In 2013, I and my then boyfriend volunteered for Tough Mudder. We volunteered because I wanted to race for free the following year and he was unemployed. Unfortunately, we only volunteered for half a day which means each of us would have to pay at least $40.00. Volunteering was very boring because I was basically doing nothing. I was positioned at the starting line. My job was to prevent too many people from participating in any given heats. I think I did my job well because I was sitting on the wall that they are suppose to climb/jump across immediately before the starting line which means I took out an entrance just from sitting there alone. I had an announcer speaker so I shouted "REMEMBER TO STRETCH" from time to time. My task was completed pretty early on so I only volunteered for half a day because I was pretty much dismissed and we were free to just roam around. I was really impressed with the MC, he gave the same speech for every heat but it was very motivating listening to him speak at the starting line. As a volunteer, I had the opportunity to hear at least one (1) personal story. The "Tough Mudder" just came up to me and shared his story with me and I listened.
The following year, we went back to Tough Mudder, this time as participants. My then boyfriend lied and said he volunteered for the whole day and participated for free, I did not lie and so I had to pay. It was not fair. Once you answered, that's it. Back in 2014, they did not check volunteer records. I don't know if they check now.
The weather was sucky so a lot of the obstacles were shut down due to fear of participants being shocked by thunder which I found ironic. They have an obstacle set up called electrotherapy or something which basically means if you are lucky enough to be shocked by some electric wire while you are walking through a bunch of electric wires, you will fall flat on your face and hit mud. I guess a real electric shock from thunder is that much more dangerous than their man-made electrotherapy obstacle. When you approach a closed down obstacle, you have the option to wait until it is re-opened or you can just continue running/walking. There is no punishment for not attempting or failing an obstacle in Tough Mudder. In other words, you are tough by simply walking or running 10 miles.
My then boyfriend disappointed me greatly during Tough Mudder. Not only did he not help me, he could have injured me gravely. He gives up before even trying and I was a fool to think that he would help me at all. The only thing he taught me was that you are allowed to give up without even trying. To me, going to events like these, means I can try something I normally wouldn't get to try so why would I give up without trying. For example, he skipped the last big mud trenches near the end of the race. Granted, I did not want to go through it either but how often do you get to walk into ditches and trenches?
There was also an obstacle where you have to carry a wooden log. Every log available was extremely heavy. He could not handle the weight of the log that we were carrying together at one point and just threw the log down, my whole head could have come off. Luckily, I dodged and luckily he did not throw it in a direction where other participants were traveling! Anyhow, the log came at me and I dodged and I was livid but did not say anything.
He also made fun of a guy who looked pale and was vomiting spit. Anyhow, whatever my then boyfriend said to the guy was mean, not warranted and did not sound friendly at all. The unwell guy and his friend looked really angry. I apologized sincerely on behalf of my then boyfriend immediately and told him to keep going.
I have participated in Spartan Race before and I was always envious of the helpful boy friend boost or whatever, the one time I got to participate in Tough Mudder, which was marketed as a team event, I got a partner who was not helpful and could have took my head off. With that said though, you can finish Spartan Race alone but there are a few obstacles in Tough Mudder where you need a partner to complete. For example, the carrying your partner obstacle which was not present when I participated.
Mount Everest 2.0 is a special obstacle, I don't think I can get to to the top of Mount Everest 2.0 alone but I know some people can and they can help others easily. Even if I am able to get on top of Mount Everest 2.0 by myself, I don't think I will be able to pull people up because I do not have enough arm strength. For example, I know how and when to jump up with enough momentum so they can easily pull me up at the top. My then boyfriend on the other hand, was heavier than I was and did not jump correctly and a third person had to walk over to pull him up because he did not let go of the two (2) struggling person who was trying to pull him up. The two struggling person pulled me up easily and with ease and did not know me or my then boyfriend. This year, I had a lot of free time and I think why Mount Everest 2.0 is called Mount Everest 2.0, it's like saying you cannot climb Mount Everest alone. Whoever got their first helped all those who followed. You also don't want to stay at the top for so long because there is only that much space.
My then boyfriend was also scared of height so everyone waited 5 minutes for him to jump off the plank. He also failed to climb this really fun high rope climb wall thing. Anyhow, it was no fun going with someone who basically skipped almost every obstacle.
It was disappointing this year when my friends went and my schedule just wasn't working out. I was already exhausted from Spartan Race and the various outdoor cycling I have been doing. Although I felt guilty afterward for not going and cheering them on but, if I went, I'll feel grumpy that I am not participating.
No comments:
Post a Comment