Day 221 - World's Toughest Mudder Newspaper Article

Tough Mudder takes on New Jersey

Tough competition. Tyler Robbins recently completed two laps of the World's Toughest Mudder in New Jersey. Todd McEwen

In 24 hours, 1,300 competitors from around the globe were vying to be crowned the World’s Toughest Mudder.
Orangeville’s Tyler Robbins was among that horde.
After qualifying for the event by finishing among the top five per cent at the Toronto-leg of the worldwide tour in August, Robbins and his wife flew to New Jersey, where neither were sure what to expect.
“I was going into this blind,” Robbins said. “It was a great learning experience. I want to do it again next year.”
While he returned to Dufferin soil with only a T-shirt, headband and worn out running shoes, the Orangeville native managed to complete two full laps of the 10-mile course in the allotted 24-hour time frame.
“I did a lap, came back, rested for about half an hour … then went back out for a second lap … then called it quits, because my knees were toast,” he said. “It was the type of the thing where if I had have kept going, I could’ve risked long-term damage.”
When Robbins spoke with The Banner after completing his first Tough Mudder event in August, he said he was surprised by the challenge the hills posed at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. This time around, he pointed to the monkey bars as the most difficult obstacle thrown at him.
“There were a handful of obstacles, where you actually had to do them twice,” he said. “So you’d do the monkey bars … then the course would loop around and you’d end up crawling through mud and you’d go back to do the monkey bars again.
“Now you’re covered in mud, you’re hands are covered in mud, which makes it so much more difficult to try and get across with muddy hands and gloves.”
Like last year, the obstacles and course map weren’t revealed to the competitors until their arrival, which left newcomers like Robbins at a slight disadvantage. 
“I feel they put a lot more design into the course to try and make it more difficult,” he said.
Robbins thanked his sponsor, Kreator, and said once his knees recover, he'll be back in the grind for next year's event.
“I’m going to start preparing for the event in May and look forward to next November."


Quote of the day:
"Motivation will almost always beat mere talent."

~ Norman R. Augustine
Check out my new Website: tylerrobbinsfitness.com

Day 156 - Giving Thanks!

Well, my World's Toughest Mudder training is underway. I feel as though I need to take the time and thank all who have gotten me to this point.

It has been a crazy year. If you told me at the beginning of 2012, just weeks after my first son was born, that I would compete in Tough Mudder Toronto, qualify for World's Toughest Mudder, train for it, and have tremendous support along the way from friends, family, and the community, I would've called you crazy.

Ever since I made mention of this event to my family, and how I was just sort of thinking about doing it, they have all jumped on board to make sure that this happens!

My sister is the one who initially got the ball rolling by arranging the newspaper article. My parents have helped me with some of my costs associated with WTM, not to mention traveling all the way up to Barrie to cheer me on with my wife Nicole as I competed in Tough Mudder Toronto.

And of course my wife, who has supported me all year long during all of my training. She hasn't complained at all when our grocery bills went up thanks to my increased calorie consumption. Or the many days when my alarm would go off at 4:45am so that I would be up in time to train that day. She has even been there to try and massage my sore muscles when I have been too damn sore to even sit in a chair comfortably.

The support I have received from my family has been absolutely amazing, and has really helped push me along to train a little bit harder, and compete a little bit further. But I have to admit, one thing that has surprised me tremendously, is the support I have received from folks that are essential strangers to me.

I would like to thank Ken F., Mark G., Bruce S., and Bayne U. who, at the time I am writing this blog, have donated money to me yet I have never even met them in person!

I also need to give a very special shout-out to Kreator Equipment and Services. They are a business located here in my home town of Orangeville. I learned about their tremendous amount of support that they have given back to the community around them when I went in to meet with them regarding a sponsorship for myself. They have been incredibly supportive of me and my efforts/interests to compete in the World's Toughest Mudder. Their sponsorship has open up many new doors for me in terms of properly preparing for this event. So I thank them!

From the family members, names, and businesses listed above, to the other supporters that have offered a helping hand from my home town, I am forever grateful of the support I have received, and will continue to receive leading up to WTM.

All I can hope to do, is to represent my home town of Orangeville, and those who have supported me, by training and competing as well as I can. Now if you excuse me, I have some training to get to!

Quote of the day:
"My strength lies solely in my tenacity."
~ Louis Pasture



Sponsored By:

Day 139 - WTM Article in Local Newspaper

I got a great write-up on my Tough Mudder story in the local newspaper. You can check it out here.


Quote of the day:
"Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final."
~ Roger Ward Babson

Day 134 - World's Toughest Mudder...Let's Do It!

Well, it sure is funny how things change within a few days. Just the other day, I posted about the "World's Toughest Mudder" event, and how I was not going to be able to make it. Well, a few things have happened over the last couple of days, which is making the event seem that much more likely.

For those of you who do not know, I competed in the Tough Mudder Toronto event (pictured above), and I finished in 2 hours, 15 minutes. That was good enough for top 5%. Tough Mudder holds a year-end event in New Jersey where they invite all of their "top 5%'ers" to fight it out to see who will be crowned "World's Toughest Mudder!"

Here's how things have gone and will go over the following weeks...

First of all, my wonderful sister has decided to contact the local newspaper. She knows a guy who works there, and contacted him expressing her interest in running an article on my success at Tough Mudder Toronto, and more importantly, how I am looking to compete in the World's Toughest Mudder. The newspaper loves the idea and are going to run with the story on Tuesday I believe.

Here's the deal, however. This is going to take a pretty good commitment, money-wise, to participate in. From my flight down to New Jersey, a couple night's hotel stay, a car rental, food, gear to wear (wetsuit for one), etc. I am going to need some help in getting there to compete.

My amazing family have already all jumped on board to want to pitch in and help. Also, the article in the newspaper is apparently going to mention the need for sponsorship money. I am trying to contact as many folks as I know to pitch in what they can to help me pay for this thing to happen.

My wife has already said to me, "You just have to commit!" That is exactly true. We both agreed that I have to just commit to the event, and then we can worry about raising some funds to get there later on.

If any of my wonderful readers (I am kissing butt, I know!) out there wish to help me out in any way possible, please contact me so we can discuss ways that you may be able to help.

*UPDATE* I have added a Paypal "Donate" button on the upper right side of this page. Any and all donations are welcome as every little bit helps! I thank you for your support!

As with the better part of this year already, I am going to spend countless hours training for this event. What that means for you, if interested, is that I am also going to document my progress - all my trials and tribulations along the way - here on my blog as well as on my youtube channel.

This is a great opportunity, and I am extremely excited to give this the best shot that I can! Stay tuned for more details in the coming days/weeks on how I plan to prepare for this event!

Quote of the day:
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

~ Lance Armstrong