Hey! it’s DD. I am getting ready for Tough Mountain Challenge tomorrow, it’s been a tradition of Willow and I for the past three years, and I am getting my packing list together and I thought HEY! People probably need to know this stuff 🙂 So I put together some things to bring and things to know when preparing for the Tough Mountain Challenge!
First off – it’s a dang good time! I was terrified the first year, but I had SO MUCH FUN. Everyone goes at their own pace – for example the second year I was coming off a knee injury and I had to walk the whole thing, the first year I ran. The obstacles are not scary, they might be challenging, but nothing is going to (hopefully) freak you out to tears. It’s a great day on the mountain to challenge yourself, get some excercise, and chill with friends. Hopefully you’ve been training a bit, running, hiking, crossfitting – whatever – that will make it more fun and less of a struggle – but if you haven’t – you’ll become addicted to beating yourself and you’ll be defeated year one, but by year two, you’ll kick that mountain’s ASS.
Ok – here’s a few of my hacks –
- book early. Like the day after the race. It sells out, and the am shifts are where it’s at. Get done before it gets too hot, and then you can party the rest of the day!
- Plan to stay, many places have a 2 night minimum, but you can find ones that you can book for only one night. We like ones you can walk to, because after you’re all muddy and done with the race, you want to get a beer, chat, and then shower! and getting in your car all muddy – yikes. Ain’t nobody got TIME for that!
- Find friends but be prepared to go it alone. Everyone goes at their own pace and it’s much more enjoyable when you can keep to your own pace.
ok now for attire –
- Shoes – very important – shoes that have some grips and fit TIGHT. the first obstacle is the shoe sucker – and it loves to eat shoes! (pro tip- go to the side, and not down the middle!)
- Bottoms – People wear shorts – that’s their thing – I prefer capris, because you don’t get chafing, or mud in your hoo-ha. I also like having my knees covered, because there’s crawling and climbing, and it’s just easier in my book.
- Head ware – it’s important. You get mud in your eyes. I recommend a headband, or a bandanna, or a sweatband. I am using a bandanna this year, because it will help you wipe your face from the sweat and mud.
- Clothes to change into immediately after – FLIP FLOPS included. DO NOT FORGET YOUR FLIP FLOPS. Holy crap. You can store your bag in the ski lodge. Bring a towel to wipe off with and whatever else you need.
- Camera – you can’t take your camera on the course for obvious reasons but you can take photos of friends!
- You get a free beer when you’re done, so you’ll obvi need your id for registration, and you’ll probably want to stash it before you run, so you’ll want to connect with people that aren’t running to take your photo, hold your stuff. You can shotgun the beer on the course, but meh…. I’d rather wait till I’m done. There are plenty of water stations along the way, as you won’t really be able to take water with you.
- Sunglasses – stash these in your bag for after You can check your bag, but I always just leave it on a shelf. You’ll want them for your beer time with all of the other dirty people.
- Plastic bag for your dirty clothes. I have found that reusable grocery bags work great for this, not the cloth kind, obviously.
- Meet up spots – establish these. Because once you’re done, it’s so hard in the sea of people to find others!
- GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN WITH THE WALL!
The Course
It’s 4 Miles. So it will take a while. I average about 2 hours or so. Willow will be done in 1.5 hours, because she is a machine. I am just looking to enjoy the day and not hurt myself, and obviously get good photos.
there’s new obstacles every year, and I’m looking forward to checking them out!
From the Tough Mountain Website –
Twelve high-velocity snow guns create waves of water for you to navigate while making your way uphill. Known to cause contacts to pop out and make breathing difficult after you’re already winded.
Claustrophobic? Love it or hate it, you’ll need to relax your anxieties as you as you navigate your way through this one. Don’t pass out in the middle, as nobody will be able to reach you.
A nod to our retired thigh-burning mogul competition, you’ll race across 100 feet of deep, muddy ditches under a barrage of snow guns. Try skipping peak-to-peak and risk falling into a wet muddy grave.
This obstacle will have you swinging on a rope over a muddy mix you may never escape from if you don’t make it over.
Prepare yourself for a series of walls to climb over, each becoming more and more difficult to navigate.
Over. Under. Through. And around.
The last of the Warrior Walls is, you guessed it, the biggest and most difficult to pass.
Norwegian for “pile of snow.” That’s right, it’s July and we kept a pile of snow to help you beat the heat and cool down a bit.
Your back will ache, your legs will scream, and you’ll want to throw up as you push straight uphill to conquer the biggest obstacle in TMC. Remember, pain is just weakness leaving the body.
The simplest obstacles sometimes pack the most punch.
Crawling, so much crawling. Does it ever end?
A TMC tradition, feel free to take a quick, mid-course break to shotgun a beer. It may not settle your stomach, but may help with pain management. Optional and 21+.
Can’t go under it, can’t go through it, have to go over it. Survivor hint: if you’re going to tumble off the top lean uphill to stay away from the cliff on the downhill side.
A new year means new obstacles to deal with as you make your way across the pond. If you can’t swim, grab a pfd on your way in.
After years of experimentation we’ve perfected our mud recipe to ensure you won’t be able to pass too quickly, and don’t forget about the razor-sharp barbed wire just above your back. Head down, and watch those ponytails.
Slowly balance your way across snowmaking pipes over a very long and very dirty pond. Remember, mud makes everything slippery.
Longer, faster, and ribbed for your pleasure. This delightful obstacle is gravity-fed and deposits you into a pool with a mightly splash. Jump on and enjoy the ride.
Finish as you started, with a quick hit of mud.
CHEERS!! From DD + Willow
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