You're making a monkey out of me...

Our team's training has been pretty comprehensive. Lots of running, and lots of training relevant to particular obstacles.

The monkey bars in particular have been one that has stood out in this prep, as (a) it requires muscles and training which we don't do a lot of normally (ie. pull ups, swinging, gripping) and (b) it's the sort of activity that none of us have done since primary school!!

Our trainer's been pretty good, with lots of chin ups, pull ups and hangs included in the training programs. Which has been great... But, for me at least, there's one huge glaring problem with my monkey bar preparation - I haven't actually practiced monkey bars!!

Now, I'm not to blame here!!! I've desperately tried but there's one thing standing in my way - My 6ft3 height. Monkey bars around here simply aren't that high - probably because they're in playgrounds and safety restrictions mean they can't be that high. I've tried tucking my legs up but that makes it much harder, and you still can't swing properly - which has resulted in nothing but searing shoulder pain and little success.

I'd even considered using our extension ladder at home and propping it up at an angle somewhere (which would also help me experience what the incline will feel like) but even at home there's nowhere to do that properly and safely. 

Sigh.

So I'm half resigned to having the Mudder be my first experience of 'true' monkey bars.... and quite likely a rapid drop into the mud and ice soon after that!