Dealing with the unexpected:

Can I survive this?

Jul 28, 2025

Back in March my sneaky brother decided to book us both into a race.

But this wasn't any old race.

He booked it because, and I only found this out later that he wanted to break me! Even in our later years it seems he’s till trying to find a way to humiliate me, the older brother by two and a half years.

Joking aside, I had a focus to work towards regardless of his reasons.

From the car park, a field with very organised volunteers, we walked towards the course and whether this was by design or not, every person entering this race has to walk under this climbing frame (see below)

I'm ok with heights so I looked at this with intrigue rather than fear.

A few days before I'd searched Tough Mudder on YouTube and seen some of the obstacles, giving me an idea of what to expect. Mentally I was ready.

The question was whether my body could cope?

The 5K course around fields, included walking across a high beam about five feet from the ground, crawling through the mud under barbed wire, and jumping in a ditch of cold dirty water onto what's advertised as the Blockness Monster. Imagine the casing of a Toblerone on a spit, spun by the power and momentum of people getting over it. Once you're over you reach back, still waist deep in water and using your weight as leverage pull it over so others can be pulled over. His was repeated three times.

I didn't have my phone to record the carnage but check out this from a previous participant or spectator (Watch a 20 second clip here) https://youtube.com/shorts/l5YHGqNCSpw?si=Hp3XY82KDCaqTusm

5k later, soaked, tired but in one piece we crossed the line and received a t-shirt, a medal, headband, some packages beef jerky and isotonic alkaline water. Brilliant!

We then trundled to the Mudder Village (branding is spot on!) to sit down with others (10,000 people completed this on the Saturday) and take in the views.

After 15 minutes or so of chomping on the free jerky and downing the water, we headed to the bag drop and picked up our bags. (The security includes putting a strap on your wrist and a corresponding band on your bag then dumping it on one of the many tables that corresponds to the colour of your band.) My bag full of clean clothes, was exactly where I left it which just added more positive vibes to the whole event.

We found the rinsing off station, cold showers creatively hanging from plastic tubes linked to a water system to rid us of the remaining mud, then headed to the large tents to get changed.

Feeling refreshed and ready to explore the pop up eateries, we found more free stuff! Free drinks, and free pizza promoting brands that needed traction.

As a startup entrepreneur myself now, I took an interest in one particular drink and asked the girl if it was her business. “I'm just here to give away free cans” she said. Every brand needs good marketing!

We set off at 10.30am and at 4.30 we were ready to leave, having fed and watered ourselves to fulfillment, not quite experiencing self-actualisation, but I'd gained more appreciation for this event. It brought me joy. It challenged my mind and body and rewarded me for doing so.

So there's one last thing to do…get pictures of us with our medals, t shirt and headband.