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Time to get dirty as Tough Mudder hits Shanghai
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ENDURANCE contest organizers Tough Mudder is coming to Shanghai next month, giving local athletes the chance to take part in a down-and-dirty physical challenge like none other in Pudong New Area.
Founded by Harvard Business School post graduate Will Dean in 2010, Tough Mudder events have attracted millions of followers in countries around the world. Participants usually cooperate in groups to conquer military-style obstacles that include pools of mud, icy waters and dizzying heights.
Organizers are planning to expand the Tough Mudder brand in Asia this year, and picked Shanghai to host their debut event in China. The Shanghai challenge will be held on October 22 and 23 at Sunland Sports Park in the Waigaoqiao area. A total of 4,800 race slots have been set aside for the 16-kilometer Tough Mudder and 8km Tough Mudder Half events.
“This is the biggest city we have ever had an event. I’m really excited about what is going to happen,” said Dean, Founder and CEO of Tough Mudder. “Tough Mudder is not a race. It’s not about individuals and there are no winners here. It emphasizes team work as people help each other.”
The Shanghai course will feature 20 obstacles, including Tough Mudder favorites like Block Ness Monster and the Birth Canal. Dean said it will take about a month to finish work on the course, including transporting soil to the venue.
“The obstacles will be the same that we used in Tough Mudder’s other events, but I expect the atmosphere to be a lot different here,” said Dean, who believes Chinese participants will enjoy the challenge as much as their peers elsewhere. “It’s like children around the world all love ice cream… And a team event will play very well in the Chinese market.”
According to event operator Eric Zhao, local engineers have been invited to test and approve the obstacle structures. “We invested a lot in this regard, as we want to assure success in Tough Mudder’s China debut.”
According to Tough Mudder rules, participants are not obligated to conquer all obstacles. The average time needed to complete the full route is four hours. “Remember, we don’t force people or try to embarrass them,” said Dean. “If you’re not comfortable with an obstacle, or fail to conquer it, just walk past it and carry on. We want people to try their best.”
According to Dean, 240 staff and volunteers will be on hand during the event, including doctors and divers, to assure safety. “There are many similar events organized around the world, but what makes Tough Mudder special is the design of our obstacles as well as our guarantee of safety.”
The first Tough Mudder event was held at a ski resort in Pennsylvania. Dean’s team has designed over 50 obstacles and continue to explore new ideas to challenge participants. Organizers also plan to visit Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Entry fees for Shanghai Tough Mudder range from 418 yuan to 818 yuan (US$62-122). Applicants can log on to the event’s official site www.toughmudder.cn for more information.
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