Vote for Your Favourite Tough Mudder Obstacle

This year we’re bringing back classic Tough Mudder obstacles from years gone by and putting them on your 2018 course. Check out the list below, and vote for whichever obstacle you want to see the most. 

Whether it’s an old favourite, or one you’ve only heard rumours of, this is your chance to make an impact on Mudder Nation. 

Vote today to choose which Vault obstacles will be on your course in 2018. Voting ends January 25 at 11:59pm.

Behold, the Obstacles: 

Boa Constrictor

To complete this obstacle, snake down through a 2.5′ wide tube into a water pit with barbed wire just 8″ above. Slither back up another 2.5′ wide tube for 20′.

Cage Crawl

This is a perfect chance to practice your backstroke, under 60ft of steel fence with only a few inches of air. In this obstacle, Mudders lay on their back and pull their way through this long, watery trench. Muster up the mental grit and you’ll do just fine. It’s as easy as breathing.

Cry Baby

If you’ve been dying to get tear-gassed, well here’s your chance. A 30′ long water chamber with 10″ of breathing room filled entirely by tear gas will certainly leave you crying like a baby

Dingleberries

Traverse a dangling cargo net spaced 3′ apart with small knots. If you’ve got the strength and agility you’ll stay dry, otherwise…we hope you brought a towel.

Dirty Ballerina

Channel your inner dirty dancer and keep your toes pointed as you hop, jump, and skip over these 4′ wide ditches filled with some Grade A filth.

Dong Daggler

Channel your inner sloth and shimmy upside down along a rope. Maintain 3 points of contact and you might stay out of the drink.

Electric Eel

Why just crawl 40′ under barbed wire when you can get shocked as well? This sadistic feature combines the worst of the worst (or the best of the best?)

Greased Lightening

Break up the muddy running with a 100′ slide reaching speeds of 15 miles per hour. Lay back, relax and let the motion take you.

Gut Buster

Taking your core workout to the next level, keep your shuffling game high to reach the hanging poles spaced 3′ apart, over water of course.

Hot Shots

A shot of hot sauce before jumping into Arctic Enema – The Rebirth? Of course that makes sense, who doesn’t want to try that?

Human Gecko

Bringing your local bouldering club to a Tough Mudder course near you. You’ll need the balance and strength of a small lizard to overcome this creature.

Hump Chuck

From the WTM archives, this 10′ slip wall, partially submerged in water is a team favorite. If this looks like a challenge to scale, just wait for your Happy Ending at the finish.

Island Hopping

What’s more fun than trying to walk on water? Tip-toe these 3′ wide floating platforms to cross over the river and through the woods to reach your ice-cold finisher beverage.

Just The Tip

With only the bare minimum to cling on to, your fingers and biceps are going to feel the burn after this Tough Mudder classic. 

King of the Mountain

This behemoth of hay towers over Mudder Nation at over 15′. The strenous climb up is only half the challenge – whatever goes up must come down.

Leap of Faith

Close your eyes and let yourself go, in this test of pure bravery. A hanging cargo net on the other side of a difficult 10′ jump over a water pit below is your only way out. 

Log Jammin

Keep your head low as you duck under and hop over this 40′ long set of high and low logs.

Lumberjacked

A throwback to those high school hurdles on the track taken to the next level with chest high trees turned on their side. Learn from the Mudder next to you and don’t make a fool of yourself falling on your back.

Massive Turd

Suspended 12′ high, this cargo net hanging between shipping containers is no walk in the park. Be careful of the muddy droppings from above as you run under.

Operation

Turning the clock back to your childhood, experience your favourite kid’s game with real electricity. Fail to pull the ring cleanly through the hole and you’ve earned one 10,000 volt shock.

Rope-a-Dope

Scaling the knot-free rope hanging in the middle of the water pit is only half the challenge. Transfer to the second rope and shimmy down the other side to conquer this classic.

Twinkle Toes

You’ll need to conjure every ounce of balance within you to daintily tip-toe across this skinny 40′ long platform. Don’t look down, you’re 3′ above a pit of cold, dirty water…obviously.

Shocks on the Rocks

If you thought Electric Eel couldn’t get any more painful, then please allow us to throw some ice on that burn.

Trench Warfare

Dark, confined spaces are back in full force. This 50′ long crawl will bring out the claustrophobia in any Mudder. Don’t trip on the grenade inside and everything will be just fine.

Underwater Tunnels

18” high barbed wire boxed in by floating 55-gallon barrels in typically freezing water provides a sure-fire way to keep you running to warm up after.

A New Year. For most it’s a chance for fresh starts, resolutions and healthy diets but for Mudders far and wide it holds a special kind of promise.

5 Things You Need to Know About Obstacle Unveil 2018

If there is one thing that Tough Mudder is known for (after the crazy mud and orange headbands) it’s obstacle innovation, and the announcement of brand new obstacles stokes a fire under Mudder Nation like nothing else.

So as you wait patiently for the all important details here are the five most important things you need to know about what is to come in January 2018.

1. January 11th 2018 is The Date

Clear your schedule, take the day off work, and prepare your eyes for a feast of information and newness on this very special day. Have toughmudder.com open and every social media platform possible near your face because you’re going to want to see this and then you’re going to want to share it.

Pro tip: Write this date down now. Google Calender it. Set a phone reminder. You wouldn’t want to forget.

2. Brand New Obstacles

For months TMHQ has been abuzz with new ideas, there have been drawings and renderings, designs and redesigns and a whole bunch of testing and finally…FINALLY on January 11th 2018 we can reveal to the world our Brand. New. Obstacles. 

That means if you’ve booked your ticket for 2018 you can expect to take on obstacles that have never been seen on course before. Think we might have lost our touch? There’s a reason we’re considered the biggest and bestest in the world.

3. The Vault will be Emptied

It’s all been pretty cloak-and-dagger so far, some fuzzy videos, a crazy hacker and a handful of leaked secret files.

Let us clear things up a little. The Vault, which is filled to the brim with classic Tough Mudder obstacle designs has been opened and come January we will be asking you to vote for your favorites.

And the winners? Well they might just be making an appearance on course in 2018.

4. More Legionnaire Exclusives

If you bleed orange you deserve unique challenges that are on course just for you. They will require skill, experience and fearlessness which is exectly why we know the Legionnaires can handle it.

 

5. Something BIG is Coming

The fun doesn’t stop in January either. We’re cooking up a monumental, global announcement that will knock you off your feet, and give you something to look forward to once the excitement of obstacle unveil has passed.

Excited for 2018 already? Book your spot in the mud today.

On November 11, 2017, 1,655 Tough Mudders gathered for the 7th annual World’s Toughest Mudder outside of Las Vegas, NV. Designed to give the world’s most hardcore OCR athletes the opportunity to display their competitive spirit in a non-stop 24 hour battle of grit and willpower, World’s Toughest Mudder is the most iconic endurance event in the world. It’s the toughest 24-hour obstacle race on the planet, it’s The Super Bowl of Endurance Sports, it’s the ultimate showdown of mental toughness.

And this year’s race proved no less gritty, gutsy, or challenging. With 21 obstacles and plenty of elevation gain on every 5-mile loop, the Last Dance in the Desert was a memorable one. From Ryan Atkins hitting a WTM distance record, to newcomer to the OCR world unexpectedly taking the female win, to a wedding and an engagement, oh, and not to mention Roxie the Dog tackling the mud, WTM 2017 was one for the books and for the screens.

Good news, if you missed the Live Facebook Coverage, you can relive the magic, madness, and mudness from World’s Toughest Mudder 2017 with  the World’s Toughest Mudder Special on CBS on December 23rd (and then again at midnight going into December 27th after a night-time Mudder Marathon). 

Mark your calendars to tune into CBS Sports’ coverage of World’s Toughest Mudder 2017 airing on 12/23 at 12:00pmEST only on CBS. It’ll be an epic 1-hour show down that’ll have you asking, are they even human? There’s never a bad time to relive the magic. And if you’re a Mudder-on-the-go, good news: in addition to availability on CBS TV, the show will also be streaming on CBS All Access. Oh, and because the WTM athletes are the first to test potential new 2018 obstacles innovations, you’ll get a sneak peek at some of the obstacle you might see on course.

Ready for World’s Toughest Mudder 2018? Claim your spot on the course by clicking HERE and start training. Oh, and if you have Q’s about preparing for worlds, turn into Road To Worlds, a 1-hour special about prepping for WTM 2017 featuring Stef Bishop, Superman, Lindsay Webster, Ryan Atkins, and Mark James. 

Blackness consumed everything. My headlamp had given up on me a few miles back. But there was no time to waste. I was 70 miles into World’s Toughest Mudder 2017 and the race to 110 was only just beginning.

Rewind. How did I find myself here? Swimming through green, back-lit water? It started 5 years ago. I love testing myself. The harder, the better, and this seemed like the “Holy Grail” of hard. I saw a little internet advert claiming what was “probably the toughest event on earth”. Intrigued. Hooked. I was sitting at my desk at work. My pulse quickened and my palms began to sweat. The monotony of daily life had become crushing. I told myself that I would sign up. I would run through mud and obstacles for 24 hours. And MAYBE, if my beliefs about myself were correct, I’d come out the other side with a new perspective. I had never imagined that this decision would lead to a series of life-altering events. I went on to win that year, beating the undefeated WTM champion and completing 100 miles. Orange seemed to look good on me.

The next 3 years of racing led me to make hundreds of friendships, carve a new career path, and log many, many miles. In 2017, TMHQ announced a bonus “incentive” to competitors. The Bonus prize would be awarded in the individual category, not the team category. I had been lusting after coming back to the individual category since 2014 so the decision was simple. I organized my entire race season around winning WTM and running 110 miles. Every other race was secondary. I pushed aside “tapers” and “peaking” for everything else and just kept telling myself that it was all for WTM 2017.

Taking to the start line this year and hearing Sean Corvelle speak to us Legionaires about the most committed Mudders is always inspiring. But I have to consciously try not get too excited because I like to think of my potential for performance as a finite bathtub of motivation, stoke, energy, willpower, adrenaline and concentration. Sean is so great at getting fired up, that I need to temper my fire and try not to let it all burn out on the first lap.

 

Lap 1 was great. No obstacles were open yet, so the pace is high, as we rushed to get in some “free mileage”. On lap 2, near the end, I was chatting with a competitor, and unbeknownst to me, we just followed the arrows for the penalty loop of “funky monkey”. It turned out to be an extra kilometer of running. Jon Albon was right with us, and about 7-8 people all made that mistake, too. On the next lap, I looked at the markings and realized it that it was an honest mistake. But at before that point, the race leader, Robert Killian was about 1 minute ahead of me, and the mistake grew the gap to about 8 minutes.

This was one of the most defining moments of the race for me. Panic set it. I had just given the leader big gap. I knew that I needed to run a perfect race in order to hit my goal of 110 miles. So I needed to make the conscious decision to not let it stress me out. So I just focused on running consistent lap times for the next 20 laps. 

As night time began to fall, I took a pit stop and switched into a wetsuit, and changed my shoes. My pit crew was awesome and made the switchover quick and seamless. I think it was around this time, that Robert failed “funky monkey- The revolution” in two consecutive laps. I knew that running a clean, race without any penalties would go a long way to winning the race.

As I came through the pit on lap 7, the race director told me that they had decided that my misdirection on lap 2 was a marking error on their part, and that they had come up with a solution. They wanted me to cut the course to take off slightly less than the time I had lost in that lap. The race director met me at a determined location, and walked me through the cut. It saved about 6 minutes on that lap and I was very grateful for the correction, which leveled out the playing field. 

After this, I just put my head down and tried to hit some intermediate goals.

With a race like WTM, one of my strategies is to celebrate all the littlest successes and benchmarks and to ignore/get over any mistakes or hardships as quickly as possible. This makes it easy to keep a positive mindset for the duration of the event. Examples of this are sunset, 50 miles, 100km, 8 hours, 12 hours, 75 miles, 16 hours, sunrise, 100 miles, etc.  So at this stage I was just rolling through all the intermediate goals and trying to keep my pace as steady as possible.

At midnight, the course switched over. And my position in the lap was basically as as bad as it could have been. I came to the “big hill” that they added just a few minutes after midnight. It had been my intention to get there at 11:59, and to avoid one climb of the hill. But this didn’t quite work out, so I just had to keep plugging along.

It was moments like this, walking up the long uphills, where the strength and animosity of the Tough Mudder community comes through. Almost every person I would pass would cheer me on, tell me I was doing a good job and congratulate me. I don’t believe that I would have achieved my goal if it hadn’t been for the community’s generosity and positivity. We are all out there, suffering and toughing it out together. I think the community is its strongest between 2am and 5am, when the course is the darkest, coldest and can be the loneliest.

 

Once I made it to the sunrise, I knew I was almost there. The additional obstacles, cliff jump and big hill that came with the midnight course made my lap times jump from around 60 minutes to about 75-80 minutes. The relentless mental math checks and my current (now-excellent) mental state told me that I could certainly hit my goal of 110 miles. 

After crossing the finish line for 100 miles I headed out on my 21st lap at around 9:05am. I knew that I had over a 2 hour lead on second place. It was this lap that was my slowest and HARDEST lap. I had been pushing myself and holding myself to such a high standard of perfection on the course that it felt as though I had run out of will power. My body was sore, and my mind was complete mush. I had to dig really deep to keep the pace up on that lap. I knew that once I got to my last lap, I would have no issues with completing it, but boy, was that second-to-last-lap was a struggle.

I left for my final lap at 10:35. I just had to suffer through every obstacle, every hill, every mud crawl ONE MORE TIME. You can do this, I told myself. About 1 mile into the lap, I ran into my friend Jon Albon, who was out pacing his sister, Beth. She was going for her 75th mile. Running with Jon for about ½ a mile felt like “coming home”. We chatted, laughed, made car noises, and just goofed around together. Then I told him I was going to go finish this thing and took off.  I got to the Cliff for what would probably be my last cliff jump ever, because due to the change in location of WTM  next year, there might not be a Cliff. 109.9 miles in, .1 miles left. I stood at the top the platform, and raised my hands for the crowds to make some noise. They cheered. I jumped. I came up from the darkness and with complete elation and I ran the last few steps to the finish line. 

It was 11:57. I felt extra special for finishing the challenge set out for me. The race was always a “24 hour” race for me. The additional 1.5 hours that they leave us to complete our last lap seemed like a formality. I had legitimately done 110 miles in exactly 24 hours. I raised my hands and crossed the finish line. Mission accomplished. I did a few interviews at the finish line, then I went and saw my wife, Lindsay Webster, to ask about her race. I hugged all my pit crew members, who were complete ROCK STARS. (You guys were amazing.) My pregnant sister was even able to stay up for most of the race to help me out. 

Thank you to my pit team. And big thanks to Tough Mudder, for having the insight and confidence to pull off this event for the 7th year. Thanks to HumanN for supporting me and making the best nutritional products available. And thanks to GoatTough, the whole team for being my behind me, every step of the way.

But most of all, thanks to all the Mudders out there who shared the course with me. I believe that everyone within the community shares a bond, a sick sort of yearning to challenging your fear, shake hands with the impossible, and to step so far outside of comfort that you might not come back the same person.

There’s not much better than facing challenging obstacles, knee-high mud, volts of electricity, nerve-wracking heights and everything else Tough Mudders throw at you with your friends by your side—or is there? What if you could throw down at a Tough Mudder, then check out a farm-to-table restaurant in the Hudson Valley or hop on a paddle board at Tahoe? What if recovery looked like an acai bowl in Miami Beach or a slow hike overlooking Arizona’s Grand Canyon? What if the after party was (almost) as fun as the main event (Tough Mudder, that is)? Spoiler alert: there’s something even better than a Tough Mudder, and that’s running a Tough Mudder in one of these epic locations. Your top 5 Tough Mudder designations await.

1. Hudson Valley, New York

Hudson Valley is only 90 minutes outside of the bustle and noise of New York City, but it feels like a world away. A National Geographic Traveler “top 20 must-see destinations in the world,” the Hudson Valley is an oasis of gorgeous vistas, plentiful hiking trails, difficult climbs, organic farm stands, and cozy bed-and-breakfasts. Extending 150 miles between Manhattan and Albany, the Hudson Valley is a 10-county region that offers almost more outdoor activities than there are dining options, which says a lot, since the valley is home to local cuisine. Get on the Appalachian Trail, founded in 1923, for a taste of the 2,200 mile-long route, or try a wetter kind of adventure by kayaking the Hudson with Mountain Tops Kayaking. Want to practice your grip-strength? Head to the Mohonk Preserve to try sport climbing—the preserve gets 80,000 climbing visitors each year. Post-workout, refuel at Miss Lucy’s Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant featuring dishes like Northwind Farm Turkey Confit Pot Pie, or get ready for your Tough Mudder with a pre-event meal like Coconut Carrot French Toast at The Love Bites Cafe. Looking to crash at a place that feels like home? Barclay Heights Bed & Breakfast at Smythe House is your home-away-from-home a la Victorian Cottage. Enjoy a chef-prepared breakfast, a comfortable room, and a jacuzzi to relax after giving it your all out on course. Convinced? Sign up HERE. 

2. Miami

Miami is one of Florida’s, let alone the world’s, top vacation spots, which makes it the perfect destination for a Tough Mudder, followed up by a true beach vacation. Start your trip with a bang (preferably after you’ve toughed it out on course) by visiting Key West, an island known for margaritas, white sand beaches, and seven-toed cats, thanks to famed author Ernest Hemingway’s home—a great museum visit in its own right. Back on the mainland, explore the Biscayne Maritime Heritage Trail to learn more about the park’s six shipwrecks (and yes, you can snorkel around the base of Fowey Rocks Lighthouse.) Is the beach more your style? Amble down to Haulover Beach Park, this year’s New Times “Best of Miami Beach” winner. Looking to come home with a tan (we know you’re pale under all of that compression gear)? If you park between lifeguard towers 12 and 16, you’re beached at the top-clothing optional spot in the United States. It’s your call what you do with that information. After you’ve worked up an appetite, head to Doa for a mouth-watering taste of just how good ceviche (that’s marinated raw fish) can be. For a cheap and authentic meal, head to El Palacio de los Jugos, an outdoor food market featuring everything from arepas to tamales to yucas fritas. Pair it with juiced guava or pineapple or a coco frio and you’re good to go. Convinced? Sign up HERE. 

3. Tahoe

Tahoe happens to be the largest alpine lake in the United States. Add to that the fact that it has stunning hiking, powder-perfect ski slopes, and even decent night life and Tahoe is pretty much as good as it gets. Throw in a Tough Mudder and you’re really living the dream. Post-Mudder, head to Emerald Bay State Park, one of the prettiest views in Tahoe, and perhaps all of California. Take a dip in the water (you know ice baths are good for your muscles!) or head to Vikingsholm Trail, a one-mile hike that leads to a 38-room Scandinavian mansion. Looking for a longer way to shake out the legs? Check out Five Lakes, a local favorite for its views of five pristine alpine lakes—all to be seen within a day.  If you’d rather get out onto the water (not to mention work on that upper body strength), try out SUP Tahoe to paddle board your way around the lake (or part of it, at least.) After a day outside, fuel up at Tahoe’s south shore. Located in Heavenly Village, Base Camp Pizza Co. is the perfect pick for a heartier meal; for veggie enthusiasts, try Driftwood Cafe for a healthy selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, omelettes and waffles. To cap off the night, head to Cold Water Brewery & Grill for a locally made cold one. Convinced? Sign up HERE. 

4. Arizona

When you think of Arizona, what do you imagine? If your answers are cactus and scorching sun, you’re right, but the Grand Canyon State is incredibly diverse. Crush your Tough Mudder in Phoenix, then head north to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Feeling up for a tough hike? Bring plenty of water and nutrition, then hike out on the South Kaibab Trail for views of the Colorado River, almost a mile below. Looking for other options that aren’t so, well, large? You can’t beat Sedona for its red slick rock and countless hiking trails. One great option is the West Fork Oak Creek Canyon Trail. Surrounded by shading pines and following a pleasant creek, this 6-mile round-trip hike is the perfect reprieve. Not looking to stray far from the Mudder course? South Mountain is a nearby park and preserve that Phoenix locals head to when they’re looking to get their workout on. Tired and hungry? You’re never far from good food, not matter where in the state you are. In Flagstaff, head to Diablo Burger for grass-fed burgers unlike any you’ve tired before; in Phoenix, check out Pizzeria Bianco, proclaimed “bucket list pizza.” No matter your taste, you really can’t go wrong with this destination. Convinced? Sign up HERE. 

5. Kentucky

Kentucky is home to more than just horses, farms, and beautiful rolling hills—in fact, you’re missing out if you solely spend your time at the famous Kentucky Derby. Post-Mudder, don your hiking boots and check out Mammoth Cave National Park, which is part of the world’s longest known cave system. Take a cave tour, then head out on any of the 84 miles of trail in the park. Not into caves? The Red River Gorge offers sandstone arches, cliffs, and a myriad of outdoor activities, like kayaking, biking, hiking, and camping. Looking to relax a little more? Take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to learn everything you never knew (and some) about bourbon, or sip wine as you tour Kentucky’s vineyards—home to the first commercial vineyard in the country. For an upscale meal that is every bit delicious as it is historic, visit Dudley’s on Short. Located in a circa-1889 Northern Bank Building, the restaurant offers dishes like Buttermilk Fried Chicken Skin, Brown Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Bisque, and Wilted Brussel Sprouts Salad. In the mood for something a little more casual (and a lot more social, given the number of new friends you’ve made during your latest Tough Mudder)? Try Smoketown U.S.A., which, as the name implies, is the best place to go for all of your smoked meat needs. What better way to celebrate another Mudder in the bank than with soul food cooking? Convinced? Sign up HERE. 

On November 11, 2017, 1,655 Tough Mudders gathered for the 7th annual World’s Toughest Mudder outside of Las Vegas, NV. World’s Toughest Mudder is the most iconic endurance event in the world, the toughest 24-hour obstacle race on the planet, The Super Bowl of Endurance Sports. And this year’s race proved no less gritty, gutsy, or challenging. With 21 obstacles and plenty of elevation gain on every 5-mile loop, the Last Dance in the Desert was a memorable one. From Ryan Atkins hitting a WTM distance record, to newcomer Rea Kolbl unexpectedly taking the female win, to a wedding and an engagement, oh, and not to mention Roxie the Dog tackling the mud, WTM 2017 was one for the books.

Race Results

Adaptive Athletes

For the first time ever, two adaptive athletes, Tyson Perry, better known as Superman, and Jesi Stracham, took on WTM. Superman, a 33-year-old paraplegic from Woodland, California, is a Legionnaire with now has 9 Tough Mudders and 1 World’s Toughest Mudder to his name. Along with his team and Coach, Superman completed all 25 of his goal miles. Meanwhile Jesi, who is new to obstacle racing as of this year, tackled WTM with ERock and Kill Cliff athletes, Sam and Jenn Dancer.

Women

The women’s side was fast and exciting, with several elites competing for first place. Dark horse Rea Kolbl, originally from Slovenia, went out quickly, nabbing the sprint lap win. Amazingly, she went on to take the female first place win for $10,000  and 4th overall with an astounding 90 miles in 23 hours, 47 minutes. It’s worth noting that no female has taken both the sprint lap and the win at a World’s Toughest Mudder before.

Canadian Allison Tai, who dominated several of the Toughest Mudder races this past year and logged the most miles throughout the race season, placed second female, seventh overall, with 85 miles. Tai ran her last loop averaging a 11:57 minute mile, suggesting she was eager to close the gap on Kolbl. Third-place went to Australian favorite and former World’s Toughest Mudder Champion, Deanna Blegg with 80 miles. Blegg made an outstanding comeback following her battle with breast cancer in recent years. Fourth-place Ulrikke Evensen, just 22 years old, completed 80 miles, just 8 minutes back of Blegg. Fifth-place went to Michelle Ford, 35 minutes behind Evensen.

Several expected podium placers had rougher than expected times on course. 6th place Lindsay Webster suffered foot issues throughout, slowing her race down considerably as she was forced to walk from obstacle to obstacle, while 2016 WTM Champion Stefanie Bishop completed 40 miles and dropped early in the night due to injury. Morgan McKay was also forced to end her race early following an injury.

Men

Michael Schjutt went out fast and lead the men for the first few hours of the race with Robert Killian and Ryan Atkins staying close behind. By mile 40, roughly 7 hours into the race, Ryan Atkins was back in the lead and gunning for the 110 mile–which meant a $50,000 bonus on top of the $10,000 first place. Staying consistent throughout, Atkins finished all 110 miles in 23 hours, 57 minutes, a full loop ahead of second-place Robert Killian and two loops ahead of WTM’s 2016 Champion,Trevor Cichosz. But Killian’s mental grit is nothing if not spectacular: after finishing 100 miles with a firm lock on second place, her still decided to go for 105 for no other reason than to himself mentally and physically to new limits just to see if he could. And he did, finishing that final lap before the finish line closed at 1:30PM.

Padding the podium with the top 3 men is fourth-place man went to TMHQ staffer, Christopher Maltbie with 90 miles and Michael Schjutt, who was in the top position at the beginning of the race, dropped back to fifth-place, but managed to completed 90 miles.

Teams

The team category stayed fairly tight for much of the race, with Team Fitone Gettingtough taking home the Team title with 85 miles in 24 hours, 57 minutes. Second-place Team Merrell finished 80 miles in 23 hours, 35 minutes, with third-place going to Team The Book of Job completing 70 miles.

National Team Relay

WTM added a new category to the already competitive solo and team categories with the National Team Relay. In this format, teams of four (or more) are required to run their first and last laps together; at all other times, at least 50% of the team must be active on course.

The United States took the win, with United States 7 (names?) and United States 8 (names?) placing first and second respectively with 120 miles. Third-place went to Germany 1 (Heiko Falchenbach, Rene Meyer, Hans Hoeverman, and Malte Hippe), who finished with 110 miles to their team name.

For full results, click here.

Relive The Magic

In addition to the strong race, World’s Toughest was broadcast live to an unprecedented number of viewers through its 14 hours of live coverage. To relive the magic of WTM 2017, re-watch the 3-unique shows put on on Facebook Live Below. Or tune-in to CBS for coverage of World’s Toughest Mudder airing on December 23, 2017 at 12:00 pm ET to watch all the action in a 1 hour special.

1. World’s Toughest Mudder Day 1 Kick Off (6 hours)

2. World’s Toughest Mudder Midnight Special (1 hour)

3. World’s Toughest Mudder Day 2 Finish (7 hours)

The 2017 launch of the Tougher Mudder Championship Series is all about bringing the competitive spirit to the middle-distance athletes who are just really good (like, freaky good) at the classic 10-mile mud stickin’, ground poundin’, wall scalin’ Tougher Mudder. With obstacle variations, penalty loops, money on the line, and the chance to qualify for the Tougher Mudder World Championships taking place November 4th in SoCal, the Tougher Mudder Championships are basically the Olympics for the mid-distance mud-runnin’ specialist. For even more info about the prize purse and how to hit up or compete in one of these events, click HERE.

And for Tough Mudder superfans, thanks to Facebook Watch you can get in on the action from your couch for a little Championship Series & Chill. Follow the show page HERE or return to this post after each of the following dates to tune in right here.

Grab the 6-pack. You’ll need it after watching The Most Tougher Mudders fight rocks and mud in the Series World Championship.

RELIVE THE MAGIC 

October 7th: Tougher Mudder East Championship 

Nothing says grit quite like the New Jersey, so tune in as we come at you live Tri-State weekend.

October 21st: Tougher Mudder South Championship 

Hard to appreciate the fantastic Carolina foliage from the course, but the couch is another story.

October 28th: Tougher Mudder West Championship  

The beasting Las Vegas track will have you wondering if the athletes can see the strip from the mud. Hint: they can’t.

November 4th: Tougher Mudder World Championship 

The Team Competition has always been a unique offering at World’s Toughest Mudder – challenging groups of athletes to spend 24+ hours staggering through course together, helping each other out of physical and emotional pits.

But this year, in addition to the tried-and-true solo and team categories at WTM, we’re creating a new layer of competition…

Enter the National Team Relay Category. This format promises to pit teams of 4 (or more) from nations across the world against each other in a fast-paced, strategic 24-hour test of toughness.  Relay teams will be required to run their first and last laps together as a team, and at all other times at least 50% of the team must be active. But the strategy the nation uses is up to them.

Up for grabs with the National Team Relay competition is pride, a sweet trophy, and ultimate international bragging rights. With these 9 National Teams all competing for glory, will it be Team Canada #1, Team Canada #2, Team Denmark, Team Germany #1, Team Germany #2, Team Ireland, Team U.K., Team USA #1, or Team USA #2 to log the most miles? Study up on the team’s strengths, stats, and experience below and wager your bets, Mudder Nation.

Welcome to Tough Mudder Las Vegas 2017, aka Tough Mudder Sin City, aka Tough Mudder Slots, Swimming Pools, And The Strip, aka Tough Mudder This Isn’t Even The Toughest Event We Hosted Here (World’s Toughest Mudder is).

But don’t take that to mean Lake Las Vegas’ going to be anything but tough. The mud might be a bit on the dusty side, but the course is long and the rocks are rough. All those obstacles, all that tough – whether you’re preparing for Tough Mudder or Tough Mudder Half, you’re bound to find one hell of a weekend out on the course.

To help you prep for your jaunt to the City of Lights, we’ve put together a helpful guide on some of the best places to eat, stay, and adventure, good for whether you’re looking for something to keep you loose before race day, or basking in the afterglow of another event well run.

The all-you-can-eat buffet at the Golden Nugget. That’s it. Just kidding (mostly, we won’t judge).

Let’s face it – in a town like Las Vegas, one of your best bets for a healthy food option is definitely going to be sushi. Fortunately, there’s any number of sushi joints all over. Off the strip, Yama Sushi is a local favorite that does all-you-can eat rolls (see? The Golden Nugget isn’t all wrong). At the Palazzo, you’ll find SUSHISAMBA, an innovative restaurant offering sushi, as well as Brazilian and Peruvian options. And Sushi Roku, located in Caesars, offers gluten-free sushi options.

And for a vegan eating option, try Wynn Las Vegas. Every one of their restaurants offers vegan and vegetarian options for the meatless Mudders among us.

This first one works as both Stay and Adventure, so don’t be afraid to double down on this recommendation. The Westin Las Vegas Hotel and Casino actually runs (literally) a program called RunWESTIN, which is, in essence, a handy map for how to get a good run in when you’re trapped inside all the glitz and glamor on the strip. Plus, they’ve got beds and pools and stuff too.

And the Westin Lake Las Vegas Hotel offers all the same amenities, plus a heaping helping of watersports. Weren’t expecting to do some stand-up paddle boarding while lounging around the City of Sin? We were surprised too.

Hilton Lake Las Vegas, like Westin above, will keep you close to course, and offers some of its own built-in adventures. There’s a golf course, hiking trails, and even access to fishing and bike rental.

Beyond that, well – it’s the normal Las Vegas fare. All the hotels along the strip will cost you a pretty penny, while dropping back a street or two will keep your coffers a little more well-stocked. For additional event lodging closer to Tough Mudder Las Vegas, check out these options.

It’s Las Vegas. If you can’t find an adventure or three, you’re just not doing it right. But for those Mudders looking to keep their pulse pumping away from course, here’s a quick handful of things to keep the mud-seeker inside satiated.

While Las Vegas is known for its sinning and insane city life, the city itself is a fairly confined place, and the surrounding desert offers plenty of high- and low-speed adventuring. Arizona Hot Spring is a nice respite from the glitz, and brings the added bonus of some warm water (mind the smell). And Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest and largest in Nevada. Really, outside of the city itself, there’s an absolutely insane amount of natural beauty to be taken advantage of, especially in the greater Lake Mead and Lake Las Vegas area.

Now, for an adventure unique to Vegas itself, why not take a ride with Wild West Horseback Adventure? Breakfast ride, lunch ride, sunset dinner ride – they’ve got trails and treats for every experience level and preference.

Located just below the Hoover Dam, Black Canyon has a plethora of views and experiences for the mudless Mudder. Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures offer raft tours, whether for a small handful of adventure seekers or the whole team, and if you’d rather tool around on your own, you can always get wet with a kayak.

If you’re looking for something a little more on the romantic end of things, Gondola Adventures will provide you a dusk and dinner experience on Lake Las Vegas.

And if you’re committed to seeing as much of Las Vegas and Nevada as possible, and if you’re the kind of Mudder unafraid of really getting up there, Adventure Helicopter Tours Las Vegas will take you here, there, and anywhere you want to go. Just don’t forget your earmuffs.

For gear that covers every need–from the sky, to the water, and even underground, check out Merrell’s new 2017 line.

Watch if you dare…

 

That’s all we’re revealing of the 2018 obstactles for now… 

But stay tuned for a live sneak peak of potential 2018 obstacles from the World’s Toughest Mudder course 11/11 + 11/12 on the Tough Mudder Live show page.