Tough Mudder- Let’s Chat With Shan Egan

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Tough Mudder
Pennsylvania
April 28/29
May 12/13
Pocono Manor
Let’s Chat With Shan Egan
Mud Junkies 2011

I had the pleasure of interviewing Shan Egan about last year’s Tough Mudder event that he took part in. I could not wait to find out what it was really like out there! So let’s get right to it-below is my interview with Shan. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Good Luck to you and the team on Saturday, Shan! 

Diane: Tough Mudder is new to me. I have never heard about it until a few months ago. Can you tell me a little bit about it?
Shan: Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $2 million dollars raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world.

Diane: I love how Tough Mudder supports The Wounded Veterans. Is that part of the reason you enter the event? Do you have a personal reason for entering?
Shan: Supporting the Wounded Warriors is most definitely a motivator for us, we want to show our support somehow and Tough Mudder is a great vehicle for accomplishing that. We all have personal reasons as well; 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 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.

Diane: As I understand, you were part of Tough Mudder last year. How extreme was it?
What was the toughest part?
Shan: Extreme. Tough Mudder mixes up so many elements, exhausting you from head to toe. For some, the toughest part was physical, for others, the mental aspect.  You have to overcome fears and uncertainties about yourself that you may have never realized had you not been challenged.  Whether you have a fear of water, cold, heights, confined places or need a boost over a wall, you get over them with the help of your team. Camaraderie is the key, we start together and we finish together. 

Diane: Are you competing with your own team? Who are they made up of?
Is it the same team as last year?
Shan: Our Team name is the “Mud Run Junkies” (the MRJ’s) and are currently comprised of 19 members who are registered for Tough Mudder.  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, and all but 1 have children.  Some members are the same as last year and some are new members.  Shan Egan, Michele Dougherty, Kate Stopa Solomon, Paul Solomon, Dennis Gunzelmann, Ashley Bevington, Dan Feola, Missy Salamone, Matt Snyder,  Dawn Haftl, Jason Haftl, Ian Stoddart, Liz Higgins, Nick Higgins, Stephanie Carter, Sean McCarraher, Matt Sitting, Christine Noble,  Matt Dutton

Diane: HOW does someone prepare physically and mentally for Tough Mudder?
Shan:We meet weekly 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 normal strength training.  Mentally, we psych each other up with positive talk and discuss how much fun we are going to have!

Diane: I am in awe of anyone that even enters Tough Mudder! Congrats on being a part of it last year. What is it like when you finish the course?
Shan: THANK YOU!  It’s the most euphoric sense of accomplishment we’ve ever experienced!

I’d love to thank Shan for taking time out of his busy life and preparation for Tough Mudder to conduct this interview. I wish him and the team the VERY best! What an inspiration to us all! 
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. 
Disclosure: Special thanks to Tough Mudder and Shan Egan. All opinions are that of 3decades3kids/DianeSullivan. Email: ELGeorgia@aol.com Twitter: @3decades3kids 


Tough Mudder Pennsylvania April 28/29 May 12/13

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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

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


Giveaway: Human Nature at Beacon Theatre- Win A VIP 4 Pack of Tix

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HUMAN NATURE ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL U.S. TOUR
Multi-platinum Australian Pop Group Releases New Album
Ticket Giveaway 
May 6, 2012
Beacon Theater NYC


HUMAN NATURE, Australia’s #1 pop vocal group with millions of albums sold worldwide, is storming America with their first-ever U.S. National tour, a new album release, The Motown Record, a spectacular PBS TV Special and a new DVD.
The chart-topping quartet is embarking on a U.S. tour this spring backed by their seven-piece band, The Funk Foundation. “Human Nature: The Motown Showpresented by Smokey Robinson” kicks off March 24 in Detroit and will travel to 33 U.S. cities. This outstanding evening of hit-driven entertainment features Motown’s greatest music, inspiring audiences young and old to be “dancing in the street” and the aisle. Tickets for all tour appearances are on sale now. For complete tour schedule and ticket information, visit www.humannaturelive.com.

                                                       GIVEAWAY:
One lucky 3decades3kids reader will have a chance to win a 4 Pack of tickets to Human Nature The Motown Show at the Beacon Theatre  NYC on May 6th, 2012. 
To Enter please click on the link below and enter.
 Contest ends on April 29, 2012 at 11:59pm  and the winner will contacted by the sponsor.

Disclosure: Giveaway tickets are provided by Human Nature. All opinions are that of 3decades3kids.
DianeSullivan/ Email: ELGeorgia@aol.com




Hunger Hits Home April 14th 8pm FoodNetwork

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Hunger Hits Home
April 14th 
8pm/7c
FoodNetwork


With more than 16 million kids in houses that are struggling to put food on the table, it is time for America to Stand Up for Americans!
Children that seems to have it all together in school and on the field go home with an empty stomach at the end of the night. It seems that we worry about starving children in other parts of the world, but never look in our own backyard and think of the hungry American children. Some people will turn around and say it is their parents fault and their parents obligation to feed them. But as we point the finger at everyone, who is stepping up to feed the hungry children. 
It’s funny that this fell into my lap. I had just posted about miles of lines of people waiting to buy lottery tickets while they most likely walked passed a homeless person or someone in need on their way to the lottery machine. 
The funny thing about hungry children, they are hard to identify. They look like other children and they will never say a word because of the respect to their parents and their own pride. I have seen and helped many struggling families in the past and now it is a great time for you to get involved by watching HUNGER HITS HOME on April 14th  at 8pm/7c. on Food Network. If you are not familiar with this problem in America, you will be SHOCKED when you see it! It’s worth a look. I will be watching, too! I have seen this WAY too many times…sadly.

I will be tweeting along that night as @3decades3kids and @MacKidNewarkNJ
Follow along on Twitter: @FoodNetwork and @NoKidHungry
Hashtag: #HungerHitsHome
Check it out on Facebook:
Facebook.com/foodnetwork 
Facebook.com/shareourstrength

 In an effort to support and fight against childhood hunger, Food Network in a partnership with Share Our Strength will air a special 1-hour documentary titled HUNGER HITS HOME on April 14th at 8pm/7c.  The documentary offers a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America through the eyes of the parents, children, activists, educators and politicians on the frontlines of the battle.  The program takes us to the heart of the matter with a focus on families from New York to Texas who struggle with hunger and the community leaders who are taking direct action to fight it. Remember EVERY DOLLAR counts! 

Giveaway: To The Arctic 3D Screening NYC

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To The Arctic 3D
Giveaway:
Screening NYC
April 16th 6pm.

 The other night I had the pleasure of attending the NYC screening of To The Arctic 3D IMAX. I could not think of a better way to spend my night. I am always interested in learning more about animals. It’s very fascinating to me, especially when it takes place in an area of the world that I most likely will never venture out to see in person. To The Arctic took place in Antarctica and Norway and took us on a 3D adventure of a life time. My heartstrings were tugged watching the polar bear mom and cubs as they narrowly escaped death. What I loved most about the film was the knowledge I gained about the animals living in the rapidly increasing dangers of global warming. 

When the film ended I had the distinct pleasure of meeting both Director Greg MacGillivray (“The Living Sea,” “Dolphins”)
and producer Shawn MacGillivray in a lively talk back session. It was an honor to meet both gentlemen.
The gave a first hand account on just how difficult it was to make To The Arctic 3D and the conditions that were faced during filming. They also happily answered my son’s question asking how they were able to get Paul McCartney to compose and sing the songs for this movie. Director Greg MacGillivray explained how close to home the love of nature and animals was to Paul McCartney and how he was very willing to accept something that meant so much to him. 

SYNOPSIS: An extraordinary journey to the top of the world, To The Arctic 3D is the ultimate tale of survival. The film takes audiences on a never-before-experienced journey into the lives of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month- old cubs as they navigate thechanging Arctic wilderness they call home. Captivating, adventurous, and intimate footage brings moviegoers up close and personal with this family’s struggle to survive in a frigid environment of melting ice, immense glaciers, spectacular waterfalls, and majestic snow-bound peaks. 



GIVEAWAY
To The Arctic 3D  has graciously provided me with 10 Family 4 packs of tickets to the NYC screening of  To The Arctic 3D on April 16th at 6pm. I may have to attend this movie again. I enjoyed it so much! If you would like to take your family to this movie, please email me at ELGeorgia@aol.com with ToTheArctic in the subject line and I will send you a screening pass code.

Disclosure: Screening Passes provided by To The Arctic 3D/ All opinions are that of 3decades3kids/DianeSullivan.