Tough Mudder: The Future of the Grueling Obstacle Event

David Tyree, retired wide receiver known for his time with the New York Giants, is doing Tough Mudder "as a fundraiser with www.TeamBelieveOnline.com for paralyzed Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand."

Rudy Reyes, host of the reality television show The Next Dragon (currently in development), is doing Tough Mudder because "the Tough Mudder is a great event that challenges the warrior in all of us!"

And Nate Gracewski, a 28-year-old member of the Coast Guard, is doing Tough Mudder because, "Me and my Coast Guard shipmates are going to be getting back from a deployment to Kuwait. We can handle the heat in Kuwait, I want to see if we can handle the Tough Mudder as a team. See if the Coast Guard can prove their toughness."

It would seem that Tough Mudder—a grueling one-day, 10-12 mile race littered with 20 or so difficult obstacles for participants to overcome—is a challenge that people desire to undertake for a whole slew of reasons. (The orange headband and one free beer that finishers are provided probably isn't that reason, but it's a nice touch.)

Most, however, desire to physically challenge themselves on the grueling course while participating in the camaraderie found in helping others overcome each obstacle. That is the difference between Tough Mudder and other endurance events such as marathons or the Ironman triathlons—Tough Mudder is about finishing, not competing.

And that distinction is at the basis of the event's current—and likely future—success.

Since its inception in April of 2010, Tough Mudder has increased in participation from 4,500 people at the first Tough Mudder at the Bear Creek Mountain Lodge in Pennsylvania, to over 12,000 participants over two days at Tough Mudder New England earlier this May.

And Tough Mudder's continued growth in popularity has benefited more than just the organizers of the event—the event has also helped to raise over $1 million for the Wounded Warrior Project.

While there are other events of this nature—Warrior Dash is certainly one that comes to mind—Tough Mudder prides itself on being a longer and more difficult course than the one Warrior Dash offers.

As one participant noted after completing Tough Mudder Pennsylvania this April, "You can run the Warrior Dash hungover. You can't run this hungover."

And that is the appeal of Tough Mudder—it is a rigorous, full-body romp through challenging obstacles and a whole lot of mud.

For example, there was York Police Sargent Brian Curtin, who participated in Tough Mudder New England in Vermont on May 7. Curtin told Joanne Terrasi of SeacoastOnline.com the following after completing the event:

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"I find stepping out of a comfort zone to mentally challenge yourself the most demanding," Curtin said. "It's a huge feeling of accomplishment to look at what you went through."

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As long as there are people who desire to physically challenge themselves in a unique manner, Tough Mudder should have no problem providing a course for people to do just that.

And a free beer on top of that.