By: Noah Allison

Tough Mudder is self-proclaimed as “probably the toughest event on the planet.” The mud-covered obstacle courses don’t call for a determination to win they simply call for a determination to finish. Camaraderie, teamwork and selflessness are the keys to finishing one of these events. Words alone do not stress the difficulty of the obstacle course, experience is the only true measure and Tough Mudder will be at Big Rock Off Road Park on October 19 and 20 to give Kentuckians the experience of a lifetime.

“Our founder and CEO, Will Dean, was running a triathlon and realized that the competitive nature of the events was detracting from participants’ overall experience. Will decided to make an event that was physically challenging, but that encouraged people to connect with one another and help each other out. Our participants are some of the most helpful people on earth,” Melissa Benjamin, Enterprise Relations Associate for Tough Mudder said.

Tough Mudder is an international event with obstacle courses set up on five different continents, but the one closest to Louisville, Kentucky is being set up right now at Big Rock Off Road Park to hold Tough Mudder events on the Saturday and Sunday of October 19, 20.

College student participation has been an important factor in the growth of the Tough Mudder events and Tough Mudder is offering U of L students a chance to run the race at a discount. Louisville Students are eligible to run for $99 with a limited amount available. All students have to do is enter the code LOUISSD to the website is toughmudder.com/students.

College students have historically been some of Tough Mudder’s biggest fans, their loyalty and commitment to the Tough Mudder experience is essential to our growth, and we plan to do whatever we can to bring as many college students as possible to participate,” Benjamin said.

The proceeds of participation go both toward building new and improving upon Tough Mudder obstacle courses around the world as well as going towards the Wounded Warrior Project. Tough Mudder has helped raise over five million dollars to support thousands of wounded warriors returning from their time of service. The dollars raised help provide combat stress recovery programs, adaptive sports programs, benefits counseling and helps with employment services.