Some people jog like crazy to stay in shape.
Then there are some people who add in mud, wall climbing, barbed wire, underwater tunnels, fire and electric shock. Some might say that’s just plain insane.
But there’s a group of Wilton friends who have taken on the challenge of competing in Tough Mudder races–an adventure race that takes contestants running, hiking and climbing over a 10-12 mile long obstacle course. In New England, it usually involves going up and down ski mountain trails several times.
Calling themselves the ‘Mudder Fathers,’ this Wilton team is led by captain Kevin McDonald.
“Depending on the terrain, there are usually 26 obstacles–jumping over 10-ft. walls, climbing underneath barbed wire, there’s electric shock involved. There’s ice-cold water you have to dunk yourself into. You don’t have to have a team but it’s really fun to do it with a group of guys–you develop a lot of camaraderie and there’s a lot of teamwork involved. Even if you’re own your own you help everyone that’s on the mountain,” McDonald explains.
Joining McDonald for a Tough Mudder in Vermont next weekend, Saturday, May 31-Sunday, June 1 are David McMahon, Robert Haines, Brennan Gildersleeve, David Pattillo, Michael Walden, Dave Silvia, Andy Snow, Vincent Dilullo, Chris Hulse, Kevin McKiernan, and Brian Fitzgerald.
McDonald said they got into this kind of extreme fitness for the challenge and for the fitness aspect of it.
“It started a few years ago, we were turning 40 and we were running to stay in shape. But then we wanted a little more than just the monotony of jogging. We were looking for a challenge and we heard about the Tough Mudder races and a lot of us said, ‘Perfect! There’s running involved but also other physical challenges.’ It helps you feel young again, and putting it on the calendar makes you commit to doing it and get in shape.”
For most of the group this will be the third Tough Mudder, and sometimes different people have joined in the fun. “Some of the guys do it and decide once is enough; other guys do it once and say ‘I love it.’ We try to do one a year, typically the New England Race in May. This year it’s at Mt. Snow ski area. We may do another in the fall too.”
And despite it being called a ‘race,’ McDonald says it’s really very friendly, as it’s a test of strength and fortitude that everyone is facing together.
“It’s a race, but very friendly–people help one another, and nobody is really checking your time. You’re not competing, you’re just trying to finish and finish with your friends. You have a beer afterward, and laugh while you tell stories about the different obstacles–who fell down where, what was hard and what was fun. We still go back and talk about how much fun it was the first time we did a Tough Mudder, how so-and-so got stuck on a wall. It’s a great bonding experience and escape.”
McDonald explains that the group usually rents a house close to the race location and makes it a long guys weekend–good food, drinks and a post-race celebration. Initially it was enough motivation to stay active, challenge yourself and do something that creates that bonding.
But soon, what became just as important to the guys was the charity component. Tough Mudder races usually have a fundraising element, and the racers raise money to support Wounded Warriors–soldiers who have returned from service with life-changing injuries–as the official Tough Mudder philanthropy. Each of the team members donates $250 and can optionally solicit additional donations from friends and family.
“With IEDs and wars now, the death rate has dropped but there are so many injured soldiers, limbs lost. We save them, but there’s not nearly enough support to fund enough to get the prosthetics, rehab and treatment that these heroes need to get back into life again,” he says.
According to McDonald participating in the race alongside many of those hero soldiers who have returned and come back from devastating injuries to take part in Tough Mudders is more motivating than anything.
“If you’re feeling tired and sorry for yourself, and you look over and see a double amputee struggling to get over a wall with 4-5 people helping him, and then once he gets over he helps other people get over that obstacle. You see that spirit, which wasn’t something we anticipated when we first signed up to take part. You see wounded warriors charging on, you say we have to do this–there’s such pride in our country, in these heroes and what they do for us.”
The team has an online fundraising page and McDonald said they’d be grateful for any support Wilton wanted to show the Wounded Warriors.