Listening House – Our Story
The origins of our team stem from my role as the volunteer coordinator and advocate for Listening House, a nonprofit organization. One day, I received a solicitation from Tough Mudder inviting us to put a team together at a discount. As a hobby adventure runner for years, I saw this as a unique opportunity to unite our clients, staff, and volunteers in a setting where housing status, mental health, or addiction wouldn’t divide us. Our team came together swiftly, consisting of four women and one male staff member, three women guests, and one volunteer. This initiative quickly gained traction, thanks to the enthusiasm of our small but mighty population of women, many of whom visit us daily from surrounding camps. These women are some of the toughest individuals I know, and I’ve had the privilege of knowing many of them for over 25 years. My daughter, who also works here and has forged deep connections with these women, was instrumental in assembling our team.
Our team upholds the values of community, teamwork, and mutual support, which align seamlessly with the Tough Mudder experience. Our guests understand the essence of teamwork on a fundamental level, as their daily lives often depend on it for survival—ensuring their community’s safety from physical traumas, overdoses, and exposure to the elements. We firmly believe that it takes a village to overcome challenges. Isolation, especially when combined with homelessness and addiction, can lead to victimization and even death. At Listening House, our objective is to love and support our unsheltered community because we are all part of the same community. Every person who walks through our doors is valuable, but societal judgments and assumptions have often beaten them down. The Tough Mudder race removed all societal barriers, leveling the playing field and challenging everyone equally, regardless of their status in the outside world.
Our Experience at Tough Mudder Twin Cities
The most memorable moment for our team at Tough Mudder Twin Cities this year was conquering Pyramid Scheme. Faced with the decision to either climb the rope or form a human ladder, we found ourselves in a stalled section where no human ladder was forming. I turned to Tara, one of our teammates from the streets whom I’ve known for over 15 years, and asked if she was up for the challenge. She was game, and with the assistance of two strangers forming the base, we created a human ladder. Tara, perched on my shoulders, encouraged each person we helped up the wall. For the first time in years, Tara was the physical support for others, rather than needing support herself. Reaching the top, Tara was beaming, and she spoke optimistically about her future and her resolve to stay clean to achieve her goal of getting into housing. Pyramid Scheme transformed everything for both of us.
Every obstacle was a favorite, especially since we had two teammates who were deathly afraid of heights and two who didn’t swim. It was an incredible experience of overcoming fears. Despite living unsheltered and having unpredictable nights, our team was fully committed to the challenge. Our biggest obstacle was gathering everyone on the morning of the race, as four members had slept in camps around the city the night before. We had to find and wake them up, but once together, we faced no setbacks.
One of the best examples of camaraderie was when two of our members chose to attend but not compete. They supported us throughout the event, taking pictures, carrying gear, and cheering us on. Their engagement and support were invaluable, and there wasn’t a single negative moment during the event. Afterward, half the team returned to work, and the other half returned to their camps, embodying the spirit of resilience and community.
The atmosphere and community at Tough Mudder Twin Cities were unlike anything we had experienced before, and we are excited to participate in more events in the future. One of our teammates, initially worried about her asthma, proved to be one of the strongest among us. Our team’s determination and positive energy carried us through every challenge.
Our Personal Insights and Future Plans
As a team captain, I’ve learned the importance of celebrating everyone’s strengths alongside overcoming obstacles. Personally, participating in Tough Mudder with this team has been the most impactful adventure race experience of my life. The stark divide between social classes is often evident in these events, which are typically out of reach for those living in deep poverty. However, this event allowed us to break down those barriers and grow in countless ways. The experience highlighted the disparity between the haves and have-nots, particularly evident when seeing the pile of discarded shoes at the end of the race. Despite this, our team felt gratitude for the opportunity to be welcomed into a world that recognized our human value, even if just for a few hours.
For other teams or captains looking to participate in Tough Mudder for the first time, my advice is to never discount anyone’s potential. Our future goals include forming both male and female teams, as the interest from our community has been overwhelmingly positive. We have already started a running group several mornings a week, aiming to remind our unhoused guests of their capabilities and help them achieve their goals as the world opens up again.
