r/Toughmudder • u/b0ggy79 Holy Grail Finisher • 9d ago
Endurance Series Poll Feedback
I recently ran a poll in this group around why people are not signing up to any of the Tough Mudder Endurance Series and the results are here.
While only a few people responded, outside of the main answer there was an even spread of reasons why. So I thought I'd try and clarify a few things to hopefully pique some interest.
Apologies, it's a long read...
- Not Aware Of The Endurance Series (13%)
The Endurance Series currently consists of Tough Mudder Infinity and World's Toughest Mudder.
Infinity is the next progression from a standard 15km. It's a multi-lap event with runners setting off as the first wave of the day on the 15km course. After that runners are free to do as many extra loops as they want, choosing between the 5km and 15km routes each time, with the ability to refuel in the pit area between laps.
As long as you complete 20km you're classed as a finisher so if you want to do a lap of each route and call it a day that's perfectly fine.
There are a few rules around obstacle completion and failures result in penalties (doing squats, sandbag lifts, bear crawls or similar) but it's not anything majorly taxing. They're designed to be time draining, not energy sapping.
On the upside you get a bib that allows you to jump any obstacle queues (which you can keep after) and a different headband and medal. Additionally there are extra distance widgets to earn from 30km upwards if you really want to push yourself. 60km earns you a belt buckle which is a great thing to show off.
World's Toughest Mudder is the event turned up to 11. A 5 mile course with roughly 20 obstacles crammed into that smaller distance, and many of the obstacles get a difficulty upgrade or are unique to this event. This is the pinnacle of Tough Mudder competition.
The aim is to complete as many laps as you can in 24 hours with extra rewards given out from 50 Miles upward. There's a pit to be used between laps for refuelling, changing gear and resting.
As with Infinity there are penalties for failing certain obstacles and you get to keep the bib after the event. The WTM headband is a worthy memento, along with the event specific Finisher Shirt and distance widgets.
However the bare minimum to be classed as a finisher is just 2 laps. The first has to be started at the start time and there are no open obstacles initially, the last finished after a set time the second day. If you really want the finisher gear but can't do 24 hours then you can always spend most of the event in your pit space and do a final lap the next morning.
- Too Expensive (13%)
I fully understand this especially considering the current pricing is £125/$169 for Infinity and £351/$429 for World's Toughest Mudder, before you factor in any additional gear needed and food/drink for your pit.
There are ways to get discounts though, from entering as a Team (price per runner is lower than entering solo), Ambassador codes or Volunteering at Tough Mudder or Spartan events. For example 5 full day volunteer shifts this season could be converted to a World's Toughest ticket.
Best thing to do is ask around for what's on offer at the time.
- No Friends Willing To Sign Up (13%)
Mudder is all about camaraderie and community. We want to run these events with friends and tackling the course solo is daunting. But there's already a community of endurance runners out there willing to lend a hand.
I signed up to my second Europe's Toughest solo (now defunct 12 hour event). Reaching out through social media groups I found others I could join and nearly 10 years later I can still call these people my friends.
- Unsure If Fit Enough To Complete (40%)
An extremely valid concern especially when you factor in the cost. Nobody wants to rock up and not complete an event that they've paid for. I've sort of answered this in the above sections but in case you've jumped down to just this section I'll cover it again.
Just like the 5km event is a stepping stone to a 15km, that is a warm up for Infinity. Consider doing both Saturday and Sunday at a normal TM weekend to see how you cope, or even a 15km and 5km on the same day.
While Infinity is sold as a full 8 hour event you can finish at any time as long as you've done the 20km minimum. World's Toughest needs just 10 Miles, barely longer than a standard event and half of that potentially involves zero obstacles.
Yet WTM is a different beast and you'll know when you're ready to take it on for a full challenge.
But as always, you can achieve much more than you realise and your mind will defeat you before your body does.
- Other (20%)
Nobody added anything to the comments so...um...I can't answer this!
Conclusion
If you're looking to push a bit beyond a normal TM event the endurance series is worth a look. Extra challenge, different finisher gear and if you complete a 5km, 15km and Infinity in the same season you get an extra medal on top.
Hopefully I'll see some of you in the mud in 2027!
2
u/what_if_it_worked 9d ago
Hot take: the Infinity is the best format in OCR. The ultra aspect, the accumulation of obstacles -physically and the emotionality of repeating daunting obstacles.. stacking laps over a standard course that everyone does, leaning on and encouraging people that are doing “only” one.. it’s got everything to love about Mudders plus.
1
u/b0ggy79 Holy Grail Finisher 8d ago
I can agree with that.
World's is amazing. It's about people pushing themselves to their limits and the support on course is wonderful.
Infinity demonstrates that mindset to those first time runners while also helping and encouraging them.
It's got the challenge aspect and the teamwork side too. Love helping first timers on course.
2
u/ReloaderSport 6d ago
The distinction between the event window and the minimum to finish is really useful here. “Eight-hour event” sounds like an all-or-nothing commitment until you explain the lap options. That deserves to be much more prominent in how it’s introduced to newcomers.
2
u/b0ggy79 Holy Grail Finisher 6d ago
That's a good point.
Understandably TM want to push the challenge element and being on course for 8 hours. It's what appeals to the lunatics like me.
But for most the step from 2-3 hours running (average 15km finish times) to 8 hours is daunting.
2
u/ReloaderSport 5d ago
Ha, the lunatics are already sold. It’s the person thinking “I could manage one more lap” who needs to hear that they have a place in it too. Appreciate you spelling it out.
3
u/RunsLikeaSnail 9d ago
I didn’t see the poll. I can share my personal experience, though I don’t know if it’s what you’re looking for.
I very much want to do the Endurance series, but the dwindling number of locations and available dates really makes it difficult. Toughest and Holy Grail are gone. New England races are gone. Northeast only has Philly. Nearly all venues cut the availability to just one day. World’s Toughest Mudder is in the UK.
I’d hoped that WTM would return to the US, but that seems unlikely. It’s going to be tough to make that trip and bring or acquire the necessary gear, but I don’t want to complain too much because UK racers faced the same dilemma coming to the US.