Aug 19 Tough Mudder wrap up

Some thing is up with my MacBook, so I'm doing this post on my iPhone. Forgive any auto corrections.

This was a Tough Mudder, not an Easy Mudder or a Yeah, show up and get it done Mudder. It was Tough.

If you go back to some of my earlier posts, my work outs were a lot if running. Jogging. On flat terrain.

Mount St Louie Moonstone was not flat. I went up and down that ski hill four or five times. In three hours. Really, I lost count. The events pointed out my weaknesses - not found of heights, when I had to jump off a 15 foot ledge into water. Upper body strength relative to body weight. Not fond of running hills, nor of dark cramped spaces... This one I overcame by singing a march by John Philip Sousa as loudly as I could. I have no idea why that worked, but it did.

Being a good guy and being friendly to people was a strength that helped me. Some of the events were a lot harder to do if you did them by yourself.

Basic fitness is a necessity for this event. Merely completing it in less than four hours was my goal- I started at 9:30 and finished around 12:45pm. Just over three hours. Which, I'm told, is about average.

I jogged the downhills and as much of the flat areas as I could, but by kilometer 15, I was pretty much walking. The Kilometer 14 marker was two thirds up the mountain ..the forth time up the mountain. I got up that mountain by just keeping my feet moving. I did a fifteen count, one step for each player on my rugby team. Over and over and over again.

I keep telling people, especially young people that the only way to get up a mountain is one step at a time. I proved that to myself.

Overall, a very well run event, the key for me was being basically fit, being stupid early the day of the event and preparation. I think I let myself down on that last one, as I didn't bring any food for when I was on the course. I had money and Advil out on the course which did work well. Money was good for a nice beer and a t-shirt after. The gloves worked ok, too.

As a side note, the camel bak water system worked well for what I needed. It also held my stuff, but the bag check ins were so smooth here, that shouldn't have been a problem.

I believe I got what I trained for- a really good rugby result, a decent TM result and some insight into what my training and nutrition should focus on in the coming year.

I was leaving on a shuttle bus back to the parking lot and met some nice people who recalled seeing me on the course. We got chatting and were joined by another dude from the same heat. It was the guy who ran the course twice Saturday and once today,,, 16 TM headbands were on his bag, man!16!

Can you beleed dat?

Aug 20 my holiday begins, thank goodness. Can't imagine having to go to work Monday after an event like this. I'd be even more useless than normal.
Ugh, man.

One last thing... Anvil or alcohol for recovery?

Aug 14 to 18

Still on with the icing of my foot and physiotherapy. Still doing two nights of rugby and sprints, bit have stopped everything else.

Well, except for much needed yoga/ stretching sessions stupid early most days.

Saturday the 18th I played 80 minutes of rugby. Well, at least I think I did. Pounded the crap put of two guys, man. Also found out I was named man of the match last week... Kewl

Sore and not very much recovery, as my kids drove my dear sweet wife a little batty Saturday. I volunteered to take two swimming to let the third sleep. I got to do some stretching and recovery then.

Aug 3 to Aug 13

A lot of icing and therapy for my foot. A few light runs to test the foot and some new equipment ahead of the Tough Mudder Aug 19.

Got a set of Velcro wrist work gloves. If they survive, I'll use them this winter for runs. Got a camel back water jug thing, too. If current plans work out, I'll be using that for training for a marathon in the spring.


Watched a lot of the Greco Roman wrestling at the Olympics, I'm sorry to type. I may have seen enough to drove to Fredericton this March for more Senior Nationals. Ugh.

Played some decent rugby on Aug 11th in Fergus, too. They got walked on by a bagpiper, then we put 45 points on them. Last play of the game I'm taking punches from a guy on the ground, after which I point out that he's not in a good position to defend himself.

He told me to punch him in the face. At this, i drew my right hand back to deliver a frightening hook, but then I did my best Karate Kid nose honk.

Karma, man. Karma.

Thursday Aug 2

Today was a cool day. Woke up early, did this workout for three rounds: 20 two handed KB swings random number of kb flips and hand to hand switches 10 kb cleans 15 kb snatches 10 kb overhead presses 20 seated knee tucks 20 feet up push ups I also iced my foot right after this and kept icing it. Sore after yesterday's Physio appointment. Meh, whatever. Got a call back to another audition for the MMA sports drink thing, too. At training, did this with ascending weight of KB, for three rounds: 20 two handed sings random number of flips, switches 10 kb cleans 10 kb snatches 10 ab wheel roll outs 20 feet up push ups after that, tied the KBs to the rope and did some seated kb rope pulls Wanted to finish with some sprints or some explosive kb overhead throws, but my foot was having nothing to do with that.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Aug 1

Out with the old and in with the new, so to speak. Monday I got up early, but it was because I had to be at work early. Got some light stretching done. My foot was really sore. It was a light day at work and I brought two of my kids in with me, if only to pass the time. It is amazing how much Youtube they can watch. Tuesday was the first day of vacation, and I was a water boy at rugby training. They beat the crap out of each other, and I watched helplessly on. I did notice that filling those damn bottles was a drag, as I was the only one willing to fill the damn things. In any case, I got up early and did a morning session like this: 20 two handed swings random number of kb flips and hand to hand switches 10 kb cleans 15 kb snatches 10 kb overhead presses 20 one foot push ups During the day, went to an audition for MMA fighters, which was kinda cool. I also got an x-ray and heard nothing back, which I assume is a good thing. Wednesday, I got up early and did a remarkably similar workout to the one above, again in the morning.