When it comes to training for a race, I love a good training plan. For my first half marathon I used Hal Higdon’s plan. I kind of wish Hal would make a Tough Mudder training plan, but I don’t think that is going to happen. As luck would have it, there is a Tough Mudder workout. Click here to take a look at it for yourself.
It is recommended that the Tough Mudder workout should be done 3 times a week. I honestly don’t think I have time to do it that often on top of the running and cross training that I already do (I am too stubborn to give any of it up), so at this point I am just going to commit to doing it once a week. This past Monday was my first attempt at the workout.
I did not do the running portion of the workout (Exercise #1) as I had a 3 mile run planned later with my running buddy. However, I did all of the 15 other exercises! Yes, you read that right, 15 exercises. I actually didn’t think it was going to be too difficult as I only needed to do each exercise for one minute and then move onto the next one. In fact, I was so at ease with the workout I did 80 push ups earlier in the day before I tackled the Tough Mudder workout. Bad idea! It turns out that the Tough Mudder workout already has push ups in it! Lots of push ups!
With that in mind, let me tell you what the easiest part of the Tough Mudder workout was for me: printing the workout. And. I. Am. Serious. This workout kicked my booty. In fact my booty and my legs are still hurting from it today and it is 3 days later.
Here are the exercises that I found to be the most difficult.
Exercise #4 Scissor Kick: This is a lunge exercise from hell. My inner thighs are angry with me. But hopefully it will prevent my runner’s knee from coming back again.
Exercise #10 – Decline Push Up: By the time I got to these push ups I was really regretting the 80 push ups I had already done. My arms were like wet noodles at this point.
Exercise #12 Tough Chin Up: Any type of chin up or pull up is near impossible for me. Any time I think to myself that I have good upper body strength all I have to do is attempt one of these bad boys and I am reminded of how much work I need to do.
All the rest of the exercises were a challenge as well. If I was doing them separately of each other, they wouldn’t have been so bad but since they were back to back to back to back . . . it was exhausting. And I liked it . . . . Yep, it’s true I love a good workout!
One Tough Mudder workout done and many more to go!
The good news for you is that you get to sit back and enjoy my posts about my pain fun. Since I am doing all the hard work, perhaps you could make a donation to my Wounded Warrior Project fundraiser. Maybe $12 for the number of miles I will be running or $27 for the number of obstacles I will be attempting completeting or $39 for 12 miles and 27 obstacles. And don’t forget I have this super cool raffle going on right now!
I am currently training for a Tri. I am like you, I am following a training plan,but I am not giving up my daily weight lifting. Combining the two is kind of a challenge. People like us who push ourselves don’t like to stop a routine just because we are starting something different. Get a pull up bar if you don’t have one. They cost under $15. Best piece of equipment you can have in my opinion. I can do 20 pull ups today. Could only do maybe 4 prior to getting one. I know you will do fine in the tough mudder,your fit enough, just pace yourself and kick butt!
Thanks Lance! I have a pull up bar but its a work in progress. And you are right you can’t beat a pull up bar for the $ and workout it gives you. Have you done a tri before?
This will be my 1st. I’m very excited about it. Kinda nervous at the same time. My gym has a heated pool so I’m getting in a lot of swim time over the winter.
That’s awesome! When and where is it?
I’m suddenly very glad that I convinced my husband that we shouldn’t do the Tough Mudder this Spring
. That sounds like a tough workout! It would definitely kick my butt. I look forward to reading more about your training and the race! Good luck!
lol Thanks! It is going to be a fun & interesting journey!
Dang, Betsy! That sounds tough! How long did all of that end up taking you to do?
It was tough. It took about a half hour.
wow! i didnt know there was a whole training plan with it. at least they give you the help:) cant wait to hear all about it!
Thanks!
It’s going to be interesting.
[...] it was an unplanned half marathon and technically I needed to approach it as a training run for the Tough Mudder. But I will be honest, I had a super secret goal of finishing in 2:10 based on how well I had been [...]