TOUGH MUDDER UPDATE

Extreme Element signed up to Tough Mudder two weeks ago and aside from all the shocked faces from friends and family, we’re feeling pretty good about it… until a couple of us saw this:

That heavy feeling sinking in; this really isn’t for the faint hearted, we really are going to be facing blood, sweat and tears. Anyone can run a half-marathon (if they train hard enough of course) but to smash through the tough and muddy obstacles will take more than physical fitness, it’s going to test our mental strength too. Twenty-five challenging obstacles – everything from ice pools and fire walking (maybe we should all go to our very own fire walking experience first) to monkey bars and climbing over walls.

With that in mind, I think it’s time to introduce some of the Extreme Element Team who will be tackling the mud and ice together in just thirteen weeks. I also thought it would be a good idea to put together some questions to really dig deep into the worries and fears of our TM team… only to receive some rather witty (or just plain stupid) replies, which I couldn’t possibly ignore… enjoy!

Aaron

What is your biggest concern?
There’s a yoghurt in my fridge that I bought last week and haven’t eaten it as yet. Not 100%, but I think it goes off today or tomorrow.

How’s the training going?
I have set myself very low targets, so even though I haven’t actually done anything yet – I am ahead of schedule, by quite some distance in fact.

What are you hoping to achieve from doing TM?
Great acclaim. Women. Money. Fame. The attention I deserve.

Any previous marathon experience?
I ate hundreds before they were rebranded Snickers – so none in the last 10/15 years.

How has your life / routine changed most?
Where I once didn’t feel guilty about my slowly expanding waistline, I now almost feel the peer pressure seeping in. So, my oblivious nature is being ever so slightly impacted by the notion I should really be doing something. But then I remember how far ahead of schedule I am – and the feeling of pride makes me feel great. So that’s good.

Do you have a goal beyond TM?
Well I’d still like to own a Lamborghini. Hopefully doing TM will bring me the fame and money that would be needed to purchase one – so yes, my goal would still be the Lamborghini I guess. I’d also like to set up as many websites and make as much money as I possibly can. I’d also like to improve my food-wasting efforts, and not have to throw yoghurts away.

Dee

What is your biggest concern?
Death, and the back of my shorts splitting.

How’s the training going?
Tentatively

What are you hoping to achieve from doing TM?
I expect to resemble an Amazonian goddess, as though I was sculpted by the gods themselves.

Any previous marathon experience?
I watched one go by my house once, while smoking and eating cake in bed.

How has your life / routine changed most?
I have started juicing vegetables. I am hoping that will be enough.

Do you have a goal beyond TM?
To use it as a catalyst for living a slightly healthier, smoke-free life. And also I would like to win the euro millions.

Robb

What is your biggest concern?
Mud in my hair-do.

How’s the training going?
I have a cold. However, I would say I’m roughly 18% manlier now than when I started.

What are you hoping to achieve from doing TM?
With any luck we’ll lose Selene in one of the obstacles.

Any previous marathon experience?
I watched the half marathon from my living room window, and have a London Marathon medal (acquired without running).

How has your life / routine changed most?
I’m tougher. And muddier.

Do you have a goal beyond TM?
At my age you don’t set goals beyond 3 months out; you never know if you’ll make it that long.

Ok enough of this terrible wit and sarcasm, time for some ‘real’ answers.

Renata

What is your biggest concern?
That I won`t be able to run the whole distance. I don`t think my main problem will be with the obstacles and to overcome them, it will be with the constant running. I was never great at long distance running and 12 miles seems to be an awful lot to me.

How’s the training going?
Training is going great as I have Jo training with me, which makes it easier. We can push each other and help each other to overcome our concerns or issues and still have a great laugh about it. The only thing we need to get more going or more like I have to start running more so I can last the whole 12 miles. We have been talking about going down to the beach and run on the pebbles, stairs etc… but we have not gone yet.

What are you hoping to achieve from doing TM?
I hope to run the distance that is asked and I am hoping that this experience will bring us (Extreme Element members) even closer and we will be an even greater team at work. I hope we all be able to come away from it with loads of great memories and with a huge smile on our faces.

Any previous marathon experience?
Back in elementary school I have ran the half marathon and took part in many short distance races so this is not that new for me but it has been a long time since then. Hence, I am a bit nervous about it.

How has your life / routine changed most?
I have been going to gym before the TM training kicked in, but now we (Jo & Me) started to go for as many morning classes as possible. On Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays we go for a Fit-X Class held by Laura in the ZT Gym, which prepares us for running and gives us more strength. We are always given something different to do but the exercises are put together to use all the muscles in our body. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we go to a Box-X class held by Ed at the ZT Gym where we are again do several different exercises but this class focuses on our arm strength a bit more, this will come handy when we will need to climb the obstacles. Otherwise, I still try to go to yoga to stretch my muscles and breath better. Also started to do a diet and eat healthier so I can lose some more weight so I could carry less but this was something that I wanted to do anyway. It will be another change for us when we will move office as we will need to create a new routine, it will be hard.

Do you have a goal beyond TM?
I have the same aim that I already had before the TM….. to lose the weight that I have gained in the last 2 years, become healthier and stronger. Maybe even take part in the next year half or the full marathon in Brighton, this depends on how I will get on with the 12 mile on the TM.

Selene

What is your biggest concern?
Not being able to finish, letting everyone down, getting a stitch really early on and getting really bad chaffing from the cold! Also, not being prepared to the cold/wet element of it.

How’s the training going?
Only started this week. Am stepping it up now so I will get back to you…

What are you hoping to achieve from doing TM?
All round general fitness and strength. I want to be really strong, really fit and really toned.

Any previous marathon experience?
I did a 14k cross country run last year (mostly uphill) but that’s it.

How has your life / routine changed most?
Not stuffing my face with junk food before I go to bed … saying no to sweet things … not being able to walk due to pain of going on one run.

Do you have a goal beyond TM?
To keep up the general fitness level and not fall off the bandwagon. Perhaps to do the half marathon next year.

Michelle

What is your biggest concern?
Injury during the race
How’s the training going?
Great, I’m always training
What are you hoping to achieve from doing TM?
Have fun and be able to say “I did it”
Any previous marathon experience?
2 ½ Marathons
How has your life / routine changed most?
It hasn’t this is just one of many races in the season

As for me (Jo), I’m most worried about injuring myself, falling and dying in a big heap, covered in mud… not too dramatic then.

Watch out for more updates to come!