On the Way to Tough Mudder- Central Texas!

Around last April, I saw a Facebook post by a friend fishing for companions to join her in a 10 mile mud-and-guts obstacle course on October 9th in Central Texas called Tough Mudder. Supposedly, the obstacles were designed to replicate British Special Forces training – complete with head games. I didn’t even blink before I was in. I just had to convince Chris. I mentioned it. Done. That was easy! We were in. Second thoughts have entered, mind you. For Chris, it’s the iced water obstacles. His mind can’t wrap itself around putting his body, particularly his testicles, through the numbing pain of swimming in ice. For me, it’s electrocution. I’m claiming sanity on that one and reminding myself (like I did during childbirth and on the Tower of Terror at Disney) that hundreds of thousands of people have done it and lived through it. I will feel supremely badass when it’s over… if I live. I did have to sign a death waiver, after all. Come to think of it, I had to sign a similar waiver for my wisdom teeth extraction so whatever.

Chris and I (like you, I’m sure) have watched those bullshit armed forces commercials that show obstacle courses and teamwork and make the whole military experience look like ropes-course-sleep-away-camp for adults. We dreamed of being able to participate in the time-limited physical challenge as it is depicted – teamwork, heart, strength, pain, drive… ultimate challenge – without the rest of the military committment.

We read everything on their website and various blogs of others who had participated in various locations throughout the country, signed up, and paid our money. Shit. Now we’d have to train- hard. We’re physically fit people but the prospect of this (we hoped) would take us to an entirely different plane. We were in South Carolina at the time. We immediately began training using the program on the Tough Mudder website.

Tough Mudder is not a race. It’s a challenge and focuses on camaraderie and teamwork. I have to say that Chris and I have bonded tremendously with ourselves and each other over this experience. We have trained 5-6 days a week through eighteen states – all in and around the RV using playground equipment, picnic tables, and household items. While in New Hampshire this summer, I found a book called, “You Are Your Own Gym” by Mark Lauren. We were getting bored and feeling a bit of a plateau settle in with our workout regime. This book has been a big turning point for us. Some major nutritional revelations have been the other key but that’s really an entirely different post. Long story short (in case that post is delayed in coming)- we are thriving on a no sugar, no gluten, no processed flour, low glycemic diet. It’s strangee to even describe it in a way that I’m only telling you what we don’t eat. What we do eat is so freakin’ fantastic! I often post what we’re eating on Facebook so friend me!

I’m writing this post on the way to Austin, Texas where we’ll be spending the six days surrounding the event. Stay tuned! Soon we (and our team of 4 other badass homeschooling parents) will be Tough Mudders! Oh, and did I mention that they’ve lengthened the course to 12 miles with 29 obstacles? Bring…it…on.