Michigan/Ohio Tough Mudder! Its finally here!

The Michigan/Ohio Tough Mudder is this weekend, Sunday, April 15th 2012 at 8am in South Amherst Quarry Ohio.  Good news, as of now the weather is looking promising! My team, Built Michigan Tough, has worked very hard and we are all ready for the challenge ahead.  For pretty much every single paper that I have written since the 8th grade I have started it with a quote…this will be no different.  "It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect It's successful outcome." by William James. For Built Michigan Tough the goal is not to be number one or really even number one thousand for that matter…but to start as a team and finish as one.  Built Michigan Tough is comprised of a group of friends from all across Michigan and parts of Ohio who decided, because of one person’s (Mine) crazy idea, to do the Tough Mudder, and now we are ready to step up to the challenge.  With the Tough Mudder being a week away I felt it was time to give you a final training workout plan as well as some words of encouragement.


TRAINING:
Monday: your FINAL big/medium run between 5-12 miles. Do not over exert yourself.  If you feel sore…take it easy. 


Tuesday: Final big endurance lift: Focus on pull ups, push ups, upper back, core.  Do not max out and reach complete fatigue.  With this being the final week you want to work…but not be so sore you can’t compete in the upcoming event.


Wednesday: yoga/stretch/pilates/ballet/Rest (These are all just some relaxing ideas)


Thursday: 3 mile run


Friday: rest/or a relaxing walk/swim/bike ride/kayak.  Something leisurely that will get you moving.


Saturday: Leisurely bike ride…move your muscles…stretch them out but nothing crazy.  Maybe even a nice stretch and yoga again.


Sunday: GET’r DONE.  

In the words of Soccer Player Mia Hamm “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and I sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the champion.” Built Michigan Tough is about to embark on a challenging mission and return champions.  You have worked hard and should be proud of how far you have come.  Now the truth stands before us.  Look around you, this is your team, we are here to do this together, and we will succeed.  Lets do this!


NUTRITION: 
Take the time this week to find what breakfast foods make you feel energized and with NO GI discomfort…There isn’t much worse than realizing you need to go to the bathroom 3 miles into a run...or into a Tough Mudder…eesh.  I personally like egg whites, a sausage, and a piece of toast (kinda random for a preworkout meal...).  Others prefer a protein drink or beverage etc.  Check out my Pre-Exercise Nutrition article for ideas and a starting point.


ALSO look at the During Event Nutrition article.  Based on the Michigan Ohio Tough Mudder Event page this is estimated to take 3 hours and includes 12 miles and 26 obstacles.  If you can sew a gu packet or 2 into your clothes...it would probably be worth it.  

Obstacle Summary:
 (in order from the Tough Mudder Michigan/Ohio Event page)

1. Army crawl in mud under wire
2. Scale a series of 12ft walls
3. Jump over big hay barrels
4. jump into a freezing water pond
5. Swim under floating barrels in the water
6. Mystery?
7. Climb a vertical rope spider web
8. scale another series of 12ft walls
9. jump over and under a series of fallen logs
10. army crawl over gravel
11. tunnel crawl
12. crawl through pipes into freezing water
13. climb across a rope net bridge
14. climb across a rickety rope bridge
15. run under low cargo nets
16. crawl and jump over fallen trees
17. run through waist deep mud
18. climb across a log bridge without falling into freezing water
19. jump from rock to rock across a river
20. climb a muddy steep hill
21. climb a 15ft free rope
22. climb up a slippery quarter pipe
23. Mystery?
24. climb across monkey bars
25. walk the plank across a pond
26. run through electrical wires

YEEHAW!!!