Muddy Obstacle Course racing

races

by Tracey_E - 2016-12-27 16:38:04

I do Crossfit regularly. I've done two adventure races but not a mudder (yet!). I didn't do additional training, just my usual 5x/week wods. I found the race challenging but far from impossible but I think I would have really struggled if it was closer to surgery. JMHO, but I think that's a little soon. A 5K or even a 10K, no problem, but you need a lot of upper body strength to do mudders. You won't be back to full force training for a min of 2-3 months after so that doesn't leave much time to do additional training. You'll want to ease into training, not jump into it full force. It's normal to take a few tries to get the settings just right, it's normal to have lingering soreness, it's normal to take some time to get your stamina back. 4 months post op is cutting it close. How do you feel now? How hard are you able to work out? If you can do a full, heavy workout now then maybe go for it, but if you're still getting back your upper body strength then you don't want to push it.

Alternative that's harder than a 5k but more fun/challenge, are there any Inflatable 5K's near you? We had one here a few weeks after I had a replacement earlier this year so I had to skip it so now i'm watching for it to come back again.

Some of the races have obstacles where you crawl under an electrical fence. Skip those! There's a burpee penalty but they'll let you go around it. As I said, I haven't done a mudder or spartan yet, but I've looked into it extensively because it's absolutely on my bucket list :) 

Thank you

by Diane C - 2016-12-28 08:50:24

Hi TraceyE,

Many thanks for your advice. I think I will start training for the race and see how I go. I have signed up with a group of 5 and we are all in it for fun so there is no pressure in terms of time or anything and I can always skip some obstacles if need be. I'd like to keep the goal of the February race to give me an incentive to train but if I find nearer the time that I just can't get my upper body strength up to where it needs to be I can always defer to a race later in the year. The one I have signed up to is called the Bigfoot Challenge and doesn't have an electrical fence luckily 😀. There is an inflatable course coming near me in June called Gung-ho and that does look fun so might well give that a shot! 

If I manage it I'll let you know 😀

Thanks again,

Diane

good plan!

by Tracey_E - 2016-12-28 12:35:05

Sounds like a good plan! Just listen to your body. Teams help, both with motivation and getting over obstacles. Please let me know how it goes!

I'm in a similar situation, tho not cardiac. I'm signed up for my first half marathon the end of Feb with one of my daughters but have been struggling with heel problems. It's finally getting better, but I haven't run since last summer. Part of me says don't push it, part says if I'm gonna do it, I need to start logging some miles. I don't care about breaking any speed records, my goal is to not get swept and get the pretty princess medal while not doing anything stupid to my foot and undoing months of therapy. Decisions, decisions.

Off to look up Gung-ho lolol

Mud hero

by Ds78127 - 2017-01-23 02:01:46

Hi Diane,

Tough mudder and mud hero have some differences but both are obstical courses and both have mud. 

I participated in a mud hero event last summer and thought it was awesome. My wife and I have signed up to do it again this summer! Our course was 6k and involved lots of challenges. I'm not a fitness guy but I have an active job and I work at staying in shape just enough so I can still go for drinks and wings! 

I was into running for a while, I've done 3 5k runs, I found I enjoyed the mud hero event more though. 

I would see how you feel on race day and I'll bet you'll be ready to go by then. I didn't find anything in our local course that I couldn't do. If all else fails, skip a challenge that you think might give you grief and move on to the next one! Don't miss out on the fun! 

Dave