This event, the tough guy challenge http://www.toughguy.co.uk/ is one to contend with. I completed it yesterday which, according to marshals who my wife spoke to for company as my jaw was frozen stiff when I finished, the coldest in many years and possibly ever. It was snowing when I finished and with wind chill in the region of minus 10 degrees Celsius, it was more than 30 degrees cooler than the same event of the summer 2008! It involves a run across horse manured fields (approx 4 miles) followed by a series of obstacles which include jumping fire, ducking your head under near to freezing water several times, climbing 40 feet netting several times, jumping and submerging into ice covered pools, wriggling under netting and barbed wire about a foot off the mud pools you are face down in and jumping in and out of a river approx 30 times with vertical 3 foot banks either side and climbing between timber structures by rope. In the process of this race 2 water obstacles were closed due to too many getting hypothermia but that is all just part of the test!! By keeping going at steady run, you keep yourself warm, though some nutters elected to do it in just a jockstrap! The whole race is approx 8 miles long, is extremely well organised, marshalled and medically provided for and it is one of those events where the multi-national camaraderie built as you go just helps you keep pushing. Some do regrettably fall by the wayside in hypothermic wrecks two of which I stopped for 10 mins to get warm and help to an ambulance on the way round.
I have never been so grateful for a cup of tea, presented on the finishing line as the shivers started to take hold and could only look at the whole trays of biscuits temptingly presented but untouched by the hundreds who had finished before me as they too must have been too cold. As if the course wasn't tough enough, this with the temptation of what looks like a warm bath and showers prove to be the final twist as the bath is cold and the shower proved little more than a trickle to wash under from the drill holed scaffolding pipes.

With around 3500 entrants, people travel from across the globe to do this and believe me, I can see why. It is a great event, with great camaraderie and better still, a great challenge and the sizeable chunky medal represents a happy, contented competitor.

I found out about this event as a relative local to Wolverhampton, UK, the tough guy home town. Having done it once, I was glad I was fit but many do very little training but find it a lot tougher and many therefore do not complete it. I trained by doing 1-2 8 miles runs a week jumping into a local reservoir in December and January enroute, 2 military fitness sessions with Wellfit, a superb little gym in Bromsgrove and a body pump class a week.
I wore 4 thin layers including a waterproof wind-proof top all light weight and running trousers, particularly beneficial for the sewage pipes and car tyre tunnels you need to push yourself through. I also took a couple of energy gels and a swimming cap, not my usual style but well worth it for the under water stuff though it got ripped off by the barbed wire shortly after.
With thanks to my wife for supporting me along the way through training and on he event where she too froze and still managed to get me dressed as I would not have been able to and Fran Palama of Wellfit, Bromsgrove and her team of instructors for the steer encouragement needed to get fit for the event.
So go on, take a chance, have some fun and Live Life to the Limits.