Fergus's Tough Guy Challenge
"The reality check failed to kick in and last weekend I took part in the bizarre event known as Tough Guy. How well had I prepared? Well, for about two and a half weeks I'd been running at least three times a week for five miles, thinking that this should be adequate; it didn’t seem all that difficult... how wrong I was! My initial over-confidence kicked me in the teeth with the cramp I experienced in the later stages of the event.
"On the Saturday before I purchased vital equipment, such as weight lifting gloves and ankle supports; I also packed my bag with clothing and food so there would be no panic on the day.
"Tough Guy Sunday. My alarm was set for 5.45 so we could meet outside the Union for a 6.15 depart; I awoke strangely excited and geared up for the challenge ahead. Two bowls of porridge and a couple of cups of tea later I set off; would I live up to my recent bravado of setting a sub two hour target - or even being able to finish Tough Guy? Was I truly tough enough?
"We arrived at 8.15 in light snow and it was far colder than I was expecting. With an 11 o’clock start, there was plenty of time to explore and prepare. The ponds were all frozen over which didn't bode well. I'd decided to run with a wet suit top and a thermal top underneath the bright pink Lufbra tough guy T shirt that we were all wearing, and leggings under my shorts; unfortunately I had left my wet suit top at home.
"Dad arrived at 10.45, just as everyone began to enter their particular ‘start pens.’ Everyone had groups to run in varying from; front squad, tough guy squad, wobblemuckers, queens teams, dickheads, ghoons, wet necks and much much more! They then penned you in behind wire fencing to differentiate between the various groups.
"One or two people were being over exuberant or in the wrong pens so were put in the stocks and had grass etc thrown over them for the amusement of the participants! Seeing as there were 130 people from Lufbra all wearing our bright pink team shirts there was lots of banter flying around at the start; the Irish team
tried to quieten us but we soon put them back in their boxes!"The start was an extraordinary experience. I was near the front of the 5000 plus strong field, the cannon sounded and the leaders set off through the smoke grenades, with us not far behind. I had previously believed there weren't very many obstacles near the start but how wrong I was! Within the first half mile we encountered the first of numerous water challenges and obstacles, ranging from raised logs to climb over and under to much more serious obstacles!
"The course was made even tougher by the freezing water; my legs for 90% of the course were numb. By the end I had virtually no feeling in my body! There were rivers to cross and ponds to swim as well as fire pits and even electrified wires and barbed wire; we were at points crawling under netting through slurry!
"For the claustrophobic there were the Vietcong tunnels, so narrow that I couldn't even crawl through them. There was the high climb to test balance and a fear of heights but the worst bit
for me personally were the water tunnels. This involved submerging yourself under a series of four logs spaced ½ a metre apart; by the fourth I couldn't quite work out whether I wanted to cry, hyper ventilate or just go home - cold is an understatement..."It felt as if every 30 seconds we were entering water, and each time I felt a little more depressed at the thought of the cold! However it was weirdly enjoyable. I got the worst cramp that I have ever had towards the end, but the feeling on crossing the finish line was the worth the effort. When I saw my time of 1 hour 55 21 seconds I punched the air... well, waved a frozen claw at the air!
"Would I consider doing it again? Yes. I finished 480th out of 5000 plus people, but the competitive side of me wants to achieve a higher placing in a more competitive time! However I feel I might consider something less taxing next year."
Fergus was helped along by Mountain Horse Clothing saying, "it took me an hour and half to warm up despite wearing 5 T-shirts, 2 hoodies, a mountain horse fleece, mountain horse jacket, two pairs of tracksuit bottoms and the mountain winter trousers!"
Fergus and the Loughborough University team were raising money for charities. If you would like to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fergus-payne
