how to train for tough mudder : from a normal person

totally did a screenshot of this from the pictures the professionals took and sent out {obviously}.

but wanted a picture to go with the post! this was the last obstacle...the electro-shock therapy one where you run through all these live wires hanging down. AND there is a wall of haybales in the middle to slow you down. i know, i know, crazytown. this was NOT me least favorite obstacle...i actually had quite a few i liked less.

but, when i was "training" for this, i found very little on how to do that. there is some info on the tough mudder website - but i never looked at that - everything else i had read on that site was so over the top and i was afraid it would freak me out. i'm hoping that, somehow, if there are "normal" people out there wondering if they can do the tough mudder, they find this spot. {sorry for the rest of you! i'm sure you're sick of hearing about it!}

i did have a general idea of what most of the obstacles were going to be like - but each race is different, and they don't send out that actual list of obstacles until the week prior. do you see how they try to get to you mentally??

it was 11 miles and 25ish obstacles (i lost count). i felt very strong physically and was hardly sore afterwards (just in some random spots) so i think my training paid off. yes, i need help on some obstacles, but i'm pretty sure everyone needs a hand getting over a couple 12 foot walls! i also failed at some - couldn't do the monkey bar one - but hardly anyone could, so i didn't feel so bad!

i'm just a normal person. a mom. balancing taking care of my body with 7 other people to take care of. here's what i did:

*run 25-30 miles/week. this is WAY more than you need to. i just love to run! my husband ran a couple times a week...a 6 mile run being his longest...and he was totally fine with the running
*since the spring (about 6 months before) i've done a lot of bootcamp-type workouts. i use this website: http://hiitmamas.blogspot.com/ which you can just do at home! or do insanity on my dvd player. i did that kind of workout about 3 times a week.
*i also used the pull-up bar machine at the gym and gradually used less and less weight to help me. i was hoping to be able to do some of the monkey bar stuff...but between the bars being slippery, and my hands being wet and muddy, there was no chance.
*the last month or so, i really was diligent about doing planks most days. holding it for a minute x 3. that helped my core feel strong for all the pulling up over logs and walls and such :-)

i'm so glad that i felt strong physically, because it helped me be able to focus mentally on the fears. yes, this course is physical and not "just anyone" could get up off the couch and do it, but it was SO much more mental than i was anticipating. i am much more amazed by the mental stuff i overcame that day than the physical.