Tough Mudder and the question “Want to do that crazy mud run thing with me?”
“Want to do that crazy mud run thing with me?”
Some version of this question is how I, and most people, end up at the start line of a Tough Mudder. A friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor or a person at your networking group (that’s me) invites you to come along.
It’s usually accompanied with some other phrases like “It’ll be fun” or “It’s worth a try” or “It can’t be that bad.”
Then one day you find yourself in the start chute wondering if you wore the right clothes, if your shoes will stay on and if you’ll make it to the finish line. You listen to the best pump up talk by Sean Corvelle and suddenly you’re off and there’s no turning back now.
There was no turning back for me - that's for sure.
In many, many, many ways, Tough Mudder and all the other obstacle course races have changed me. Tough Mudder asked me to write about my experience for their blog and I said "in how many words?" 
The answer was 750 words, which seems not quite enough, but I did it.
You can read the full blog on the Tough Mudder website here.
When I really think about that day in 2011 when I did my first event, I was terrified. And excited. And nervous. And pumped. And I had this sneaking suspicion that I wouldn't be the same when I was done.
I was right.
I want that for you. The feeling of nervousness down to your bones because you feel so out of place and so outside of your normal. But you step with confidence into the new world.
It doesn't have to be an obstacle course race, but as Sean Corvelle says at every start line - "When was the last time you did something for the first time?"
"When was the last time you did something for the first time?"
Something for the first time could be:
- as simple as finding a new coffee shop or taking a new route to somewhere familiar.
- starting a walking routine every day.
- cooking a new recipe
- taking a risk and quitting your job
- hiking the Grand Canyon
- and anything that makes you nervexcited (nervous and excited)
Chances are you will grow as a person, expand your life, and step into that whole new world when you go outside of your normal and try something new.
Another benefit?? You never know the new people you will meet.
If you'd like to hear more about how a chance encounter on a Tough Mudder course turned into a life changing day, you can watch my TEDx talk.
In that talk I also share with you the "how" part of doing something new.
And remember -
"The answer is yes, even if you’re nervous, scared, uncertain and you know you can’t complete all the obstacles. Because Tough Mudder is about being with the people who asked you that question “Want to do that crazy mud run thing with me?” and also being surrounded by strangers turned into friends on the course."
Read the full blog here.
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