema

The most challenging part of this obstacle is getting over the mental hurdle of jumping into a dumpster full of ice water. The obstacle itself is a dumpster filled with ice water the participant must navigate across, ducking under a barrier in the middle of the way across. Once the participant gets over the cold factor it is actually physically not as challenging an obstacle. 

 

Electric Eel

The Electric Eel is one of two electrified obstacles in a Tough Mudder. This obstacle has participants crawling through shallow water trying to avoid the hanging electrified wires. Sometimes a participant will get lucky and hardly be shocked other times it can be a jolt! 

 

Electroshock Therapy

Easily the most iconic obstacle of all in the sport of OCR. It has been widely written about and is one of the most intimidating for many participating in a Tough Mudder. Electroshock Therapy has participants running through a series of hanging wires which may or may not be charged as they run through. If shocked the jolt can be minor or sometimes drop participants to their knees. Often times objects such as bails of hay or sink holes are places in the pit area to force participants to pay attention while trying to avoid shocks. 

 

Funky Monkey

The Funky Monkey is like the monkey bars of childhood but the difficulty is dialed up. Participants must use their upper body strength to navigate up and back down the a-frame like structure. If they fail along the way they will fall into a watery pit below. 

 

Overall, may of the obstacles in a Tough Mudder challenge the participant mentally as well as physically. At the end of the event all finishers receive a Tough Mudder shirt, orange headband, and beer (for those over 21 years old). With events all over the US and the world, Tough Mudder has definitely made it's mark on the OCR industry.