They do have a timed, competitive wave in the first heat of the day, but I was going to be racing with a volunteering-based discount and was not really prepared to perform well, so I didn't go for that. I got a late start time of 12:30pm. TM lets you do multiple laps if you're crazy enough to want it. But with a start time of close to the last heat of the day, it wouldn't be an option for me, not that I was in the mood for 20 miles of obstacles that day a week after OCRWC, anyway.
There is a different kind of vibe at TM. They seem to market to what I feel like is more of a college frat boy demographic, but that's just my feeling.
Before the race, I hung out in the festival area, where I could watch Electroshock and see Kong. I happened to see someone that I had met and raced with at OCRWC... turns out we both live in the same state!
Each race series has their own start line spiel. Nothing too crazy here, some pumping up, and we were off with our untimed selves. We got spread out with the first stint of running, then "Kiss of Mud", which is barbed wire.
After that, there was an invert wall that was too tall for me to get myself. A guy helped me up. When I was up at the top, I almost started going down the other side, then I remembered that this event is about the teamwork, so I waited for the next guy to come, and helped him (a little) by pulling him up by his leg, although I think he probably could've made it up himself anyways.
Devil's Beard was crawling under a surprisingly heavy net of rope for a long distance. My hair probably doesn't thank me for plowing head-first through that. Next, I got to a sign called Hero's Carry. The instructions said to buddy carry someone halfway, then switch. I was near the front of the heat, so there wasn't anyone around. It was like crickets. Just the photographers.
I briefly considered just continuing on, since I didn't come here with anyone, and there wasn't anyone around. Then, I figured that this was for the experience, and it was all for fun, so I just waited around. Fortunately, a trio came along. There was a guy who went with his friend, but they had split early on.
This guy was a strong-built Krav Maga guy. He naturally carried me first. They ended up having designated places to switch, so we switched at the midpoint, and I figured I'd give it my best... worst case, I make it only a few feet, and we'd switch back. I was suprisingly able to carry his 170lb self the whole way, though!
After you buddy carry someone, you become immediate friends, so we continued on with the race together. Our paces matched well, so we talked while running. It was his first time doing any OCR! We hit a couple of walls, which he helped me up. We encountered the infamous Blockness Monster, and used teamwork with a few others in the area to get through it. Time and again, this guy demonstrated a great willingness to help others, which I admired a lot. It does feel good to work with others to get through tough obstacles. Very different from other race series. Not rushed for time. Help each other.
We ran up a giant hay bale, ran through rolling hills, ran up a slippery slip wall with a curved top that had nothing to grab onto, forcing you to use teamwork. The rule of thumb is get help, then turn around and help someone else up. Crawled down and up a pipe.
The biggest backup was at Mud Mile, which was a long series of "rolling mud". The last one was tall and steep, so the pools close to that one had people just sitting in the muddy pools, waiting in traffic. Not the best design for traffic flow. We were there for sooo long just waiting to move up a spot. Oh well, it was something we all endured together, and it became an experience in itself to wait. I did consider just jumping out and bypassing the last couple of pools, but I would feel like I was missing out on part of it, so I waited.
Next, a big slip wall called Pyramid Scheme, where people stacked 3 high to get up. Spartan Ultimate Team challenge makes it look easy. I had trouble, even with climbing up people. My buddy worked really hard as one of the bases of the ladder, helping people up. Eventually, after helping many, he got up, too, and we continued on.
Temps were nice that day... chilly, which is good for a runs. I was getting a little cold even before I got to Arctic Enema, though, and that was painfully cold. You'd think that it would feel good to get in an ice bath mid-run, but it's like shockingly cold... just gotta keep moving.
In Birth Canal, you crawl under tarps filled with water. There was a "Legionnaire" version for TM veterans, which was similar, but pitch black dark. The next obstacle also had the slightly easier TM virgin option, and a harder "Legionnaire" version. The Stage 5 Clinger "Legionnaire" version looked more challenging and more fun and more fulfilling to get through, so we both tackled that one. It was backwards monkey bars, then pulling yourself up (with the help of a block on a post, if you want).
While we were running across one of the many rolling hills at the farm, we ran across Arnel Banawa, of OCRTube fame. He captured GoPro footage of us running, which is featured at minute 3 of this video:
We climbed up a wall with a rope, did a log carry, more muddy pits, then a challenging Funky Monkey 2.0 which featured an uphill monkey bars (not hard), followed by some spinning/swinging wheels or structures to grab... that was tenuous, and I wasn't sure that I'd make it, but I did! And so did my buddy!
We were near the finish at that point. Our legs were tired, but we pressed on. It was all mental. The last obstacle was Electroshock (a must for first-timers). There are different approaches that people take. I went carefully and slowly, and managed to avoid getting shocked at all. I think not all of the wires are electrified, because I do think I hit one or two. One benefit of being small.
The "Legionnaire" option for the last obstacle is Kong, which I really wanted to try, so I looped back around to do it. It was rings, really high up. I have no issues with them at Spartan. These were a little farther apart, and was really high up, so it was scary getting started, but once you get going, it's fine.
Once you finish, you get a headband. They have different colors, depending on how many you've done. I personally prefer medals, but they have some other fun incentives that they've recently started, like the Repeat Offenders program where doing a Full and a Half mudder in consecutive years gets you a shirt and a fake kettlebell, or the Holy Grail that you get for doing a Tougher, Toughest, and World's Toughest in the same calendar year. We'll see what 2018 holds.
It was a fun adventure, and I made a new friend. TM is definitely different with its teamwork aspect. I'm not sure how competitive variations of this event would feel, since you'd constantly feel torn about needing to go, vs. staying to help others. It feels contradictory. People do seem to love it, though... World's Toughest Mudder has die-hard fans, and it's considered one of the big three premiere events in our sport (along with OCRWC & Spartan World Championship). I've now done the latter two, so maybe WTM will be my next big-time event in 2018!
The day after, I volunteered with Merrell. With TM, you just get a discount on your race, rather than a free race plus insurance. However, they treat you well... we got cool swag (cool hat, nice design shirt), and good food for once (Panera bagels and lunch). The volunteer coordinator was really nice, too. I would definitely volunteer for them again. If only they had more events!!! I enjoyed the time in the festival. They had an emcee who was cracking jokes all day, commentating at Electroshock. It made it different and interesting the whole time, vs. the usual OCR festivals that just have music.
It's a fun day out, whether you're racing or volunteering. TM exceeded my expectations on both fronts!
It's a fun day out, whether you're racing or volunteering. TM exceeded my expectations on both fronts!
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