Speaking of dressing for the cold and icy conditions, I went to watch Tough Guy on Sunday. It’s the first time I’ve been just as a spectator since I was a kid, and we saw some interesting sights I can tell you.
There was a man with no shoes, a woman wearing white fluffy earmuffs (well I think they were white under the mud), 5 women painted red, 2 men in tuxes, 3 bunny girls, 3 men in tutus, one ‘death squad’ and an army of Vikings. And that just scratches the surface. Sounds like a bizarre version of the 12 days of Christmas!
To set the scene, it was a cold (as always) foggy morning, with a modest sheen of ice on the stagnant Tough Guy ponds. The elements were relatively kind, no driving sleet or snow, just a slight breeze, but still cold enough for hypothermia to be the biggest risk. The recent rainfall had left the ground waterlogged, and in Tough Guy this means 2 things: 1. The ground is softer when you are dragging yourself underneath the barbed wire. 2. The thick mud turns boggy and saps your energy on the cross-country run, as well as trying to suck your shoes off. Maybe that explains the man we saw with no shoes half way around waterworld…
We got to the start in time to see the line up. The group at the front were carrying huge wooden crosses, Jesus style, apparently just another element Mr. Mouse thought he would throw in for fun. The front quad were lined up behind, then the Tough Guys at the top of the Hill. Just out of sight I knew there were cages of Wetnecks, Wooblemuckers, Goons…and a number of other groups with names I will refrain from writing here. For anyone who is not familiar with the Tough Guy caging, a Tough Guy is someone who has done the even before, a Wetneck is a first-timer, and you will have to ask Mr. Mouse what the others are, I’ve lost track. One thing I have noticed, the Tough Guy squad is usually smaller than the Wetneck squad…. Not many people come back for a second go.
The bagpipes played, the drums beat a war-like rhythm, and the firework (not cannon for a change) set them off. In amongst the Wetnecks I saw a man dithering around at the top of the hill wondering how to get down…. Doesn’t bode well for the rest of the course.
The course, as expected, has been developed since I last competed 2 years ago. Every year Mr. Mouse dreams up hideous new ways to torment the competitors. In the last 2 years he has extended the Tunnels and introduced a whole new obstacle course across the lake before the barbed wire. This one must be a killer, I remember by that stage I was absolutely frozen, with no energy left, and to have to use your upper body strength to drag yourself round at the stage, or fall into the freezing cold water again, is harsh.
The two Tough Guys we were supporting were both completing their 20th Tough Guy, and are showing no signs of quitting. Apparently after you have completed so many Tough Guys you are allowed access to the new VIP barns. The new facilities include warm (or at least tepid) showers and a hot air blower to dry you. Now as this is a horse sanctuary we are talking about, I doubt it will be anything fancy. I think Mr Mouse generally just moved the animals out and puts the runners in. But it sounds better than the usual sheep-dip-style bath and freezing showers.
I was just beginning to get into the spirit of I can do this again and getting all psyched up, when I saw one man wrapped in foil being lead by paramedics back to the barn. He had that unmistakable hypothermic look. Uncontrollable shaking, blue lips and a look of terror in his eyes like the world is coming to an end. That look was enough to bring back the memory of hypothermia 3 years ago on the Tough Guy course. Not pleasant, I can assure you. We also saw one of the front runners with his head covered in blood, and a woman who had persevered bravely through waterworld only to fall into the foil of the paramedics on the other side, looking hypothermic. Just watching the queues on top of the huge frames, I thanked God I wasn’t up there with them today.
After we saw our 2 friends finish we decided to head back to carry on supporting the rest through waterworld. We had supplies of Jelly babies, which I popped into open mouths, and shouted encouragement to those who looked like they were struggling. I remember only too well being at the other side of the fence, being fed jelly babies by my supporters 2 years ago. I felt for them, and it made me eternally grateful for my warm clothes and dry feet.
Got a text from one of the guys the next day, thanks for supporting and will they see me next year doing it??..... I am sorely tempted to consider it… Even though my mother will go nuts. Anybody out there planning on doing it next year?
Sounds mental! And great 'fun'! :o)
thanks for the jelly babies they were a life saver!