99% DNF at World's Toughest Mudder
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 10:21AM More than 800 started this race and only 8 men and 2 women finished. That is amazing considering the athletes that lined up at the start were no sissies. In order to even be invited to compete in the World's Toughest Mudder Finals you had to finish in the top 5% of a normal Tough Mudder event during 2011. A "normal" tough mudder is a 10-12 mile circuit of military style obstacles and as the name implies, the course is muddy and the obstacles are, well, tough. The WTM24 is the same distance course with double the obstacles. Mudders attempt to complete as many circuits as possible. Each athlete has a designated camp site in a transition area located near the starting line where they can stash food, dry clothes, and other gear. Many took breaks between laps, with many opting to sleep several hours during the middle of the night. Others trudged on non-stop for the full 24+ hours. The "+" is very important. See, the first person to cross the finish line closest to the 24 hour mark without exceeding it sets the bar for the number of circuits required to be an official finisher. If the the winner posts 6 laps at 24 hours, and you have only done 5, then you have an additional 4 hours to match that number of laps else it is considered a DNF. Wowzers!
The male and female winners, Junyong Pak and Juliana Sproles crossed the finish line together at the 24 hour and 8 minute mark. Pak was on his 7th circuit while Juliana was on her 6th. Unofficially, 520 completed the first circuit, two circuits: 240, three circuits: 107, 4 circuits: 42, five circuits: 14, and 6 circuits: 10. (Because Pak and Sproles completed their last lap after the 24 hour mark, they were officially credited with just 6 and 5 circuits respectivley.)
I will let the pictures of the obstacles speak for themselves. Be sure to check out all the pictures in the World's Toughest Mudder Photo Gallery.
Tough Mudder, Worlds Toughest Mudder in Tough Mudder
Reader Comments (1)
Thanks again for all your support and for coming out to keep me moving and take some wonderful pictures. Although I was yanked for hypothermia after only completing one lap by Medical, I will remember this day for a long time. And have already looked at wet suits to survive the 45 minutes in 40 degree water in the middle of a New Jersey winter in December, Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! Still gives me the chills!! Great Race Nutrition keep me fueled all the way!! Energy was never a problem, just me being to skinny and no wet suit. Maybe I should start to fatten up for next year!! LOL!! You guys are awesome and will fuel me far in the future, as I'm not done testing my limits yet!
~RELENTLESS LASSEN~