Tough Mudder Training Starts Next Week

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tough mudder logoWhen I started my weight loss journey, one of my workout goals was to do a Tough Mudder by 2015.  Well that was two years ago and I’m targeting the   June 2015 Tough Mudder in Scotland as my designated mudder.

I’ve read that only 78% of those who enter a Tough Mudder actually finish it. Yikes! If I want a shot at entering (and finishing!) the Scottish mudder then I need to get my butt in gear and start training.

Mudderling Overview
I’ve picked the Mudderling Boot Camp workout to get me started. Since I workout 6 days a week already, I’m hopeful I can advance to the Maybe Mudder level fairly quickly.

The Mudderling level includes a 5-minute warm up followed by 3 circuits (a mix of cardio and weight training), and a 5-minute cool down. Tough Mudder recommends doing this boot camp 3 times a week and 2 more days of cardio training.

All circuits are 10-minutes in length with the cardio exercises lasting 2-minutes each and each strength exercise lasts 1-minute. All circuits end with a 1-minute rest.

Circuit 1

Circuit 2

Circuit 3

  • High knees
  • Pull ups (My great white!)
  • Quick feet
  • Balance series – Draw a plus sign on the sidewalk. Stand on one leg and hop clockwise to each quadrant. Then hop counter-clockwise. Switch legs.
  • Tire run – Stand on one leg then shift weight to the opposite leg. Continue alternating legs. Keep butt down, knees high and pace fast.
  • Plank

The exercises are designed to work each part of my body and prepare me for the different Tough Mudder obstacles.

The good news is that I’ve performed most of these workouts with my trainer. The quick feet, balance series, tire run and crawl outs are new to me. I watched some YouTube videos and it looks like nothing I can’t handle.

The bad news — I can’t do a pull up to save my life! And arm hangs isn’t going to happen either. So I’ll keep working on the assisted pull up machine. So I guess I have a new goal — do 1 non-machine assisted pull up by June 2015.

Since the exercises are a mix of cardio and strength, I’m planning to do these circuits after my regular session with my trainer. So Monday, Wednesday and Saturday are my designated Tough Mudder training days. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are for cardio and yoga. Sunday is my new rest day.

I don’t expect to ever get to the point of being the World’s Toughest Mudder — the people who can do that Vegas event are incredible (check out the video below and you’ll see what I mean). I’m doing this for fun (yes, crawling in muddy water under barbed wire sounds like fun to me). And to give my workouts some focus.

Tough Mudder Clock Is Ticking

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I’m so excited about tying my 5K training to an actual date that I’ve decided its time to do the same for Tough Mudder. Once I hit 200 pounds I promised myself I’d start training for a mudder. Well I’m 12 pounds shy of hitting that mark. Why wait? Besides, starting now will keep me focus on eating healthy.

Because of the difficulty level, I decided that if I’m going to do a mudder it should be in a fun place so I can get in a little R&R afterwards. So I’m circling the June 20 & 21 on my calendar. That gives me two options – British Columbia or Scotland!

Registering is the easy part. I need to save up for plane tickets and a hotel room. I’m hoping by December 1 I’ll save enough know which one I can go to.

Of course there is a rumor that my gym is organizing a team and training program for a 2015 mudder. Hmmmm…if so, then I may do that instead. I’ll have a better chance at crossing the finish line on a team than flying solo.

In any event, I’ve given myself a year to prepare myself. I downloaded the Tough Mudder training guide and it’s looking like lots of pull-ups, sit ups, planks, burpees, squats, mountain climbers and lunges are in my future.

Sigh…pull-ups and burpees are my natural enemy. But I will conquer them.

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Am I One Tough Mudder?

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Dot hiking in Shenandoah a few years and 61+ lbs ago.

Dot hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains a few years and 61+ lbs ago.

I really want to do this! But I’m in no shape to even attempt Tough Mudder…yet!

Goals!
I’ve decided that when I weigh 200 lbs, I’ll start training for the Tough Mudder with the goal of doing TM when I’m within 20 lbs of my goal weight. According to my last weigh in, I need to lose 64 more pounds before training starts. Easy Peasy!

So in the meantime, I’m going to continue with walking everyday, increasing my time and distance each week. Since I’m not ready for Tough Mudder, I’m going to register for a few 5k walks in the area. If I walk everyday, I’ll reward myself with a weekly pedicure. For the 5k walks, I’ll treat myself to a facial.

By late April I plan to start hiking again. I really do miss hiking. Its been more than 4 years since my last outing. Far too long. I figured I’ll start off with day hikes in Great Falls, Roosevelt Island, Bull Run Mountain Conservancy, etc. Then come summer I’ll be ready for the weekend hiking trips to the Shenandoah or Dolly Sods – complete with backpack! Glad I didn’t let my REI membership expire.