Tough Mudder Employee Credo

The TMHQ credo is a list of the core values that everyone at TMHQ strives to live and work by each day. Click here to see how TMHQ teammates interpret the credo.

1. Have Fun
2. Push Boundaries
3. Take Responsibility
4. Ask Why
5. Be Honest
6. Embrace Change
7. Accept Only the Best
8. Focus on the Long Term
9. Look Out for Each Other
10. Enjoy the Journey

I love this credo!  And not just because I did Tough Mudder either!!!

Next adventure - GORUCK!!  

Tough Mudder - I survived.

More later.  I am going to write a post about what I came home to and then talk about Tough Mudder.

Tough Mudder - A final goodbye

Texas is hot.  Really hot.  And when I signed up for Tough Mudder I thought October was going to be its typical hot and humid heat like most Halloweens where I am dying of heat and humidity.

But this Saturday the weather is going to be changing where I am at.............

Now I served my mission in Alaska.  The day I got to Fairbanks it was -60 degrees.  And 5 months later when I left it was 103 degrees.  And I love cold weather!!!!  And I have lived in the desert with the hot heat.  And I have lived now in Texas longer than anywhere where it is a hot and humid.

But this weekend the weather is going to drop 30 degrees in 48 hours.  And it is supposed to rain all day.  So I am cursing my Scout's parent that even gave me this crazy idea and I am hating life right now.  I guess it is better to be mentally prepared for this hellish event than going in with thinking it is going to be rainbows and unicorns.

Click here if you want to see the hell I will be enduring.

I showed my wife the map and this is what she said via email to me:

To be very honest, I'm kinda worried about you doing this!   I'm not really worried about the money (medical bills) so much as I am about YOU!!  This is the longest race you have ever done AND it has tons of obstacles!!  I KNOW you can do it, but I'm still just scared.  That is one reason I want to be there with you, in case you get hurt or anything then I can take care of you!

Time doesn't matter in this race.  Only finishing does.

If I die, who wants my blog??

Covered with mud

Ever feel like you can't do something?  That is how I felt back in January/February when I decided to start participating in mud runs/5K races.  I didn't think I could do it.  I still have concerns about Tough Mudder in 2 weeks.  12 miles and 20 obstacles including two that will electrically shock me doesn't sound like fun.  But in the same breath, I want to try something I don't know if I can do.  I want to be able to believe that I can do anything within reason even if I am not in perfect shape.


This past weekend I started with a 5K mud run.  My first mud run but not my first 5K.  I did a 10K in July that absolutely sucked my soul out of my body.  I didn't want to run again.  But I did.  So this is what I looked like after the race.  Next week I have a regular 5K followed by a quick drive to a neighboring Stake to take a HAM radio test (more tomorrow).  It is going to be a crazy week and crazy weekend.

Tough Mudder is in two weeks.  19.3 K has never, EVER sounded so far.  I met a guy at this race that did the Tough Mudder at the beginning of the year and he said he would never do it again because it was so difficult.  And he was in so much better shape than me!!  I will end up dead in two weeks.

So after this event I asked myself what I learned from this event.

• I learned that doing something is more in your head than in your body.  You may be soar but you can still do whatever you want.  You just may do it slower.
• You may help others who in turn cannot help you.  I helped plenty of people over walls but who couldn't help me.  Either way, I am glad I helped them with their experience.  
• Mud runs are more a team building event than a solo event.  It pays to work in groups!!  (My buddies cancelled on me Friday night - one had a death in the family and the other was sicker than a dog.  So I did the event by myself.)  I won't lie that I was a bit frightened to take this adventure by myself but I could have not gone.  I chose to go anyway by myself.
• Getting muddy is fun!  You smell HORRIBLE afterwards but it is fun as an adult to get dirty.
• Don't be afraid to do things you are scared to do.  (Please see picture below.  Didn't know I was scared of heights till I hit the top of this wall.)
• I need to train some more.  Even after Tough Mudder.  My next goal is to do the Tough Mudder again next year here in DFW area with my sister and hopefully more guys.
• I love the cold but jumping into chest deep cold water is a freakin' wake up call to not only your body but your brain and soul.  (Tough Mudder has this one and as you can imagine I am going to be hating life.)
• Never stop.  Keep moving.  Even if it hurts.  Moving forward it always better than standing around wanting to move.  

How does this all apply to Scouts?  If a fat man can run a 5K covered 100% in mud trying to climb 25 foot walls, a Scout can do anything.  And I mean anything.  We are only limited by ourselves.

1st Mud Race

Time has slowly been counting down indicating that this weekend will be my first mud 5K with a race every weekend for the next month.  Tough Mudder is in 3 weekends and I couldn't be less prepared for it.  I have tried though.  Working out twice every day and trying to prepare myself mentally for the torture that is going to be these races.  My 4th of July 10K just knocked the love of races out of me.  Some how the sun was in my eyes the whole way and it just wasn't enjoyable due the heat.  At least with the mud race(s), I will be getting wet and that might help with the whole hot issue.  Plus the weather in hotter than hell Texas has seemed to have calmed down.

And I bought my first pair of running tights.  I make these look good.

Tough Mudder

It is official.  I am registered for the Austin event in October.  There is no turning back..............

May God have mercy on my soul and my body.

Weight

Down 20 pounds..........  Most of the food has been OK.  The exercise has mostly sucked but I no longer need naps throughout the day so I think I am getting more energy.

TOUGH MUDDER HERE I COME!!

Tough Mudder - Work Out

Getting ready for Tough Mudder has already started 10 months before the actual event.  All this week I have been getting up at 4:30 to walk 2 miles (we have to start somewhere!!!) before work.  It has been great because the two guys I am walking with are the Venturing Adviser (and YMP) and the Assistant Varsity Coach.  Both are great guys and it is good to have a sort of walking, semi-Presidency, meeting of the minds, Scout Leader discussion in the AM.

Great things about working out at 4:30 AM:

• It is easy to go to bed at night.
• You have more calories to eat due to working out!!
• You have your work out done for the day before the day even starts.

Bad things about working out at 4:30 AM:

• IT IS 4:30 AM!!!  The sun hasn't even though about getting up yet.
• The alarm clock goes off very early!

Tough Mudder

One of my Scout's parents threw this out as a Scout event............  You do have to be 18 to participate but the Scout leaders and some of our friends are going to be doing this in November in Austin, Texas.  I got a lot (the understatement of the century) of weight to loose to even be considered "slightly" ready for this event.  Our workouts have included getting up at 4:30 in the AM to work out.  Ugh!

If you are interested in doing it with me to make yourself look good, sent me an email!