Tough Mudder Training Tips

[1ToughMudder]

Hi guys and girls,

This is a great write up and every ones opinion / tips / routines are all very helpful. Tough Mudder is here in Victoria Australia in 9 weeks, I have started a team that is slowly growing as word gets out. We have been training for 3 weeks already specifically for this event. None of us are athletes in any way but we all listen to each other, come up with new ideas to challenge one another and compare our training achievements once a week when we catch up for group training.

Personally I have changed my workout routine with much more intensity than I am used to. I have always been a skinny legged guy who has trouble gaining mass even in loading phases. But with no real goals is sight. Tough Mudder has given me a goal, and a much more realistic goal. I have already seen improvements in my bodies looks and my strength.

My training so far has included but not limited to:
Boot camp training for 1 hour, twice a week
Running twice a week, increasing length and intensity with each run.
(I have just bought a running parachute for some extra resistance)
Gym sessions with 70% 80% 90% 80% 70% progressive weight lifting to fail.
Swimming sessions for 1 Kilometer
Monkey bars, rope climes, balance beam, and other children park equipment.

The event itself does frighten me a little. As the website said it's a race, so as a team I'm sure we can pull each other through.

My only tips I can offer is one that we as a group have agreed on. Is of anyone has a weakness ie. mine is running and another team members is swimming. That we include that weakness into our training to help eliminate any known weaknesses.

Good luck fellow Mudders.

I'm going to finish reading these tips and then do a 5.0km run.

[mandotony]

I'm planning on doing a couple of these types of races this year (Rugged Maniac & Tough Mudder - both in Colorado). I think I'm good with my training - but had a silly question for those that had done this before.

I wear contacts. Will I have issues with water potentially getting in my eyes and washing the contacts out? I don't mind a some water in my face - but what's it like in a race situation? Is there continuous splash back? Can I expect to submerged over and over?

The last thing I want is to go blind halfway through Tough Mudder.

[furrybum]

I'm planning on doing a couple of these types of races this year (Rugged Maniac & Tough Mudder - both in Colorado). I think I'm good with my training - but had a silly question for those that had done this before.

I wear contacts. Will I have issues with water potentially getting in my eyes and washing the contacts out? I don't mind a some water in my face - but what's it like in a race situation? Is there continuous splash back? Can I expect to submerged over and over?

The last thing I want is to go blind halfway through Tough Mudder.

I've done a few of these sorts of race and they generally tell you not to wear them. Not sure about the Colerado events but many of them have obstacles that involve being fully submerged in muddy water. You don't want dirt or grit getting stuck in your lens.

[LiptonBrisk]

thanks for this post; i have a 5 months to get ready for tm socal#2

[prolvr]

Currently in training for this pumped#

[mister]

Ok, so for some unknown reason, i decided to sign up for tough mudder in tahoe in sept. i've never ran a marathon or jog longer than 45 mins in my life. i have been lifting for the last 5 or 6 years though. i think i've got the stregnth portion secured, i think. i'm hoping this thread continues because i'll be coming back to it often for motivation and tips.

i signed up on tuesday and ran my first 5miles on the treadmill. it took 1:02:59. my feet hurt. but i was impressed that i felt like i could continue to work out so i did some stretches and pushups for another 30 before i left the gym. today i'll get on the stairmaster for another hour and see how i feel after.

my first goal is to be able to pace my workout at about 160bpm for an entire hour. i have 8 months to prepare and i'm praying that is enough. first step is to increase stamina. anyone with thoughts on my initial game plan? thanks for the write up too its more encouraging knowing what to expect from an actual tough mudder.

[HoRgirl52]

I did a TOUGH MUDDER last november... HIIT helps the most. I would jog a mile on the treadmill then jump off do 15 pushups and 15 bodyweight squats.. jump back on the treadmill and jog another mile the repeats pushups and squats. The TOUGH MUDDER is about completing the challenge and helping others.. It's not a race. SWIMMING IN ICE COLD WATER IN NOVEMBER WAS PURE HELL>>> jus sayin. Train hard kids.. House of RAGE! :-)

[vynvyn]

I'm enlisted for Tough Mudder NorCal Tahoe 9-28-12! My 2nd event

toughmudder.com has a nice training workout on the site and you can look at the course description. I'm looking forward to the cold weather in late September out there!

[28renton]

My friend at work is doing this. Curious to see how he feels when he's done.

[chotaadmi]

Any bayarea folks wanna make a team for a Norcal event?

[ThEDicE]

I signed up for the March 31st TM South of Dallas, Tx.

I cant wait. I have been training hard since November. Should be ready to kick its ass!

Anyone else going to this one?

[1ToughMudder]

Hey Mudders!

Here I want to show you a 10 week program I have adopted. There is a standard and and an advanced program. However I feel the standard program is more cardio intense and that's what you need for this endurance event. You also get 3 days off a week for rest, however I have been filling them with my own workouts and team training days.

Enjoy.

www(DOT)virtualfitness(DOT)com(DOT)au/tough-mudder(DOT)html

[llidisky]

May be an old thread but in signing up for a tough mudder for October. And right now I'm about 40 pounds overweight. I'm starting training next week after we unpack at our new house.

[neil25quin]

Nice post

[NaveLB]

Currently training for the one in the twin cities. Cant WAIT!

[COhunter]

I was just wondering what people thought of using insanity to kick off your workout plan. My wife and I want to both do TM but she just had my son 2 days ago so she can't do anything for 6 weeks. I read on another site that insanity workout can you started on the right path for doing TM events. What's your oppinion?

[Ryan_Ford]

learn parkour and the obstacles will be hilariously easy.

[mlandis]

Ran it today in Ohio. Great race, very challenging.

[Roach]

Any tips other then what's been posted??

Hopefully going to do the one in NJ this fall...

[mlandis]

Any tips other then what's been posted??

Hopefully going to do the one in NJ this fall...

I guess the best advice is team work. Serious. I ran it solo but others helped me and I helped other people when I could. Towards the end of the race everyone was cramping up and that is when it is great to have someone else to keep you going.
That being said, Upper body exercises will help a lot. Playground type, monkey bars, hanging rings, etc.
Get ready to be wet and cold for the whole event.
And the electric eel obstacle nailed the f*** out of me.

[Kylegmoore71]

I'm signing up this week for the SoCal TM in July.....I just did Warrior Dash, and it felt a little lacking in the "spirit destroying" difficulty level. I lost 30 lbs in preparation for the Warrior Dash, and I am going to use the TM as a goal for another 20lbs of loss! I am not really excited about the 7000 ft elevation of the SoCal TM, but it's about mental toughness right??

Anyone else doing the SoCal Mudder?

[midniteOG]

also, depending on the obstacles, gloves might help, along with tapeing your shoes & tieing them tight to keep them from getting sucked off in the mud...

[Ajtriple2]

It is all about mental toughness. I don't do much cardio, but I worked my way up to about 20 miles a week for tough mudder. The problem with the Ohio TM was that we were either running through ankle deep mud, waist high water, or over hard slate. There wasn't even terrain and it took its tole on my calves and feet. I just worked through it.
The obstacles are fun, and they don't require excessive upper body strength, team work is necessary for many of them. Just keep moving and run through the pain and you'll be good. I had some good pain in my left foot around mile 6, and it turns out I have a stress fracture now, haha. The terrain definitely kicks your ass. I finished in just under 3 hours, which I'm proud of for my first run. I'll be doing my next Tough Mudder at the Indiana event in June.

[piromaniact]

Great thread! A couple months ago I decided to participate in the Toronto Mudder this coming August. I was about 60 lbs overweight and needed a goal to get my but moving. In March I started walking regularly during my lunch hour and a month ago I joined the gym and started working out 3 days a week. I kept walking 2-3 days a week and about 2 weeks ago I went for my first run in 4 1/2 years. I've really enjoyed reading the advice from those that have done this and was heartened to know that my decision to follow the beginner workout from Gym Junkies.com. I have already lost 9lbs (might be more, but I won't know till my weigh-in tomorrow) but I'm now looking to see what I need to change/alter/add to this basic workout to realize this goal. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[demonsoul]

Good stuff man, I will surely pass this on to my friends as we are doing it in Oct

[infish]

honestly tough mudder was incredible easy, i breezed through all of the obsticles with out any help, even though i did help others. I did not train for this event other than my normal working out also i am not a runner at all never ran more than one mile and i ran the first 8 with eaze then my calves died and it was kind of a struggle from their but still finished with a great time.

[chenshan]

The Allentown PA race should be about 7 miles total if I'm not mistaken but has a lot of elevation changes. If you can do 5 miles comfortably then you'll have what it takes to finish strong. The steep hills will require leg muscle endurance more than running endurance and there's a few breaks when waiting for some of the obstacles. As far as PWO supps go I can't speak highly enough about Purple Wraath to take for the race. It's more of an intra supp but for a long race like this it will help big time. Good luck on the race!

[Sarah97]

I'm doing TM in The Midlands in about two weeks. I'm the only female on a team of about 9. I'm really excited. The only thing I'm nervous about is the fact that it's still fairly cold here in the UK and of course raining all the damn time. I'm just hoping I can make it through without getting hypothermia. Once we're out of this place I'm definitely signing up for one back at home in the states.

[jicbeatz]

Very good tips, no doubt!

[CPADude]

Is this the one with the half-pipe? Don't you need a partner for that? I did Warrior Dash last weekend (Beginner obstacle). Trying to train for Tough Mudder next year.