What will the obstacles be like? (Adaptive Athlete)

• Tough Mudder is well known for our selection of innovative obstacles that offer a combination of physical challenge, mental grit, fun, and teamwork. The specific obstacles that appear on a given course will vary from event to event; however, there are some common parameters that are important for adaptive athletes to keep in mind when considering doing a Tough Mudder:
  • All obstacles at standard Tough Mudder events (5k/10k/15k) are completely optional. If you’re unable, unwilling, or uncomfortable in the completion of an obstacle, you may bypass it with no penalty.
  • Obstacles at our Endurance Series events (Tough Mudder Infinity, Regional Toughest Mudder, and World’s Toughest Mudder) must be completed; however, alternative completion criteria or penalty options will be provided for specific adaptive athlete categories.
  • Some obstacles require swimming, with water depths in excess of 6’. 
  • All obstacles involving water will have a sign indicating water depth prior to the obstacle.
  • Water obstacles may require participants to be lowered into water, slide into water, or jump into water.
  • Many obstacles involve climbing up and over a specific feature. This includes climbing walls, nets, ladders, quarter pipes, and A-frames that may exceed 8’ in height.
  • Some obstacles involve the use of handholds to get across a structure. This includes, but is not limited to, monkey bars, hanging gymnastics rings, climbing holds, and parallel bars.
  • The majority of Tough Mudder obstacles are designed to allow (or even require) teamwork for completion; however, for some obstacles, assistance may be infeasible.
• In addition to these general considerations, it’s important to review specific obstacles more closely to identify risks or limitations for specific impairments. 
• Photos and information about our obstacles can be found on the obstacles page of our website. The specific selection of obstacles for your event will be published about 1-2 weeks prior to the event. 
• Additionally, attending one of our periodic informational sessions with experienced adaptive athletes and their supporters will provide a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more.
• To help better understand what you might face on a Tough Mudder course, here is a common list of obstacles and the associated considerations for completion:

Obstacle Name	Description	Considerations
6 Feet Under	A slide down into a 6’ deep mud pit, with a climb up a sheer wall of mud to get out.	Requires the ability to safely lower into a pit, make forward mobility, and climb out. Support may be provided in lowering, locomoting, and lifting out of the pit.
Abseil	A climb down a very steep hill, usually using a rope.	Requires the use of hand grip and the ability to raise/lower body weight.
Arctic Enema	A slide into a pit of ~4’ deep ice water, including submersion under a baffle.	Requires submersion in water. Water may be overhead for short stature athletes. Requires the ability to make forward progress in water and climb out on a net.
Augustus Gloop	A climb up a vertical tube with water dumping onto your head from above.	Requires the ability to grip and pull on handholds. May be competed with assistance from below (lifting) and top (pulling through).
Bale Bonds	A climb over a series of large round hay bales.	Requires The ability to raise and lower body weight from height. Support may be provided from below (lifting) and above (lowering).
Berlin Walls	A climb over an 8’ tall wall.	Requires the ability to reach overhead and safely grip the wall for stability. Support may be provided in lifting/lowering athlete.
Birth Canal	A crawl under a series of water-filled liners that press you into the ground.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure.
Block Ness Monster	A climb over two rotating blocks, floating in a ~4’ pit of water.	Water may be overhead for short stature athletes. Requires the ability to pull overhead to climb over blocks or assistance from below to boost over blocks. Requires the ability to make forward progress in water and climb out on a net.
Cage Crawl	A float through a shallow pit of water on your back, with a fence panel overhead to reduce the amount of breathing room.	Requires the ability to float, stabilize (to stay face up) and pull oneself along using the overhead panels.
Castaway	A traverse of a shallow pit of water, sitting on a floating tube and pulling across using an overhead slackline.	Requires the ability to balance on a floating tube. Overhead mobility and use of hands are required for making forward progress; however, a teammate can propel tube for more than one person. Requires the ability to make forward progress in a shallow water pit.
Cliffhanger	A climb up a very steep hill, usually using a rope.	Requires the use of hand grip and the ability to raise/lower body weight.
Cry Baby	A crawl through a low ~2’ tall structure, filled with fog and a mild tear gas.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure. Not recommended for athlete’s with respiratory deficiencies/sensitivities.
Devil’s Beard	A crawl under a heavy net that is pinned tightly to the ground.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure.
Electric Eel	A crawl through a series of electrified wires.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure. Not recommended for athletes with metal in their body and/or a history of epilepsy.
Electroshock Therapy	A ~20’ long section of electrified wires that must be passed through.	Not recommended for athletes with metal in their body and/or a history of epilepsy.
Everest	A slick 12’ tall quarter pipe that must be climbed over.	May require running and overhead pulling over the ledge. Can be completed with assistance from below (lifting) and from the top (pulling over).
Funky Monkey	A climb over monkey bars & rotating rings, over a ~6’ deep pit of water.	Requires the ability to grip overhead handholds and the ability to swim.
Greased Lightning	A slide down a giant waterslide on a hill.	Requires the use of core mobility to maintain a controlled slide.
Just the Tip	A climb across a series of overhead holds, such as fingerboards and rock climbing holds.	Requires overhead mobility and grip for grasping handholds and rings.
King of the Mountain	A ~12’ climb over a series of stacked round hay bales.	Requires The ability to raise and lower body weight from height. Support may be provided from below (lifting) and above (lowering).
Kiss of Mud	A low crawl under barbed wire through mud.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure.
Ladder to Hell	A climb up a 15’ wooden ladder, with approximately 3’’ between each rung.	Requires overhead mobility, function of lower extremities, and the ability to grip handholds. For safety, requires the ability to maintain three points of contact. Support may be provided to assist with upward and downward movement.
Lumberjacked	A climb over a series of 5’ high hurdles.	Requires overhead mobility and the ability to lower body weight from height. Support may be provided from below (lifting) and above (lowering).
Megamire	A slide down into a 6’ deep mud pit, with a slick, sloped climb out the other side.	Requires the ability to safely lower into a pit, make forward mobility, and climb out. Support may be provided in lowering, locomoting, and lifting out of the pit.
Mud Mile	A series of 6-8’ mud pits that must be climbed into and over.	Requires lowering into pits with varying depths of mud. Climbing over mounds may require lifting from below and being pulled over the top.
Mudderhorn	A climb up a 30’ tall A-frame, using a cargo net to climb up/down.	Requires the ability to climb with a combination of hands and/or feet. The ability to grip cargo nets is required for safe scaling.
Pitfall	A walk across a mud pit, with randomly spaced holes hidden under the water.	Requires the ability to locomote forwards. Support may be provided in aiding forward mobility. Caution must be taken, due to the presence of trip hazards.
Prairie Dog	A climb down a descending tube into a muddy pit.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through tube.
Pyramid Scheme	A climb up a tall, steep, slick angled wall, usually completed by forming a human pyramid.	Can be completed with assistance from below (lifting) and from the top (pulling over).
Reach Around	A climb up a reverse angled ladder, with a vertical transition onto a 10’ tall platform.	Requires the ability to reach overhead and safely grip the wall/handholds for stability. Requires function of lower extremities.
Shawshanked	A crawl up an inclined tube. At the end of the tube, a drop into a ~6’ pit of water.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through tube. Requires the ability to maintain control with a fall from height. Requires the ability to swim.
Skidmarked	A climb over an 8’ tall wall, angled toward the entry of the obstacle.	Requires the ability to reach overhead and safely grip the wall for stability. Support may be provided in lifting/lowering athlete.
Texas Hold ‘Em	A traverse across a rocking set of footholds, generally completed by holding hands and balancing with a partner on the opposite face.	Requires lower body mobility and the ability to interlock upper extremities with another individual for balance.
The Gauntlet	A three section obstacle including balance beams, a swing across gymnast rings, and a climb across a series of overhead holds.	Requires the ability to stabilize on a balance beam. Requires overhead mobility and grip for grasping handholds and rings.
Tight Squeeze	A crawl under a set of heavy tubes that press you into the ground.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure.
Trench Warfare	A low, dark crawl through narrow tunnels with a cargo net overhead.	Requires the ability to locomote in a crawl position. Support can be provided to push/pull through the structure.
Underwater Tunnels	A series of floating barrels and/or tubes that must be ducked under in the water.	Requires the ability to swim and submerge under water.
Well Swung	A jump onto a trapeze bar, swinging into a ~6’ pit of water.	Requires the ability to jump, grip overhead bar and the ability to swim.
Widows Peak	A climb across a shallow pit of water, using a set of slacklines for hand & feet.	Requires the use of hands and feet. Requires the ability to make forward progress in a shallow water pit.