What did I get myself into?
Posted on August 5, 2010
About two years ago while on a flight home from vacation, I picked up the airlines in-flight magazine and started reading about the famous Tough Guy Obstacle Course. Twice a year on a farm in England hundreds of potential Tough Guys run through an obstacle course that I would describe as sheer torture.
“Tough Guy is the nightmare of being chased by a herd of stallions. Your only escape route is a mighty and revered obstacle course.” – Tough Guy web site
I was enthralled with the idea but put it in the back of my mind under the category “I would love to try that but…” fill in with any of a number of excuses. I didn’t think of it again until just recently when a friend posted a link to a local obstacle course called the Rugged Maniac 5K. I read about it and absolutely had to sign up. So I did!
What was I thinking?
I don’t consider myself out of shape but I have never done anything like this before. My exercise routine each week consists of two nights of Kung Fu class with the other nights involving a variety of light stretching and some form of calisthenics. Climbing walls and crawling through mud are not home gym type equipment.
So now that I’m signed up for this how do I train for it?
I’ve come up with a simple plan that I think both will be exciting for me and honor the variety of challenges I expect to encounter on the obstacle course. I’m going to try a little of everything.
- Distance running
- Biking
- Boot Camps
- Obstacle Course Practice Runs
- and more
I will share my experiences regularly and hope that some readers will share theirs with me.
So I looked at the link and was wondering what made you say ” I gotta do that race” was it:
1. the guy crawling under barbed wire covered in mud who looks like he made have seriously injured himself
2. the 3 guys who are apparently struggling to stay afloat in a very deep water pit
3. or racer #527 on slide 7 who is certainly going to catch fire in the coming seconds
For me it’s easy the “Featured Racer” picture of John “The Hammer” O’Brien who looks to be about 10 minutes from death…that is what got me to say ” I gotta sign up for this”…good luck man!
Well Shaq,
All of the above.
When I was reading the article I got caught up in the idea of presenting myself with a challenge that was well suited for my character. I like the idea of pushing myself beyond the point I would normally say “I’m done” and walk away. Something like this I wouldn’t want to walk away from. Every exercise challenge I have tried in the past, I would usually get bored with and abandon. So far the regiment of Kung Fu is the one program I have stayed with the longest. I credit that with the following:
Camaraderie
Being pushed (encouraged)
Seeing results
I want to see myself covered in Mud, water logged, a little crispy, and very proud of myself for it all.
Patrick