Six Minutes to Midnight I crossed the finish line. Many times after bicycle races I felt good enough that I thought: 'I didn't try hard enough.' That thought NEVER crossed my mind as I limped and to the car after the Ironman. I looked for a fork sticking out of me, because I was DONE!
I wrote in previous post that time I spent training for the Ironman exceeded anything I did for the Tough Mudder. In fact my second Tough Mudder was easier because of the Ironman training.
Now that I have actually finished the Ironman, the contrast between the two events is much sharper.
After I crossed the finish line, a smiling woman grabbed my arm and steered me toward my finisher's medal and asked me if I need anything. She was looking at an old guy she was worried would collapse. She guided me to the end of the finishing chute. I told her I could walk to the car a half-mile away. She let me go. It took nearly a half hour for me to walk, limp, shuffle, stop, lean on walls and railings and finally get my very sore self back to the car. I was as completely exhausted as I have ever been.
After the last Tough Mudder I jumped on a single-speed bike and rode 18 miles including several mile-long hills back to my car. I was bruised, cut, and smelled like a barnyard, but the next day, I was fine.
Although I shared 16 miles of the marathon with a great guy I met on the Ironman course, hanging with friends is not the point of the Ironman. I only did the second Tough Mudder because I had a friend who would do it with me. If I ever do another Tough Mudder it will be with a group from my Army unit or my Church or some other group of people I would like to share a tough experience with.
If you are thinking "Which should I do?" my advice would be form a team and do a Tough Mudder. But if you want to see how much you can suffer in one day, train for the Ironman. You will feel awesome when you finish--but not so good the next morning.
Tough Mudder and Ironman Posts:
Tough Mudder vs. Ironman, Part 2
Tough Mudder vs. Ironman is Here
Second Tough Mudder Report
First Tough Mudder Finish
First Tough Mudder Photos
First Tough Mudder Entry
Ironman Friendship
Ironman Plans
Ironman Training
Ironman Bucket List
Ironman Idea
Ironman Danger
Now that I have actually finished the Ironman, the contrast between the two events is much sharper.
After I crossed the finish line, a smiling woman grabbed my arm and steered me toward my finisher's medal and asked me if I need anything. She was looking at an old guy she was worried would collapse. She guided me to the end of the finishing chute. I told her I could walk to the car a half-mile away. She let me go. It took nearly a half hour for me to walk, limp, shuffle, stop, lean on walls and railings and finally get my very sore self back to the car. I was as completely exhausted as I have ever been.
After the last Tough Mudder I jumped on a single-speed bike and rode 18 miles including several mile-long hills back to my car. I was bruised, cut, and smelled like a barnyard, but the next day, I was fine.
Although I shared 16 miles of the marathon with a great guy I met on the Ironman course, hanging with friends is not the point of the Ironman. I only did the second Tough Mudder because I had a friend who would do it with me. If I ever do another Tough Mudder it will be with a group from my Army unit or my Church or some other group of people I would like to share a tough experience with.
If you are thinking "Which should I do?" my advice would be form a team and do a Tough Mudder. But if you want to see how much you can suffer in one day, train for the Ironman. You will feel awesome when you finish--but not so good the next morning.
Tough Mudder and Ironman Posts:
Tough Mudder vs. Ironman, Part 2
Tough Mudder vs. Ironman is Here
Second Tough Mudder Report
First Tough Mudder Finish
First Tough Mudder Photos
First Tough Mudder Entry
Ironman Friendship
Ironman Plans
Ironman Training
Ironman Bucket List
Ironman Idea
Ironman Danger
