Tough Mudder Pointers

Just recently me and my girl Renee participated in the Tough Mudder, said to be the toughest event on the planet. If you are not familiar with the Tough Mudder it is a hard core 10-12 mile obstacle coarse designed by someone from the British Special Forces. It was made to test your strength mentally and physically, your stamina, and your camaraderie. All the while raising money for the wounded warrior project. This race was amazing.

Word to the wise, I recommend being prepared to completely freeze. There are a few things you can wear to make it slightly less brutal. To start, think less is more. The more clothes you pill on the more water you will carry in them around the coarse. There is no way you are going to keep your feet and hands dry so focus on keeping them as warm as possible.

For the hands I recommend neoprene gloves. 3mm diving gloves will do, or for the cheaper route I may suggest neoprene fishing or kayaking gloves.

For the feet lets try and find some wool socks. Ski socks are good. The higher the percentage of wool they contain the better. They wont keep your feet dry, but they will help to keep the heat in as much as possible. Absolutely no cotton, wearing cotton is almost worse then running naked.

Upper body: I prefer to run in a clima-cool tank top as long as I can, but if it is absolutely to cold to withstand I recommend a cold-gear long sleeve compression mock. Under Armour makes a good one. But any quick dry moisture transfer top will do.

Lower Body: The Cold Gear Frosty compression tights from Under Armour are also a good idea. They are good at keeping your body warm and pushing out sweat as well. My favorite are the CW-X Insulator Expert Tights. They are a little more pricey but I find them to be the best.

My favorite accessory: The shoes, Inov-8. I recommend either the Inov-8 X-Talon 212 or the Inov-8 X-Talon 190. Both have great reviews and I speak from experience when I say they are a must have. While everyone else is slipping and sliding around the coarse you will find yourself gliding through with ease. They were 100% the best purchase I made for my Tough Mudder race.

If you are running The Worlds Toughest Mudder this weekend, I recommend you bring multiple pairs of fresh socks, I would change them every few hours. Maybe even a second pair of shoes if you have them. Cold Gear head wear is good as well. Just remember you will be completely submerged in water on more then one occasion.

Good Luck!