Common Objections For Not Doing A Tough Mudder

I am not in shape

You do not need abs of steel, bungling biceps or look like you are chiselled from granite to compete in a mud run. Most people that do a Tough Mudder or mud run are not elite athletes. A full Tough Mudder is between 10 to 12 miles, and most of the time, you can walk between the obstacles. Some mud races are timed, but Tough Mudders are not! 

When doing a Tough Mudder, you need a good level of fitness, but this can be achieved. Give yourself 3 months prior to the event to get into shape. If you are new to running, start working towards a 5K run. Take your time if this is something new to you. Equally, you want to gradually work on your strength training. Take your time when starting a new exercise plan and get professional advice from a doctor.

At a mud run event, there are people or all different shapes and sizes. The beauty of an obstacle course race like a Tough Mudder is that everybody helps each other out. From what I have seen, there is no judgement on your fitness; other fellow mudders will help you out. Even the fittest and most experienced OCR Racer, at some point, will need help on the Tough Mudder obstacles.

I have got nobody to run with

When you do a Tough Mudder, there are thousands of people backing you. Regardless if you are on your own or not, you will meet people on the course.  

If you have got friends that will not do a Tough Mudder with you, here are your choices: 

1) Find some friends that will do it with you. 

2) You do not go because you are afraid of going alone

3) Just go anyway

I have done a dozen mud races on my own, and I guarantee that I meet lots of great people there. It is a case of getting out of your comfort zone. 

I am not a great runner 

To do a Tough Mudder, you do not need to be a marathon runner. I found that jogging, walking and hiking is the best way to get ready for an OCR event. Being outdoors and getting used to the terrain is one of the best ways to succeed. 

I am no good at monkey bars 

Do not worry about it. You can train for monkey bars, and it does take time. Focus on your grip strength training and where possible, use an OCR rig or an outdoor climbing frame in a playground. 

A Tough Mudder is expensive

For some, it is expensive to roll in the mud. You got to consider the cost of hiring a stately home for a weekend, the logistics of installing obstacles and the requirement of medics on-site. Granted, Tough Mudders do get expensive with paying for parking etc. That said, one thing you do not pay for is your photos as an additional fee. 

There are plenty of discount codes floating around the Internet, and you can even volunteer to do a Tough Mudder. If you do a full day of volunteering, you will get access to a free Tough Mudder event.