What is Tough Mudder??? Click Play…..
Tough Mudder, is probably one of the toughest events on earth. You will be challenged both physically & mentally through 10 to 12 miles of mud, ice, & freezing water. These obsatcle courses are designed by British Armed Forces to test your strengths, challenge your weaknesses, and determine how mentally tough you really are. If you are a hunter, this event should be at the top of your list of “Races/Challenges” to do. The elements are real, no different than what you may face on a challenging hunt.
To be in the best shape for the hunt, you must posses extreme physical strength, be cardiovascular fit, have the endurance of a Pronghorn Antelope, and mental toughness beyond no other. This is exactly why you should challenge yourself everyday as you Train To Hunt! The hunt itself will challenge you, but if you train properly, the elements are the least of your worries.
Once I found out Tough Mudder was coming to Tampa, Team Hunt Strong Train To Hunt was going to be on the list of participants. I was accompanied by eight other hunters ready to battle on Big Mudder’s challenges. At all Tough Mudder events, you start as a team and you finish as a team. You are only as strong as your weakest link. It’s not timed, its about teamwork and the camaraderie of others. You will not whine, kids whine. You help fellow participants and overcome all fears.
This particular event was held at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City Florida on December 3rd. There were more than 17,000 total participants covering two days, with 600 people starting every 20 minutes. It consisted of all the Tough Mudder obstacles totaling 28 across 11.5 miles of uneven ground. It’s you versus the elements: ice, water, smoke, mud, and muck. Dislocated shoulders, compound fractures, muscles cramping, cuts, bruises, you saw it all.
If you were not prepared properly for this event, it showed. I saw marathon runners and muscle bound athletes struggle because they were not properly conditioned, both cardiovascular and strength. I watched people who could not even walk without experiencing some pain, especially later in the race.
My team’s goal was to conquer all obstacles utilizing teamwork and to run the whole course. We battled, we toughed it out, and we conquered one step, one obstacle, at a time. The challenge was not timed, but you could time your team and if you finished in the top 5% of all participants on the event, you were invited to take on the Toughest Mudder. Team Hunt Strong Train To Hunt accomplished and place in the top 5%. I am super proud of our team. Just like in the sport of hunting, it’s not always about the harvest itself, its about the journey that leads to success.
After the race, I quickly changed out of my nasty clothes and into my Realtree Camoflage, and yes, without a shower. Where was I going? Where else, to the woods. I still had dried mud and dirt from head to toe along with my face paint from the race. I sprayed down with Lethal Scent Elimination and off to my stand I went hoping to end my day with one more exercise, a deer drag.
As I approached my stand, there were three does under an oak tree feeding on acorns. I crawled to my stand and climbed up quietly without being detected. I watched as they fed along the edge of the swamp within 30 yards of where I was sitting. With less than an hour of shooting light, I had two more does make their way out of the swamp and join the first group.
After texting back and forth between clients and friends congratulating them on their completion of Tough Mudder, I glanced up and there he was, a mature Florida Deer poked his head just outside the Cypress swamp. I steadied my aim and squeezed. What a day I was having! Completing Tough Mudder with great friends and harvesting a mature deer. What can I say, it pays to Hunt Strong.
As if the day could not have been better, on our way out of the woods, I was surprised by family and friends for my 30th birthday party. It was definitly the best day of my life. Thanks Tough Mudder for such a great challenge and to all my family, friends, and clients who made the day possible.