Our Tough Mudder!

Last weekend was Mike's final weekend of classes for his Executive MBA program (yippeeeeee!!!).  On Sunday, Mike participated in the Tough Mudder competition with seven other guys from the program.  I guess it's nothing like final exam one day, then getting muddy the next!  I also joked with him it was probably good timing as he just found out last week he was going to have a third daughter and will be the only man in the house.....gave him a chance to get his guy time!

Here is a sneak peek at some of Mike's training for the Tough Mudder....lol!

The girls and I went along to support him and get a chance to spend a little more time with him as well! As it got closer to the day of the event I think I started to get more nervous than Mike!  I was nervous for him in general, nervous about him getting hurt, but also nervous about how the girls would react to being at the event and watch Mike compete in the obstacles.  I tried my best to explain it to the girls before we went, but knew if they seemed upset watching we would just go to the car or the main area away from the event.

Here we are hanging out before the guys started!

Mike spending some time with his girls (while he was still clean!)

Fortunately two of the other guy's wives were there as well.  I really enjoyed getting to spend time with them during the event and they were so wonderful in helping me with the girls too!

They guys "before" photo!  (There was a quote on the top of the sign that said, "If you have to sign a release form....it's probably worth doing")  I couldn't get it in the photo with the guys because I had my zoom lens on my camera.

The Tough Mudder events are "hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses that test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie." (taken from the toughmudder.com website).  Basically the guys would run/walk/jog for about a half mile to a mile, then complete an obstacle throughout the entire course.  We (the spectators) were able to watch about half of the obstacles.   I'm not sure about the other Tough Mudder events, but I have to say this one was set up very easy for spectators to get around!   

Evie had fun finding the number for the obstacles on the map!

Waiting for daddy to start!  

They have four or five different group start times throughout the morning!  Each time before they begin they play music and give a motivational speech....it was a pretty good speech!  If you are interested, you can easily search for it on YouTube.  They call the start of each event the "Braveheart Charge."

The first two events were off the "spectator course" so we weren't able to see them!  And unfortunately we misjudged the time and ended up missing them completing the "Arctic Enema".....jumping into a dumpster of ice and having to fully submerge themselves under the board in the middle before jumping out!  Going into the event this is the obstacle Mike was most worried about, but said it ended up not being as bad as he expected.  

Here they are walking up to the Mud Mile obstacle.  I think this ended up being Mike's least favorite of the obstacles.  I also think it was probably harder for them because they were the second to last start time over the two days so the course was probably even more beat up than the initial start time on Saturday.  From what he described it was just hard because you couldn't see what you were stepping in and you constantly sink in the mud.

And this was also Layla's least favorite event also!  Poor baby, got a little upset with seeing everyone so muddy!

I forgot the name of the next event, but they basically jumped over a fire wall into muddy water!

"Island Hopping".............yes they are unstable, yes it takes balance, yes he made it across without falling!

"Walk the Plank".....nothing like jumping into 15 feet of cold, muddy water!

Mike's colleague who had coordinated the group (and has completed a Tough Mudder before), had talked about the camaraderie that occurs throughout the event.  It was pretty cool to watch them together!

And thank goodness for Bob Strollers, iPads, and snacks!  I have to say the girls did really, really great the entire time.  (It took almost 3 1/2 to four hours to complete)

waiting for the guys to get to the next obstacle!

Apparently the App Layla was using wasn't too exciting!  My sweet girl sleeping amongst the chaos, but still holding the iPad!

Some of the guys walking up to the third to last obstacle.  They are smiling....that's a good sign!

Making it up "Mt. Everest" 

A quick wave before we see him again at the finish!

And the final event, the "Electroshock Therapy."  The one I was dreading the most!  

(The first photo was taken before the event started on Sunday).  They had to run through these live electric wires hanging from the top all while being careful to not fall in the mud or trip on the hay bales.  

I held my breath (and of course snapped a photo) as Mike made his way through.  Fortunately he made it through without falling or getting shocked too badly!

 And if you question whether or not they can feel the shocks, I think this photo of one of Mike's colleague shows it's not a pleasant experience!

....and blacking out for a minute can easily result in a face plant in the mud!

They made it!!!

The "after" photo!

Mike with his first official "Tough Mudder" headband!

Well....I guess they deserved it!  (And with me being five months pregnant he definitely has a designated driver!)

Looks like my daughter got a well rounded education today!  Let's hope she doesn't associate anything from this day with earning  a Master's!

I have to admit, initially I was kind of dreading going to the event.  It just didn't sound like a lot of fun to spend the day in the middle of no where, watching this event, with a 3 1/2 and a 2 year old....while five months pregnant!  But I knew Mike was hoping we would go and I wanted to support him and spend more time with before he leaves on his overseas MBA trip.  But honestly the experience was much better than I expected!  

And I enjoyed getting to know his colleagues more as well!  Mike has always talked about how many wonderful people he has met with this program.  And I have to agree...this was a really great group of guys who all looked out for each other!  What a great way to end their last weekend of their EMBA classes!