Tough Guy Cross-Country Race
There is no prize for winning this race, not even a T-Shirt ! However, that and the entry fee ranging from $100 to $500 hasn’t prevented thousands of people from entering the Tough Guy cross-country race every year. There is one very Tough Guy race held in the depths of winter in January and another in relatively balmy weather of July.
All that the participants gain at the end of agonizing test of physical and mental endurance is the satisfaction of having completed a grueling obstacle course spread over 13 kilometers.
Launched in 1986 by a man called Billy Wilson (he and his wife are known as Mr. and Mrs. Mouse!) and set in 150 acres of farmland in Wolverhampton, England ,the Tough Guy race raises funds to help rehabilitate destitute and delinquent children.
The race begins with a 9 – km “warm-up” that involves a hill slalom – running up and down several hills; an Elephant graveyard - climbing into and out of 2-m-high cement containers filled with horse dung; the Gurkha Grand National – wading through endless waist-deep pits of freezing mud dotted with used tyres; and the Tiger – scrambling over 9-m-tall towers of netting threaded with stinging electric tape, some with a charge strong enough to stun a bull . People who survive these enter the Killing fields – a 22-obstacle course that includes swimming through underwater tunnels and narrow sewer pipes.
All runners have to enter a Death pit and sign a death warrant at the starting line! Grim though this may sound, no one has yet died proving he is a Tough Guy. Fractures and hypothermia cases are aplenty and hundreds drop out midway.
Yet the race attracts ever more people (the 2007 event had more than 5000 entries) and there are some who make it a point to return year after year!
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Uma, we are thankful
that you bring such rare articles to our notice, I thank you for that.
Thinking seriously about this race, its all ok, that the guys participating are brave enough and the cause is also great, but just think, everyone has got his life for once and for whom they are putting their life in danger? No, I am not talking about the innocent children,they are not at fault,but their parents who bring them to this world, without a sense of responsibility.
Instead of conducting such races, something should be done to create this sense of responsibility among parents.There should not be a single child who does not have anyone to look atter.Is it right?
You are right Vaishali
This is a serious matter as you say.But despite parents concern and its serious repercussions there are many who love to do it.It would be best for the parents not to let their children into all this.Life is to be lived and we need to live it to the fullest.
Thanks for your analysis.
You are a good at analysing things.
Keep it up!
Uma
You misunderstood me Uma
I am not talking about the children who are talking part, but about those destitute and delinquent children, for whom these races are conducted. If there were no such isolated children, there would be no neeed of such races.
Great race
Uma -it is worth reading and racing too as look for what it is utilized.
wishing you perfect health forever.
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