Anxious About The ice-cold Water Submersion Or The Electric Shock Wires?

Aside from the weightlifting and running portion of training, most prospective participants have anxiety about events such as the ice-cold water submersion, giant climbing walls and the electric shock wires that stand in your way of the finish line. Participants should know beforehand that there is no disqualification for skipping obstacles that may complicate their health, such as a participant with a pacemaker running through live wires providing shock.

Three components recur in many events during a Tough Mudder: cold water, climbing and electric shock. Rest assured these obstacles are easy to prepare like weightlifting and running. First, after completing an upper body training session, top it off with a few laps in the pool. Do not concern yourself with timed trials, but get used to keeping your head above water and getting around without relying on the pool floor for support. Most pools are deep to avoid any spinal injuries upon jumping and diving, so strategically practicing jumping in and getting out is your best course of action. Practicing a breaststroke will help when you are wading your way through tubes of shallow muddy water, as well.

Take a single cold shower per day to accommodate your sensory nerves to the cold temperature. Not only will cold showers prepare you for the obstacles, but will help relieve some pain and potential swelling after a tiring workout session, as football players use ice baths after practice.

The climbing component to the events sometimes will involve the help of others running the race. But if you train effectively, you will be able to complete most tasks on your own. The best way to prepare for any climbing events is to take advantage of your gym’s rocking climbing wall. Begin at a novice pace and progress as you become more confident. If your gym does not have a rock-climbing wall, do not scale the bricks of the building wall outdoors. Simply adding some extra sets of pull-ups and lat pull downs will suffice.

Prepare for the electric shock wires

Perhaps the murkiest event has nothing to do with water or mud, but electric shock wires. Participants have a hazy, rough estimate on just how these hanging shock wires will feel on moist bare skin. However, just as there are creative ways to train for swimming, climbing, jumping and trudging through rough terrain, there is a way you can prepare for the jolts of electricity as well.

The purchasing or borrowing of a TENS unit will prepare you for the handful of shocking events. TENS units are devices used to block pain receptors for patients with orthopedic injuries such as muscle strains and joint sprains. Pads connected to the device are applied to the affected area and slowly adjust the settings to a slightly uncomfortable but not painful feeling. As the area accommodates to the electricity, the strength can be turned up slightly. For training purposes a participant can apply to TENS unit to various muscular areas, set the device to a pulsating setting and turn up the power until the threshold of uncomfortable but not painful is reached. To use this device as a training tool, safety must be advised. Always have settings turned all the way down before applying pads. Never apply pads to face, pacemakers, metal implants, genitals or organ areas. Pregnant women should not use TENS units.

The more time you have to train, the better 

It is important to keep in mind that if you are planning to participate in a Tough Mudder, the more time you have to train, the better. In the instance you have one month to prepare, focus solely on becoming more powerful through these exercises or ones similar. Emulating as many obstacles as possible during training helps to mentally prepare you for the unique and challenging courses.

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To reduce saturation of water in clothing, wear light breathable gear such as Under Armour heat gear or similar gear from other apparel companies. Taping and bracing is recommended for participants susceptible to injury to competition. Remember, Tough Mudders typically run between ten and twelve miles, essentially making it the distance of a half marathon.

Eating a well balanced diet is important and will help build muscle during strength training. Stretching before and after each training session will increase flexibility and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness.

Preparing anaerobically and aerobically for this competition will give you the best chance at competing at a high level. These exercises and creative training recommendations won’t guarantee you a first place finish after one month of training, but will guarantee you a competitive edge during your Tough Mudder.