Tough Mudder
Pennsylvania April 28, 29
May 12,13, 2012
How Tough Are You?
3decades3kids Takes An Inside Look Into
Team: Mud Run Junkies
This weekend I have the pleasure of attending one of the toughest events in the country, maybe in the world called Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder is an event that takes places on a about a 12 mile course filled with extremely tough obstacles. The course consists trudging through mud, fire, ice water and 10,000 volts of electricity. There are also 12 foot walls and underground tunnels. Tough Mudders never go it alone, they work as a team. To date Tough Mudder has raised more than 2 million dollars to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project. I will be at the Tough Mudder Pennsylvania this weekend. You can check it how to sign up in PA or anywhere Tough Mudder takes place in the world by clicking here.
I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of meeting Michele Dougherty and Shan Egan online. They are part of the team, Mud Run Junkies and will take part in this year’s event on April 28th in PA. This is what they had to say about their team and Tough Mudder. Some of the members of the team also competed in last year’s Tough Mudder and are coming back for more. Now that is TOUGH!! Congrats Team! You are inspiring and I, along with others, wish you the very best this weekend! Go get em and be Tough!
For the Love of Mud
A Few Words from the Team
Mud Run Junkies
Pictured above: left to right: Matt Snyder, Jason Haftl, Shan Egan, Paul Solomon, Dan Feola, Ian Stoddart, Steph Carter, Christine Noble, Kate Solomon, Missy Salamone, Michele Dougherty
A Few Words from the Team
Mud Run Junkies
Pictured above: left to right: Matt Snyder, Jason Haftl, Shan Egan, Paul Solomon, Dan Feola, Ian Stoddart, Steph Carter, Christine Noble, Kate Solomon, Missy Salamone, Michele Dougherty
Sounds crazy, but that’s what it is; and that’s what it is for us, The Mud Run Junkies (a/k/a MRJ’s). The MRJ’s are a diverse group of men & women mostly in their late 30’s and early 40’s from Montgomery, Chester & Delaware counties who have realized the benefits of health and exercise and have chosen to challenge our minds and bodies in not just any mud run, but THE TOUGH MUDDER.
It’s about turning back the clock, camaraderie, fighting through the “pains of age”, setting examples to our children and ultimately staying relevant in a society that has more excuses than ever.
We think we are speaking not just for the MRJ’s but for everyone who is wired that way to put their body through this. Maybe it’s a realization, as you look around; I don’t want to become that person who is no longer relevant; relevant to anything that you want to be or do in your life.
We want to be that tangible inspiration to our children, family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and to the masses. We want to be the motivating factor that actually makes the change, not just sit around and talk about it.
The MRJ team was started by Kate Stopa, a flight attendant for USAIR, and Michele Dougherty, a Title Insurance Agent. They were given their name by Shan Egan, a personal trainer & lead singer in a funk band. It is the ability to connect with those around them that generated such a huge interest in being a part of this fun, highly motivated, energetic, goal oriented team. We realize that we need goals, something to train for, so much so that we are already registered for the October Tri-State Tough Mudder, it’s the “what the “blank” are we gonna do now” attitude.
Camaraderie is the key, we start together and we finish together. This group meets regularly to do our “terraining”. We start our runs on groomed trails and transition onto “Mudder-esque” type terrain with mud, rocks, & roots, regardless of weather. In addition, we all train regularly; including high intense cardio/plyometrics classes run by Shan Egan, as well as regular strength training.
Of the 17 current members, only 1 does not have any children, our youngest member. There are 8 women and 9 men. We would like our children to embrace the lifestyle that we have chosen and the most effective way to do that is to lead by example. This is truly a “do as I say, and do what I do” attitude. We would all agree that we would like to have our children someday run Tough Mudder with us so they can strive for that sense of accomplishment, stay strong, and continue to be relevant so they can raise their hands, and say, “I’m a shirt wearin, flag bearin Mud Run Junkie.
Pre-Mudder dinner pic: Michele Dougherty, Ashley Bevington, Dan Feola, Nick Higgins, Jason Haftl, Ian Stoddart, Shan Egan, Liz Higgins, Matt Snyder, Kate Solomon
Disclosure: Special thanks to Tough Mudder, Shan Egan, Michele Dougherty and team Mud Run Junkies. All opinions are that of 3decades3kids/DianeSullivan.
Email ELGeorgia@aol.com
Twitter: @3decades3kids
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