Sparrows on the Deck: September 2012

Thursday, 20 September 2012

tough mudder....phillip island....part 2

a hand up
photo: Noah Schultz-Byard, ABC Broken Hill

where were we?

ah yes... being hosed down before running through 400 dangling wires pulsing with electric current for a dose of electroshock therapy on wet,
mud-caked skin....did I mention the mud...

stay low

lots of mud...

helping hands
photo: Courier Mail

and more mud...

mud bath
photo: Noah Schultz-ByardABC Broken Hill

I feel immensely contented to know that in my hometown of Melbourne there are 22,000 souls who will drag themselves out of bed to participate in a first-time event just for the heck of it.

muddy view from the top
photo:Noah Schultz-Byard ABC Broken Hill

no prizes, no awards, no times to beat....just to do it. Because.

too much fun
photo: Noah Schultz-Byard ABC Broken Hill

apparently this was the largest turnout for a Tough Mudder anywhere in the world.
it completely took the organisers by surprise....
leading to the only negative for the day....huge queues and 'traffic-jams' of people at some obstacles...
just too many people to scale that wall, to get over that half-pipe....a problem which the organisers said they'd remedy 'next time.'

and that time is next weekend in Sydney .

and Team 'Just Wing It'.....well they are planning their assault on Tough Mudder 2013.... and I'll know to stay relaxed about the forms and paperwork to be signed!
might even sign one myself....as a spectator of course!

so if you've got half an hour , grab yourself a coffee, make yourself comfortable, turn up the sound ( or down !! ) and put yourself deep into the muddy action without the bruises, wind-chill , and mud ....

this youtube video shot 'live' via 'head-cam' ( camera on cap) worn by the boys....

and part two is here...

(videos conceived, produced and edited by Stu )

shoes....unwanted....unloved...but laces were handed in for 'recycling'
photo: Noah Schultz-Byard ABC Broken Hill

Jo x

.

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

tough mudder......phillip island ....part 1

On the 22nd, 23rd September , some 25,000 Sydneysiders will participate in the first 'Tough Mudder' challenge held in NSW....so for all the worried mudders of 'Tough Mudders' up there.....don't worry....here's my perspective.

some months ago my son signed up for the first-ever 'Tough Mudder' to be held in Australia.
....have you heard of it? I hadn't...

click here for a taster..... it's trumpeted as the premier 'challenge event' on the planet...a 20km "challenge" course with commando-class obstacles.
but it wasn't until he said 'hey mum, I have to sign a "Death Waiver' that I began to really worry!
( I'm an artist....not an adrenaline junkie!)
the event looked tough, exhausting, terrifyingly challenging....but surely not.....?
I couldn't even voice my questions....say anything aloud.....
it wasn't until my daughter, going as 'support crew'/ designated driver/ chauffeur/ spectator ....said "Hey ,I've got to sign one too ' that I began to relax!

hey....if the spectators are at risk of death too, how bad can it be? !!

the Tough Mudder pledge

mud...mud...did someone mention mud?

anyway, of course it was all fine!

the clean team 'Just Wing It'
photo: ac

22,000 crazy, enthusiastic superfit, switched-on people of all ages and shapes and sizes paid $90-$150 to put themselves through 20km of hell.

the start line Phillip Island, Sat 31 March 2012
hundreds sent off in 'waves' every 15 minutes
photo: ac

why?

the Tough Mudder aim:

to test all-round strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie....to unlock a true sense of accomplishment.....and just because you can!

does this look like fun to you?

finding your way through a smoke-filled fire pit