PUNCHESTOWN RACECOURSE HOSTS Tough Mudder this weekend as the world-famous adventure run takes place in Ireland for the first time. TheScore.ie and TheJournal.ie are sending a seven-strong team to the event, so we caught up with Marketing Director of Tough Mudder Europe John Fidoe to find out what we’ve got ourselves in for.
Hi John, first of all how would you explain Tough Mudder to someone who has never heard of it?
Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course. The fundamental thing that makes it a bit different to other events is that it’s a challenge, not a race. So it’s not timed.
There will about 20 obstacles or hazards throughout the course and those range from stuff that will test you physically (i.e. swinging on monkey bars) through to things like ice baths, which you will come out freezing from.
How does it differ from other adventure runs?
The first point is that it is very much focused around team-work and camaraderie. The atmosphere that you will get at Tough Mudder is unlike any other even I’ve ever been to. Over 90% of people who do it do so as part of a team with their friends and colleagues.
Even if you go on your own you will always find someone there to give you a hand and help boost you up over a wall or help you out of the mud. That’s a really special atmosphere which you don’t always get elsewhere.
The other thing is the quality of our obstacles. We have been designing and perfecting them for the past four-and-a-half years and we think we’ve got the most innovative and the most challenging obstacles out there. That makes a real difference to the experience you get on the day.
How long have you been planning to bring Tough Mudder to Ireland?
We had our first visit to Punchestown back in 2012, and that’s when we first started speaking to them about bringing the event to Ireland. It has taken us a little while to get here but we put tickets on sale 12 months ago and have got a really good response. We’re really pleased and I think it’s going to be a great first event here.
How many people will be taking part in Tough Mudder at Punchestown this weekend?
We will have about 6,000 participants due to run and we will expect another couple of thousand spectators to come over the weekend. So it will be pretty good turn out.
So people are more than welcome to show up and cheer on runners?
Yes, we do charge for spectators so if you’re going to come along on the day the best thing to do is buy a ticket online as it’s the cheapest way of doing it.
You say it’s generally between 10-12 miles but exactly how long is the course at Punchestown?
This course is pretty much smack bang on 12 miles so it is going to be one of our more challenging courses. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.
And you say the emphasis is more on taking part than winning?
Absolutely. Like I said, it’s more about the team-work and camaraderie out on the course. It’s really challenging and will test people but not having the timed element means you get that helping hand when you need it as you won’t have people running over the top of you.
We do get a big mixture of people and some want to do it as fast as they can. We welcome those people and that is fantastic but if you want to know what time you did it in, you’re going to need to do it yourself.
Which are the toughest obstacles in your opinion?
It depends on particular strengths, weaknesses and fears. A lot of people find ‘Arctic Enema’, the ice baths, particularly nasty. It really takes your breath away when you get in there and a lot of people struggle to breath.
The other one which is always really challenging but is just a fantastic feeling when you get to the top is Everest, which is the greased up quarter-pipe. It’s pretty much always our last obstacle and by the time you’ve run 11 miles and you’re wet and your limbs are aching, getting to the top of it is really hard work. But it’s a great feeling when you do.
Do you come across many injuries and if so are there medical staff on hand?
Of course, the safety of our participants is always our number one concern. We’ve got around 80 medical staff on site over the weekend. They will be at every major obstacle. The most common injuries are minor cuts and bruises as well as twisted ankles and that kind of thing. But they are always on hand if you need attention.
What will competitors be met with when they do eventually cross the finish line?
When you enter the site, there is what we call the Mudder Village where we have food stalls and a bar where you can get yourself a drink. When you cross the line you are handed a well-earned beer and a protein bar to re-fuel. Then you can celebrate your achievements with friends and family.
Have you plans to make Tough Mudder Ireland a regular event? Possibly bring it to other parts of the country?
We’re definitely going to be coming to Ireland next year and we hope very much we will be back in Punchestown because it’s a great venue and they have been really good to us.
In terms of the rest of Ireland, we will have to wait and see. Tough Mudder is a big event and it takes a big population to make sure we get the right numbers coming up. But we will definitely look at it for 2016.
For more information on Tough Mudder, visit their website
