Tough Mudder 2014 Mt Snow

This coming weekend I will be participating in my second Tough Mudder. I am going up to Mt. Snow in Vermont to run it. The exciting aspects of this year's event include the fact that I know what I am getting into, so my training has been better targeted, and I am doing it with a team rather than by myself. Both of these are key to me actually deciding to run it again.

Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course. There are a bunch of locations worldwide which sponsor these runs. I, of course, would rather stay in New England, so I have limited options. Like last year, my Mudder event is at a ski resort. Last year I was at Gunstock. This year Mt. Snow. We will be going up and down ski slopes for the majority of the event. It will be painful. The obstacles will be fun diversions from the pain. there will be lots of mud. What's not to love?

Last year, I signed up to run it with a friend from Norton High School. I did not know what I was getting into, but it seemed like a good idea. Halfway into training, my friend dropped out, so I was forced to train and run the event by myself. I can unequivocally state that doing a Tough Mudder by one's self is torture. But, I learned a lot about my own limits. I was able to move at my own pace. I was forced out of my comfort zone to ask others for help. And, I finished.

This year, I am running with family and friends. I have been using the Mudder as a fitness goal, and I do feel in better overall health. My siblings have also been using the event as an excuse to get into better shape. We also have found that having this has given us excuse to be in more regular contact with each other, and that has been nice, especially sending out weekly scary emails to them about what awaits them on the course.

I especially like the basic values of TM as are stated in a vow before every race:

I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
I do not whine – kids whine.
I help my fellow mudders complete the course.
I overcome all fears

That pretty much sums it up. It's is not about the race. It is about the event.

Etiquette

I was at a performance last night that my children were part of for their school. Each classroom did two musical numbers both singing and dancing. Overall, the students did a great job and should be proud of themselves. Not so with the audience.

A little "being in the Audience 101".

1. Turn your cellphone off, or at least mute it. In my range of hearing, six times people's cell phones rang during musical numbers. The students on stage could not hear the rings, but everyone around those people did. I understand that we all sometimes forget to mute our phones, but when someone else's phone goes off, figure out that your phone might as well.

2. Do not text during a performance. You are there to watch/listen to a performance. You may be addicted to your texting, but realize that you are being disrespectful when someone is presenting, and you are not paying attention. Also, think of others. They do not need to be distracted by you.

3. You know that flashlight function on your phone? Don't use it in a darkened auditorium. I had a person to my right who used their flashlight function a number of times during the performance. It was similar to sitting next to a light house and trying to watch the waves. Very distracting. Plus, the songs were all identifiable very quickly.

4. Don't keep getting up and down from your seat. If you buy a ticket to a performance, you should be there for the entire event. There were people around me who were clearly present only to see their own children. When they were not within five minutes of their child's performance, they did not want to sit still, so they would get up, move down the aisle and leave. These were also people who had multiple children. LOTS of movement.

5. If you are asked to refrain from taking pictures or videotaping the performance, don't do it. It is a little maddening to have a number that seems interesting have its line of sight interrupted by a parent who decides that they need to stick their hand way up in the air so that the mobile device in it can film the stage. The devices all looked wonderful, but I would prefer to see the performers. I am sure that there were parents whose views of their own children were obstructed by people in front of them.

6. Do not wave at, call to, stand up and wave, or otherwise make a scene out of trying to get your child's attention while they are on stage. It is their performance. They know you are there. But, you are there to see them, not them see you. Let them perform. Let them get the applause. Then, tell them later how wonderful they were. It seems a bit self-serving and self-promoting to go so far out of your way to get your child's attention. You should not need for them to wave to you that badly. If they notice you, they may be distracted from doing the number properly. If they do not notice you, then you are just that rude person calling attention to themselves. Think about it. Keep the spotlight where it belongs.

7. Do not talk while someone is speaking from the stage or while a number is going on. Should be self-evident, shouldn't it?

It really does not take a lot to be a good member of an audience. Just remember the role the audience is supposed to play, and live up to that. Think of others, especially those behind you.