Thousands gear up for gruelling Tough Mudder event in heart of Welsh countryside

A normally tranquil slice of Welsh countryside is preparing to host 18,000 competitors – for what claims to be “probably the toughest event on the planet”.

Next weekend sees the Glanusk Estate near Crickhowell stage the Tough Mudder challenge, promising miles of utter punishment.

Competitors will serve themselves up for brutal treatment at the hands of the British Special Forces who have designed the course.

The event is a 12-mile assault course with between 20 and 25 military-style obstacles which takes, on average, three hours to run, walk, stagger, climb and crawl your way around.

From swimming through crushed ice, leaping through flames, crawling through tunnels of mud and even running through a forest of dangling wires that stun competitors with electric shocks, these obstacles are not just a battle of physical endurance but a mental and emotional challenge designed to “break” you.

Yet as bizarre as it may appear, an estimate 18,000 foolish souls are expected to take part over two days next weekend.

Father-of-one Kevin Jones, 34, of Bryncoch, Neath, who has taken part in a similar event previously and is raising money for Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: “I think these events appeal to the mini-adventurer within all of us.

“We are all ‘Weekend Warriors’ at heart because life and work is so hectic during the week that we need to let go a bit on our days off. And this is a manageable challenge.

“Very few of us have the ability or the money to climb Everest but this is a challenge that you can face on a weekend and then turn up for work again on Monday morning.

“That’s not to say this won’t be tough. I’m pretty worried about the fact it’s almost a half marathon in mud. But I love the challenge of the obstacles, I’m actually really excited about it.”

Only 78% of those mad enough to start the event actually make it to the finish line.

Few would even wish to watch this carnage, let alone take part.

Yet it’s not just marathon runners, triathletes and fitness junkies who sign up to face obstacles with suitably daunting names such as Devil’s Beard, Ball Shrinker and Hell March.

You are just as likely to be up against chartered surveyors, firemen, social workers and business executives of both sexes and all ages.

Some take part just for the hell of it, others hope to achieve fitness goals or even conquer their fears.

Lisa Blackmore, 38, of Tongwynlais, Cardiff, said: “I’ve done plenty of running but I’m scared of heights so I’ve set myself this challenge to help get over it.

“It should be great fun in a team though I’m petrified I won’t make it.”

Father-of-two Dai Thomas, 47, of Pontypridd said: “I thought I would give it a go because a number of friends from a training group [Outdoor Fitness] were taking part and it looked like a great thing to do as a team.

“I’m a bit nervous about what lies in stall, especially the electric wires, but I guess this will be like an ultimate test of fitness – and bravery!”

Adventure races such as this, along with Tough Guy, Rat Race and the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest, are becoming one of the fastest growing fitness industries in the world.

Tough Mudder was conceived by Will Dean, from Yorkshire, while at Harvard Business School, as an alternative physical challenge to “boring” endurance events such as marathons.

This month the American company celebrated its millionth entrant world-wide. Next weekend’s event in Monmouthshire will be their fifth in the UK this year and have so far raised more than £455,000 for the Help For Heroes charity.

Driven entirely by social media, Tough Mudder places little emphasis on “race time”. Instead it aims to be sociable, ethical and friendly with team-work at the heart of completing the event.

In Crickhowell, Paralympian Anne Strike aims to become among the first in Europe to complete the Tough Mudder course in a wheelchair.

Co-founder Guy Livingstone, believes team-related activities are coming back into fashion. He said: “We’re seeing a growing movement towards other challenges, such as Tough Mudder, where you can have huge amounts of fun being part of a team.

“Plus, by removing the competitive element and positioning Tough Mudder as a challenge, we’ve broadened the appeal to people who aren’t used to doing events such as a marathon, where the first question is, ‘What time did you get?’”

Survivors can mark their achievement with a permanent Tough Mudder tattoo while there have even been marriage proposals at the finish line, though all will deserve the free pint of beer awaiting them.