Like many of you, I will be venturing down to the lovely beaches of Florida for my Spring Break 2011 getaway. Unlike most of you however, my Spring Break is going to begin with the most intense experience I have ever encountered. Myself, along with 8 other brave souls, including 4 other UTK ladies, will kick off Spring Break by participating in Tough Mudder.
Tough Mudder is an intense obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. The focus is not on finish time, but on working as a team to complete the mental and physical challenge. Just finishing the course is a huge milestone. Our Tough Mudder event will be held on Saturday March 12 at Highland Park Resort (about an hour outside of Atlanta). We will be representing UT as the Hard Knox team!
Erin Downs, a previous Campus Celeb, is one of the UT ladies taking on the challenge. “I’m excited, I’m nervous, and I’m ready to get my a** kicked by the course. I’m doing it for the challenge and to be able to call myself a Tough Mudder!” said Downs.
The Highland Park course is approximately 11 miles long with an elevation change of 620 feet. Throughout those 11 miles we will face 18 challenges. These are challenges you would have to see to believe. Check out the Course Map for a full map and description of the course. http://toughmudder.com/events/georgia/highland-park-course-map-2011/
But just to give you a taste, we will be army crawling under wire, climbing up and over 12 foot walls, stomping through waste deep mud, making our way across greased monkey bars, and running between 4 foot high flames. Scared yet?
“I’m nervous and excited. If we get through it, it will be awesome and I know my parents will be proud of me,” said team member Laura Legg, a UTK senior.
The Tough Mudder event staff is a great group of people. Following the race, all participants come together for an after party with lots of food and music. At the after party awards are presented for different categories. Respect Awards are given to participants who have overcome illness, injury or misfortune. Costume awards are given for Best Costume, Worst Costume, Least Clothing, and Most Likely to Have Been in the Village People. And finally, they offer free head-shaves and awards for the Best Mullet and Best Mohawk.
In addition to the after party and awards, participants are given a voucher that is redeemable at a local tattoo parlor for a free tattoo of the Tough Mudder logo.
Not every participant finishes the course, but we will be giving our all to make it through. We’re all scared and excited, but mostly we are proud to represent UT and give some support to our Armed Forces.
If you have some free time next weekend, spectator tickets can be purchased in advance for just $15. If not, make sure you send your support our way on Saturday and look out for some awesome photos!
The Hard Knox Tough Mudder Team:
Kathryn Sullivan – your UTK Campus Correspondent
Erin Downs – UTK senior, ROTC member, and HC Campus Celeb
Marlowe Whittaker – UTK senior
Laura Legg – UTK senior
Abby Blount – UTK freshman and ROTC member
Carson Whittaker – Soon to be UTK class of 2015
Clay Whittaker – Proud UTK dad
Lisa Whittaker – Proud UTK mom
Brent Nelson – University of Northern Iowa class of 2006