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Toughest Mudder West is this weekend. This is the first Toughest Mudder of the eight-race series for 2018.
Deanna Brasz and I talk about the course, the obstacles, and what people can expect from this cold, difficult race.
Deanna was one of the stars of Tougher Mudder in 2017. She ran 10 Tougher Mudders, with seven podiums, and four first place finishes. Three times last year she ran Tougher on Saturday morning and then ran the eight-hour Toughest Mudder on Saturday night.
Before we talk with Deanna, we talk about the elite competition at Toughest Mudder West. On the men’s side Ryan Atkins is the heavy favorite. He will face competition from Kris Mendoza, Glenn Racz, and Tyler Nash, as well a few possible surprises.
On the women’s side, four reigning champions will face off. World’s Toughest Mudder champion Rea Kolbl will face off against Toughest Mudder series champion Allison Tai, Spartan World Champion Lindsay Webster, and Spartan Ultrabeast World Champion Morgan Mckay.
Jesi Stracham is the first person, man or woman, to complete the Tough Mudder Holy Grail in a wheelchair. To earn your Holy Grail you must complete a 10-mile Tougher Mudder, an eight-hour Toughest Mudder, and the 24-hour World’s Toughest Mudder in the same calendar year.
Jesi was a motorsports athlete when she was injured. She was a passenger on a motorcycle when a car made a U-turn into her. She ended up paralyzed from the chest down.
Jesi has a show on YouTube called Wheel With Me. She records herself going about her life in a wheelchair. Recently she has been training in the sport of Curling. She has aspirations of making the US Paralympic team for 2022.
For more information about Jesi's Wheel With Me foundation visit wheelwithmefoundation.org
Before we talk with Jesi we talk about the latest Tough Mudder news. The biggest news: Tough Mudder announced that all Tough Mudder courses this year will be run on a five-mile course. Tough Mudder Full participants will run two laps. Tough Mudder Half runners will complete one lap.
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Newsletter, text the word TOUGH to 228-28, or email WorldsToughestPodcast@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and your 1)Name, 2)Email Address and 3)Cell Phone in the body of the email.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page at facebook.com/worldstoughestpod or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Tough Mudder announced 26 cities will host a Tough Mudder 5k in 2018. We talked with Jay Ruggiero about the first ever Tough Mudder 5k in this bonus ep from last year.
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Jay Ruggerio is running this weekend in the first ever Tough Mudder 5k. We talk through the 3.1 miles and the 10 obstacles that many people will be facing for the first time ever.
Jay ran WTM for the first time in 2016 and completed 20 miles. He feels like he has unfinished business with the course and is looking to complete 50 miles in 2017. To help him and a small group of friends reach that goal of 50 miles he started a Facebook group called WTM 2017 50-Mile Team. The group now has over 200 members.
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Newsletter, text the word TOUGH to 228-28, or email WorldsToughestPodcast@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and your 1)Name, 2)Email Address and 3)Cell Phone in the body of the email.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page at facebook.com/worldstoughestpod or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Adriane Alvord joins the show to share her story.
Adriane finished in 9th Place at her first WTM in 2016. After qualifying as an Elite Contender at Toughest Mudder Philly she had high hopes for 2017. The race didn't end up working out the way she hoped, after a nasty fall from Stage 5 Clinger left her with a concussion and unable to run in a straight line.
Adriane has competed in the past two seasons of American Ninja Warrior and has high hopes to compete again this year. She also placed third at the BFX-24 race that was won by Adriane's "concussion buddy" Morgan Mckay.
Adriane also talks about her Dressage business. (It rhymes with Massage.) She says the best way to explain Dressage is "Ballet with horses".
Most people at World's Toughest Mudder write their names on their bibs, or a nickname. Adriane writes "Unbroken". Adriane escaped a violent abusive relationship and writes that on her bib to remind herself and to show others that she is still Unbroken.
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Newsletter, text the word TOUGH to 228-28, or email WorldsToughestPodcast@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and your 1)Name, 2)Email Address and 3)Cell Phone in the body of the email.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page at facebook.com/worldstoughestpod or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Kickoff Week 2018 Continues!
The morning after WTM 2017 Will Hicks took his microphone to the hotel lobby to see who he could find. He ended up talking with Zoe Szczepanek, Maria Herrera, Gaspar Vazquez, and Evan Perperis for this episode.
Zoe Szczepanek (Scha-pah-neck. You can do it) was the sideline reporter for the Facebook Live coverage of WTM 2017. She shares her thoughts on the event, the community, and her future plans in the sport.
2017 was Maria Herrera's first time at WTM. She suffered an injury but still cranked out 35 miles her first time out.
Gaspar Vazquez was also a rookie this year. He finished with 50 miles even though he started cramping up IN THE FIRST LAP.
Evan Perperis was part of a two-man team in the classic team category with Wesley Kerr. They won second place with 80 miles.
Before we even talk with our guests though, we have a pretty intense discussion of Australia. You can blame Anne Carolyn Clifford, or you can blame Will's poor pronunciation of Brisbane. (It SHOULD sound like "Bris-Bin")
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Newsletter, text the word TOUGH to 228-28, or email WorldsToughestPodcast@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and your 1)Name, 2)Email Address and 3)Cell Phone in the body of the email.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page at facebook.com/worldstoughestpod or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
This is the most obstacle-heavy episode we've ever had.
Over 90 minutes of Tough Mudder talk with Jim "Da Goat" Campbell.
Jim has been a guest on the show several times before, but we have never talked about his personal brush with death and what brought him to Tough Mudder.
After a motorcycle accident nearly killed him on a highway in Texas, Jim was written off by the paramedics on scene, by the cops that arrived later, and by the Doctors at the hospital. Jim says his personal philosophy of "Goat Tough" was born in that hospital bed.
Jim is one of the most well-known members of the Tough Mudder community and is one of the few people to have run in every World's Toughest Mudder since it began in 2011. Jim was the first man to complete 100 Tough Mudder events, leading the way for Joe Perry and Joe Anderson to join him this year.
You can find Jim on Instagram as GoatTough
00.45 Welcome Back!
03:50 What are your 2018 Tough Mudder goals?
05:30 The lucky breakfast that led to the creation of World’s Toughest Podcast
07:00 If you’ve never run WTM, here’s why you should do in 2018
12:20 Let’s read some iTunes reviews!
16:40 Let’s go to the phones! with Jim “Da Goat” Campbell
17:40 Jim’s motorcycle accident and brush with death
20:24 “That’s when my femur went through my hip and ripped my pelvis in half"
24:12 “You can give me enough morphine to die?”
27:20 The origins of “Goat Tough”
32:06 "Someone will say you can’t do something, and later you will thank them”
36:30 The emergency room wouldn’t help, so Jim goes to an auto parts store…
39:15 How Jim signed up for his first Tough Mudder
42:35 The new obstacles for 2018
49:30 Electroshock Therapy is no longer the finisher obstacle
52:10 Tough Mudder opens The Vault
1:26.40 Jim’s race schedule for 2018
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Newsletter, text the word TOUGH to 228-28, or email WorldsToughestPodcast@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and your 1)Name, 2)Email Address and 3)Cell Phone in the body of the email.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page at facebook.com/worldstoughestpod or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Welcome back!
This is the first episode of Season Two, but it is not a typical episode. MATURE content warning.
We sat down with Ryan Woods and Evan Perperis to talk about Ryan's recent failed drug test at OCR World Championships. Ryan has admitted to taking the banned substance DHEA but has said he took it accidentally, mistaking it for the approved substance DHA. Evan has said on his Strength and Speed podcast that he believes Ryan is lying about taking the substance accidentally. Evan has said he thinks Ryan took it intentionally and got caught.
Both Evan and Ryan wanted to talk this out in a neutral forum. Matt B. Davis of ORM recommended our podcast and Evan and Ryan agreed. We are happy to provide a level playing field.
The conversation got heated. This is NOT an episode where your kids can listen along with you.
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Regular programming will resume on Monday, January 22nd with Kickoff Week! We'll have a brand new episode every day of Kickoff Week culminating in our second ever listener call-in show on Friday.
For details on Kickoff Week, including how to be a part of the listener call in episode, be sure to subscribe to our free weekly World's Toughest Newsletter. Text the word TOUGH to 228-28. Normal text rates apply, but c'mon.
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What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
This is our last episode of 2017. Thanks for a great year. World’s Toughest Podcast will return in late January or early February 2018.
We announce the winners of the Toughest Award presented by World’s Toughest Podcast and then we talk with the 3rd and 4th place women of WTM 2017, Michelle Ford and Deanna Blegg.
Will wraps up the episode with some thoughts on 2017 and looks forward to 2018.
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Friday, December 15th is the LAST DAY TO VOTE for World's Toughest Podcast in the Best Of OCR Awards at MudRunGuide.com. VOTE NOW.
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast email List, text the word Tough to 228-28. Check your email for an email from Will every Monday.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Allison Tai returns to the show to talk about her 2nd Place finish at World's Toughest Mudder 2017.
Tai ran 85 miles in 24:40. Here's how that stacks up against some of the top female performances over the years.
2017: Rea Kolbl, 90 miles in 23:47
2012: Amelia Boone, 90 miles in 25:30
2017: ALLISON TAI, 85 MILES IN 24:40
2013: Deanna Blegg, 85 miles in 24:58
2016: Stefanie Bishop, 85 miles in 25:05
Allison's 2017 performance would have won WTM every year except 2017 and 2012.
We also talk about the World's Toughest Podcast email list. You can now subscribe to the email list by texting the word TOUGH to 228-28.
Voting is open for the "Best Of OCR" Awards at MudRunGuide.com. After you vote, shoot Will an email. He'll thank you personally.
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What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Allison Tai returns to the show to talk about her 2nd Place finish at World's Toughest Mudder 2017.
Tai ran 85 miles in 24:40. Here's how that stacks up against some of the top female performances over the years.
2017: Rea Kolbl, 90 miles in 23:47
2012: Amelia Boone, 90 miles in 25:30
2017: ALLISON TAI, 85 MILES IN 24:40
2013: Deanna Blegg, 85 miles in 24:58
2016: Stefanie Bishop, 85 miles in 25:05
Allison's 2017 performance would have won WTM every year except 2017 and 2012.
We also talk about the World's Toughest Podcast email list. You can now subscribe to the email list by texting the word TOUGH to 228-28.
Voting is open for the "Best Of OCR" Awards at MudRunGuide.com. After you vote, shoot Will an email. He'll thank you personally.
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What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
0:00 Intro, contact info for the show
World's Toughest Mudder 2017 is in the books. We talk about the elite podium finishers with audio from the finish line and talk with the Women's winner, Rea Kolbl.
Rea told us one of the reasons she decided to run World's Toughest Mudder was because she was listening to our podcast and she thought, "Yeah, I could do that". And she did. And she won.
Also, why is no one else talking about this? Taylor Swift just dropped a new CD and she wrote an entire song about World's Toughest Mudder. We break down the song and what Taylor Swift thinks about certain Tough Mudder obstacles. (Spoiler: She hates to get shocked.)
We are just a few iTunes reviews away from being the #1 reviewed podcast in all of the United States. Pick us up here fellas.
0:00 Intro, News
6:55 Podium results
8:50 Men’s podium deep dive
19:55 Women’s podium deep dive
25:45 Taylor Swift/WTM News
31:40 iTunes Reviews
34:35 Rea Kolbl
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Winner’s List, go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WorldsToughestPod and click the "World's Toughest Email" link on the left side of the page.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
A short recap of the winners from WTM 2017.
Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who ran World's Toughest Mudder 2017.
The podium winners:
Men:
- Ryan Atkins with 110 miles
- Robert Killian with 105 miles
- Trevor Cichosz with 95 miles
Women:
- Rea Koebl with 90 miles
- Allison Tai with 85 miles
- Michelle Ford with 80 miles
Relay Teams:
- Chad Trammell’s US #7 with 120 miles
- Kris Mendoza’s US #8 with 115 miles
- Team Germany #1 with 105 miles
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Winner’s List, go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WorldsToughestPod and click the "World's Toughest Email" link on the left side of the page.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Elite Week continues with Lindsay Webster.
Lindsay Webster has dominated Obstacle Course Racing this year.
She won the Spartan Race World Championship.
She won the Spartan Race US Series Championship.
She won the 15k OCR World Championship.
She won all three Toughest Mudder races she entered.
She finished second in the Toughest Mudder Series Championship.
She finished second in the 3k OCR World Championship.
No OCR athlete, man or woman, has ever had a year like Lindsay is having right now.
If Lindsay can win World's Toughest Mudder she will solidify her status as the most dominant woman in the sport.
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Winner’s List, go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WorldsToughestPod and click the "World's Toughest Email" link on the left side of the page.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Team Goat Tough will be one of the contenders in the new National Team Relay category at WTM 2017. Team Goat Tough is Kris Mendoza, Austin Azar, Miguel Medina, and Mark Jones. Between them they have over 750 miles at World's Toughest Mudder dating back to the very first race in 2011.
Relay Teams must complete the first and last lap together. All other laps must be completed by 50% or more of their team.
We talk with Kris Mendoza and Austin Azar about their team, their strategy, and their peanut butter. (What? It came up organically.)
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Winner’s List, go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WorldsToughestPod and click the "World's Toughest Email" link on the left side of the page.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.
Deanna Blegg won World's Toughest Mudder in 2013. She is one of the most decorated women in WTM history.
Here is her WTM resume:
2012, 80 miles, 2nd place
2013, 85 miles, 1st place
2014, 75 miles 2nd place
2015, 70 miles, 3rd place
2016, Invented BleggMits
That's four straight years on the podium AND she invented the best gloves you can buy for World's Toughest Mudder.
We talk about her plan for WTM this year and how she feels going into the race.
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If you'd like to join the World’s Toughest Podcast Winner’s List, go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/WorldsToughestPod and click the "World's Toughest Email" link on the left side of the page.
What do you think of the podcast? Who in the Tough Mudder community would you like to hear? Let us know on the World’s Toughest Podcast Facebook page or find Will on Twitter at twitter.com/TheWillHicks
Would you like to be a part of the show? Leave us a review on iTunes and we'll read it on a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe and listen for new episodes every week.