You have made your decision to register for an obstacle course event, but you are going about it solo. No problem – everyone loves a solo adventure. However, a big part of the process in obstacle course events is figuring out how to bind a team of individuals into an effective unit to conquer obstacles.
It does take a little bit of work and some planning, but it’s not the daunting task that it seems. In fact, the benefits far outweigh any perceived downside of building a team BEFORE you plan your obstacle course experience. Plus, it’s a social connection.
Events like Tough Mudder offer relay team options – like Toughest Mudder, an INSANE overnight 12 hour experience where you can approach the course with teams of 2 or 4.
There are a few things that need to be done to optimize your team, if you are considering binding together with your closest friends, family or Mudder you met 3 years ago on Mud Mile:
- Familiarize Yourself with the event. Learn the ins and outs of how the events are run. Look at the rules, regulations, and team requirements. Having a good grasp of the event ahead of time will enable you to explain it to potential teammates. The Toughest Mudder course has some specific rules on relay teams of 2 or 4, which are important to consider in your decision making process.
- Whatever your event goals are, choose people who have positive attitudes and are team players. It’s a very good idea to make sure someone on your team has run a relay or you can communicate effectively with them on a new experience. Tough Mudder loves first timers. Another thing to consider is the length and difficulty of each event, where they vary greatly. In a relay setting, it’s important that each person can cover the stages that are best suited to them.
- Consider mental strength, injury avoidance, diet, sleep patterns, and training time. When you know what level everyone is, it becomes easy to plan on what the experience might look like. Honoring each teammate skills and building a plan around each other’s strengths is what it’s all about. For something like Toughest Mudder, ensure you elevate the mental grit aspect for the overnight experience
Examples of some Training techniques:
Any relay will be much more fun and you will feel better and be more competitive, when you properly train together. Start with the below, and you can always compound the total distances and cumulative reps as you progress to your event day. For more detailed tips and training, consider enrolling in Tough Mudder Training.
Everyone Runs Together 400 Meters
Then all start together AMRAP in 15 mins:
10 Burpees
10 KB Swings
10 Push-ups
10 bodyweight squats or place a 25 to 50-pound sandbag on your back for intermediate to advanced
…quick break, then:
Everyone runs 800 meters, repeating the same cadence of AMRAPs above. If you are going to continue (per day, or per session), slightly increase the distances you run and total amount of reps.
Team’s are a great way to optimize your experience and approach the start line with a shared positive attitude with your friends.