Why I'm doing Tough Mudder...

..as opposed to Tough Bloke, Warrior Dash, Spartan Race or something else with a dicky name here.

Do any google search for these 'mud runs' (as I've quite reasonably been doing a lot of in the last few months!) and you'll soon come across the usual pissing contests about which event is better, which is tougher, which is 'real', blah, blah... and so on.

It has made me look around and consider the other options, but in the end I keep coming back to Tough Mudder. Why? Well, I'm not for a second going to pretend that it's because it's 'probably the toughest event on the planet' - I think all of us who are doing it know that's a bit of creative licence with marketing as there are bundles of harder things out there (think ironman, multi-day marathons, etc). So what else is there in it for me....

1. First and foremost - I love the approach it takes in not being a race. I'm a deeply uncompetitive person myself - I can't be bothered fighting other people or pushing to get ahead of someone, especially in something as (relatively) pointless as a running race. It just doesn't matter that much to me. But what does appeal to me about TM is that focus on camaraderie and helping other people out. I think it's fantastic.  Now, I'm sure there'll be a few narcissistic, self-centred, ego-heads who will cause a bit of grief on the day, but that commitment to helping your neighbour which is basic philosophy of Tough Mudder is something I respect and feel a deep affinity for.
2. It doesn't take itself too seriously - A lot of the other events do seem to take themselves so very very seriously. In the end, it should be enjoyable, fun, a bit of a laugh. Tough Mudders slightly laid back, self-mocking and tongue-in-cheek approach is something which I respect. It's a very 'Australian' thing too so I think it'll sit well in this country. Yes, it should be about training hard and doing your best, but if you don't come out of it with a smile on your face then something's wrong...
3. The length and the challenge - I reckon, for me, it's just about the right size of an event. Not too small to do it without thinking, but not so long as to feel like I could never complete it. It's a great balance of distance and obstacles/challenges. Everyone knows that despite the having the tag line of 'probably the toughest event on the planet' that it isn't. I'm sure even the organisers know that (hence the 'probably' line!) but they're just having a bit of fun. Again, a good attitude to have... 
4. And of course - because I stumbled upon it before I saw the other ones - And everyone always has a soft spot for their first :)

Of course, I'm saying all of this before the event has even happened, so we'll see how I feel in a week's time!