One of the tasks on my Kettle List – Number #10 in fact – was the very unspecific “Run”. This has evolved over the 6 years since I wrote this particular task to “Complete a Tough Mudder” – And I have done just that!
Just in case you are new, here is a quick standard intro paragraph to explain why we’re here. Feel free to skip if you’re a veteran at the Pad…or if you are just not interested in my back story.
What is a Kettle List?
Well, I’m glad you asked.
If you want the long version, check out my ‘Kettle List’ post. It even includes all of the tasks I plan on doing.
However, if you want the TL;DR, it’s like a Bucket List but less depressing. Basically, instead of doing all the things before I die, I want to get them done before March 2027, when I turn … well, a bit older. (Although I have generously allowed myself an extra 2 years for any travel tasks as we lost a bit of time during the ‘unpleasantness’.
I am planning on writing up every task, whether completed or not, and I will update them as I go.
and this happens to be task #10
New Years Resolution
January 2022, during a spirited discussion (the spirit in question being gin) my friend Rin and I thought it would be a genius idea to sign up for the Tough Mudder, which was being held in Badminton in August. That gave us 8 months to train, we totally had this.
We then forgot all about it.
Then we received an email reminding us, complete with a list of tasks we would need to overcome to consider ourselves ‘Tough Mudders’. Things were not looking good.
Training included giving Rin piggybacks around her kitchen (Hero Carry practice), and crawling about on the floor (Kiss of Mud practice – minus the mud). But that was really as far as we went.
We just needed to turn up in our oldest trainers, our most mud-resistant clothing and hope for the best.
When the going gets tough…
The Tough Mudder is a supremely well-organised event. There is a ‘Village’ in which you’ll find various food stalls and freebies being handed out by numerous sponsors. If you have younger runners in the family, there is even the ‘Lil’ Mudder; a smaller fun version of the adult course for kids.
You are handed your wristbands on entry, one for you, and one for your bag. You then drop your belongings off at the bag drop and wait for your start time slot. Once called you are given health and safety information.
You are made to do a pledge of sportsmanship (this course requires a helping hand in places), reminded that it isn’t a race, and then you do a warm-up.
It was at this point that the regret sank in. If the warm-up was this hard, how on earth was I going to survive the course?
What you’ve been waiting for
I’ve saved myself the trouble of having to describe all of the obstacles by making this video, just for you. Follow Rin and I as we climb, crawl and splash through the course.
Kettle List Completion
#10 on the Kettle List was the very simplistic “Run”. I later decided that the measure that I would need to complete a race of some sort. That is why I looked into the Tough Mudder.
Now, I have completed one. I’ve even signed up for next year! Therefore I can declare this task…
