If you’re rocking the Tough Mudder course solo, from the moment you step foot on the course, Mudder Nation will have your back… literally. During obstacle Hero Carry Mudders will take turns carrying another headband-enthusiast across a quarter mile of course. Sometimes Mudders are matched perfectly in size, other times trudging through mud with a human-sized backpack is slow-going.

Why Hero Carry is a Great Obstacle

We went to our down and dirty, mud-laden, human-strength-requiring obstacle, and asked one first-timer what toughing it out in Hero Carry taught him about life.

Small steps are best

“When I saw the future-backpack coming up the trail I thought, ‘there is no way I’ll be able to carry him’. As I got into a squat position and lifted him off the ground, I felt like my legs were going to give way. But step by step we got to the other end. If I had taken too big of a step with him on my back I could’ve fallen but taking one small step at a time I was able to balance his weight and my own. This is true in life as well. Focus on the small goals because they will add up to something greater”.

Everyone has their own struggle

“Starting out with a fellow Mudder on my back, I had to figure out how to time my steps, balance his weight, and breathe all at the same time. By starting slow, I conquered those mini-challenges one mud-heavy step at a time. My teammate had different challenge carrying me. When I got onto his back, he started off quickly but slowed down towards the end as his legs got tired. In life, you think you are the only one facing challenges, but the Tough Mudder course taught me that in and out of the mud it’s all about reaching out to one another”.

Trying something new is rewarded

“This was my first Tough Mudder, so before Tough Mudder Long Island, I had never carried someone on my back and then had them carry me. Challenging myself to find more in the mud was a great way to escape the ordinary, and learn about myself with each mile and obstacle”.