Tough Guy
About 8 months ago my 16 year old son showed me a YouTube video of a ‘Tough Guy’ event, stating ‘I bet you couldn’t do one of these mum’. With the combination of never being one to resist a direct challenge at the same time as being halfway through a bottle of Shiraz, I signed up there and then for Tough Guy 2010.
Eight months passed in a blink and supported by my sister and fellow stubbette Mandy Smith, we set off for Wolverhampton last Saturday afternoon. Arriving at the site to register, the panic set in as I surveyed the unmelted snow and the vertical slide ending in a frozen solid lake. Again, the Shiraz numbed the fear for the evening and doubts were put aside until the morning.
Delayed by sister’s hangover we ended up sitting in unmoving traffic. Looking out the car window, Mandy asked ‘is that snow?’ As the snow became heavier we realised we weren’t going to make the start, I had no choice but to get out and run the 2.5 miles to the start line. Mandy, supporter extraordinaire, jumped out and ran with me to the start cheered on by the occupants of the queuing cars.
Starting off with a rather extreme x-country run, the cold became unnoticeable, until of course the first obstacle at about 1 mile which involved jumping down into a waist high frozen ditches of icy water and clambering up the muddy embankment. Wet and cold, 7 more miles of extreme obstacles ensued. Swimming through underwater tunnels, jumping over fiery bales of hay, climbing over ludicrously high walls, jumping off planks into frozen lakes, scooching under barbed wire and cargo nets, being physically lobbed over obstacles by impatient/helpful contestants. Some of these were even more traumatising than running behind a participant wearing a mankini!!!
Hypothermic and swearing I’d never do it again I collected my medal and was greeted by Mandy with soup and a coat.... my sister had put my blanket on the dog!!!
Time 3:05:45, 116/305 women, 2376/3557 overall!! .....Mandy THANKS!!!
Less than a week later and I’m toying with the idea of Tough Guy 2011 if anyone cares to join me? (Ed: You've got to be kidding!)
Julie Woodman – Tough Gal!